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Putting Windows On Your Mac, especially Windows 7 then your ready to take the plunge. You know that Windows 7 is actually pretty sweet operating system. But you need it for something that OS X cant do so how do you proceed? Lets review the options for running Windoes On A MAc so you can select the method thats right for you? Using windows with your mac begins as many-things do with a choice. Boot Camp or virtualization. If your running Leopard or Snow Leopard OS X includes boot camp which enables Windows to run natively on your Mac. While that means better windows performance, you can only run one operating system at a time this way. So being able to switch between OS X and Windows 7 requires restarting your computer. (For Details on how to get this option up and running check out apple.com/support/bootcamp.) For most of us all the rebooting adds up to too much hassle for a day to day use but fortunately theres another side where the grass is greener. Virtualization software lets you run windows and many other operating system from within the OS X by creating whats called a virtual machine, or a VM. Typically VMs appear as an application-style window inside a virtual environment, essentially creating a computer within a computer.

With Virtualization software Mac users typically choose from two main options: VMare Fusion 3 And Parallels Desktop 6 (4.5 Stars, Dec/10) For what its worth its an easy decision we enthusiastically recommend Parallels 6 two reasons. First our Friends over at MacTech put these two Virtualization apps through of the most exhaustive batters of benchmarking tests weve ever seen, analyzing their performance of four different models of Maxs in a variety of uses ranging from gaming to productivity software to 3D graphics and beyond. Parallels 6 beat Fusion 3 in 84 percent of those tests. And in 61 percent of those tests it won by a margin of at least 10 percent so if your asking us its on incredible piece of software. (Check out this Terrific Article at bit.ly/vbench.) Folks, thats called a blowout by Parallels has another thing going for it. Tighter integration with OS X. Buy activating an option called "coherence" the window running your Windows VM disappears and you can install and use windows software from within the OS X operating System. Windows apps appear in a separate Applications folder, they can be launched from the Dock and used just like Mac Apps and they can access files anywhere on your computer. Its a dramatic especially if youre used to older virtualization software that essentially quarantined the two operating systems requiring Windows software to run solely within the VMs Window and forcing files to be copied between operating systems.

Before we move on to the intricacies of Windows 7 and helping you get the most of out Parallels , a brief word on requirements. Purchase Parallels Desktop 6 ($79.99), this however doesnt get you Windows 7 so youll have to have Windows 7 CD or Downloaded bought online and downloaded onto your Computer. So youll need one with a Valid unused licensed Key to get your VM set up correctly and properly. Also running VM takes a big chunk of your Macs RAM and processor capacity. Parallels 6 defaults to using on Processor core and 1GB of RAM. For this task so of course it includes settings that let you devote more or less of your Macs muscle to Windows. But theres no free power here the faster you make Windows Run, the slower MAC OS X run. With a newer Mac youll just be fin, but if your Macs already a bit pokey, Boot Camp and its constant rebooting to cycle between operating systems might be the better route. To bottom-line it, well start with Parallels 6 stated Minimum specs: Mac OS 10.5.8 or Later: 1.66GHZ intel processor 1GB RAM, 15GB for each virtualization machine. But in our testing we found that a 2GHZ Core 2 Duo Processor an 2GB RAM set the minimum threshold of performance that we found usable. Of Course the more horsepower your computer has the snappier your VM will be. Getting Started With Windows 7, Setting up Boot Camp is just a matter of following Apples Instructions but using Parrallels 6 to make a VM is a bit more involved. These tips and tricks will guide you around common pitfalls and make sure your Parallels VM is running smoothly and safely. IF you decide on Boot Camp, though, steps 2 and 3 are vital when using Windows.

1) Plan Ahead:
Before you begin lets talk schedule setting up a VM is a slow process mostly in due part to all the Windows  updates youll need to download and install. So plan accordingly we recommend a Sunday morning like chunk of time where you can drift alot on occasion and for the first two stages of this process installing Parallels itself then installing Windows As A VM Parallels comes with a good instructions that need no repeating here. Read them carefully and follow along but remember thats only the beginning.

2) The Update Loop:
once Windows Launches for the first time, its crucial that you run updates and install security measures before you do anything else seriously. Dont explore or fiddle with options yet because an unprotected Windows Machine is like an open, unattended bank vault with a trail of $100 bills leading out the curb. You dont want that, so click on the Start Menu (its the Windows icon in the lower left corner) And Select Control Panel. In the Window that opens, click system and Security > Windows Update > Check For Updates. Keep repeating this process until you have no more updates for us, it took 6 cycles and a total of 79 Updates. Yup its a Microsoft Product.

3) Safe And Secure:
Next download Microsoft Security Essentials at Microsoft.com/security_essentials and double click mseinstall.exe to install it. Thankfully, theres no longer any need to pay for separate anti-virus or security software when running Windows, but you definitely need protection. Let MSE run its update and perform its first scan another lengthy process. If you happen to notice any messages about it conflicting with Windows Defender, ignore them as part of this install, MSE will turn off Defender, and
thats a good thing.

4) Achieve Coherence:
Once youve armored up , its time to finish up with Parallels Desktop. Go to its Virtual Machine Menu and Click install Parallels Tools. (You might be prompted to put your Parallels 6 Disc back in or remount the DMG you downloaded) When that installs done, Parallels will reboot into Coherence mode. As the Nifty Help message explains this mode hides Parallels and Windows in the background. To Control Parallels, click its icon in the menu bar, and to run Windows Apps, Navigate to the Windows 7 Applications folder in your dock. Youre now free to run and install Windows Software, open Windows files and generally do your thing.

5) Tidy Up:
Youve probably noticed though, that a bunch of Windows 7 icons just took up residence in your Menu bar and nope you totally dont need them. Click the Parallels icon in the menu bar and select and Exit Coherence. Windows Parallels will and youre now free to run and install Windows Software as you like.