PARALLELS DESKTOP VS BOOTCAMP

Apple promotes Parallels desktop over Bootcamp

Bootcamp is out the window, Parallels Desktop widely believed better option for running Windows OS on Intel Macs.

And so it has come to this. Initially, when Apple announced its decision to move over to the Intel platform, there was shock and awe amon the Mac faithful. It almost seemed like a betrayal. But certain quarters showed joy, and promptly set about hacking the Intel Macs to run Windows too (Xp, Vista, whatever) through a boot menu. Then Apple threw them all off, and offered BootCamp which would enable an Intel Mac to boot into your choice of Windows. Shocking stuff. 

And now there is even more shocking stuff. Using parallels Desktop, you can run Windows and Mac OS simultaneously on the same machine and even share documents among the two environments. But the shocking part is that Apple seems to have abandoned its own Bootcamp (a clumsy boot menu switching option) and has started promoting the Parallels Desktop on its own website.

Apple has had this page on BootCamp on its site for a while. However, all the BootCamp promo copy is gone, and you get to read about the virtues of the Parallels Desktop! It definitely looks like Apple has decided that this third party software is a better option than the reboot necessary BootCamp, and has decided to promote it. The integration between Apple's hardware, the Mac OS X operating system, and Windows is almost complete.

What are the features of the Parallels Desktop that makes it so compelling? One, no booting. You can run both OS X and Windows Xp simultaneously in their own windows, or make either a full screen Window. Two, using Parallels Desktop, you can cut and paste data between your OS X and Windows applications. Three, you can even share documents - though this could get your OS X files too corrupt in case of a virus attack. Four, the sophistication of the Mac OS X interface and peace of mind and elegance - ah! - while still keeping a foot in the Windows and Microsoft camp and access to the millions of software programs available there.

Why would you not want to buy a Intel Mac now and install Parallels Desktop and Windows and have the best of both worlds? If you need an Intel Mac and a Windows machine both, do go for it. The price of the Parallels Desktop and Windows XP will have to be added to the price of the Intel Mac, but even then, it is better than having two machines. That is the other problem too - you may not NEED a Mac however much enamoured you are of it, and then the Apple machine would cost you double the price of a standard Intel- Windows machine. The entire combo is not worth the price if you are just fascinated, but not desperate. But if desperate, buying the Parallels Desktop and installing it on the Intel Mac is the best decision you can make.

Parallels site

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