I just got a spanking new Imac after being informed that my PC's motherboard was slowly failing. I love Vegas, and may still want to run some other PC based Aps (word/excel, etc.). I downloaded Parallels, and realize that to run Vegas on this machine, I should use bootcamp. So I'm thinking I can use bootcamp for more intensive aps (Vegas), and parallels for word and lesser stuff. I'm not really worried about gaming.

Before I go and partition the hard drive and reinstall OSX, I'd like to know if anyone runs both parallels and boot camp on their machine, and if my above idea is a good one. I've read that parallels won't recognize the Windows partition of your drive, so you basically have to install all windows aps twice? Once in bootcamp, and again on the virtual machine. Any issues? problems? Thanks.

I don't use Boot Camp, but I use Parallels 3, and there's an option to run Windows from a Boot Camp partition, which would eliminate the need to install your programs twice.

Ok, so that means you partition the drive, install your windows aps on the PC partition, and then you can run that stuff either via bootcamp or parallels? But parallels is still far less efficient than BC even if you use this option, right?

I'm running Parallels and Boot Camp so that I can still use Vegas when needed.

Parallels is much slower (because it can only use one core of the processor). But for small things it is still useful. I have edited using Vegas with it, although it is better to use Boot Camp for that.

You need to install Windows on a Boot Camp partition first (making sure that you have either XP SP 2 or Vista). Once all the Apple drivers have been installed and Windows is activated, you can then install Parallels in OS X and tell it to use your Boot Camp partition.

When you run Windows in Parallels for the first time it will ask you to activate Windows again. Do not do this until you have installed Parallels Tools. Afterwards you can then activate Windows again (you may have to phone Microsoft for a new key, but it isn't a problem).

You should then be able to boot into Boot Camp or Parallels without any issues.

I tend to use Parallels as much as I can because I hate having to leave OS X. Its pretty cool being able to have OS X on one monitor and XP on the other!

Something else to consider is that you will need a seperate NTFS partition or HDD for storing video on for editing in Windows. You could use FAT32, but this is limiting for video because of the file size limitations.

With NTFS you can copy from the Windows drive to OS X, but not vice versa. With FAT32 you can move and copy files in both directions.

Before I go and partition the hard drive and reinstall OSX

Why do you need to reinstall OS X?

Okay, thanks.

Reinstalling OSX--well, if I partition the drive, don't I have to erase it first? And then reinstall OSX after partitioning? You can't partition a drive that already has anything on it, right?

As for Fat32 v NTFS, I thought parallels had some special thing that allowed you to share files between the VM and OSX. I was going to give myself about 60GB for the PC partition (my current PC has a 30GB drive, so I figure 60 is plenty), and when I'm actually doing editing in VEgas, just have a separate external drive for that media, that is only NTFS formatted.

with BootCamp Assistant you can create a partition for Windows on the existing startup drive without needing to wipe or reinstall anything

cool huh

So cool I would make a dirty joke if this wasn't DVinfo and I didn't know it'd get erased, followed by an admonishing email from Hurd.

When I format the windows partition, do I do it as "free space"?

The Boot Camp installation takes care of everything. Don't partition yourself. Let Boot Camp do the work.

Something a lot of Windows users have to get used to is that partitioning in OS X is really easy and doesn't involve anything painful like it does in Windows.

Thanks for the tip!

So, do I HAVE to install XP or Vista? I never actually bought XP. I had an old machine I bought an XP Pro upgrade for, and my newer computer (the dying one) had it installed already, but they didn't sent Windows CDs.

So basically I have a Win 98 CD, and an XP Pro upgrade. Will this do?

You'll need an original full CD.

Oh, make no mistake son, I'm getting FCP, but just to keep the option open, I want to be able to run Vegas too. For instance, I have a project that's essentially done, but I'm going to screen it and then cut it down according to the response. It's a Vegas project, so I still need that program. It would be amazing if they would one day make Vegas for Mac.

Guess it's off to ebay to search for Windows XP.

well, this computer had been pretty well behaved until I learned of the failing motherboard (the failing integrated video card being the first sign). It was a Dell, and they have a good rep, but my girlfriend got a lemon, and her brother had one with problems too, and I been wanting to try a Mac as my next machine. I just didn't think it would be this soon (bought the PC mid 2005). I figure if, down the line, I don't end up liking it, I can probably get a PC twice as powerful as my current one for like $500.

