You didn't strike me as someone interested in going Mac. What Macs are you considering?
The best way to run Windows on a Mac for performance is natively through a Boot Camp partition. In that case you can continue using whatever existing Windows back up solution you already use.
You can also use Windows within OS X virtually through Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion. I have no idea how backup in that environment would work.
The latest iterations of Parallels now run a Windows VM pretty close to running it natively performance wise. I use Acronis to back up the VM plus I make a clone every so often.
The latest iterations of Parallels now run a Windows VM pretty close to running it natively performance wise. I use Acronis to back up the VM plus I make a clone every so often.
The latest iterations of Parallels now run a Windows VM pretty close to running it natively performance wise. I use Acronis to back up the VM plus I make a clone every so often.
The more demanding tasks still have native running significantly quicker. That said, if you have a high spec Mac you'll certainly get good performance.
That's because on a Bootcamp partition it will be running natively instead of virtually, as I said.
I know. I think VMs are fine if you just want to try out an OS or you just need to use everyday programs. I mostly wanted the Windows partition for games and Dark Side software I might need.
I know. I think VMs are fine if you just want to try out an OS or you just need to use everyday programs. I mostly wanted the Windows partition for games and Dark Side software I might need.
Virtual is handy for those that want to work OS X and Windows side by side. For such people the hit in performance is acceptable.
I have the highest spec current iMac (3.4 i7, 32 gigs of rams and a Fusion drive) and I'm considering going virtual also as my limited Windows needs are lite on load.
Virtual is handy for those that want to work OS X and Windows side by side. For such people the hit in performance is acceptable.
I have the highest spec current iMac (3.4 i7, 32 gigs of rams and a Fusion drive) and I'm considering going virtual also as my limited Windows needs are lite on load.
It would be interesting to use the 3-OS approach used in the Xbox One in this scenario allowing for instant switching between two environments but near-native performance on each.
It would be interesting to use the 3-OS approach used in the Xbox One in this scenario allowing for instant switching between two environments but near-native performance on each.
Totally agree. While I do have mine configured to run either in Boot Camp or as a VM. These days it is extremely rare that I find the need to bother booting into native Windows.
The first "OS" is a hypervisor - very small, very minimal. The other two OSes are both virtual and "sit on top" of the hypervisor. So the hypervisor is acting like a thin layer between these two other OSes and the hardware.
The reason they did this is on the Xbox One is that one VM is very much like Windows running apps and having all sorts of APIs etc, the other VM is optimised for gaming - very stripped down and minimal - designed to maximise gaming performance.
If a Mac did this, it would mean both Windows and OS X could be run simultaneously (unlike with Bootcamp where you have to re-boot to change) but both would have effectively native running levels of performance as the hypervisor layer is very minimal and you can switch instantaneously between both environments.
Totally agree. While I do have mine configured to run either in Boot Camp or as a VM. These days it is extremely rare that I find the need to bother booting into native Windows.
Totally agree. While I do have mine configured to run either in Boot Camp or as a VM. These days it is extremely rare that I find the need to bother booting into native Windows.
Anyone know of a Windows software compatibility list for Parallels? I found nothing on their site.
The first "OS" is a hypervisor - very small, very minimal. The other two OSes are both virtual and "sit on top" of the hypervisor. So the hypervisor is acting like a thin layer between these two other OSes and the hardware.
The reason they did this is on the Xbox One is that one VM is very much like Windows running apps and having all sorts of APIs etc, the other VM is optimised for gaming - very stripped down and minimal - designed to maximise gaming performance.
If a Mac did this, it would mean both Windows and OS X could be run simultaneously (unlike with Bootcamp where you have to re-boot to change) but both would have effectively native running levels of performance as the hypervisor layer is very minimal and you can switch instantaneously between both environments.
Sounds good but I doubt Apple itself would go that far. They see the support of booting into Windows as added and unique value but for them to try and get Windows to work on an equal footing at the same time would take attention away from OS X, something they obviously wouldn't want.
Sounds good but I doubt Apple itself would go that far. They see the support of booting into Windows as added and unique value but for them to try and get Windows to work on an equal footing at the same time would take attention away from OS X, something they obviously wouldn't want.
Totally agree. While I do have mine configured to run either in Boot Camp or as a VM. These days it is extremely rare that I find the need to bother booting into native Windows.
Last time I tried Parallels, you couldn't actually do this due to Microsoft's licensing restrictions. Windows 7 would unauthenticate itself every time you swapped from native to virtual. Have they found a way around this now?
