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Windows programs on an Intel based Mac. |
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Why would I want to run Windows on a Mac? As a Mac user I hate to admit it, but there are just some Windows programs out there that are better or just don't exist for the Mac. These programs can range from the latest games to propriety office related software. To most people like me this has meant owning both a Mac and PC. This is no longer the case. Apple has answered the call; their latest Intel based platforms are now capable of running Windows programs. |
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What took so long? Macs from 1994 to early 2006 have been based on Apple, IBM, and Motorola's (AIM) PowerPC architecture. PC's on the other hand have been using the x86 architecture since the 1980's. All Microsoft Windows software is written to work with the x86 structure. In the past with a PPC Mac there were 2 ways to run windows programs either buy a PC or use an x86 emulator. The main problem with emulation is that it is very slow. The software has to translate from PPC to x86-based machine code, which requires a lot of memory, and CPU power. Typically emulation is about 3 to 4 times slower than running software natively. Not to mention there is no 3D video support for gaming. The good news is that Apples latest generation (early 2006) of computers now use Intel processors and chipsets with Windows compatible x86 architecture. |
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The Choices Now that you've decided that you're getting rid of your PC or emulation software, you need to decide what your needs are. There are three major choices when it comes to running windows programs. They range from a full-blown Windows installations using Apple's Boot Camp, Virtualization under OS X with Parallels, or CodeWeavers CrossOver that doesn't require any windows installation. All three examples go about this in a different manner. I will explain the installation, usage. as well as the good and bad of each. |
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Boot Camp is Apple's offering allowing you to install XP SP2 without destroying any of your Mac data. This is a full-blown install making your Intel Mac dual bootable. Installation is simple. Download Boot Camp, run the installer. After installation simply open Boot Camp under the Utilities folder. You will be guided through the process. The first step is adjusting the Windows partition size (doesn't affect your Mac files or partition other than changing the size). The next step is inserting a blank disc to burn the Windows Driver disk to support the Apple hardware. Once you have burned your driver CD, you will need to eject it and insert your Windows XP SP2 (According to Apple you cannot use Media editions or any version older than XP SP2). Disc and reboot. You will then be in the standard Windows installation screens. Once the XP installation is complete insert the Apple drive disc you created in Boot Camp to install support for the Mac hardware (No driver for a built in iSight at this time). The benefits of using Boot Camp are great. What you get in the end is a full-blown Windows installation. If your programs are Windows compatible, they will work. This means full 3D graphics and Core Duo hardware support. The best part of Boot Camp is you get Apples rock solid hardware and Dual Boot OSX/XP compatibility. Apple's next Operating System Leopard will have Boot Camp built in and will not be Beta at that time. The only downfall to running boot Camp is you have to boot into XP. You won't be able to run Windows programs from inside OS X. In addition you have to have a valid XP SP2 install Disk. |
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The Parallels Workstation uses the virtualization route, creating a windows environment inside of OS X. While this is similar in theory to Virtual PC, the performance is much better. Parallels is the most powerful virtual PC solution available today. Its engine uses virtual machines that work with their own processor, RAM, floppy and CD drives and Hard Disk. This allows you to create several operating systems installations. You can install any version of Windows from 3.1 to XP. You can also install Linux, Free BSD and even "Legacy" operating systems like OS/2. Once you have downloaded and installed the application, you will be guided through a wizard. Here you select the OS type, location to create the hard drive image. Options are also available to customize boot sequence and ram size. The hard drive image uses an expanding format allowing for growth when you start using more hard disk space. To use Parallels you need to install an operating system from CD or DVD just like Boot Camp. Insert your OS installation disk and open Parallels, hit the green "play" button to start the Windows installation. You will see a BIOS-like window then your standard windows installation screens should appear. Once you have created a virtual machine with an OS installed, using it is as simple as opening Parallels and clicking the green "play" button. There are some nice options built in, such as running at full screen and being able to switch full screen. There is also an option to switch between the Parallels application and the Mac OS desktop via a shortcut key. This allows you to visually switch from a complete Windows environment to your Mac environment and back. Running windows programs such as the Microsoft Office Suite works great. Higher end programs do function, however they are not as fast as they would be natively like when using Boot Camp. The graphics on Parallels is somewhat limited as it simulates a 8MB video card. Any graphically intensive programs are out of the question. I would recommend 2 GB of memory as well for smooth operation. Parallels provides a reliable environment and makes a great choice if you want to run standard Windows based programs while still in OS X. |
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This Mac application uses well-known open-source software called "WINE" (WINE Is Not an Emulator). CodeWeavers CrossOver introduces an OS X interface and compatibility allowing the use of Windows compatible programs without requiring a Microsoft Windows installation. WINE is a completely alternative implementation of Windows API consisting of 100% non-Microsoft code. Crossover uses what are called bottles. Each bottle has its own Windows file structure (C drive, Programs, My Documents). The folders are laid out like this so the installed programs can run properly. Installation is a simple package that leaves a folder under "Applications" with the CrossOver app inside. There are two ways to install Windows programs. Double clicking on an .exe file will open CrossOver and guide you through the install. Crossover will also auto load Windows install CD's like Microsoft Office. The other open is to go to "file" then "open" in the Crossover menu. Once the Windows compatible program is installed, it will produce a shortcut under "Programs" in CrossOver.
At the time of this article, Crossover was still in Alpha 2 (pre-Beta) testing and wasn't open to the public yet. They hope to have a public beta available soon. I did get the chance to be one of the Alpha testers. Crossover is promising both game and standard program support. During my testing many programs installed and worked flawlessly such as Microsoft Office, Windows Media Player, DreamWeaver, and many others. Game support wasn't all there yet, allowing installation, but the games would not run. There were some other proprietary programs that wouldn't work, but for only an alpha 2 release I was very impressed. |
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Why use just one? Those are the 3 major players I choose for installing Windows on the Intel Mac. Keep in mind this is a pretty new idea and as you can see there are a lot of ways of going about running Windows programs on your Mac. Each way has its pros and cons. Remember there is no limit when considering a method. If you want to run all three or just one the choice is up to you. |