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Keleko

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2008
1,928
2,768
Joe Schmo wants to watch a Netflix streaming movie. Joe finds out it works only in Windows. Joe sees he can get a program to virtualize Windows on his Mac so he doesn't have to reboot to Windows or use a separate computer just for Netflix. Joe is now happy he can watch his streamed movie from while still running OS X.

That's my main reason for Windows virtualization. It isn't gaming or office work. I use Bootcamp for games that I can't run in OS X in some way (Crossover or natively). I used to use virtualization more, but I did away with all but the netflix part by getting Mac native versions of the programs I needed in Windows (Quickbooks being the main one).

I can't say how many people watch Netflix streaming, but Netflix is pretty popular even with the non-techie crowd, and streaming from them is pretty easy.
 

nando2323

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 15, 2007
662
0
Joe Schmo wants to watch a Netflix streaming movie. Joe finds out it works only in Windows. Joe sees he can get a program to virtualize Windows on his Mac so he doesn't have to reboot to Windows or use a separate computer just for Netflix. Joe is now happy he can watch his streamed movie from while still running OS X.

That's my main reason for Windows virtualization. It isn't gaming or office work. I use Bootcamp for games that I can't run in OS X in some way (Crossover or natively). I used to use virtualization more, but I did away with all but the netflix part by getting Mac native versions of the programs I needed in Windows (Quickbooks being the main one).

I can't say how many people watch Netflix streaming, but Netflix is pretty popular even with the non-techie crowd, and streaming from them is pretty easy.

That is one issue with OS X I agree but I at least don't see many people watching a movie on a computer, the screen is too small and it's just not practical I would rather watch it on a TV, and I can still use my comp to do other things at the same time. But to each his own, I do understand that there are people out there that do watch movies on their computers but I think they are a minority. Plus you won't need that service anymore at least I won't since I own an XBOX360 and I will be watching those on my 42" anyhow come November.
 

dXTC

macrumors 68020
Oct 30, 2006
2,033
50
Up, up in my studio, studio
I use XP via Boot Camp for two things:

  • My workplace hasn't updated to pcAnywhere version 12 (the first one that has a OS X client) yet so I can VPN in when on-call. I'm working on this though...
  • I have considerable money and creative work invested in Cakewalk SONAR, a Windows-only pro audio app. So I can't just drop it for Logic Studio or Pro Tools.

If Twelve Tone Systems ever ports Cakewalk to the Mac, I'd get rid of my Boot Camp partition in short order. Until then, it's something of a necessary evil for me.
 

maccompaq

macrumors 65816
Mar 6, 2007
1,169
24
I use Leopard on a Mac and XP on a PC. All my computers have MS Office and Photoshop in their respective versions. For me, it does not make much difference which OS I am using. They both get the job done, although it works a little better on the Mac. I must admit that burning CDs and DVDs works better on a Mac.
 

nanofrog

macrumors G4
May 6, 2008
11,719
3
I use software that doesn't have an OS X equivalent, so windows is mandatory. Not only is the Mac Pro less expensive for an equivalent PC, if one considers the expense of a separate Mac and PC, particularly of similar specs, it's not financially viable.
 

Macmonter

macrumors regular
Aug 14, 2008
126
7
Vermont, USA
I think Windows on the mac and virtualization is worthless on a home comp.

Well, nando2323, you sure made me think back on why I spent $240 extra to put Parallels and XP on my $3,000 Mac Pro! Gee! I even spent another $130 later to put Home Office on the XP side. That's 350 bucks! Was I crazy! I'm sure you think I was!

Initially, I made the choice to go X10 and XP because I was too timid to make a cold-turkey switch to Mac after 8 years of using Windows exclusively at work and at home. Besides, I felt that it was a Windows' world, and I wasn't confident (as you apparently are) that the Mac would meet all my computer needs now or in the future. I'm semi-retired and now perform some work for my employer at home. Much of the work is updating heavily formatted MS Word documents that were intended for mass printing. When I first opened one of these documents in Pages which I expected would retain the original's appearance, I was very disappointed. Not wanting to trust these important documents to a Mac version of Office, I bought the Windows version which displays the documents in their native format making my updating task much more efficient. Would the Mac Office version have been as effective? I don't know or care now, because the $130 Windows Home Office bought me peace of mind.

