Using Windows majority of the time :( ? Advice needed.

[vapemore]

Anyone using their Mac to run Windows 80% of the time or more?

If yes, is there anything wrong with that?

I'm sort of forced to go back to Windows in a way, and I do NOT want to do it, but here's my situation...

I started with Mac's about a year ago, I love everything about them, hardware and software.

I use AutoCad Software to make a living, it's time now for me to start a new project. Like most people I have a really busy schedule and during the past year I did not devote enough time to learn CAD software for the Mac, now that I'm starting a new Project I really have no time to endure a learning curve change in software.

I have VM Fusion running on my one '09 MBP and Bootcamp on my other late 08 MBP.

What I don't like about Fusion is that I don't have enough resources, the machine works too hard, fans blowing and hot. On my other machine using Bootcamp it's all good, Windows runs okay. But of course to go to the Mac side I have to reboot.

I don't really like switching between OS's and juggling files between the two. First and foremost I love the Mac Hardware and with Windows7 on the horizon I may simplify things completely and run only Win7 via Bootcamp on both machines, then all files are in one place, no switching back and forth...

I almost feel bad or guilty for writing this, but for my needs I see it as a fast and simple solution.

Ah, I'm still so undecided.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[entatlrg]

I'm in a similar situation. As you said you like the Mac Hardware, as do I ... if you want to run Windows(7) on a Mac exclusively or 80% of the time or more go for it is what I'd suggest.

I have a 13" MBP running Vista through VMware, same thing as you wrote it gets hot with fans running ... I'm going to uninstall VM and reinstall Vista via Bootcamp ... then for fun on the 22nd I'm going to load Windows 7 and run that the majority of the time for the foreseeable future,

I'm sure we're not alone here, although some will advise against it, and I understand why, OS X is much more stable and simple, but I too need to run some Windows software and I do not like storing some folders in OSX and others in Windows, it's too confusing, imo.

 

[ayeying]

Running Windows natively will make it hot also. Thermal management is crappy to okay performance in Windows Vista or 7 or XP.

To the OP: I boot into windows before I sleep (I always leave my laptop on all night) to run BOINC (grid computing software) overnight and whatever I have on download. Of course there's a copy for OS X but it won't allow CUDA (GPU processing) so I run it in Windows.

During the day, I'm usually in OS X. It's more of my private, personal area where I just keep certain type of programs installed and Windows is my work (excluding school) area. I do have VMWare Fusion linked so if I needed to use a single program or whatnot, its an easy click away.

So I guess I'm more of a 40 OSX / 60 Windows user... I spend more or less equal amount of time between both... so ya.

 

[ziggyonice]

If Fusion's not working out for you, then Boot Camp is the only other way to go. You say that you’re going to be working on this project for a while. If you will seriously be using AutoCad 24/7, then why not just use Windows as the primary operating system? You can switch back to your Mac side after you have more time to do so.

 

[innominato5090]

using windows on a mac is not a guilt
I use it daily on my mac; if you need some specific applications (such as CAD apps) there's no alternative.
and snow leopard is very fast to boot (in my case it take 35s) so you don't have to worry about it

 

[mpuck972]

I would highly recommend to not waste any time trying to learn some CAD application that is dedicated to run on a Mac, you are backing yourself into a corner. Imagine you spend the time and money to do it then have to go out and look for a job that will let you run such an obscure program, you will have trouble finding a job. Do a search on Monster.com for cad and see what software package gets the most hits and stick with that. That way you will always have a job. If your talking 2D Cad, then Autocad will be the winner, if you want to learn 3D then no doubt SolidWorks will be the clear winner.

As far as Windows on the Mac, Apple clearly pushes the idea of doing so, and like others mentioned, using Bootamp to do it is your best choice. While the virtualization programs allow for easy switching between the O/S's, it's just not the right way to do it, especially if you want to have full system resources.