In the classic 'which is better' argument between Macs and PC's, PC advocates sometimes bring up features or characteristics of the Windows operating system as an argument for PC's being better than Macs. These individuals overlook a key feature of the Mac lineup - you can run Windows on them. While you need to purchase a copy of the Windows operating system separately from your Mac, once you do you can install it and enjoy the benefits of both operating systems. This is especially useful for individuals who want to use Macs but may rely on a few programs that are Windows-specific.
- Parallels Desktop For Mac Pro
- Macbook Parallels Windows 10
- Mac Os Parallel
- Running Parallels On Macbook Air
Dear Community, I'm running Parallels for Mac 12 (last version) on a Mac OS Sierra (last beta 10.12.4 b6) Macbook Pro and is happening something extrange: If I work with facetime or skype or some app that needs the iSight camera before running Parallels, image from camera is received (green led from camera is on) and the apps are working as expected. Jan 28, 2019 I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations on RAM and processors. I know that Parallels recommends 8GB of RAM, but are they recommending this just to run Windows, or does 8GB provide good performance when running Windows and Mac OS simultaneously? Also, how does Parallels run on a MacBook Air with a dual-core processor (i5 or i7)?
If you are looking to install Windows on your Mac, you have two options. You can either install Windows in Boot Camp, a native feature of the Mac OS X operating system, or you can use a virtualization program. These are third-party applications that run on your Mac just like any other program. They create a virtualization of another computer, allowing you to install a separate operating system. With virtualization software, it is almost like you are using two computers at the same time on one machine. There are many virtualization programs available, but Parallels Desktop for Mac is the most popular and will be the one we focus on. If you'd like to check out other virtualization options, VMware, Citrix and Red Hat are good alternatives.
Depending on your specific needs, you may want to chose Boot Camp for your Windows install or you may want to buy a virtualization program. They both have their own specific advantages and disadvantages when you compare them. However, before you make the decision to purchase Windows and install it on your Mac, you'll want to double check that your Mac is compatible with the Windows version you are planning to run. Use this handy reference from Apple to determine which versions of Windows your Mac is compatible with.
Once you have the appropriate version of Windows, you now need to decide whether you would like to install it with Boot Camp or Parallels.
How It Works
Boot Camp is built into the OS X operating system of the Macs. If you go to your Applications > Utilities folder, you will see the Boot Camp Assistant app. Boot Camp makes a separate partition on your computer's hard drive (think of it as splitting your hard drive into two separate parts) specifically for installing and running windows. Upon launching the Boot Camp Assistant app, you have the option to change how large this partition is. Once Windows is installed in Boot Camp, every time you turn on your computer, you will be asked to select the operating system you would like to run. This means to switch from OS X to Windows, you need to reboot your Mac.
Advantages
- Built into the Mac OS X operating system
- Because Boot Camp runs Windows completely isolated from OS X instead of at the same time (like with virtualization), Boot Camp is less of a strain on your Mac's memory and is easier on your Mac to keep up and running.
- The Boot Camp Assistant app guides you through the install process
- Completely free! All you have to do is buy Windows and not any additional software
- Free and easy updates
Disadvantages
- Once you partition the hard drive, you cannot adjust the partition size. Meaning if you create a 200GB partition for Windows but run out of storage, you would need to completely reset Boot Camp and repartition to the size you desire.
- Every time you wish to switch between operating systems, you need to reboot your computer
- No easy way of transferring files and data between operating systems. Either email them to yourself, use a cloud service like Dropbox or iCloud Drive, or use an external device like a USB drive or CD.
- Because you need to partition the hard drive, you are effectively decreasing the available space on the OS X side of your Mac.
How It Works
If you decide to use Parallels Desktop, you first need to purchase both the Parallels program and your Windows operating system. The current version of Parallels Desktop is Parallels 10. It is available here for $79.99. Once you purchase, download and install Parallels, you can open the program and install your Windows operating system within it. Much like Boot Camp, you decide how much space you want to allocate toward Windows, but unlike Boot Camp, you can easily change these storage options after installation. Parallels runs like any other app on your Mac. When it is up and running, you see an entire Windows desktop within a window on your Mac (you can obviously full screen the program as well). This makes switching back and forth between systems incredibly easy.
Advantages
- More functional than Boot Camp in the sense that you can run both operating systems at one time
- Easy file integration between systems. You can even link desktops between your Parallels program and OS X so that any documents created in one system are automatically copied and saved to the other system.
- Coherence Mode. This feature of Parallels blends the Windows and OS X environments together, giving you a common interface for both applications. This means that instead of having a whole Windows Desktop open within OS X, you can open Windows apps in Coherence Mode, and they look just as if you opened a Mac program.