Last time I tried Parallels, you couldn't actually do this due to Microsoft's licensing restrictions. Windows 7 would unauthenticate itself every time you swapped from native to virtual. Have they found a way around this now?
It is slightly better now. It only un-authenicates the first time. As running as a VM is considered a separate computer. I just reactivated Windows over the automated phone service Microsoft provide and all was well on both bootcamp and virtualised bootcamp after that. You must install bootcamp and native Windows first before setting up Parallels to use the bootcamp partition (cannot install as a totally separate VM). After all it is the same Windows on the same computer, but strictly speaking MS consider it two machines.
It is slightly better now. It only un-authenicates the first time. As running as a VM is considered a separate computer. I just reactivated Windows over the automated phone service Microsoft provide and all was well on both bootcamp and virtualised bootcamp after that. You must install bootcamp and native Windows first before setting up Parallels to use the bootcamp partition (cannot install as a totally separate VM). After all it is the same Windows on the same computer, but strictly speaking MS consider it two machines.
This also effect other software that authenticates online including MS Office as well as others. I use a program called Sporttracks thats Windows only and each installation requires a license.
Unless you're a gamer then using Parallels is fast enough on a modern mac for the odd program you may need that is'nt natively available for Mac, the only downside for me is it kills the battery life on my Macbook pro.
And using Parallels rather than Boot camp keeps the hard drive patitioning neater.
Comments
The latest iterations of Parallels now run a Windows VM pretty close to running it natively performance wise. I use Acronis to back up the VM plus I make a clone every so often.
When we talk of computer security, once is too often. Security should always be an immediate and pressing concern.
Dave
The recent iterations of Parallels are excellent.
Dave
The more demanding tasks still have native running significantly quicker. That said, if you have a high spec Mac you'll certainly get good performance.
http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/benchmarking-parallels-fusion-and-virtualbox-against-boot-camp
Agreed, but that's not what I was addressing.
You have lost me now.
Dave
post 27
And I disagree.
Dave
That's OK.
I know. I think VMs are fine if you just want to try out an OS or you just need to use everyday programs. I mostly wanted the Windows partition for games and Dark Side software I might need.
Virtual is handy for those that want to work OS X and Windows side by side. For such people the hit in performance is acceptable.
I have the highest spec current iMac (3.4 i7, 32 gigs of rams and a Fusion drive) and I'm considering going virtual also as my limited Windows needs are lite on load.
It would be interesting to use the 3-OS approach used in the Xbox One in this scenario allowing for instant switching between two environments but near-native performance on each.
I'm not familiar with that. How does that work?
Totally agree. While I do have mine configured to run either in Boot Camp or as a VM. These days it is extremely rare that I find the need to bother booting into native Windows.
The first "OS" is a hypervisor - very small, very minimal. The other two OSes are both virtual and "sit on top" of the hypervisor. So the hypervisor is acting like a thin layer between these two other OSes and the hardware.
The reason they did this is on the Xbox One is that one VM is very much like Windows running apps and having all sorts of APIs etc, the other VM is optimised for gaming - very stripped down and minimal - designed to maximise gaming performance.
If a Mac did this, it would mean both Windows and OS X could be run simultaneously (unlike with Bootcamp where you have to re-boot to change) but both would have effectively native running levels of performance as the hypervisor layer is very minimal and you can switch instantaneously between both environments.
That is the killer feature.
Dave
Anyone know of a Windows software compatibility list for Parallels? I found nothing on their site.
Sounds good but I doubt Apple itself would go that far. They see the support of booting into Windows as added and unique value but for them to try and get Windows to work on an equal footing at the same time would take attention away from OS X, something they obviously wouldn't want.
Thanks for the info.
Why did you offer bootcamp then?
I've personally not yet encountered anything that doesn't work under Parallels.
I always thought having both OSX and Windows running side by side looked a bit weird :eek: I'm quite happy to run it natively.
Not understanding your question.
Last time I tried Parallels, you couldn't actually do this due to Microsoft's licensing restrictions. Windows 7 would unauthenticate itself every time you swapped from native to virtual. Have they found a way around this now?
This also effect other software that authenticates online including MS Office as well as others. I use a program called Sporttracks thats Windows only and each installation requires a license.
Unless you're a gamer then using Parallels is fast enough on a modern mac for the odd program you may need that is'nt natively available for Mac, the only downside for me is it kills the battery life on my Macbook pro.
And using Parallels rather than Boot camp keeps the hard drive patitioning neater.