Best Way to Run Windows?

[Dovahkiing]

Doesn't that just mean that Parallels VM is not running as fast as it could be?

This video is informative:

And there's a gaming database that shows Native, Rosetta 2, iOS/iPadOS, CrossOver, Parallels compatibility.
https://www.applegamingwiki.com/wiki/Home

Maybe. I'm just talking about casual games on the side - old 2D games that kind of thing. No matter how you run them, they run fine so for my case here I think Parallels VM is more efficient.

But the Windows system can do everything Mac can do (but not vice versa). So why not just get the Windows machine for gaming and use it for everything else?

Yes, stipulated that if your primary use case is gaming you should not buy one of these machines, OK? I think that was clear already but just to reiterate.

But for those of us that want to run macOS, it is still nice to emulate old games for some fun on the side.

 

[johannnn]

8 months later, what is the best solution nowadays?

At work I currently have a windows 10 image that I use in Parallels on my Intel iMac.
I virtualize windows for some scientific apps that are necessary for work, but they're not resource intensive at all.
Now I'd like to get either an M1 MBA or iMac, or the M2 MBA.
Is it possible to emulate/virtualize windows with my windows 10 image on M1/M2?
It can be dog slow, I don't really care. Like I said, they're not resource intensive at all. But I need to be able to access them.
Am I stuck with Intel Macs forever, or is there a good way to open x86 windows and x86 apps nowadays?

Sorry for the long post, just trying to get a sense of what solutions there are now mid-2022

 

[KPOM]

8 months later, what is the best solution nowadays?

At work I currently have a windows 10 image that I use in Parallels on my Intel iMac.
I virtualize windows for some scientific apps that are necessary for work, but they're not resource intensive at all.
Now I'd like to get either an M1 MBA or iMac, or the M2 MBA.
Is it possible to emulate/virtualize windows with my windows 10 image on M1/M2?
It can be dog slow, I don't really care. Like I said, they're not resource intensive at all. But I need to be able to access them.
Am I stuck with Intel Macs forever, or is there a good way to open x86 windows and x86 apps nowadays?

Sorry for the long post, just trying to get a sense of what solutions there are now mid-2022

The only solution is to download Windows 11 for ARM and use Parallels Desktop. It isn't officially supported and if you are using it for work the validity of the Windows license is questionable.

 

[bobcomer]

8 months later, what is the best solution nowadays?

At work I currently have a windows 10 image that I use in Parallels on my Intel iMac.
I virtualize windows for some scientific apps that are necessary for work, but they're not resource intensive at all.
Now I'd like to get either an M1 MBA or iMac, or the M2 MBA.
Is it possible to emulate/virtualize windows with my windows 10 image on M1/M2?
It can be dog slow, I don't really care. Like I said, they're not resource intensive at all. But I need to be able to access them.
Am I stuck with Intel Macs forever, or is there a good way to open x86 windows and x86 apps nowadays?

Sorry for the long post, just trying to get a sense of what solutions there are now mid-2022

There's no good way to do what you want. There's Windows on Arm, but like KPOM said, licensing is "questionable". I'd go so far as to say if your IT guys allow it, Microsoft could go down on them and your company management *hard* if they're audited.

If the apps you need are supported by Wine, but that's a long shot. You don't actually virtualize windows with it, it's just a translation layer built from a Linux way of running windows apps. If it works first time, you're good, if it doesn't, it's one of the harder things to get working.

It'd really be best to have a Windows machine too. x86 Macs wont be around forever.

 

[pshufd]

It'd really be best to have a Windows machine too. x86 Macs wont be around forever.

If you need to run Windows well, get a Windows system.

 

[xraydoc]

The only solution is to download Windows 11 for ARM and use Parallels Desktop. It isn't officially supported and if you are using it for work the validity of the Windows license is questionable.

All true. That said, Win for ARM seems to work reasonably well, particularly if you've got some RAM room and a couple extra CPU cores to give it.

I keep a small install with a licensed copy of Office 365 to validate my Mac created/edited documents on the Windows versions for mission-critical things. Most documents are fine, but I occasionally find a PowerPoint that needs just a few formatting tweaks.

 

[xraydoc]

8 months later, what is the best solution nowadays?

At work I currently have a windows 10 image that I use in Parallels on my Intel iMac.
I virtualize windows for some scientific apps that are necessary for work, but they're not resource intensive at all.
Now I'd like to get either an M1 MBA or iMac, or the M2 MBA.
Is it possible to emulate/virtualize windows with my windows 10 image on M1/M2?
It can be dog slow, I don't really care. Like I said, they're not resource intensive at all. But I need to be able to access them.
Am I stuck with Intel Macs forever, or is there a good way to open x86 windows and x86 apps nowadays?

