Can I copy my hard drive to a notebook?

quesnel1 wrote:

My Acer laptop bite the dust ..

SO I am wondering if I can copy my hard drive to a new notebook,

A new MacBook? If you want to run Windows on a MacBook you would need Parallels or something like it. With Boot Camp, you also can run any number of operating systems if you wish but you have to choose which one when you start the computer.

However, merely copying your Acer's HD to a Windows partition on a MacBook won't result in a bootable Windows system. Whatever system installation discs came with your Acer aren't likely to work either. You will have to buy a copy of Windows and install it, after which you can install QuickBooks and everything else you are accustomed to using.

You can also use Windows Migration Assistant to move all your compatible content (such as movies, music, contacts, emails etc) to the OS X part of your MacBook.

quesnel1 wrote:

So to run a parallel program (system), I need to buy another aftermarket program and install it onto the new mac?

Not necessarily - I should have explained further.

Boot Camp is included with all Macs (i.e. it's free) and allows you to run either Windows or OS X. You choose which whenever you start up your MacBook. If you want to switch from one to the other you have to restart your Mac.

Parallels allows you to run both Windows and Mac OS X simultaneously, and switch between them without having to reboot. It costs $79.99. I think programs similar to Parallels exist as well.

Either way, you have to purchase a copy of Windows if you want to install and run Windows legally.

You can buy QuickBooks for Mac 2012 but it doesn't have very good reviews:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/H7108LL/A/quickbooks-for-mac-2012