[Driver72]

Originally Posted by sdwilly

In a nut shell, they let you run XP on your Mac. I would suggest Parallels since it's just a VM and runs inside of OS X, versus Boot Camp where you have to exit out of OS X to get to XP.

Here is a link to the Parallels site http://www.parallels.com/, basically you install Parallels then install a fresh copy of XP (or Vista) and there you go.

I'm going to have to do this too.

Which one do I download?? "Parallels Desktop for Mac" or which one?
Does this then stay on my MacBook PRO's harddrive so I can click on this "Parallels" anytime I need to use a PC compatible program or do how does that work?

Thanks.

[sdwilly]

Originally Posted by Driver72

I'm going to have to do this too.

Which one do I download?? "Parallels Desktop for Mac" or which one?
Does this then stay on my MacBook PRO's harddrive so I can click on this "Parallels" anytime I need to use a PC compatible program or do how does that work?

Thanks.

Correct, "Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac" is the one you want. It stays on your Mac so you can switch between them anytime you want, it's actually a very nice way to run XP as it really gives you the best of both worlds (Plus if anything happens to your XP image it's easy to restore it back to the point where it was a new install).

Oh and as a FYI for the XP (or Vista) install you will need an install key (Just mentioning it since I've had one person who thought it came with Parallels).

[Driver72]

Originally Posted by sdwilly

Correct, "Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac" is the one you want. It stays on your Mac so you can switch between them anytime you want, it's actually a very nice way to run XP as it really gives you the best of both worlds (Plus if anything happens to your XP image it's easy to restore it back to the point where it was a new install).

Oh and as a FYI for the XP (or Vista) install you will need an install key (Just mentioning it since I've had one person who thought it came with Parallels).

OK, so what's the install key and where/how do I get it?

Thanks

[sdwilly]

Originally Posted by Driver72

OK, so what's the install key and where/how do I get it?

Thanks

Sorry I should have been clearer.

I'm talking about the Microsoft Product Key, it comes on the Certificate of Authenticity sticker (When you buy a machine with XP installed it's normally attached to the machine somewhere, if you buy the Software separately it will come inside the packaging).

Assuming you don't have a Volume License version laying around (or just happen to have a spare key) you can grab a copy of XP at Newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116059).

Hope that helps.

[Driver72]

Hell I don't know if I have this "key" or not.
I got my MacBook PRO shortly after they were released (August 2006).
I don't know where I'd find out if I have that "key" or not.

[mean335]

VM Fusion > *

It's new and it rocks parallels socks.

Check out the reviews.

I believe it's more smooth.

[Nyulak]

To get a key you need to own a license of Windows. A license can be obtained by the purchase of the software from a retailer or by having it included with a PC purchase. If you only have a MBP, then you do not have a key. This means you have to go and buy a copy of Windows. Get XP, not Vista, from NewEgg.

The OEM version is the one you want, but the last time I got OEM I had to buy a piece of hardware. Normally any piece of hardware, like a mouse, will be sufficient to qualify.

[J-Sud]

I was not aware Parallels required an intel architecture like bootcamp. I thought it was more like virtual PC for mac since in ran in OSX, which is what they used to use.

Originally Posted by Garissimo

Parallels and bootcamp do not run on G5 and G4 (PowerPC) Macintosh computers. If you want to run Windows utilities, you need an "Intel inside" Macintosh.