switched from the darkside. quick question...

[Marty Mar]

last week i purchased a 17inch macbook pro at best buy for a boner inducing price of $1510 (needless to say, i moved on it immediately). i also got my son a 13 inch macbook and "black tie coverage" on both (for $3300 out the door, not bad). they are our first macs and we are extremely happy. the ease of use and just general speed and smoothness of them is nothing short of amazing. after a decade or more with windows, this is very very refreshing. this leads me to my actual question (and an ironic one at that lol).

in bootcamp, i have an older version of XP (pre-service pack 2), is there any way i can get that on here without having to purchase a version with service pack 2 or vista? i only need to run 2 programs on it and both run fine on an older version of XP. i hate to have to buy a windows product to use 2 pieces of software. is there a work around?

[macgirl]

There's another alternative. What Windows apps do you need to run? There's a program called CrossOver that will run some Windows apps right within Mac OS X. You can find more info here (http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/), and there's also a list of compatible apps somewhere there as well. I have it though I haven't had to make use of it yet...

[chris]

in bootcamp, i have an older version of XP (pre-service pack 2), is there any way i can get that on here without having to purchase a version with service pack 2 or vista? i only need to run 2 programs on it and both run fine on an older version of XP. i hate to have to buy a windows product to use 2 pieces of software. is there a work around?

This article on running Windows 7 for free (http://www.tuaw.com/2009/05/10/installing-windows-7-rc1-on-your-mac-for-free/) might be of some value. I've got Windows 7 on my MBP and it runs great. In fact, I need to upgrade to RC1.

This is more of a stop gap than anything. I'm guessing Bootcamp doesn't support pre-service pack 2?

-Chris

[Marty Mar]

i checked out that cross over program, it doesn't look like the software i run is supported (FL studio 6, adobe audition 1.5, and acid pro 4).

i thought about trying windows 7, but at the end of the day, i don't really need it. XP will work, and given the fact that i'm using very dated versions of software i probably shouldn't try 7 till i know the versions i'm using are going to be compatible (i had serious issues with vista patches for a while).

thanks for the time and input though. i'm guessing it'll be safer to bite the bullet and buy a XP home or something cheap.

[chris]

If you are looking for a cheap copy of XP, give a look on eBay. I was able to purchase sealed OEM copies of XP and Vista.

-Chris

[Marty Mar]

yeah, i was gonna check ebay and amazon if i can't find anything reasonable out this weekend. i don't think i've ever had to buy an OS before. my friends are all geeks and i'm the last one to switch to mac so they don't have anything for me for the first time :laugh2:

[Dakx]

I would seriously consider using a programs called "parallels." Its quite easy to use, but not the easiest to install. I needed a program that would run "gmeditor" which is an FHL hockey simulator program. Out of the ones I looked at parallels looked the best. I was able to download the program but I honestly can't remember from which torrent site.

[acosmichippo]

i think parallels and VMware fusion both have 30-day trial downloads available from their websites. Both should allow you to create virtual machines using your non-SP2 XP disc. I prefer VMware, but that's just me.

[Marty Mar]

thats a good idea, i never thought of the trial period thing. i may try that vmware deal then (its a little cheaper than parallels).

thanks man.

[chris]

+1 on VMWare over Parallels.

[Europa]

There's another alternative. What Windows apps do you need to run? There's a program called CrossOver that will run some Windows apps right within Mac OS X. You can find more info here (http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/), and there's also a list of compatible apps somewhere there as well. I have it though I haven't had to make use of it yet...

This is just my opinion, but I can't recommend using Crossover. I installed it when I first got my Mac because there were a couple Windows programs I thought I couldn't live without, Winamp and Adobe Audition. I quickly found that most Windows programs aren't "verified" to be compatible and don't work. Winamp worked, but it wouldn't allow me to change the skins, I'm a customization freak, so that was no good. Audition, as well as everything else I was interested in, wouldn't work. In addition to not being fully compatible with most software, the potential problems it can cause with the OS are not worth the benefits, so I removed it and ran Applejack. I would use Boot Camp before using Crossover again. But there is a very close to zero percent chance I would use Boot Camp because it kind of defeats the purpose of switching to Mac OS in the first place. If you put Windows on it, you run the risk of viruses etc. I wouldn't want Windows "contaminating" my Mac so to speak ;)

[acosmichippo]

if you got a virus using bootcamp, it would only affect the windows partition. the OSX partition would continue to work normally.

likewise, windows can still get infected as a virtual machine, so you run the risk no matter how you do it.

[macgirl]

This is just my opinion, but I can't recommend using Crossover. I installed it when I first got my Mac because there were a couple Windows programs I thought I couldn't live without, Winamp and Adobe Audition. I quickly found that most Windows programs aren't "verified" to be compatible and don't work. Winamp worked, but it wouldn't allow me to change the skins, I'm a customization freak, so that was no good. Audition, as well as everything else I was interested in, wouldn't work. In addition to not being fully compatible with most software, the potential problems it can cause with the OS are not worth the benefits, so I removed it and ran Applejack. I would use Boot Camp before using Crossover again. But there is a very close to zero percent chance I would use Boot Camp because it kind of defeats the purpose of switching to Mac OS in the first place. If you put Windows on it, you run the risk of viruses etc. I wouldn't want Windows "contaminating" my Mac so to speak ;)

Yeah, I've heard that about Crossover. I caught their free license give-away
around election time just to have it on hand, but I've never used it. I have seen that the verified applications list is not very extensive, and I'm also hesitant to install Windows via Bootcamp or some other method on my Mac for the very same reasons as you. I at least thought Crossover would help in a pinch, if needed, though. Hopefully they'll expand their verified application list in the future...

[Marty Mar]

i hooked up that vm ware fusion free trial. it works exceptionally well, i'm probably gonna keep it. thanks for all the great advise!

its funny, but xp loaded and was up and running in probably half the time of a regular pc. that says a lot for mac hardware.

[acosmichippo]

And vmware.