Do i need to purchase windows in order to download it from bootcamp?
iMac, iOS 7.1.2
Yes. You will not be able to activate windows if you don't have a valid cd key which you only get when buying it. And you don;t download it form Bootcamp. You use Bootcamp to install windows and be able to boot to it along side OSx.
will it work if i buy it from the MS website?
Yes, you can got o the Microsoft Store and get a Digital Download and the key from them.
Can u also pls guide whether I should go thru parallel or VMware or should I go thru boot camp to install windows? What is least cumbersome?
Depends on what your end goal is.
Bootcamp will let you boot into Windows or OSx but you can't have both running at the same time.
Parallels and Vmware will let you basically have a Windows installation running in a window on your OSx desktop.
Usually this is less cumbersome, but requires a bit more resources as essentially you are sharing memory and processor between OSx and Windows.
If you have a recent Mac with 4GB or more of Ram, Parallels or VMware should work o.k.
Less than 4GB and you'll be better off running Bootcamp instead.
Many thanks. I have an 8 gb imac, will parallels or VMware affect the speed of operation? And will boot camp be better in terms of operational speed?
No at 8GB you should be fine. Simply allocate 2 or 3GB or RAM to the Parallel or VMware Windows Machine when you set it up and everything should run fine.
installing in bootcamp is a but more work and not easy for people who are not used to installing windows
and switching between windows a osx with bootcamp will require a full restart of the computer
this is not the same of a virtual machine such as parallels or virtualbox or vmware
but if one needs to play 3d games and the likes then one needs bootcamp
Do i need to purchase windows in order to download it from bootcamp?
