Help with Vista, Bootcamp & Virtualization

[thegrandmaster]

Hey guys,

when I get my SR MBP I want to have bootcamp installed (pretty much just for games) but I also want to be able to use stuff like Office 07 (Windows Version for better compatibility) in Coherence mode with Parallels.

I've read you can use your Bootcamp partition in Parallels, I'm assuming that means that you make 1 partition with Bootcamp and then you can run Parallels from that, can someone confirm, I'm not too sure.

Second, I know the EULA forbids virtualization of Vista Home Premium, but if you have that installed in Bootcamp, what happens if you try and run Parallels from it. Is that actively prevented or are you just supposed *not* to do it.

Disclaimer : I'm not too sure what I'm talking about with all that, and if any of its illegal (or bad or w/e) sorry.

Either way am I better off just buying a copy of XP instead of shelling out for Vista Ultimate.

If I had XP in Bootcamp could I load into that to play games, and still use it with Parallels to run Windows only software alongside OS X stuff?

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Sbrocket]

Hey guys,

when I get my SR MBP I want to have bootcamp installed (pretty much just for games) but I also want to be able to use stuff like Office 07 (Windows Version for better compatibility) in Coherence mode with Parallels.

I've read you can use your Bootcamp partition in Parallels, I'm assuming that means that you make 1 partition with Bootcamp and then you can run Parallels from that, can someone confirm, I'm not too sure.

Second, I know the EULA forbids virtualization of Vista Home Premium, but if you have that installed in Bootcamp, what happens if you try and run Parallels from it. Is that actively prevented or are you just supposed *not* to do it.

Disclaimer : I'm not too sure what I'm talking about with all that, and if any of its illegal (or bad or w/e) sorry.

Either way am I better off just buying a copy of XP instead of shelling out for Vista Ultimate.

If I had XP in Bootcamp could I load into that to play games, and still use it with Parallels to run Windows only software alongside OS X stuff?

Thanks for the help guys.

If you don't have a specific reason for using Vista over XP at the moment, then I would say stick with XP SP2 for now. You'll get better drivers support, its been out much longer, and you don't have to bother with Vista's ridiculous system of multiple editions. Plus, there's really no reason for running Vista if you're just going to be playing a few games every so often and using Office.

Question 1: Yes, you will go through the normal Boot Camp install procedure and install Vista/XP SP2. Then you'll simply pull up Parallels or VMware (see below) and it should detect the Boot Camp partition. You can look at their manuals for more specific info.

Question 2: Not sure on this one.

***
Why VMware Fusion is a better deal than Parallels Desktop...
1) It's currently free.
2) You can preorder it right now for 50% off.
3) Personally, it seems more stable and a good deal snappier than Parallels to me even though its still in public beta.
4) VMware has been in the virtualization business longer.

 

[thegrandmaster]

If you don't have a specific reason for using Vista over XP at the moment, then I would say stick with XP SP2 for now. You'll get better drivers support, its been out much longer, and you don't have to bother with Vista's ridiculous system of multiple editions. Plus, there's really no reason for running Vista if you're just going to be playing a few games every so often and using Office.

Question 1: Yes, you will go through the normal Boot Camp install procedure and install Vista/XP SP2. Then you'll simply pull up Parallels or VMware (see below) and it should detect the Boot Camp partition. You can look at their manuals for more specific info.

Question 2: Not sure on this one.

***
Why VMware Fusion is a better deal than Parallels Desktop...
1) It's currently free.
2) You can preorder it right now for 50% off.
3) Personally, it seems more stable and a good deal snappier than Parallels to me even though its still in public beta.
4) VMware has been in the virtualization business longer.

Thanks for the info, I'd heard about VMWare but Parallels is the one that seems to get all the fanfare so I kind of fogot about it.

I think I'll stick with XP in the partition, and I'll then be able to use Office 07 or w/e in Fusion alongside OS X apps, and just boot into XP for games.

Thanks for the help!