PC's are getting cheaper, but that is just to try to keep up with Apple.

I hear the life expectancy of a PC is 2-4 years...a Mac...5-7 years.

Maybe the Macs are twice the price, but did you ever think of how long your PC would hold out.

Also, if you have to use Windows, Vista runs faster on an Apple Laptop, than a PC notebook. http://www.apple.com/getamac/

Josh,
Since you're in Houston, I think your best bet for getting a full WinXP is to stop in at Fry's electronics tomorrow (two locations in the area). You can get the full OEM software for about the retail cost of the upgrade version. It'll be posted up on the wall next next to motherboards.

For those who chomp at the bit to diss PC or diss Mac -- not here on DVinfo.net. Two "platform war" type posts removed.

Also, Joseph, if you have a reference that folks can read for themselves and decide whether it is useful or not, great, post the link. But otherwise, the life expectancy comment borders on the same category: platform war / FUD. Without a credible source article, those kind of comments must be assumed to be among the bulk of the internet: FUD or worse...and in any case wasn't on topic.

Didn't mean to start a flame war, if I did.

How much are you talkin, for Win XP at
Fry's? ARound $100?

As for Vista/XP, I'm on an Imac, plus, I've heard nothing but scary stuff about Vista. I'm used to XP, and it's always run pretty smoothly.

You didn't start anything. There are just a lot of folks out there with an attitude something like (to grossly paraphrase the sentiment), "What I have is best and therefore it is the only possible choice for the entire universe, anyone who disagrees is a pathetic imbecile, and I just have to tell the world about it." Even if the posts are mild, those kind of things generally escalate really fast so we try to nip them in the bud. We don't do platform wars here. Anyway, it wasn't you and no biggie -- just some of the usual housekeeping.

I think XP Pro OEM would be around $199. Fry's Online doesn't list the OEM versions, but that's the cost of the regular XP Pro upgrade, so should be about what the store is charging for the full OEM version over in the computer section (not the boxed retail versions in the software section).

As for Vista, personally I'm still waiting a while after SP1 is released to see how things go.

Ah, 199.

What about home edition?

There are a lot of online stores selling home edition with SP2 for under $100. I had home edition on the dying PC, and it's fine, don't seem to need pro.

Take a look at this:

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

Looks cool, but I thought Parallels already had a file sharing feature for going between the two?

Actually, yes, you're correct.

OEM for XP Home is listed at $100 or so. Will that cut it?

Ok, kids. . .the dream is happening. I got my Windows XP with SP2, OEM (around $100), put it in, and I'm running windows as I type this in OSX. It did NOT ask me to reactivate. . .I saw a I message about it, but it hasn't asked me anything yet. Maybe next time I start Windows it will? Anyway, seems to be working fine. Windows magically found my internet connection so I didn't have to set it up again, so now I can connect through either OSX or Win XP.


I'm writing this later than the above paragraph. The dream isn't QUITE as sexy as I thought, yet. I forgot about the fact that parallels doesn't recognize firewire (I thought I read there was some workaround for this, though?). Futhermore, apparently, if you have a firewire device hooked up to your mac and attempt to start parallels, it thinks it's another windows partition and won't start. If it's already running and you attach a firewire device, no problem.

Also, can't connect to the net in boot camp, but I can, even in Windows, in parallel. Weird, eh?

In boot camp, everything is stretched to fill the mac's 16:9 screen, even in programs. So for instance, in Vegas, a 4:3 project looks like 16:9. I don't know if there's a fix for this? And, again, in boot camp, whenever you move a window around, it's really sluggish. . .you can actually see it redrawing the windows as you move them across the screen.

And, it seems to have issues keeping accurate time. I know I set the time when I first installed Windows, but for it then reset, and then did it again recently. Fixable?

Other than all that, it seems to work pretty smoothly so far.

Oh, and I was wrong about the activation . It did ask to be activated, but no problems there. I went online via Parallels and it was all good.

Okay, I lied again. It does need to be activated twice, once for parallels and once for boot camp. Apparently, to the computer, they're two different machines. I don't think it matters which order you do it in, but it MUST be done twice. This is a real issue if you get OEM software, as the product key can only be activated once. I was lucky the code from my old PC worked when I was asked to reactivate. But the rest of you BE CAREFUL!