Virtualization is the most important element if you want to work parallely between Windows and Linux, most ly done by some software, VMWare for an example. However, thinking ofr working between windows and Mac side by side would be a great opportunity to grab. You can you Parallel Dekstop (4) to make this thing works.
Installing Parallels Desktop 4 is super easy. As soon as you’re done with that, just slide your original copy of Vista inside you’re Mac’s slot loading tray. Surely you’ll want to start installing straight away so, at the Welcome screen, choose Start Using Parallels Desktop. Hit continue and Parallels will detect that a copy of Vista is “in the building.” The software will have a look at your hardware (hard drive size, optical unit, video, RAM) and will hand some power over to the virtual machine you’re creating. Before you know it, you’re already looking at the black Power On Self Test screen (POST).
Installing Vista through Parallels is really the same thing as on a PC, although some processes may take longer. It will take between 45-50 minutes to install, and maybe one hour before you can actually start using your first application inside Vista. However, unlike Apple’s Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop is a solution for running “guest” operating systems within OS X. What this means is that you can run OS X and Windows side by side, working between the two as if they were two Finder / Explorer windows. This feature alone is worth every penny!
After installing Vista on your machine, you have a few options on how you want to work. One of those is “Coherence mode.” In Coherence mode, you can have Windows Vista applications right there in your OS X Dock, with no Vista desktop. Basically, you have just the number of Vista applications and features when you need them, while your view isn’t clogged up with the entire Vista desktop.Of course, other users will need to work with both OSes at the same time, using all their features to the max. For them, the Window view is appropriate. Not enough? Need to work even more in Vista, you say? Go into full screen mode (Alt+Cmd+Return) and you’ll see your Mac’s desktop fully replicated in Vista. Everything is there - files, folders, even disk images - but not your Macintosh HD. You can, however, use Parallels Shared Folders to access your Mac’s “home” folder. While Parallels won’t let you mess with your Mac’s applications, it will let you edit and move files created and edited in Mac OS X.
The Good
What else is there to add? Parallels’ purpose speaks for itself. Isn’t it enough that it practically creates a PC out of thin air using your Mac’s hardware? Even better, no constant rebooting and sharing privileges are required. Every Windows-specific program / device is now usable on your Mac!
The Bad
Undoubtedly, there are several other issues / constraints to mention when intensive computing is done with OS X and Vista side by side. However, for normal use, the only drawback is the system requirements. If you really want to use Vista on your Mac, without ruining either (OS) experience, better pack some serious memory and at least the above-mentioned 2Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The price can also be considered a bit too high, given that the user must also fork out some cash for a copy of Vista.
The Truth
Overall, you can’t pass on running Windows stuff on your Mac, let alone doing it side by side with your favorite Mac OS X applications. Plus, sharing a hard drive between two OSes can be pretty convenient at times. Leaving aside the hanging and the freezing that can occur at times, Parallels Desktop 4 makes a good asset for any Mac user.
