What's the best PC emulator

I would recommend Parallels, I know that Apple in some way endorses both Parallels and VM Fusion, but I have personally had luck using Parallels. I used to run Windows on my Mac for a limited period of time and had success doing so with Parallels. The never version of Parallels allows you to run Windows applications "side by side" with Mac applications, meaning that it does not have to be shown in a virtual environment, which means that you can easily use Mac and Windows applications at the same time without having to switch to and from a virtual machine.

Hope that helps..

Thomas

Hi Thomas,
I am currently evaluating VMware on my iMac (I only need it for Quicken) and will probably try out Parallels just to compare. (I have been using the VMware setup for a couple of days and it is really working out great). I was just wondering about what version of Parallels you are referring to as I thought Parallels and VMware are basically the same thing but just competing products. Is there a difference between what you mention Parallels does as far as not having to switch to and from a virtual machine and what VMware does?
When I quit VMware, I simply leave Quicken running in XP and that way when I return to VMware, Quicken pops up (maximized in XP). It seems pretty seamless to me, almost like just another icon/application in Mac that I am running and not a fairly complex virtual machine that it is. Is Parallels any different?
As I am really new to using VMware, I hope my question made sense.
Thanks,
Ted

Message was edited by: Theodore A Casler

Theodore A Casler wrote:
I am currently evaluating VMware on my iMac (I only need it for Quicken) and will probably try out Parallels just to compare. (I have been using the VMware setup for a couple of days and it is really working out great). I was just wondering about what version of Parallels you are referring to as I thought Parallels and VMware are basically the same thing but just competing products. Is there a difference between what you mention Parallels does as far as not having to switch to and from a virtual machine and what VMware does?
When I quit VMware, I simply leave Quicken running in XP and that way when I return to VMware, Quicken pops up (maximized in XP). It seems pretty seamless to me, almost like just another icon/application in Mac that I am running and not a fairly complex virtual machine that it is. Is Parallels any different?

I have not used Parallels in the past little while, although I have looked at some of the feature upgrades that it offers. Your setup, as you have it obviously works fine for you. What I was referring to initially is that you can have Microsoft application windows floating with the Mac application windows, so that the applications from your virtual machine do not always have to appear within your virtual machine desktop (if that makes any sense). I think that either one is really a truly excellent application, and really depends on personal preference. You can look [here|http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/screens&demos> to see more about what I am talking about. I hope that answered your question, write back if you need more clarification.

I've had this new iMac for the last 10 days or so and it looks such a gorgeous piece of machine. I'm trying to decide whether to install VMware fusion or Parallels in addition to either WinXP or Vista. I heard from someone when you use VMware, the webcam and mic won't work in Windows and you would then have to Skype or MSN in Mac environment. Is this true? And is my present 2GB RAM adequate running these programs or should I increase it to 4GB? I also heard I should stick with WinXP as Vista will surely slow down the system more with these virtual programs. Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Charles

If you are only using Windows because it is required for one program that you need to use, save your money and download VirtualBox from Sun Microsystems. It's free and just as good as Parallels.

One caveat, you will still need a legal/licensed copy of Windows.

Thanks, but I tend to opt for VMware and I do have many other Windows programs to use.

Charles

I have a question about what is the best way to run just one program from my old pc on my new Mac Book Pro. I am trying to run Living Cookbook 2005, but don't want to have to install Windows. I am curious about what would Boot Camp do for me? I am very new to the whole situation and any help would be appreciated.

BJ Long

I've found VMWare to be much faster and more stable than Parallels. My job requires that I use Windows only applications so I use it every single day, all day. One of the greatest (little) things is assigning a full screen window of Windows XP to one of my Spaces. This, for example, allows me to grab a file from a folder in the Finder in Space 1, hit CNTL+3 to zoom over to VMWare running Windows in Space 3 and drop that file right in to My Documents. Seamlessly. I have used Crossover and it worked nicely for individual applications but it just doesn't come close to actually running Windows on your Mac, along side OS X.

Two points to note, fill your machine with as much RAM as you can, RAM is super cheap these days so there's almost no excuse to fill it to the brim. Buy yourself a copy of Windows XP Pro online. If you can buy it from the same place you buy your RAM you should be able to purchase the OEM version which is significantly cheaper than the retail version. Vista runs well in Bootcamp but emulated through VMWare takes up way too much of your system resources. Maybe Parallels is better suited for Vista?

You're other option Pete would be to do some research and discover the abundant other scheduling applications available for the Mac OS. Microsoft's Entourage, Market Circle's Day Lite and ever Apple's iCal are all really robust appointment apps.

So what scheduling program did you end up with Pete?

I'm not sure you were clear enough in what you want your email program to do. Do you simply want to view your optonline email? Apple has provided a program called Mail for a long time now. Do you need help setting that up?