Hi, Ill be getting a new macbook pro very soon.

However I would like to find out the difference between booting Windows from Bootcamp and from Parallels.

I understand that Bootcamp will be able to run windows exactly like a PC.. with full performance and all. And certainly there are some drawbacks that Parallels have compared to Bootcamp. Otherwise I suppose everyone would be using Parallels now.

Question is what are the disadvantages of using Parallels compared to Bootcamp?

Thanks in advance guys.

the memory will be share when u turn on the parallels.
example, if u have 2 gig ram it will be share between mac n windows...
so far i m fine with bootcamp...

come to Machines Sunway Pyramid and I can show you the power of Parallels Desktop

for macbook ... Parallels runs very very weak ... due to the absent of the Graphics Card .

this is not true

please check out www.youtube.com
search for "parallels desktop for mac"

see the demo on the parallels and you will understand parallels better. Those are independent post.

I tried both and I find VMWare Fusion's better. To each its own I guess.

trickflip, I'll assume you don't know how virtualization (Parallels/VMware) works. What it does in essence is it sends all instructions meant for the CPU, straight to the CPU itself without any translation done. This works very well for things that require calculations eg. regular programs.

However virtualization does not work for all components, and some instructions have to be translated. Biggest example here is graphics. Apps that depend a lot on the graphics hardware eg. games will run slower because there is translation involved, the graphics instructions aren't sent directly.

I bought Parallels at one point, then switched to VMware Fusion when it came out. I use Windows on VMware for stuff that doesn't require graphics eg. the Garmin Mapsource app for my GPS plus some Java apps that work best in IE. I reboot into bootcamp for games eg. Far Cry and Need For Speed.

i ve tried both parallels n vmware fusion.i would say d later one is better.but with parallels, there is a function which ables you to right click on any file and choose to open with programs on windows or mac...

I running vmware in my macbook. Running office application in vmware(winxp) and running PS CS3 in leopard. The performance still great, probably alit bit lag when I switch from one app to another app. Overall, can tahan. Totally ram for my mb is 1.5Gb. Virtualization focus more on your RAM and Processor. Not really for gpu

I was using both parallels and vmware. Seriously, i prefer vmware, it hog your resource less. And no to the graphic card thing. It doesnt really matter that much compare to the memory you have. The more ram you have, the better performance you will get.

The downside of these virtual thing is, you cant run any game that needs activex later than 8.1 something. Though there are beta that supports up to 9. Still, not advisable, especially those fps game. you will only see still pictures after still pictures for game like doom. *tried that before.

Cons? most games cant be played. Pro? if you are just doing those office suite stuff, no problem.

and one more thing, you can have more partition on the same drive.

And one more thing, vmware can use 2 cores of the processor, whereas parallels only use single core of the processor

Wow.. great feedback guys. Thanks alot!!

At least now I understand how this virtualization thing works. Also seems that most of you prefer VMware's Fusion...

Will go in that direction if i decide to go with virtualization.

Once again.. thanks alot for the valuable info.

Speaking of Fusion, how do you drag files from your guest (Windows) to your host (Leopard)?

I can drag files from Leopard to Windows easily, but not the other way round. Any way to do that?

there is a portal to do that.
found on the windows side, and also the mac side.

Just drag the file in there. and you are good to go.

Just browse the folder like any other folder, but in this case, you can browse anywhere in the mac, and drop your files there. So it's kind of very specific, but if you choose to decide to drop on desktop, just go find, MainDrive>Desktop.

This post has been edited by shoguniphicus: Nov 25 2007, 10:47 PM

Not much differences when I use parallels, games run a little slower and that's about it

Anyone uses Codeweaver Crossover here? Appreciate for any feedback.

Thanks.

The last time I try before, while i still using hackintosh. Launching an application takes quite a long time. I think i launch utorrent. And I also try WC3 in crossover due to no UB patch yet. The performance quite good in my hack, just the launching takes longer time. That time i play hamachi with my friend. Not much to say la. If you lazy to install winxp/vista, then probably you can try crossover. On the other hand, many applications still unable to support.

Thanks for the feedback. I want to use it mainly for IE only.

Crossover is a stripped down of windows 95/98, forgot which one. Yea, application launches, will take more than it should. in fact, when i was installing. it looks like forever.

The slow loading really sounds bad for it.

yea.. Or you can try my method.

Installing winxp in bootcamp (this is a must for me cos i kinda a gamer ). Then let vmware/parallels use your bootcamp drive to boot your installed winxp. Then you can run win application from your leopard or tiger, without installing OS again.

Works like a charm for me

allvin,

Sorry to ask. But what is the difference between:

1) using parallels to run WinXP, and
2) using parallels to run Bootcamp (which has WinXP)?


