Another Boot camp & Virtualization ?

[rye9]

Next year for college I'll have a new Mac capable of running Windows. Now, I know for sure I will be using Windows to run an application in which I do computer programming (C++), since that will be one of my classes. However, outside of that I don't know what I'll use it for. I might need to download Maple (for those of you who are familiar), and other common applications used for school. Other than than I think I might install the original Call of Duty from years back... so I don't think that would be too intensive since it's dated, but I'm not sure. Anyways, with this information, would it be recommended I use Boot Camp or virtualization software? (VMware/parallels)

Oh, it would likely be an aluminum MacBook too, if that helps at all.

 

[Stridder44]

Next year for college I'll have a new Mac capable of running Windows. Now, I know for sure I will be using Windows to run an application in which I do computer programming (C++), since that will be one of my classes. However, outside of that I don't know what I'll use it for. I might need to download Maple (for those of you who are familiar), and other common applications used for school. Other than than I think I might install the original Call of Duty from years back... so I don't think that would be too intensive since it's dated, but I'm not sure. Anyways, with this information, would it be recommended I use Boot Camp or virtualization software? (VMware/parallels)

Oh, it would likely be an aluminum MacBook too, if that helps at all.

Well, as always, if you want the fastest speeds your Mac can handle, then Boot Camp is your answer. However if you're more concerned with productivity then virtual machine would be better. Honestly from your list there I'd say virtual machine would be fine. Even the old Call of Duty would probably run ok.

 

[aznguyen316]

for your application I would recommend a Virtual, but if you want to play any games, I suggest BootCamp. But I'm using a SAS (statistical program) in windows and it's so nice to have it in a virtual window while in OS X so I can do write ups etc in OS X via Pages or Word 08 and also go into the SAS program to do what I need. I'm sure this will be nice for your C++ work when doing in that and needing to use your OSX programs/files at hand. VMWare 2 is what I use.. and boot camp for gaming.

 

[MacDawg]

I always recommend installing initially with BootCamp and adding virtualization. It gives you the best of both worlds because VMWare or Parallels will run your BootCamp partition. Set it up right the first time, and it will save you headaches with registering your Windows with MS. If you set up virtualization first and then decide you want to run BootCamp it can be a pain. BootCamp costs you nothing... start there and added VMWare Fusion.

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[SeaneyC]

I always recommend installing initially with BootCamp and adding virtualization. It gives you the best of both worlds because VMWare or Parallels will run your BootCamp partition. Set it up right the first time, and it will save you headaches with registering your Windows with MS. If you set up virtualization first and then decide you want to run BootCamp it can be a pain. BootCamp costs you nothing... start there and added VMWare Fusion.

Woof, Woof - Dawg

I actually did the opposite after testing and reinstalling Mac OSX from scratch on my RevA Air, performance just was too poor running the VM from the bootcamp partition, so did a nice meaty bootcamp partition on XP SP3 and then a minimal XP VM installation in Fusion, and always go back to my base install snapshot for when I need to dip into windows quickly, and boot up in bootcamp when i'm doing games. (yes i know RevA is crap for games but it runs the ones i want ok!)