[Wibbie]

My poor old Asus PC finally kicked the bucket after living to the ripe old age of 6 years. I knew the time was coming for the motherboard's demise, so I started transferring everything over to an external hard drive, so I could us it from my MacBook Pro. Problem is.... I have tons of Windows stuff that I don't really want to lose the use of, and I have never wanted to corrupt my laptop with Windows. Now, I see it is time to have to do that.
I don't really know much about using Windows on a Mac, and I haven't saved quite enough for a new iMac yet, so I have to de-junk my laptop and use it. (I'm out of hard drive space after only 3 years of use- even with an external HD).

I need advice on how to add Windows and what that will mean for my computer. I have Windows XP on my old computer. Can I just install using the disc from that machine (since it no longer works anyway) on my Mac using Boot camp or something? I'm currently running OSX 10.5.8.
Will I need to have an antivirus program installed in the Windows partition? Does installing WIndows allow me to use all my Windows programs?

Next question: Any advice on shopping around for a new iMac? Best time to order one? (When is the once a year sale?)
Best place to shop?
What to avoid? (I was told to choose Ram that comes standard, and order extra Ram from somewhere other than Apple to reduce cost).
Which applications are really worth the cost?

Thanks in advance.

 

[pm-r]

All Apple MB and MBPs (like your MBP) can run windows and using a new Intel Mac could remain as as option.

But it sounds like you just need more HD space and if nothing else, so just using a decent sized external drive would work for you for keeping all your windows and your bootable cloned Mac stuff on it and then add the windows OS and boot from the external drive if an when you need to, using either Boot Camp or Parallels etc.

For a new Mac, I always suggest browsing Apple's 'refurbished' Mac site.

It changes quickly, Refurbished Mac - Apple Store (Canada)

 

[CanadaRAM]

You can use Boot Camp to install Windows on any *internal* hard drive, but not on an *external* hard drive. Boot Camp 3.0, Mac OS X 10.6: Frequently asked questions

Parallels or VMWare is different

 

[Wibbie]

Good suggestions

Thanks for the suggestion. I never realized you could just boot from the external HD. I'll check that out. All I have is Boot Camp, but I've heard about the others. I couldn't get the link to work (oops... it's working fine now).
Thanks.

 

[pm-r]

You can use Boot Camp to install Windows on any *internal* hard drive, but not on an *external* hard drive. Boot Camp 3.0, Mac OS X 10.6: Frequently asked questions

Parallels or VMWare is different

Thanks for the correction Trevor but i don't understand why not.

Maybe because Apple dictates their Boot Camp conditions I'm guessing, or is this just a new 10.6.x thing???

So much to learn and so little time!! ;-)

Patrick

 

[Alex Taylor]

Best time to order one? (When is the once a year sale?)

I guess there will be lot of sales during Christmas, so, you will be able to save $ for gifts

Which applications are really worth the cost?

Oh, this is only up to you Just analyze what were you doing on your PC and which apps were installed there and start looking for their Mac versions/analogues.

 

[SINC]

Thanks for the suggestion. I never realized you could just boot from the external HD. I'll check that out. All I have is Boot Camp, but I've heard about the others. I couldn't get the link to work (oops... it's working fine now).
Thanks.

No, you can't boot from an external with Boot Camp. You must have missed this:

You can use Boot Camp to install Windows on any *internal* hard drive, but not on an *external* hard drive. Boot Camp 3.0, Mac OS X 10.6: Frequently asked questions

Parallels or VMWare is different

 

[makuribu]

One possible strategy:

• Buy another external drive. There's a 2 TB external for $120 at Future Shop right now. (Though with a MBP you should get a Firewire 800 drive. More money but much faster than USB 2.)
  
• Clone your internal hard drive to the external using Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper. You can boot OS X from an external as long as you format and partition the drive properly.
  
• Erase your internal hard drive.
  
• Do a fresh install of OS X and run the BootCamp utility to partition the drive.
  
• Install Windows XP on the BootCamp partition. You may have to call Microsoft and deregister the old computer so the licence will work on your Mac. XP licensing is arcane/archaic compared to OS X.

Windows XP and 7 run fine on Intel Macs, all the software works as if you were using a Windows based PC. And you are just as prone to crashes, BSOD, and virii as any other Windows user.

 

[Paddy]

Wibbie, how do you envision using any Windows applications that you cannot duplicate on the Mac? How much time do you think you'll be devoting to the Windows side of things - and how many things could you find adequate (or better) replacements for on the Mac side?

The reason I ask all this is that your usage patterns should dictate what you decide to do - if you think you'll be using Windows extensively, for hours on end, because either there is something that you just cannot duplicate on the Mac side or perhaps cannot afford to duplicate on the Mac side at this time, then Boot Camp makes sense.

If on the other hand, you really need to be able to flip back and forth - do something in Windows - switch back to look after email or something on the Mac side etc., then I'd suggest you take a serious look at VMWare Fusion or Parallels. I use VMWare fusion and Windows 7. I design web sites. I have to be able to look at them in Internet Explorer and make sure everything actually works in that browser that all web developers love to hate. I use it in coherence mode - it's great; IE sits in the Dock along with my other apps. I also have Publisher (have a few clients who send me things in that) and need to use that occasionally. And once in a blue moon, there is that inevitable web site that I absolutely must interact with that only behaves itself in IE. So, for me, VMWare Fusion is terrific. If I had to reboot every time I needed to check something out on the Windows side, I'd go insane.

Now, if you happen to want to play games on your Windows install, then Boot Camp is the way to go.

As to the other questions that nobody has yet answered - yes, you will need anti-virus on the Windows install. However, there are very good free options out there. I use Avast. AVG is also good and there is one other that is supposed to be good but the name escapes me.

As for using the Windows XP disk that you have from your Asus PC, that may or may not work. Depends on whether the disk is an OEM disk tied to the hardware (ie: did it come with the computer when you bought it?). If it's OEM, legally, you cannot transfer it. OEM licenses are tied to the motherboard and MS won't reactivate an OEM license on another computer.

Transfer of OEM Licenses

However, if you happened to buy a retail copy of Windows XP, then yes, you can transfer the OS to the new computer (the Mac) - you will probably have to call Microsoft in order to deactivate the old install though, if the computer cannot be started up so that XP can be uninstalled. Apparently wiping the HD would also deactivate the XP install, though I can't help but wonder how that works, since how would Microsoft know about this! (??)

 

[johnnydee]

Next question: Any advice on shopping around for a new iMac? Best time to order one?

Thanks in advance.

As soon as you need one!

 

[Andrew Pratt]

I'd also suggest looking into the refurb store on apple.ca as you can save a lot going that route.

What are these programs that you need to run in Windows?

 

[pcronin]

I will attest to being able to run Windows on the internal and OS X on an external. Confused my coworkers for a few days with that one.

If you'd prefer to run separate machines, I'd go with the refurb store. If you're looking to dual boot go bootcamp. if you want to visualize and dual boot, then VMWare is the best way. If virtual will do for everything, check out virtual box. it's free and very capable for mostly everything.

Futureshop/Tirgerdirect have many cheeper windows boxes if you want to have a new stand alone windows box kicking around.