Thanks.

parallels and boot camp are two separate things. parallels lets you run windows within mac os x where as boot camp lets you run windows natively on a macintosh machine.

basically, there's not much different, just that you will waste some extra space IF you already install winxp in bootcamp.

The (1) choice is install winxp in a virtual hdd. In other words, you can save the virtual HDD and copy to another machine to boot it. Then again, you need parallels software in order to make it boot.

The (2) choice is install winxp in bootcamp. You should know that bootcamp let you boot the OS natively. For some odd reason, some lazy people (like me) wish to boot in winxp without rebooting mac osx and without need to waste extra hdd space and time to install winxp again. So parallels lets you to use "bootcamp drive" as a guest OS, instead of using the virtual HDD.

Is it good for you? Hope I don't confuse you. The bottom line is that IF you've install winxp in bootcamp (like me), then you no need to install again in parallels (virtual HDD), you can use your bootcamp winxp instead.

You are not answering his "actual" question

Thanks allvin.

I will be like you, I will not reboot into bootcamp to use WinXP. Cos I will be using IE occasionally only. It seems like it makes no difference for me to use either option 1 or 2 then?

what about gaming like dota, cs? should i use vmfusion or parallels? or boot camp?

from this comparisson,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of...rallels_Desktop

looks like parallels is better.. like the Smart Select and Parallels explorer function.. fusion doesn't has that right? or there are other ways for fusion to do it..

correct me if i'm wrong..

This post has been edited by vetkin_gray: Nov 29 2007, 07:44 PM

Games? Of cos bootcamp la. Just think logically. "High end" games (Crysis) already suffers in today modern pc machine. What to say if it is running inside a virtualized OS? Btw, that's just an example. Low end games can run in vmware/parallels without a problem (Directx 8 games or below).

Well, it depends on your personal taste. First virtualization software I've used was Parallels in my hack. This is because that time vmware no plan to develop virtualization software for mac. That's just pretty lame excuse. Later on, vmware "pop-up" with Fusion. The good thing about vmware is the performance. It can enable to run in 2 cores of your processor, whereas Parallels (until now) still in a single core

Personally speaking, I think both have their own pros and cons. One good thing I like about parallels is the parallels explorer which can enable you to edit data from your virtual HDD without running parallels itself. Save your time if you just want to copy/move data to your physical drive. Hope vmware implement it as well

@T816B, yea.. No big deal for you. Mostly users use bootcamp to install winxp/vista, is because they want to run the particular windows applications in native speed. High horsepower applications like 3Ds Max or games can barely run inside a Guest OS.

i don't expect high end games like bioshock or anything to run on fusion..

so i guess you can play dota and cs 1.6 on vmware fusion right? since they're directx 8.1 games. can i adjust like all high settings for them then, using vm fusion..

i really lazy want to boot different os..

dota is near impossible, not to say you get a very indecent look on the game. while cs 1.6 on the other hand, if you can live with 34 + fps, then it's perfectly fine.

please note that, you need to manually make w3 tft to run in opengl mode, google it and you will find some, just some words add at the end of .exe in the target file. *at least the last time i use that to dota, i need to do that. just for once.

for people as lazy as me, i dont want to repartition my drive for bootcamp. well, first of all, virtual hdd is good enough, i can back up any time i want without worrying of virus, breakdown and stuff like that. it's like having an invincible hdd.

For dota or wc3, just install mac version la.. Now UB lo.. I rather play via my leopard

Hmm i don't quite get you. What wrong with bootcamp? bootcamp also can backup mar.. Even it got virus or what, Leopard or mac osx don't scare of them cos can't run .exe extension or program. So why scare? If your bootcamp drive got virus, then just boot to mac osx and get your important data into mac partition. Lastly just delete the partition. You are definite safe

Lazy to repartition? Just take like 2min (for me). it is not like partition magic software. It darn easy and fast too

Thanks allvin.

Oh, you see, for virtual drive. i just need to copy and paste while drag the virtual drive to trash. *end of story. no more installing and stuff. Sorry for confusing everyone. i just keep a copy of my windows xp virtual hdd on my external. whenever my windows xp messed up. i just paste it back.

And also the partitioning stuff. Well, for as far as i know of. Partitioning frequently isnt really a good idea for long run. Well, may be i am wrong but i would rather copy and paste than seeing the verbose stuff again and again. it feels safer that everything is seriously under control. Nothing in the partition will be hurt even if i screw up in the virtual hdd, i just need to trash it. and that's the end of the story.