Sorry for the long post, just trying to get a sense of what solutions there are now mid-2022

Just FYI, your current Parallels Intel Windows image isn't transferable to the Apple Silicon version of Parallels. You'll need to start with a fresh VM then reinstall your apps.

 

[johannnn]

If the apps you need are supported by Wine, but that's a long shot. You don't actually virtualize windows with it, it's just a translation layer built from a Linux way of running windows apps. If it works first time, you're good, if it doesn't, it's one of the harder things to get working.

Is Wine similar to CrossOver? That seems a bit popular at least for Mac gamers.

If you need to run Windows well, get a Windows system.

But that's the thing, it doesn't need to run well. It can be dog slow, it can have crappy performance and resolution, it can require extra layers etc. I just need to be able to run them..

Just FYI, your current Parallels Intel Windows image isn't transferable to the Apple Silicon version of Parallels. You'll need to start with a fresh VM then reinstall your apps.

Just so don't misunderstand it. So I can have Parallels on my M1/M2, but only to install ARM Windows? Is it possible to install x86 apps in ARM Windows? I looked at one app that I need and it says "Processor: 64-bit, x86 processor required (ARM processors are not supported)".

 

[bobcomer]

Is Wine similar to CrossOver? That seems a bit popular at least for Mac gamers.

Yes, it's based on the same thing.

 

[Lihp8270]

Just so don't misunderstand it. So I can have Parallels on my M1/M2, but only to install ARM Windows? Is it possible to install x86 apps in ARM Windows? I looked at one app that I need and it says "Processor: 64-bit, x86 processor required (ARM processors are not supported)".

Windows for ARM has a built in x86 emulator.

Whether your application runs or not. Depends whether it works under emulation.

Remember you will take a performance hit emulating a platform on an Os that is virtualised.

 

[xraydoc]

Is Wine similar to CrossOver? That seems a bit popular at least for Mac gamers.


But that's the thing, it doesn't need to run well. It can be dog slow, it can have crappy performance and resolution, it can require extra layers etc. I just need to be able to run them..


Just so don't misunderstand it. So I can have Parallels on my M1/M2, but only to install ARM Windows? Is it possible to install x86 apps in ARM Windows? I looked at one app that I need and it says "Processor: 64-bit, x86 processor required (ARM processors are not supported)".

On an Apple Mx-based machine, you cannot run a virtualized x86/64 OS, so you've got to install Windows 11 for ARM via Parallels through the Windows Insider Program (free to join). There is no retail version of Windows for ARM -- Microsoft has an exclusive deal with Qualcomm, so it's very unlikely that Microsoft will ever release a non-OEM/non-developer version of WinARM to the public.

The developer "preview" of Windows for ARM is unregistered. Some people have had success registering it with a retail code, but some have not. If you need Windows to be registered for whatever reason, YMMV.

Windows for ARM has a built-in x86 emulator (basically similar to Apple's Rosetta 2 for running macOS Intel apps on an Mx processor -- though has some technical differences). Not every Windows app will work; most will but some with direct hardware processor calls may not. You'll simply have to test your apps to see if they work or not. The only apps on Windows that I personally need (Office 365, Chrome, DrawBoard and a few others) work just fine. Since you noted that your app plainly states it won't work with ARM processors, I'm guessing they know what they're talking about since there are Windows machines with ARM processors, but there's only one way to find out.

The decision to support Windows on Apple Silicon rests completely with Microsoft. As of now, they don't appear interested, but they haven't yet actively tried to prevent it.

Performance of Windows for ARM via Parallels is fair. Works fine for Office-style apps, web browsers, etc.. Don't plan on editing any 4K video or running a high-performance AutoCAD session on it. And games are pretty much out of the question.

* The other option for "running" Windows apps on an Mx Mac would be to stick a cheap headless PC in a closet and run a remote desktop session to it on your Mac. Should perform quite well over ethernet or a good wifi network. While a little more work, it might be more elegant than having a second computer on your desk.

 

[bobcomer]

The decision to support Windows on Apple Silicon rests completely with Microsoft. As of now, they don't appear interested, but they haven't yet actively tried to prevent it.

Performance of Windows for ARM via Parallels is fair. Works fine for Office-style apps, web browsers, etc.. Don't plan on editing any 4K video or running a high-performance AutoCAD session on it. And games are pretty much out of the question.

Well said.

* The other option for "running" Windows apps on an Mx Mac would be to stick a cheap headless PC in a closet and run a remote desktop session to it on your Mac. Should perform quite well over ethernet or a good wifi network. While a little more work, it might be more elegant than having a second computer on your desk.

While my Windows machine isn't in the closet, that's what I do when I need Windows at home. Remote desktop, and that really works well. My Studio sits on top of my Windows PC.