- No need to create a separate partition on your hard drive for Windows that cannot be easily changed as with Boot Camp.
Disadvantages
- Compared to Boot Camp, Parallels is a greater strain on your Mac's memory and processing power since both operating systems are running at the same time. I would say that if you want to smoothly run either Windows 7, 8 or 10 on your Mac in Parallels, you should at least have 4GB of RAM on your Mac and if you like using many apps at the same time, I'd recommend having at least 8GB.
- Parallels is a more expensive option than Boot Camp since you have to buy the Parallels software.
- Updates are not as easy and affordable as Boot Camp. There is a new version of Parallels released in tandem with OS X updates every year and it usually costs $49.99 to upgrade. If you update the OS X version on your Mac, you will need the new Parallels version in order to be compatible. You do not need to reinstall Windows each time you update Parallels, however.
- Some people may find that the Parallels route has a steeper learning curve than Boot Camp as Parallels is a completely separate application with far more preferences and settings to learn (or be confused by), whereas Boot Camp is a more straightforward setup.
If you have an older computer with less than 4GB of RAM, you probably want to go with Boot Camp as you will notice decreased performance running Parallels. If you're someone who wants to keep their Windows and OS X experiences entirely separate, Boot Camp is also the best option for you. Those looking to install Windows on their Mac as affordably as possible will also want to go the Boot Camp route. If you want to run Windows and Mac apps together at the same time and be able to quickly switch back and forth between operating systems, you definitely want to go with Parallels or another virtualization software (they all do virtually the same thing, no pun intended). My personal recommendation is that if you have a computer with enough RAM and a processor to handle it, go with Parallels. I find it easier to use and the ability to run Windows apps in Coherence Mode is awesome - giving you the best of both operating system worlds.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions about Boot Camp, Parallels, virtualization or anything else, leave us a comment below or hit us up on our web chat! If you need help installing Windows on your Mac, our Apple Technicians are able to help you out. We charge $95 for the install and can also help you with purchasing and downloading Parallels and the Windows operating system!
Under Steve Jobs leadership, Apple reversed its slide into mediocrity and now is one of the most profitable companies on the planet. Many PC owners have made the switch to the Mac platform.
But what about all the great Windows-based programs like Microsoft Flight Simulator X? You love FSX, and you are a Mac owner. What do you do now?
Don’t worry, captain! The good news is there are several ways to run FSX on Mac OS X.
Boot Camp
![Running Parallels On Macbook Running Parallels On Macbook](https://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2013/08/parallels_windows_8-800x500.jpg?retina)
FSX will run on your Mac if it is fitted with an Intel processor. A simple solution is to add Boot Camp and any of these Windows operating systems installed after setting up Boot Camp:
- Windows XP with SP1 or higher
- Windows Vista
- Windows 7
Boot Camp is software with 'multi-boot' capability. It is part of the Apple OS X operating system and lets you run Windows programs on Macs that have Intel architecture.
Boot Camp, Macs Can do Windows too
You have to partition your hard drive to make it work. However, the task is relatively painless using the Boot Camp Assistant which will guide you through the whole procedure. You will install Windows device drivers and the Windows Control Panel in the process.
Currently Apple requires OS X systems to have:
- Optical drive (optional)
- Blank CDs or USBs for the Windows drivers (again, optional)
- 16 GB of open HD space for 32-bit Windows or 20 GB for 64-bit Windows.
- Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate (32-bit and 64-bit editions) install disks or install images
- Intel-Based Mac
You can boot up in either Apple or Windows mode. Boot Camp is a great way to run FSX because it boots straight into Windows. Essentially, you are running a Windows machine when in this mode.
The main consideration is having enough power and memory. Running FSX on full settings on Windows takes a lot of power as it is. Now you are adding Boot Camp in the mix. That means you really should have a beefy Mac with plenty of RAM.
There are some other things to consider when using Boot Camp. Make sure you have an effective antivirus program. Also, you need a lot of extra room on the hard drive for aircraft and other add-ons. It will fill up faster than you think.
The advantages of Boot Camp include:
- It comes free with OS X 10.6 or above.
- Good performance running Windows programs.
- Simple and quick to install.
Boot Camp disadvantages include:
- You need to boot the system into your operating system of choice. You cannot switch 'on the fly.'
- There is no simple way to share files across the different operating systems.
- Backups are more laborious because you need to run a separate session for each side
You can begin the set-up of Boot Camp quite easily:
- Click on the spotlight feature on the top of your Mac OS X desktop - the icon looks like a magnifying glass (the search feature), like this:
- Search for 'Boot Camp' and click on the 'Top Hit' called 'Boot Camp Assistant':
- Follow the simple installation and configuration screen which will guide you through the set-up process:
Parallels
Parallels Desktop for Mac is a proven solution for running Windows programs on a Mac.