;p

This post has been edited by shoguniphicus: Nov 30 2007, 07:49 PM

@shoguniphicus, now i understand. Basically you just scare sth "good" happen with both of the partitions (including mac osx partition), right? Just suit yourself. For me, I don't have a choice, cos i need games for my mb. At least few games to enjoy myself for my free time. XD

@T816B, welcome. cheer

well actually i had tried parallels dekstop, VMware, crossover, and bootcamp. yeah i know how they works. but the one thing i don't like bootcamp is when i want to run windows i need to shut down my mac os and boot to select windows xp to boot it up. now i have a question, for bootcamp sure performance is far more better then parallels dekstop and VMware, but can i know what is the performance if i run

1 . parallels using bootcamp ? is it same as only running bootcamp performance ?

I reckon you still don't understand what is the different between bootcamp and those virtualization softwares(vmware, crossover and parallels). Else, you should know that parallels using bootcamp drive's performance is the same as using virtual hdd.

Do you know about partition magic in window application? Bootcamp is just like partition magic. It is a similar tool. Basically it just partition your HDD into 1 partition for mac and 1 partition for windows. Apart of that, bootcamp got add its own feature as well, such as BIOS emulation. Windows need BIOS in order to be able to run, whereas mac osx itself using EFI. More info about EFI, just wiki around In conclusion, when you install winxp/vista in bootcamp, you are actually installing winxp/vista like in any other normal/generic pc in the world. The performance is the same as your generic desktop pc.

Vmware, crossover and parallels are under virtualization software. Do you know what is mean by virtualization or emulation? Those softwares are emulating winxp under mac osx nutshell. Logically thinking, it should be darn slow cos you now running Leopard/Tiger PLUS trying to emulate another OS. It will require tons of processor juice and ram as well.

lol. u answer my question, but i just asking for any different if i use parallels dekstop run bootcamp or parallels desktop run it's virtual harddisk and it's performance b4 i give comment because i never try parallels desktop boot into my bootcamp. doesn't mean i don't know what is partition magic and virtualization.

as u answer my question, i will give my personal comment that i will stick to virtualization because the virtual harddisk image can copy or move to other harddisk to boot but bootcamp is it permanent in ur harddisk and u can't move or copy to ur externam harddisk somemore it partition ur harddisk to two different os. example if u have 150GB harddisk on ur mac, u set 32GB for ur bootcamp, so u just have (150-32) = 118GB for mac only.

Hmm basically it is the same thing. I refering whether you use bootcamp drive or not. As I was saying, i assume that anyone knows the differences between bootcamp and virtualization softwares, he/she should know that there ain't any different if you using bootcamp drive or virtual hdd.

And I still don't get it why you do think the performance will be "different" if using bootcamp drive, unless you still quite confused. Parallels is still Parallels, or virtualization software. No offense dude

Like I've mention in my very early post. It depends on personal taste. Yea, i know that hdd space thingy. Even if you are using virtual hdd, it still waste your hdd space mar.. I don't think there will be any problem with me. In addition, if you are new parallels, then you are safe. But if older version or vmware, that virtual hdd is a waste. Why? Let say that vHDD kena virus or problem and cannot even boot, now you want to backup your data. Then you really in a big SHTI. Only the newer parallels enable to write/read vHDD without booting.

If you are using bootcamp, no problem. Mac osx can detect bootcamp drive and you can safely backup your data and lastly delete that faulty partition (That's my personal point of view)

i just want to know only if any difference. so now i know already. ermm but actually if u setup ur parallels dekstop VHDD for 32GB and u just installed 5GB things inside it. mac just detect 5GB of storage using in the vHDD not 32GB. that's my point. ermm but unlucky bootcamp won't longer in tiger anymore after this 31 december 2007....... if want to continue bootcamp go for leopard.

This post has been edited by suiryuu: Dec 2 2007, 03:59 PM

allvin, I use both virtual disks and bootcamp and agree with your arguments generally, but this one doesn't make sense. If your current virtual disk is affected in any way, all you have to do is reinstall Windows on a separate virtual disk, attach the rosak virtual disk to your current working VM as a second disk and copy the stuff over to your Mac side.

In fact if you're really paranoid eg. if it's a virus, install Windows and make a snapshot of your current image before you attach the affected virtual disk. If something screws up just revert back to the snapshot. Note that snapshots aren't even possible with bootcamp drives!

hey agree with your man, if u said u want to back up those important file with but ur vHDD is affected with virus but u didn't have a snapshots backup, i think u can also use parallels explorer to copy all of u important file without booting up ur windows xp to ur mac os and just delete the vHDD that contain window virus.

This post has been edited by suiryuu: Dec 5 2007, 12:00 AM