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Parallels, VMware, bootcamp or ?

B

bjjp2

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 13, 2005
196
401
Switched to Macs a couple of years ago and very happy, but I miss playing games that are only available for Windows. Would like to install Windows 7 on an iMac (or possibly a new Macbook) solely for the purpose of playing games. What's the best way to do it? Confused by all the options.
Thanks.
 
bjjp2 said:
Switched to Macs a couple of years ago and very happy, but I miss playing games that are only available for Windows. Would like to install Windows 7 on an iMac (or possibly a new Macbook) solely for the purpose of playing games. What's the best way to do it? Confused by all the options.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

It depends how intense your games are. If you're playing something like Sims or Solitaire, VMWare Fusion, Parallels, or VirtualBox would work fine. If you play games that are a bit more strenuous, Boot Camp is the best option since it runs natively instead of being virtualized.
 
1ofthedavids said:
It depends how intense your games are. If you're playing something like Sims or Solitaire, VMWare Fusion, Parallels, or VirtualBox would work fine. If you play games that are a bit more strenuous, Boot Camp is the best option since it runs natively instead of being virtualized.
Click to expand...

^ This. As for Parallels vs. VMWare, I prefer VMWare. It works amazingly well.
 
Keep in mind that BootCamp and Virtural Box are free. And in VB you don't need to install windows, thus you don't have to buy a license.
BootCamp has, for me, tue disadvantage to require a reboot befor/after run it. Whereas the other run in a window inside mac OS.
 
LAS.mac said:
Keep in mind that BootCamp and Virtural Box are free. And in VB you don't need to install windows, thus you don't have to buy a license.
BootCamp has, for me, tue disadvantage to require a reboot befor/after run it. Whereas the other run in a window inside mac OS.
Click to expand...

That is a small price to pay though. If you can sit at a red light, you can wait 45 seconds for the computer to re-boot.
 
I have bootcamp set-up and installed VMWare to use the bootcamp partition. If I need all the resources, I'll bootcamp it. If not, I'll just open up VMWare.
 
LAS.mac said:
Keep in mind that BootCamp and Virtural Box are free. And in VB you don't need to install windows, thus you don't have to buy a license.
BootCamp has, for me, tue disadvantage to require a reboot befor/after run it. Whereas the other run in a window inside mac OS.
Click to expand...

Why don't you need a license to install Windows under VB?
 
Parallels have OK graphics performance, if you don't mind playing the (list of tested games) on medium/low (sometimes) high settings. If you want to play something that isn't on the list it may or may not work.

Boot Camp is your best option for gaming - that's what I do.
Parallels/VMWare are good for convenient gaming - you don't have to reboot, but you will get a little less performance I think and a lot less graphics performance. Oh and your comp has to have enough RAM/CPU/GFX MEM to dedicate to the Virtual Machine

Kind Regards
 
I am also in the same boat. Will VMWare 2 run Windows 7 ok? I know there is a new one being released sometime soon but I want to install my windows ASAP. Mainly will be using it to run word and SPSS (statistics program) and I don't want to have to boot into Windows.
 
viccles said:
I am also in the same boat. Will VMWare 2 run Windows 7 ok? I know there is a new one being released sometime soon but I want to install my windows ASAP. Mainly will be using it to run word and SPSS (statistics program) and I don't want to have to boot into Windows.
Click to expand...

I do suggest you wait nonetheless. The new version coming soon supports Windows 7.
 
ravenvii said:
I do suggest you wait nonetheless. The new version coming soon supports Windows 7.
Click to expand...

Looks like it comes out not next week, the week after. I can wait. I have been told that virtual box is a good alternative? I'm just a bit wary of programs you don't go buy at the store (I know next to nothing about this stuff)
 
viccles said:
Looks like it comes out not next week, the week after. I can wait. I have been told that virtual box is a good alternative? I'm just a bit wary of programs you don't go buy at the store (I know next to nothing about this stuff)
Click to expand...

Yes, VirtualBox is a perfectly good alternative, and supports Windows 7 and Snow Leopard right now. The only things VMWare/Parallels are better at currently are graphics acceleration and user friendliness (not saying that VirtualBox is not user friendly, just that VMWare and Parallels has a more idiot-proof install process).
 
I like Parallels 4.0, I'd wait for Parallels 5.0 but that may be a long wait - so you might want to get VMWare 3.0 - apparently it supports Aero in Windows 7 and Vista? does it also support the Flip 3D or whatever it's called?

Kind Regards
 
I think I might give Virtualbox a try, I really only do want Windows to be able to use SPSS mainly and perhaps word.
 
Crossover for Mac
Always remember - Google is your buddy :)

Dad tried the trial and said it didn't work properly for him, but the programs he tried and wanted to use were not on their compatible programs list, but I've never tried it or used it myself.
Maybe download the trial and see how it runs for you. Personally I'd wait for Parallels 5.0 but if you can't then maybe wait for Fusion 3.0.

Kind Regards
 
viccles said:
Excuse my ignorance but I have never heard of Crossover for Mac?
Click to expand...

You don't want to hear about it either. It's hopeless.

CrossOver lets you run Windows applications in Mac OS X without actually having to install Windows ... and because it doesn't have Windows installed it's not really compatible with the Windows applications, unless your needs are EXTREMELY simple (it might just about run Mine Sweeper correctly). There's also a special version for gaming ... God help gamers trying to use it.

Don't waste your time with CrossOver (or any other WINE-based product). Use a proper product like VMWare, Parallels, BootCamp, VirtualBox with a real, licensed version of Windows instead, and save yourself a ton of headaches.
 
Buzz Bumble said:
You don't want to hear about it either. It's hopeless.

CrossOver lets you run Windows applications in Mac OS X without actually having to install Windows ... and because it doesn't have Windows installed it's not really compatible with the Windows applications, unless your needs are EXTREMELY simple (it might just about run Mine Sweeper correctly). There's also a special version for gaming ... God help gamers trying to use it.

Don't waste your time with CrossOver (or any other WINE-based product). Use a proper product like VMWare, Parallels, BootCamp, VirtualBox with a real, licensed version of Windows instead, and save yourself a ton of headaches.
Click to expand...

Yep, I've purchased a real copy of Windows 7 (an oem one) and am waiting for it to arrive but just am unsure whether to use VMWare or Virtualbox.
 
You can probably pre-order Windows 7, just like you could with Snow Leopard.


I think VirtualBox is free, so you could download that and try it, but it is shareware / freeware, so it's not as user-firendly to set-up (or as someone said above, not as idiot-proof). VMWare, Parallels, and BootCamp are "proper" products by professional companies. :)
 
I guess I'll try Virtualbox first, and if that doesn't work I'll buy VMWare Fusion 3 when it comes out in 2 weeks
 
Does VirtualBox need to install window os first in order to work? Or can I just install window programs? Thanks,
 
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