In fact, well-known tech writer Walt Mossberg recently wrote in the Walt Street Journal, 'Parallels 8 does a fine job of running Windows on a Mac, especially Windows 8. It doesn't emulate every feature, like those taking advantage of a touch screen—which the Mac lacks. But it makes Windows 8 work on a Mac pretty much like it works on a standard Windows PC that you'd upgrade to Windows 8.'
Parallels can run Windows and Mac programs in tandem because it builds a 'virtual machine,' essentially a Windows machine inside a Mac. This is different from Boot Camp's approach. Boot Camp hands the Mac system completely over to Windows. You can only run one operating system at a time, and must reboot to access them.
Some users report that Parallels does not run FSX as well as Boot Camp. User 'K1PC' wrote on the Parallels forum (forum.parallels.com) that, 'FSX is the really the only thing I use in Parallels, I don't have to do any further upgrades. (But) I get much better performance when I boot into Windows (in Boot Camp) .. and, I have better use of my monitors.'
Running FSX in a Parallels Virtual Machine on OS X
Still, Macworld found that FSX runs well on Parallels. A 2011 review of Parallels Desktop 7 said,
Overall, I was amazed at the performance I saw. Parallels can provide up to 1GB of video RAM, which means that even some newer games with large texture sizes will run reasonably well; I was able to play the demo of Hard Reset, an intensive first person shooter, at decent (though not great) frame rates. Older games, such as Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X and Crysis, ran very nicely, with smooth graphics and audio. Even the demo of Call of Duty 4, which ran but with jerky-slow frame rates when I last tested it with Parallels 5, is now playable.
Another concern with FSX is using peripherals like joysticks and rudders. In the Macworld review they addressed the issue:
While testing the games, I was also able to test Parallels’ support for USB peripherals, which turns out to be quite good. I used a Bluetooth mouse, a Saitek flight stick, a generic gamepad, and a Logitech Momo force feedback wheel and pedal set, all of which worked fine. The only exception was that the force feedback in the wheel isn’t active within the virtual machine. When you connect a USB device, Parallels provides a nice visual dialog box for selecting how it should be assigned, and whether that assignment is permanent or temporary.
Parallels multiple view modes include:
- Window – Run Windows in a completely separate window.
- Coherence – Operate Windows and Mac side-by-side like they were blended together.
- Full Screen – Forgo the Mac interface for the familiarity of a Windows desktop.
- Modality – Use transparent windows to see all the action at once.
Parallels allows you to drag and drop files in between Mac and Windows smoothly. You can launch Windows programs from the Mac dock. Most Macs will run windows including iMac, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. You can download Parallels from their website. To run the program you have to enter a key. After that you can run any Windows program.
You can grab Parallels directly from the Parallels website here.
VMWare Fusion
VMWare's Fusion takes a similar approach as Parallels. You do not need to reboot to change operating systems. You can launch Windows programs like FSX just as you would a Mac application, using Mac shortcuts and gestures as well.
A great feature is the ability to run Windows programs on one screen, or across two or more screens. In 'Unity view,' you can run FSX without seeing Windows at all.
VMWare Fusion running Windows in OS X
What if you've already installed Boot Camp and want to give Fusion a try? Fusion will run FSX and your Mac stuff straight from your current Boot Camp partition.
Early in 2012, Fusion 4 was selected over Parallels by Macworld as the best way to run Windows programs on a Mac. It beat Parallels in 9 out of 11 performance benchmarks. Macworld also found Fusion easier to install and operate.
Here is Walt Mossberg's take on Fusion:
In my reviews of the last couple of editions of Parallels and Fusion, I've found Parallels, which claims about 70% of the Windows-on-Mac market, superior. I'm sticking with that conclusion. I found Parallels faster at every common task, like starting and restarting Windows, and resuming Windows from a suspended state.
What if you don't have the latest and greatest hardware and software? It seems even older versions of Fusion work well with FSX. A few years ago, Rob Griffiths of Macworld fired up a copy of FSX running on Fusion 3 and Windows 7 running on a 2008 iMac sporting an ATI Radion 2600. To make it extra challenging, he ran Screenflow at the same time to grab a screen capture. The result is a surprisingly smooth graphics performance. (Rob's flying skills leave a little to be desired, however.) Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V92Qba865U
Not everyone agrees. Over at the a2simulations forum (a2simulations.com) user 'Tigerclaw' lamented, 'I use VMware Fusion for a 'Virtual PC' and run this machine as a Mac and a PC at the same time, but you can't run FSX that way, it's too demanding.'
You can grab your copy of VMWare Fusion over at their website here.
