Apple released bootcamp and it is great, if you need Windows XP to run with all the bells and whistles of your intel Mac. I mean I am really impressed with Bootcamp and the fact that Apple actually helps you run Windows XP on their hardware. However for some people a fast working Windows XP is enough. So there is Parallels, as every Mac fan with an intel Mac should know by now. Parallels helps in cases like my father who needs Windows XP on a semi regular basis and has 2 screen hooked up to his Mac. So I sat down and tested the speed of a Parallels VM with Windows XP and dual monitor to see if I can use 1 monitor for each OS. That would be the perfect setup so he can check his email, do some real work on Mac OS X while do the necessary things on Windows XP. I made a video of how it looks and put it on YouTube because quite frankly if you do not need gaming this is the BEST way to go.I am thoroughly impressed.

You make a windows XP (or whatever) image, and when its ready the way you want it, copy it somewhere as a backup. Then you work with that image. If you botch your installation you delete the Virtal Machine file, copy the “original” back and you are up and running in about 10 minutes. Viruses, spyware and all the other niceties are solved that way. The speed of the VMs is something that VMWare should still get down somehwere. I use FileVault for encryption and still I couldn’t notice a real performance drop.
Suffice to say, Parallels did an EXCELLENT job and I am recommending at least everyone to check it out. http://www.parallels.com/

If you have any other experiences or have hints on how to run multiple Parallels VM’s at once, please let me know.

//Flosse

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