Alright here's the deal... should I switch to a Mac?

[George Knighton]

And I spend all day on my laptop...literally. I am online probably 10 hours a day or more. A lot of programs I run, are PC only.

If you spend 10 hours/day on your Windows machine, it is likely you are doing some pretty heavy work, and it is likely you've learned a lot of Windows shortcuts and shortcuts and routines related to the particular applications you are using.

So...

Like me, it's likely your OS X learning curve will be steeper than everybody is saying.

Let me tell you, though, that after I took the first step and started learning things, I was thoroughly convinced and jumped in the deep end. I thought I wouldn't be able to get along without some Windows applications, but the *only* reason it turns out that I absolutely need Bootcamp on one machine is because on rare occasions I have to use an ancient terminal application to connect directly to machines that have lost their regular connectivity and I have to dial into their backup-backup-last ditch analogue modems and get them going again.

I thought I wouldn't be able to do without Office, but it wasn't that hard to learn to configure iWork to do what I wanted, and in combination with Adobe's relatively excellent support of OS X, I haven't even needed to use any Office application. Most of us were addicted to Outlook, but when you see the instant integration of MobileMe and the Mail and iCal applications, you realise after a few days that you do not even need Outlook.

You might also be entertained to know that although there's no denying that Windows is still the US government standard, you'll find more and more people, agencies and departments switching to OS X wherever they are allowed to do it.

I'm pretty old. I think that if I can get used to it, you will be able to get used to it!

 

[George Knighton]

So you're saying VM Fusion, in "Unity Mode", will allow me to open Windows like an app and within that I can run any installed Windows only programs?

you could also use free vmware like program...virtualbox

For whatever one person's opinion is worth, I found a lot of testimony in the forums that Parallels was a better thing to have than Fusion or anything else.

In what they call Coherence mode, your Windows application will stand in its own Window just like any OS X application, except that its buttons will resemble Windows. E.G., the minimise and close buttons will be top right instead of top left, that kind of thing.

Virtual machines take up a fair amount of memory, too. Right now I am using 7.02 GB according to Activity Monitor, having several OS X windows open, and an instance of 64-bit Windows 7 running showing me feeds from various cameras in various buildings.

Very manageable...just understand that a decent amount of RAM is a good idea. 12 GB here.

Something that VM beginners don't consider, frequently, is that you cannot use your Windows license in both Bootcamp and the virtual machine. You can only use the license in one or the other, because it is technically two different machines. If you want to have both Bootcamp and the virtual machine running Windows, you need two different licenses.

 

[ABG]

Short answer: I think its worth trying. IMO being able to run Win7 on a Mac takes away the "risk", so does the resale value which is way above a Windows system.

Long answer: I started my own business in 2003 and spent a mind melting amount of money on a G4 powerbook and, sadly, I hated using it. In fact I didn't use it - its had about 40-50 hours use in the past 7 years!

However, I got an iPhone 3G and that eased me into OSX and the rest (as you can see from my sig) if history.

I'm just as happy with Win7 as I am with OSX and I think Microsoft do one hell of a job running an OS for PCs which could have billions of different components. What made to try again with Apple though, was running Vista on a Sony TZ. I just realised most of my (computing) life was being spent waiting for it to start and waiting for it to close-down.

I didn't find the switch easy, but in the end I think it was worth it. I just hope Apple don't screw things up with Lion when it arrives.

FWIW

 

[gwsat]

So you're saying VM Fusion, in "Unity Mode", will allow me to open Windows like an app and within that I can run any installed Windows only programs?

If that is the case, I think maybe I might be able to make the switch. I'm going to mess around with my wife's macbook air a bit and if I can make it happen for sure like it sounds maybe go ahead and get a mac.

I, too, run Windows apps in Fusion's Unity mode. The answer to your question is yes. With Fusion's Unity mode, you can keep Windows apps open on the OS X desktop, along with your open OS X apps.

There is one caveat to using any virtualization program to run Windows apps in tandem with OS X apps. You absolutely have to have enough RAM. Three years ago, when I tried to run such a setup on an MBP with only 2GB of RAM, Windows apps were incredibly slow and unstable. Only after I increased the MBP's RAM to 6GB did it satisfactorily handle the load I was putting on it.

I feared that 4GB of RAM wouldn't be enough for both Windows apps in Fusion's Unity mode running simultaneously with OS X apps. Fortunately, though, 4GB turned out to be enough, probably because of the MBA's lightning fast flash storage. After having used my 13 inch Ultimate MBA for 6 weeks I am now satisfied that it handles the same setup I have on my MBP with the same speed and stability as the MBP provides.

