I have a new MacBook Pro, and must run one Windows application (Delorme Topo Maps) not available for Mac OS. Which option is "best"(stable, reliable, easy): "Boot Camp" or "Parallels
"? Thank you in advance for any advice you can provide!
MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.1)
Boot Camp provides installation of Windows natively and you would boot your computer either into Windows or your Mac operating system. Both operating systems are not running concurrently. This means that Windows will use all your computer's resources while running.
Installing Windows using a virtual machine like Parallels, Fusion, or VirtualBox means Windows is installed and running in a virtual machine while your Mac operating system is also running. So when Windows is running in a virtual machine your computer's resources are shared by your Mac operating system and Windows since both are running concurrently.
It is easiest to use a virtual machine but if you are running resource intensive apps then it is best to install Windows natively using Boot Camp Assistant.
Boot Camp provides installation of Windows natively and you would boot your computer either into Windows or your Mac operating system. Both operating systems are not running concurrently. This means that Windows will use all your computer's resources while running.
Installing Windows using a virtual machine like Parallels, Fusion, or VirtualBox means Windows is installed and running in a virtual machine while your Mac operating system is also running. So when Windows is running in a virtual machine your computer's resources are shared by your Mac operating system and Windows since both are running concurrently.
It is easiest to use a virtual machine but if you are running resource intensive apps then it is best to install Windows natively using Boot Camp Assistant.
You are correct about your Office Suite, to a point. If using Windows in a Boot Camp installation you would install Office and any other Windows program in Windows. It is as though you were were using a Windows computer. Of course you could complicate the issue more by saving the data generated to an external drive formatted ExFat which can be read/write by both Windows and your Mac Operating System.
When using Boot Camp you boot independently into either Windows or Mac OS. It is like having two independent computers that do not run at the same time.
Using a virtual machine like Parallels does not create a partition. The virtual machine creates a file in the Mac OS in which Windows runs and stores data on a virtual disk (file). You boot into Mac then run the virtual machine within the Mac OS.
You will have to dedicate space for the Boot Camp partition if using Boot Camp to install Windows or you will have to dedicate space for the virtual disk (file) if using a virtual machine like Parallels.
Parallels nor Windows will have any affect on your computer if they are not running. You will only have to start up Parallels when you want to work in Windows. So there is no affect until Parallels is running and using system resources such as RAM. When Parallels is not running all RAM can be used by your Mac.
Hi Bob,
Thanks very much, this is very helpful! Unfortunately, the only topo mapping program I can find with the features I need runs on Windows... hence, the need to install it on my MBP. As a mapping program it probably is graphically intensive, but don't believe this software is a super computer resource hog. On the other hand, my MBP has a separate video card and a fast I7 processor. My work requires me to generate a map, and copy/paste into Word.
From your description of how these two environments work, if I use Boot Camp I would have to load Office/Word into the Windows partitioned space in addition to the mapping program, so I could shift between the two programs without rebooting. Is this correct?
Alternatively, if I use Parallels, would I be able to seamlessly generate the map in the Windows map program and then copy/paste into my Office/Word program in the Mac OS? Is this correct?
Also, if i use Parallels, am I actually partitioning the hard-drive? And if a partition is required in both options (Boot camp or Parallels), which one will require greater dedicated space for the partition?
Thanks in advance for your advice and assistance!
This is SO helpful, Bob, thank you again. It does sound like running Parallels will be a lot smoother/efficient. However, I only need to access the Windows mapping program infrequently, maybe once a month or so. So, if I choose this option do I degrade my computer's resources (speed, memory, etc.) ALL the time, even when I'm not using this single Windows program?
Thank you again, and exactly try what I hoped you would say!
"Boot Camp" or "Parallels" or ???
