Virtual Windows applications vs Mac applications

For best results in Windows Gaming use Apple BootCamp to install Windows so that it can use the native (real) hardware of your MBA.

http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

Virtualization always slows down.

Depending on the games you wanna play Parallels or VMWare Fusion might suffice.

Crossover is a choice for certain games but be sure to check their Compatibility Table whether the games you wanna play are supported.

In the end it comes down to use the Trial versions of Parallels/Fusion or Crossover and see if you are satisfied.

Mac versions of Windows games are not that many to find and mostly such 'ports' have a tendency to run slower than than their Windows versions.

Stefan

Message was edited by: Fortuny

I find Parallels works good for me

That's not so easy with BootCamp Windows 7.

Apples BootCamp Drivers enable Windows to read from the OSX partition.

OSX itself can also read from the Windows 7 NTFS file system.

But neither can write to the other partition without third-party helper.

For OSX to write to NTFS partitions there are the free NTFS-3G and Fuse4X and the commercial Paragaon or Tiuxera NTFS for Mac.

For Windows to write to OSX partition there is only MacDrive.

What I use is a simple USB-Memory-Stick of 4GB using FAT32 as file system to move files back and forth.

If you have enough diskspace you can use BootCamp Windows plus directing Parallels to use the BootCamp Windows for its virtualizied Windows.

The Parallels Manual explains how-to.

Stefan

No problems with delay.

Running BootCamp Windows on a Mac notebook does inded make the battery run out faster since all the fine tricks Apples uses in OSX to preserve battery did not make it into the BootCamp drivers.

I myself never had a Mac notebook so I can't really say whether BootCamp Windows or Crossover make the battery run out faster.

Stefan

Windows doesn't "run in Boot Camp". Boot Camp is a tool to guide people through partitioning their computer's hard drive and install Windows onto it. Crossover is a Windows emulator. Parallels is program that gives you a virtual computer that you can install Windows onto while OS X is running.

You don't say...

I prefer to use "BootCamp Windows" or "Parallels WIndows" over "WIndows" for a better differentiation.

And Crossover is not an emulator but a software library or Framework since it don't emulates a CPU or GPU.

Stefan

Stefan,

Go to the CrossOver website and tell me what you see in the top bar in your browser window. But I see what you're saying, since they say in their website: "You can think of it as an emulator, but it's different, because there's no Windows OS license required". And emulators like DOS Box allow you to emulate processor speed and RAM capacity, where WINE and CrossOver doesn't. But WINE and CrossOver do emulate a Windows environment for programs to run in (when they work)

And I apologize if you're offended, but so many people misunderstand what Boot Camp is. If you're so confident, why not just say, "running Windows natively..." or "running Windows in a virtual machine"?

There's a war going on ?

Who against Who ?

I just see the two of us in this thread, Moloy ! 😉

Have Fun

Stefan

There is no war going on. I just think if people are going to give support in these support forums, they should use proper terminology as to not confuse, mislead, or misinform anyone. That's why I chimed in. A lot of people really think that Boot Camp is a virtual machine, just like there are a ton of people who think the iPhone 4 has 4G. It's misinformation spread by misinformed people who are never corrected.

Stefan, don't be so stubborn. Some people really don't like to be corrected, but there's no reason to pretend to ignore me. I'm not trolling you or anything, I'm just ensuring that if you're going to share information, that you're giving correct information Have you heard the metaphor of "the blind leading the blind"? I see a lot of that going on in these forums; everyone is so eager to help, which is great, but it's disappointing to see people give incorrect information.

Moloy, good luck in your endeavors. Read the PDF manuals that are pre-loaded in your machine. Also, browse through the documentation on the Apple site. Knowledge is power, the more you know ~~~*, and all of that.

It's important to note that the primary purpose of these forums is to "help" people. Sometimes that means judging the original posters level of expertise and understanding based their post. There are times when using correct technical jargon (virtualization, emulation, etc.) is less important than getting your point across to someone who doesn't know, or care, about the difference. It's like the virus/malware comments that always come up. An inexperienced person posts something along the lines of getting a virus. The first thing that happens is they get innundated with people telling them that there are no viruses on a Mac and they probably have malware. The average person doesn't differentiate between the two... it's merely a technicality to them. Trying to explain the difference can actually make things more confusing.