The point of the foregoing is this: if you intend to run Windows apps in Fusion's unity mode on your MBA, or with any other virtualization program, you must have one with 4GB of RAM.

 

[KPOM]

Something that VM beginners don't consider, frequently, is that you cannot use your Windows license in both Bootcamp and the virtual machine. You can only use the license in one or the other, because it is technically two different machines. If you want to have both Bootcamp and the virtual machine running Windows, you need two different licenses.

I don't think that's entirely true. I believe earlier versions of Vista Home Premium had some type of limitation on being used in virtual environments, but Microsoft backed off on that. In any case, from a practical perspective, Fusion and Parallels Desktop have respective "Tools" applications that prevent Windows from losing its activation status when you switch back and forth. It does mean you have to activate twice (once in Boot Camp and once in the VM).

 

[George Knighton]

It does mean you have to activate twice (once in Boot Camp and once in the VM).

All I know is that I cannot use my license that was given to me when we were on the field programme for Windows 7.

The Microsoft license will only work on either the Bootcamp partition or the Parallels VM. If I try to use it on both, it will break every single time.

I ended up having to buy two extra licenses so that I can run Windows 7 on Bootcamp on my iMac, Bootcamp on my MacBook Pro, and Parallels on my iMac. There are ways to get the licenses fairly cheaply, of course, and still legitimately.

 

[KPOM]

All I know is that I cannot use my license that was given to me when we were on the field programme for Windows 7.

The Microsoft license will only work on either the Bootcamp partition or the Parallels VM. If I try to use it on both, it will break every single time.

I ended up having to buy two extra licenses so that I can run Windows 7 on Bootcamp on my iMac, Bootcamp on my MacBook Pro, and Parallels on my iMac. There are ways to get the licenses fairly cheaply, of course, and still legitimately.

Do you have Parallels Tools installed?

I did a quick Google search and noticed a few people running into the problem you had. However, I have used Parallels Tools (and VMWare Tools when I used Fusion) in both v5 and v6 on my Rev B and then later Parallels 6 with my Rev D, and haven't had an issue. I did need to reactivate Win 7 the first time I booted into Parallels after installing Parallels Tools, and when I replaced my 3-day old Rev D with a new one I wound up getting kicked to the phone activation system (which is much better than it was a year ago, I might add) to reactivate both the reinstalled Boot Camp and VM, but since then it has been fine.

 

[George Knighton]

Do you have Parallels Tools installed?

Yes, I do.

I did a quick Google search and noticed a few people running into the problem you had. However, I have used Parallels Tools (and VMWare Tools when I used Fusion) in both v5 and v6 on my Rev B and then later Parallels 6 with my Rev D, and haven't had an issue.

All I can think is that there must be different kinds of Windows licenses.

Phone activation would not work for me. Whatever the difference is, they don't want my license on a virtual machine and a Bootcamp partition at the same time.

 

[KPOM]

Yes, I do.


All I can think is that there must be different kinds of Windows licenses.

Interesting. I have a retail upgrade license (download) that I purchased from Microsoft directly a year ago when Win 7 came out. Because it's an upgrade license, installing it on the Rev D was a bit tricky since it didn't want to activate at first when I used it for a clean install. To get it to work, I had to put a functioning (albeit unactivated) version of Windows on it first (which I did by using Winclone to restore the Win 7 32-bit partition from my old Rev B), and then install Win 7 64-bit on top of it.

The OP might want to keep this in mind if considering virtualization. Perhaps retail licenses may work better than special licenses, OEM versions, etc. Also, keep in mind that installing Windows is easiest if you have an external DVD drive (such as Apple's own Superdrive) for your MacBook Air. There are ways of installing it through a USB flash drive, but the Air's "shared" DVD drive feature doesn't work for installing a Boot Camp partition (I don't know about a virtual machine installation).

 

[treynolds]

I Don't Know if it Matters...

but I have been able to use the same Win XP Pro license on both my iMac and my MBA.

I also use the same ACAD license on both machines. I use Parallels 6 and have Parallels Tools installed. Please note that Autodesk limits a stand-alone license to two seats (machines) with the idea that they are mutually exclusive, i.e. you can't be using them at the same time. Obviously the software companies want to cut down on piracy.

I love the Coherence feature in Parallels.

