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fred65 · 21-01-2008, 16:12

I used to own a pc so all my NEW software is pc format. I want to buy a Mac and i heard i could use parallels software to run my applications. I was wondering if anyone has used this before and if it works. Please help, i really want a Mac, but i dont want to buy all my programs again.

herkalees · 21-01-2008, 17:24

I know plenty of people who use Parallels and wish they bought VMware instead.

Hunch · 22-01-2008, 00:37

You won't have to buy new software.

I use Parallels. Shortly after the switch to Leopard I felt a little like Herk mentioned (they were a bit slow getting a decent update out), but everything seems more or less back to normal now.

Parallels is a fantastic product. You can run Windows in 3 modes:

1. Inside a Mac OS X Window
2. Full screen with instant switching between Mac OS and Windows.
3. Coherence mode - the Windows applications simply sit on the Mac Desktop and can even be launched from the dock just like a Mac OS app.

Number 3 absolutely blows away everyone I've ever shown it to. People simply can't fathom that it's so well integrated that you can even double click on an MS Excel file on your Mac desktop, and up comes MS Excel in an XP style Window (with the same surround, maximise, minimize corner buttons etc) except its running in Mac OS. You can even have the Windows Start Menu sit in the dock if you want.

All of that said, I believe Fusion has a pretty similar feature set.

If you want to run native Windows you would probably also want to check out Boot Camp. It basically allows your Mac to boot Windows normally just like a PC rather than running it inside Mac OS. I mainly reboot into Windows for gaming.

fred65 · 23-01-2008, 18:47

Thanks for the info. One more question, do i need to look for a Mac with more memory? I am planning on running Adobe Ill. Photo. Indesign, Flash and Dreamweaver. Sorry, i am not that knowledgeable when it come to computer hardware.

Hunch · 31-01-2008, 05:34

Slightly late reply, but my Mac Pro came with 2 Gig - I upgraded to 4 and it runs a fair bit faster when I have a lot of apps running.

If you're running all those apps as PC versions I would recommend dual booting with Boot Camp - Parallels is a fantastic product, but I would probably go to a native operating system if you're a 'power user'. I assume you realise that Macs can boot into both Mac OS and Windows, but it's worth pointing out just in case it had escaped you.

21-01-2008, 16:12	#1 (permalink)
fred65 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Downtown L.A. Posts: 3	Has anyone worked with Parralels Software!! I used to own a pc so all my NEW software is pc format. I want to buy a Mac and i heard i could use parallels software to run my applications. I was wondering if anyone has used this before and if it works. Please help, i really want a Mac, but i dont want to buy all my programs again.

21-01-2008, 17:24	#2 (permalink)
herkalees Semantics, yay. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Salem, Massachusetts Posts: 1,128	I know plenty of people who use Parallels and wish they bought VMware instead. __________________ Writing on markup, CSS, and other web geekery Professional, accessible, and search engine friendly web site development by Boston Web Studio

23-01-2008, 18:47	#4 (permalink)
fred65 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Downtown L.A. Posts: 3	Thanks Guys!! Thanks for the info. One more question, do i need to look for a Mac with more memory? I am planning on running Adobe Ill. Photo. Indesign, Flash and Dreamweaver. Sorry, i am not that knowledgeable when it come to computer hardware.

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22-01-2008, 00:37	#3 (permalink)
Hunch Grumpy old man Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: North Japan Posts: 1,695	You won't have to buy new software. I use Parallels. Shortly after the switch to Leopard I felt a little like Herk mentioned (they were a bit slow getting a decent update out), but everything seems more or less back to normal now. Parallels is a fantastic product. You can run Windows in 3 modes: 1. Inside a Mac OS X Window 2. Full screen with instant switching between Mac OS and Windows. 3. Coherence mode - the Windows applications simply sit on the Mac Desktop and can even be launched from the dock just like a Mac OS app. Number 3 absolutely blows away everyone I've ever shown it to. People simply can't fathom that it's so well integrated that you can even double click on an MS Excel file on your Mac desktop, and up comes MS Excel in an XP style Window (with the same surround, maximise, minimize corner buttons etc) except its running in Mac OS. You can even have the Windows Start Menu sit in the dock if you want. All of that said, I believe Fusion has a pretty similar feature set. If you want to run native Windows you would probably also want to check out Boot Camp. It basically allows your Mac to boot Windows normally just like a PC rather than running it inside Mac OS. I mainly reboot into Windows for gaming.

31-01-2008, 05:34	#5 (permalink)
Hunch Grumpy old man Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: North Japan Posts: 1,695	Slightly late reply, but my Mac Pro came with 2 Gig - I upgraded to 4 and it runs a fair bit faster when I have a lot of apps running. If you're running all those apps as PC versions I would recommend dual booting with Boot Camp - Parallels is a fantastic product, but I would probably go to a native operating system if you're a 'power user'. I assume you realise that Macs can boot into both Mac OS and Windows, but it's worth pointing out just in case it had escaped you.

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