Ok. Is anyone familiar with using both of these?

Here's what I want to do:

I want to run parallels at home when I'm doing my "work". I like to run Virtual PC because I can access my database there - so I want to do the same with parallels.

Meanwhile, for two reasons, I want to be able to also use boot camp. First, I'll be using some software with potential speed issues so I want to be able to flip to Boot Camp and just focus on that one piece if I have to. But more importantly, I want to be able to just use boot camp for business presentations.

Now. Here's where it gets messy :rolleyes:

I have conflicting answers - can I just have ONE set of windoze OS, windoze apps and shared files to use with both Parallels AND Boot Camp. Or. Do I have to have separate OS, apps and files?

Adrienne

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe they have to be separate.

As I understand it, with Parallels, Windows will live inside of your OSX environment as one giant file that is managed by Parallels.

With Boot Camp, Windows exists as a completely separate entity that runs on its own. Since Windows cannot read OSX filesystems, you would not be able to access anything used by Parallels.

What you might be able to do is have three partitions, 1 OSX partition (with Windows running under Parallels), 1 normal Windows partition, and 1 data partition that can be read by both (if this is possible, I'm not familiar with what filesystems OSX can read). You would have to install the same apps to both instances of Windows, but then you could install your database on the data partition and access it from both instances of Windows.

What you might be able to do is have three partitions, 1 OSX partition (with Windows running under Parallels), 1 normal Windows partition, and 1 data partition that can be read by both (if this is possible, I'm not familiar with what filesystems OSX can read). You would have to install the same apps to both instances of Windows, but then you could install your database on the data partition and access it from both instances of Windows.

Hmmmmm... So the answer is "probably not for the common person without a lot of computer knowledge but someone who can mess around and know what (s)he's doing, (s)he might be able to set it up to work."

Intriguing...

Adrienne

Doc - did you understand what Mox wrote? Can you make that happen for me?

So today we went to an Apple Store and poked around on an iMac with Parallels on it. From the User Guide, it looks like Parallels CAN boot up with the Windoze XP attached to/affiliated with/stored in/yaddayaddayadda BootCamp. At least the User Guide said it can.

:sigh:

Anyone wanna give me 2500 bucks?

Adrienne

Anyone wanna give me 2500 bucks?
I think the registration fee for MouseAdventure just went up.

:eek: ;) :fez:

I think it might be cheaper to get a second machine that uses the operating system you're trying to do the work in ;)

I think it might be cheaper to get a second machine that uses the operating system you're trying to do the work in ;)

You aren't the first person to suggest that.

But that solution is not without problems. I'd have to still be hooking computers up to each other, duplicating efforts between machines - and then we wouldn't have a Superior OS laptop. (Well, we have an ibook but it's old and with limitations.)

The main reason I would do this is for using in my business. If I have both OS's available then I can not only reach clients who use Windoze but I can also reach clients who use Macs.

And, this weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with the person who is in charge of every single digital product I market. Based on my conversation with her, I will be much better able to market to Mac users in the (hopefully near) future. :D

Adrienne

LOOOK!!!! (http://news.com.com/2100-1012_3-6162485.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-5&subj=news)

It's like the Parallels people read this post and then even further predicted my needs and desires!!!

Adrienne
With thanks to Andrwe for the link - apparently my husband also e-mailed me a link to a similar article but I read Andrwe's first, so there you go.

Wow, that is creepy, Adrienne! It really did perfectly answer your question!

FWIW, I think Parallels is an amazing program. I have it for a few reasons on my new iMac, and it is just stellar...

Wow, that is creepy, Adrienne! It really did perfectly answer your question!

FWIW, I think Parallels is an amazing program. I have it for a few reasons on my new iMac, and it is just stellar...

Oh good!

And business-wise, I'm coming up with more and more ideas for how a laptop would help me help my clients. I'm getting jazzed. Now if they would just release Leopard in time for my big Spring Event...

Adrienne

I know it! I debated about getting my iMac before the Leopard release, but I just couldn't wait any more. I have been loving every minute of having it.

I already have a Powerbook, and drool constantly over the Macbook Pros. I have some friends who got some recently and adore them. DO IT!

You are getting me excited, I just ordered my MacBook and Parallels this morning! I can't run windows on my G5 so the idea of playing with a new intel based syatem is making me happy.

Of course the main reason I needed a new macbook was so I can take it with us to WDW. Bot my mac and Disney addictions run deep.

Keep us posted as to your luck with parallels.

Of course the main reason I needed a new macbook was so I can take it with us to WDW. Bot my mac and Disney addictions run deep.

Keep us posted as to your luck with parallels.

I will but if you don't say hi to me at MA, you're going to get my REALLLLLY stinky evil eye. Just so you know.

Adrienne

I will but if you don't say hi to me at MA, you're going to get my REALLLLLY stinky evil eye. Just so you know.

I wouldn't dare pass by without saying hi and it is not JUST to avaoid the stink eye. :)

I just thought I'd bring your attention to my new avatar. :D

MacConnection - rebate with the computer, no tax, free shipping available, and with rebates, Parallels was free, too. Windoze hasn't arrived yet. We're getting a little nervous. It was sent USPS.

But the item in the avatar is in da house. :D

Adrienne

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NEW BABY, ADRIENNE!

And what a steal that sounds like! WAHOO! Congrats!

Keep us posted as to your luck with parallels.