Oh, and then there is the problem I described in a digital photography thread in Mac Forum about iPhoto not being able to display b/w images scanned with a gray scale profile. It seems iPhoto will only display images having a color profile even if its b/w. Windows Image Viewer has no problem displaying b/w profiled images. Since I have no desire to spend the time to rescan dozens of my old b/w negatives that displayed nicely on my old PC, I now have them filed in an XP folder on my Mac. I would be happier if my b/w could be filed with my color images in iPhoto, but iPhoto can't do it!

I am by no means sorry about buying a Mac. I consider X10 much better than any Windows OS, Safari better than IE, Mail better than Outlook Express and iPhoto better at image archiving than what Windows has to offer.

Was I crazy to run Windows on my Mac? I don't think so! Having the best of both OS has given me the flexibility in doing my computer tasks and the assurance that I'm using the best tools available for those tasks. $350 well spent!
 

dimme

macrumors 68040
Feb 14, 2007
3,265
32,183
SF, CA
I have boot camp on my computer and use it once a month or so when I am board. For a home computer it is too much work to keep 2 OS up to date.
 

ayeying

macrumors 601
Dec 5, 2007
4,547
13
Yay Area, CA
the OP's opinion is that OSX has similar/better applications for the same uses as those of the windows counterparts.

However, they're not ALL similar or better.

My dad's iMac runs both OSX and Windows because he uses programs in windows that even though has a counterpart in OSX, he still prefers to use them in Windows. Thats his choice, he uses it for as a Home Computer, the iMac is his sole system and there's nothing wrong with it.

if you can use OSX solely and not use any windows or virtualization, thats great, but everyone has their own methods of using their system.
 

DoFoT9

macrumors P6
Jun 11, 2007
17,586
100
London, United Kingdom
well for me personally i NEED virtualisation...

my uni FORCES us to use programs that are winblows only, last semester i had an assignment that made virtual 6800 code, we had to develop it yada yada, this semester we have to use MS project and a few other crappy MS programs to make DFD's etcetc.

so yea i kinda need it, i would rather not because it chews my HD space but u know...
 

Phil A.

Moderator emeritus
Apr 2, 2006
5,800
3,100
Shropshire, UK
I sort of agree with the OP, but think it could have been worded better to avoid implying people who use virtualization are idiots ;)
My wife and daughter don't have virtualization on their Macs and don't need windows at all. I do have Fusion on my iMac and MBA, but use it solely for running Visual Studio. I also have Fusion on my Mac Pro but there it's running a Subversion Appliance under Linux ('cos I was too lazy to set it up natively in OSX :) )
A lot of people can use OS X exclusively and a lot of people can't. The great thing with Bootcamp and Virtualization is you have the choice :D
 

drummerlondonw3

macrumors 6502a
Feb 10, 2008
542
0
London
Why would I run HandBrake on my Macbook and fry it when I have my quad core desktop?

I'd love to run Office 2008 solely but it doesn't handle all the documents that I get.
.

Personally I run Excel at work intensively. I am giving up my thinkpad now and I will run excel in bootcamp and/or parallels

For me not having to relearn the nuisances of an excel version and a drop in speed is not worth it for me. it might seem silly but that could in real terms represent a 10% drop in productivity
Oh and also if you find a good version of Access for Mac please let me know:rolleyes::rolleyes:

No windows is not the superior OS but it is the most popular and as long as that's the case Windows will be getting versions of software that wont be released on mac os x

d:apple:
 

odinsride

macrumors 65816
Apr 11, 2007
1,149
3
I use VMware for Google Chrome, and the old version of AIM for windows, which supports photo and audio sharing through Direct IM
 

nando2323

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 15, 2007
662
0
I have boot camp on my computer and use it once a month or so when I am board. For a home computer it is too much work to keep 2 OS up to date.

This is what I am talking about I think for the basic home user it is not necessary and should not even be a selling point. To me it would confuse them even more to have to load another OS onto their Macs and have to deal with that. It is just not practical.
 

dimme

macrumors 68040
Feb 14, 2007
3,265
32,183
SF, CA
The hassle I have with running more that one OS is that you spend more time keeping the OS's up to date and less time using the computer. I have a MBP with boot camp with I boot into every few weeks I usall have to update windows AVS and so on before I use the computer.
 
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