VirtualBox
Another option for technically oriented users is Virtualbox, part of Oracle's group of virtualization programs. It was originally developed by innotek as an x86 program. Sun Microsystems bought innotek in 2008, and Oracle bought Sun in 2009.
Virtualbox was made not just for Macs. It can run on multiple operation systems including Windows Linux and OS/2.
Running VirtualBox on OS X
For Mac OS X it allows unlimited virtualization sessions. Unfortunately, Virtualbox so far does not stack up as well as Parallels and Fusion. A Macworld review found that, 'In 3D Windows performance, VirtualBox also lags its competition. While there is some basic DirectX support, there’s only minimal support for the Aero interface in Windows. I wasn’t able to get any of my three test games (Half Life 2, Call of Duty 4, Flight Sim X) to run. You may have more success with older games, but anything relatively new will probably not work in VirtualBox.'
Parallels Desktop For Mac Pro
Still, Virtualbox is free software. It is available as Open Source Software working under the guidelines and terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.
Unlike some open source projects, it is not a stagnant effort. It is actively being developed. There have been a number of releases, expanded features, and new platforms added. It has the double benefit of open source innovation, and the backing of a huge software company.
Macbook Parallels Windows 10
If you have the tech chops and like working with open source software, give it a whirl and see how it works for you. Microsoft powerpoint free download for macbook pro. Just be realistic in your expectations.
Underground Tweaks
A small cadre of FSX fanatics have come up with some tweaks to make FSX perform faster and cleaner, even on medium power Macs.
Tweaking FSX config settings
Now, changing these settings is not really recommended unless you really know what you are doing, and we can't be responsible if something goes haywire. You could even harm your computer so any changes you make are at your own risk. With that caveat, the tweaks and tips can be found on our page here.
Steve White wrote some suggestions at the Flight Sim Network to help the 'tweaking' process. He said to use the same aircraft when making tweaks because it is much easier to judge performance changes. Also, use an aircraft that ships with the program. Some add-on aircraft can be a little wonky, and will affect the performance evaluation.
Mac Os Parallel
Plenty of Power
Probably the best advice is to make sure your Mac has plenty of juice. Realistically, FSX needs a powerful computer when it is running in its native Windows. Microsoft lists some of the basic Windows system requirements as:
- Computer processor - 2.0 gigahertz (GHz) or more
- Memory - 1 gigabyte (GB) or more of RAM
- Hard disk space - 4 gigabytes (GB) available hard disk space
- Video card - DirectX 9 (or later version)-compatible video card
- 128 MB or more video RAM, Shader Model 1.1 or later version
- DVD drive - 32x speed
To get the most out of FSX, however, you will need more firepower than these specs, especially if you are going to be running it inside of a current OS X session. 4 GB of RAM is a good place to start. And you’ll need plenty of hard disk space.
Similarly, running FSX in Parallels or Fusion on top of the OS X is a tall order. Try to pack as much RAM as possible into the Mac, preferably anywhere from 4GB to 8GB, or more. Get a large hard disk and plenty of processing power.
Should you tweak the configuration files to make it run better? It sounds simple, but if something goes wrong you could botch up some software, or even worse fry your computer. It’s better to opt for more powerful hardware than freezing up the whole system.
Video of FSX Running on a Mac
The video below was created running FSX on a Mac by using Parallels. It gives you an idea of what can be achieved.
Multiple Options
Whether you choose Boot Camp, Parallels or VMWare Fusion, the good news is you have plenty of options. You may want to start with Boot Camp and test how your system reacts. With good results, consider adding Parallels or Fusion to up the ante.
Keep in mind that FSX is a graphics intensive game. It is leaps and bounds more immersive than Flight Simulator 2004. But impressive graphics come at a price. You should invest in as much hardware power as your budget allows.
Apple iMac running FSX
This advice is even more applicable if you plan on running other Windows programs at the same time as FSX. For example, concurrent screen capture programs can slow things down unless your system has the horsepower to keep everything running smoothly.
As an example, here is Walt Mossberg again, sharing his experience with less powerful systems, “I did find one major downside to using Windows 8 on a Mac. While it worked like a breeze on my relatively new MacBook Air, both Windows 8 under Parallels, and Mac programs running simultaneously, suffered delays when I tried them on an older iMac.”
Before you go ahead and buy a full copy of FSX why not download the demo and test it out? Also, we have a full review of the Steam Edition here. And don't forget, once you are flying and enjoying the default scenery/aircraft, be sure to expand your experience with the thousands of free add-ons (you don't even need to register) we have in the file library here.
Crank up the power and you’ll be enjoying FSX on your Mac with no problems.
Running Parallels On Macbook Air
Post your experiences and comments below, we'd love to hear them!