Ok, since you asked (because I can tell from all the posts on this thread that y'all are on pins and needles,) I am very happy with Parallels, so far.

I dislike Windoze as much as I ever did if not more. With Virtual PC, the software was running so slow that I didn't do much more than one database program.

Parallels and the intel processor are running Windoze very well. My main complaints are Windoze and Windoze software related and nothing Parallels can do would fix those issues.

Speedwise, the software runs very quickly within Windoze. The biggest test so far has been using the Creative Memories Storybook Creator software. It's a graphics intense program (oh the irony, I know,) and it took me six hours to assemble a book with it using Virtual PC. I would click on a page and sit and WAIT for it to load with Virtual PC. With Parallels, it runs very efficiently and quickly. Click, click drag, click, drag, click, type, etc, etc.

It's taking some time to get the settings figured out on some of my software on both OS's. I do have the boot camp partition set up and am running Windoze from the boot camp partition but within Parallels - but I haven't been using boot camp much because I like multi-tasking with OS X and Windoze at the same time.

And using my laptop at DLR this weekend with all the wifi spots we found was fun. :D

Adrienne

I'm not too sure if someone has mentioned this but the next version of Parallels WILL be able to access the same file system as Boot Camp so you will get the benefit of both worlds without losing twice as much hard drive space.

Currently we are looking at ways to deploy Boot Camp based macs into some of our facilities. The main issue is how to ensure the non active system receives updates while it may not be active (Which is a big issue in large managed network). We have a few solutions that we are working through but there is still some work to be done. It'd be nice to be able to deploy Mac/PC base systems and give users the choice what they want to use and would certianly make our facilities more flexible etc.

I'm not too sure if someone has mentioned this but the next version of Parallels WILL be able to access the same file system as Boot Camp so you will get the benefit of both worlds without losing twice as much hard drive space.

It does this now. :D In fact, it's doing this now, on the computer I'm typing on. :D

Adrienne

It does this now. :D In fact, it's doing this now, on the computer I'm typing on. :D


See.. that's what happens when you end up in management... you miss playing and keeping up with new releases.

For those interesting dual booting Macs on a big network check out Boot Picker (http://www.bombich.com/software/bootpicker.html). I had a look at it demonstrated yesterday and it has potential. IT seems to solve all our issues but 1.... how to do force updates to one system while the computer is booted in the other? This could be an issue for the likes of patches and viruses updates etc where a machine might not be booted into either platform for days/weeks on end etc but you want both system updated at all times. We are looking at some solutions including forcing images down to partitions etc but it'd be nicer to have a cleaner solution than that (And we can';t do auto reboots etc because a lot of our environment is 24/7).

Keep us posted as to your luck with parallels.

So this weekend we put it to the 'big' (for us) test.

I installed the new software that was one of my primary reasons for getting this whole system. We figured out how to enable Parallels to share the external hard drive with Windoze. We labelled the folder with a letter (Can I just roll my eyes at the stupidity of that whole "everything you want to see has to have a letter attached to it" thingie? I don't know what words to use to describe it because I still don't "speak" windoze but it's REALLY stupid. :rolleyes: <---see?) So it's all set up.

Well.

Parallels isn't sharing files nicely. I can sort of use the software but I can't save files. It looks like I can organize files and change titles and such on files but I can't edit and save the revisions or even save new originals.

According to Doc's research on other message boards, Parallels has a known issue with not sharing files nicely. It's possible that I wouldn't have this problem if I just used Boot Camp, but the whole IDEA is to use Parallels so I can multi-task between OS's, not have to shut down OS X and then reboot in Windoze. :rolleyes:

Adrienne

We labelled the folder with a letter (Can I just roll my eyes at the stupidity of that whole "everything you want to see has to have a letter attached to it" thingie? I don't know what words to use to describe it because I still don't "speak" windoze but it's REALLY stupid. :rolleyes: <---see?)
That's not true for Windows. I don't know if Parallels imposes an additional requirement, but Windows is perfectly fine with UNC paths (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_(computing)#Universal_Naming_Convention) for remote devices. Mapping a drive letter makes a convenient shortcut (it's easier to say "X:\photos" than "\\parallels\shared_drive\adrienne\photos") but it's not necessary.

That's not true for Windows. I don't know if Parallels imposes an additional requirement, but Windows is perfectly fine with UNC paths (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_(computing)#Universal_Naming_Convention) for remote devices. Mapping a drive letter makes a convenient shortcut (it's easier to say "X:\photos" than "\\parallels\shared_drive\adrienne\photos") but it's not necessary.

I don't know why I have to do it but I have two remote folders that to see them in my programs I have to assign them letter name thingies. And it makes me roll my eyes. ;)

Adrienne

Hrm, well admittedly my experience is limited, as I only have two programs which demand I use Parallels: Quickbooks (don't want to pay to upgrade and get a Mac version right now), and a credit card processing program. Both of them are working fine, though I am saving the files on the Windows "partition", not on the Mac "partition".
I have done drag and drop between my Mac and the Windows window no problem, though. Mostly images and docs, just for "fun" to see how it worked, and it worked fine.

I am sorry to hear you are having issues!

I have done drag and drop between my Mac and the Windows window no problem, though. Mostly images and docs, just for "fun" to see how it worked, and it worked fine.

Yep, me, too. When I need to download a file for windoze, I download it to the Mac desktop with Safari and then drag it into Parallels so I don't have to start up Explorer or bother loading another browser on the windoze partition.

Adrienne