VirtualBox is available on Windows, Linux, OSX and Solaris. A 'VirtualBox Extension Pack' that includes virtual USB 2.0, VirtualBox RDP & PXE boot support is available only under a commercial license.
You boot into Mac then run the virtual machine within the Mac OS. VirtualBox is available for free with source code available here. Bootcamp, on the other hand, forces you to choose one or another when booting your system.
The obvious difference in user experience is the fact that Parallels allows you to instantly switch between Mac OS X and another operating system. The virtual machine creates a file in the Mac OS in which Windows runs and stores data on a virtual disk (file). Examine the differences in user experience and Mac OS X integration. Using a virtual machine like Parallels does not create a partition. It is like having two independent computers that do not run at the same time. When using Boot Camp you boot independently into either Windows or Mac OS.
Of course you could complicate the issue more by saving the data generated to an external drive formatted ExFat which can be read/write by both Windows and your Mac Operating System. It is as though you were were using a Windows computer. If using Windows in a Boot Camp installation you would install Office and any other Windows program in Windows. You are correct about your Office Suite, to a point. Thanks in advance for your advice and assistance! Is this correct?Īlternatively, if I use Parallels, would I be able to seamlessly generate the map in the Windows map program and then copy/paste into my Office/Word program in the Mac OS? Is this correct?Īlso, if i use Parallels, am I actually partitioning the hard-drive? And if a partition is required in both options (Boot camp or Parallels), which one will require greater dedicated space for the partition? Since it is a separate partition you can easily save your work, take a snapshot etc., Windows running from Boot Camp has the following limitations: It can't be paused. My work requires me to generate a map, and copy/paste into Word.įrom your description of how these two environments work, if I use Boot Camp I would have to load Office/Word into the Windows partitioned space in addition to the mapping program, so I could shift between the two programs without rebooting. Hello SergeyB2, we would like you to try ' VM from Mac OS partition'. On the other hand, my MBP has a separate video card and a fast I7 processor. As a mapping program it probably is graphically intensive, but don't believe this software is a super computer resource hog. Thanks very much, this is very helpful! Unfortunately, the only topo mapping program I can find with the features I need runs on Windows.