My iMac is a late 2009 3.06 Core 2 Duo with 12GB of RAM. I have assigned 2GB of RAM, plus two CPU's to Parallels. My MBA is an Ultimate (max'd out version) to which I also assigned 2GB pf RAM (half the total), plus two CPU's.

Both installations of ACAD run fine for my use, though I'm not doing any 3D work nor am I working with surfaces.

Because I'm running Win XP on my Macs, I run Norton (free for Comcast high-speed users) in the background. There's no speed hit that I can sense.

I'm not entirely free of Microsoft: My work machine is a Dell Precision | M90

 

[Wrathwitch]

Here's my two cents for what it's worth. Used PCs for more than 20 years. Knew nothing about Mac other than my roommate having one.

In some ways it was confusing but when I realized that the Settings icon was the exact same thing as Windows setting control pannel and that Finder was exactly the same as Start button pop up without having to go into sub folders (everything just shows up using Finder).

Then for downloading just the simple application of dragging the file into apps (if it is an executable type file). It was SOOO easy.

Just an example: When I download addons for games in windows heres the process: Download program to my download files, scan the downloaded files, copy the files, find the path to my games addons folder paste the files in and then delete the files from the download folders.

With the iMac its just download the file, open Finder window, go into downloads, highlight the addon, open other finder window into my games folder and drag it in. It is living now only in my games folder and I dont' have to delete it from the download folder.

Now when I have to use my PC after a long time away from it, I am amazed at how many hoops and BS I have to jump through just to find things, or get into folders etc.

To also rave a little: I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REBOOT IN THE WHOLE YEAR I HAVE HAD IT (due to things not working. Not for java, antivirus, program hang ups etc. )

Good luck with your decision.

 

[CaoCao]

For whatever one person's opinion is worth, I found a lot of testimony in the forums that Parallels was a better thing to have than Fusion or anything else.

In what they call Coherence mode, your Windows application will stand in its own Window just like any OS X application, except that its buttons will resemble Windows. E.G., the minimise and close buttons will be top right instead of top left, that kind of thing.

Virtual machines take up a fair amount of memory, too. Right now I am using 7.02 GB according to Activity Monitor, having several OS X windows open, and an instance of 64-bit Windows 7 running showing me feeds from various cameras in various buildings.

Very manageable...just understand that a decent amount of RAM is a good idea. 12 GB here.

Something that VM beginners don't consider, frequently, is that you cannot use your Windows license in both Bootcamp and the virtual machine. You can only use the license in one or the other, because it is technically two different machines. If you want to have both Bootcamp and the virtual machine running Windows, you need two different licenses.

Huh? Windows OEM is bound to the Motherboard, why can't you use Windows retail for both?

 

[mike.t]

my 2c - instead of trying to figure out how to run windows on your mac, go the other way and try and figure out how to switch to a mac version of the software you need.

I had parallels running on my MBP for a year or so and it was a pain in the ass - would work fine for 90% of the time but whenever something was urgent or late it'd hang/crash/conflict with something, the USB ports werent always recognised and it was just frustrating.

OSX is brilliant, and most stuff is available on Mac now, and by the time you've bought a MS licence to run over parallels it's probably no cheaper than getting the 'right' software to run on your new shiny mac...

(but yes, you need to get a mac)

 

[tanyawongz]

I've been using a PC since I was two, I recently changed to a Mac because I started working at a Apple Reseller. I've got to say, the learning curve was easy and enjoyable. I personally believe in Mac laptops more because of their build quality (glass trackpad and unibody enclosure), I still own a PC desktop that I built myself, mainly for gaming purposes. The flexibility of building a PC still captures me, because I get to pick out everything inside. I think daily tasks are done easier through OSX, I also have a iPad and a iPhone, and they have both been great.

 

[ciaran00]

Just do it, man. It's easy to switch. I was a Windows guy too.

 

[gwsat]

my 2c - instead of trying to figure out how to run windows on your mac, go the other way and try and figure out how to switch to a mac version of the software you need.

I had parallels running on my MBP for a year or so and it was a pain in the ass - would work fine for 90% of the time but whenever something was urgent or late it'd hang/crash/conflict with something, the USB ports werent always recognised and it was just frustrating.

OSX is brilliant, and most stuff is available on Mac now, and by the time you've bought a MS licence to run over parallels it's probably no cheaper than getting the 'right' software to run on your new shiny mac...

