Macs All-in-One for Dummies®, 2nd Edition

Chapter VII.3. Running Windows on a Mac

In This Chapter

• Understanding why you might need Windows

• Giving your Mac a split personality with Boot Camp

• Running virtual machines

• Using CrossOver Mac

As much as you might enjoy using your Mac, sometimes you might need to run Windows because you need to use a program that runs only on Windows. Many programs are Windows-only, such as a number of astrology or stock picking programs, as are many custom applications developed by a company for in-house use. When faced with this dilemma, you have a choice:

• You can buy a Windows PC and use that computer just to run the Windows program you need.

• You can run Windows on your Mac. Ever since Apple started using Intel processors, you've been able to turn your Mac into a Windows PC.

Don't worry — you don't have to wipe out your hard drive and eliminate the Mac OS to run Windows. You have ways to run Windows on your Mac that still let you use all the features that made you want to use a Mac in the first place.

Note

If you need Windows to access Microsoft Exchange services like address lists, calendar events, and e-mail, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard gives you access to this information through Mail, iCal, and Address Book. Therefore, you might not need to install Windows after all.

Giving Your Mac a Split Personality with Boot Camp

To install Windows on a Mac, you can split your hard drive in two parts (the parts are partitions) and use one partition to install and run Windows and a second to keep using Mac OS X the ...