Version of Windows for Parallels on a Mac

pbacot · 8 Aug 2010, 17:59

What's the best Windows version to use for Parallels on a Mac, given that the primary uses I foresee are rendering, graphics, and CAD programs that are only available on Windows (and probably little else would be used in Windows)?

Is XP supported--in that can it be registered and made "valid"? I have a trial version of 7 (running on Bootcamp now) and it keeps bugging me that it's not valid etc. Is XP a dead-end to buy at this point? What's with all the home, professional etc. versions? Pretty expensive OS packages.

I noticed on the Parallels website that "drag and drop" is not listed for Windows 7. Is this a marketing oversight or actual lack in features?

Thanks for any pointers and advice.

honoluludesktop · 10 Aug 2010, 13:07

I have seen WinXX runs OK in a partition on a Mac. If you do that, you can not run both OSs at the same time. If you run WinXX in a VM on the Mac (allowing a connection), there will be a performance reduction that can only be justified by having a Win App that has no equivalent on a Mac.

I don't think that there is a best WinXX for the Mac, as it depends on what your hardware and software requires. Its my guess that WinXP runs best, but eventually your apps will require some feature of Win7.

I use VMs on a WinXP host simply because I have apps that can not run on a WinXP or higher MS OS.

pbacot · 10 Aug 2010, 14:03

@honoluludesktop said:

there will be a performance reduction that can only be justified by having a Win App that has no equivalent on a Mac.

I don't think that there is a best WinXX for the Mac, as it depends on what your hardware and software requires. Its my guess that WinXP runs best, but eventually your apps will require some feature of Win7.

Thanks for the information!

That's the reason I would use the Windows--things I cannot run on the Mac. Programs I am eyeing are FotoSketcher and Twilight, perhaps some CAD like DoubleCAD to smooth the path to importing AutoCAD files.
It may be that trying to render on Parallels is useless, but there is also a huge performance hit to consider in having to reboot to use one program... and all the hoops one must jump through to share between the two systems, whereas parallels allows copy and paste, and full access to all files. Meanwhile the internet, mail and all resources are on the Mac, something I do not want to have to duplicate on the Windows side, simply to effectively use a couple programs.

I get the feeling from different responses that, at present, many people are happy using XP and not too worried about being out of date. People recommend XP Pro.

dale · 10 Aug 2010, 14:34

This subject interests me for the same reasons you list. I was considering XP on VMware Fusion, have you ruled it out?

pbacot · 10 Aug 2010, 15:48

The tests I've seen so far put Parallels ahead, and the features look good allowing you to use Windows as everything from a single window (and showing window programs in the dock alongside Mac apps) to full screen, but I haven't really looked at Fusion features. No I haven't ruled it out really.

tim · 11 Aug 2010, 02:38

A performance reduction? There shouldn't be, unless the virtual system is poorly implemented. The cpu architecture is the same so there is no instruction emulation to be done. There will of course be an apparent performance hit because you will have to keep remembering the UI and functional differences as you swap between systems. You should even be able to minimise that problem if you understand enough of the virtual system's configuration since both Parallels and Fusion etc seem to have modes where the Windows windows appear within the Mac desktop instead of within a distinct workspace.

If you have two monitors you can have all the Windows stuff appear on one of them, or perhaps keep a separate Space for it.

wmanning · 12 Aug 2010, 20:57

With DoubleCAD in particular, the former head of development at IMSI used a Mac with VMware Fusion. It was fast and easy.

pbacot · 12 Aug 2010, 21:28

Hi William. In Sonoma? So am I. Thanks for the information!

[Edit: Oh I see, IMSI is right over in Novato...and just up the road from AutoDesk.]

wmanning · 2 Sept 2010, 01:38

Actually about a week after you wrote that I left IMSI (because of an offer I couldn't refuse) and have moved to Palo Alto after 4 years in Sonoma! But I'll keep coming back up... it's such a great place.

I'm sure the guys working on DoubleCAD would love hear what you're doing and any feedback on construction drawings from SketchUp.

-- William