(but yes, you need to get a mac)

I agree that an OS X version of a program you habitually used in Windows is the best bet, so long as the OS X version works as well for you as the Windows version. In my case, I learned that the OS X version of Quicken is simply awful and its online version, Mint, a pale imitation of Quicken for Windows. Similarly, I have used WordPerfect since its DOS days and never learned to be as comfortable with MS Word for OS X as I was with WordPerfect. I finally gave up and decided to run Windows in Fusion's unity mode so that I could have the best of both worlds. I really wish it weren't necessary because the Windows-Fusion-OS X combination is a whole lot more complicated than running nothing but OS X apps would have been. Alas, I concluded that the Rube Goldberg complications necessitated by my need for Quicken for Windows and WordPerfect were unavoidable. As messy as it is, there is a lot to be said for being able to run Quicken and WordPerfect for Windows, iCal, Chrome for OS X, Mail, and Address Book all at once.

 

[KPOM]

my 2c - instead of trying to figure out how to run windows on your mac, go the other way and try and figure out how to switch to a mac version of the software you need.

I generally agree, but Quicken for Mac is just awful, and certain specialized programs (which someone who works in IT might need to use) aren't always available. I'm down to using Quicken and IE to log onto my corporate remote site (which doesn't work with Safari or Firefox).

 

[YMark]

In my case, I learned that the OS X version of Quicken is simply awful and its online version, Mint, a pale imitation of Quicken for Windows. Similarly, I have used WordPerfect since its DOS days and never learned to be as comfortable with MS Word for OS X as I was with WordPerfect. I finally gave up and decided to run Windows in Fusion's unity mode so that I could have the best of both worlds. I really wish it weren't necessary because the Windows-Fusion-OS X combination is a whole lot more complicated than running nothing but OS X apps would have been.

I agree for the most part. My only real "gripe" with the Mac platform is the lack of a real home financial application. Quicken is a real POS, and Mint is a pale imitation as you say. I'm currently using iBank, which isn't bad, but it isn't great either. One ugly UI that's for sure.

And I REFUSE to pollute any of my Macs by installing that wart Windows on any of them.

 

[michaelk7]

I'm a PC guy.



My wife is using parallels or something like that to run her oil and gas program which is pc only and she's going to switch back and forth. That's not really an option for me because I'm in and out of several windows only programs throughout the day.

Work with an O&G Partnership also. We moved to Macs about 7 years ago. First 3 years kept a Dell specifically for Wolfepak O&G Accounting software. We now run the accounting software through Fusion and it's all so stable. It has worked great and we would not look back. We had someone build a File Maker database to track RI and WI properties in 9 states.

Your wife made a brilliant decision. What O&G software does she run? I have to use Firefox to access Oildex.

 

[ski bum]

glad I switched to MAC

I've had PCs since the IBM PC-AT, PC laptops. finally switched to iMAC last year just because got tired of blue screen of death, slowness due to virus checker, frequent crashes. Extremely pleased with the switch. OS X has only had few problems--fire fox (but just affects browser and everything else oK), MS Word for the MAC "froze" the screen once, and a videogame froze the screen once. compared to several times a month with a PC...

speed of MBA compared to other laptops is amazing. MS Word/Excel programs files can be read easily with MS Office for the MAC.

happy with MBA too.

having said that, even after a year, there a still a few little tricks with the MAC and PC features that I was/am used to, that I don't know for the MAC.

(most frustrating ones for me to learn were: how to burn a DVD and how to create sub-folders and save to them. These were not "intuitive" on the MAC for me and took a while to google and find out (many of the answers are in MacRumors Forums). These learning issues were outweighed by far with--ease of setting up new Wi Fi network compared to PC, and less crashing.

Still pleased and am still a MAC convert.

 

[gwsat]

Work with an O&G Partnership also. We moved to Macs about 7 years ago. First 3 years kept a Dell specifically for Wolfepak O&G Accounting software. We now run the accounting software through Fusion and it's all so stable. It has worked great and we would not look back. We had someone build a File Maker database to track RI and WI properties in 9 states.

Your wife made a brilliant decision. What O&G software does she run? I have to use Firefox to access Oildex.

Same here. I run Quicken for Windows and WordPerfect under Fusion in Unity mode and it has been rock solid and plenty fast on my 13 inch Ultimate MBA. I get into Quicken and WordPerfect from the OS X desktop several times a day. In fact, I leave Quicken running on the OS X desktop 24/7. I could not be happier with my setup.