Dual Booting a Mac

UltimateBMW · 11-03-2009, 05:12 PM

You Mac fellows mention dual booting alot. Like A LOT. So this question came to me from the other thread asking about which route to take. I don't want to potetially start the OS wars in his thread so we can discuss it here.

How often to you boot your Mac in Windows? You guys always say, "just dual boot it", "you can dual boot", "its easy if you just dual boot windows", etc. How realistic is this statement? Is it as simple as holding a key during POSTing and then selecting the OS? Or is it more involved?

These are genuine questions since I don't and never have used a Mac. But if it isn't a straight forward solution, I'd say people that game semi-heavily to often would be better served just running a windows machine. Its not like OSX is aesthetically that much different anymore anyways. But thats another topic. Lets stick to how easy[or not] dual booting is for now.

FStop7 · 11-03-2009, 05:56 PM

I boot directly into Windows if I want to play a PC game.

Otherwise if I need to use Windows I use VMWare Fusion. I probably use it once a day because I like the Windows version of MS Office better than the Mac version.

.:bHd:. · 11-03-2009, 06:29 PM

I would dual boot a lot but i found most of the programs I need an havn't done is in a while. There are two ways you can do it. Boot at startup which is what I recommend or open up a program in OSX that runs windows. It's so advanced now you can put your windows programs in the dock and stuff. The way the booting up works is you turn on your mac, hold the option botton, a screen will open up saying mac or windows. You click on windows and it works just like a regular PC. The keyboard shortcuts work too, like the volume and itunes control and stuff.

I'd definitely recommend it. If you need 3D graphics or games I'd recommend booting from startup.. If you're just gonna use light programs I'd say youse VMware fusion and run both at the same time.

jopa489 · 11-03-2009, 06:50 PM

Defeats the purpose of having a Mac, at least for what I use it for. My 13" MBP isn't my primary machine (or even my primary laptop).

Bootcamp makes it extremely easy. It guides you through partitioning and really takes care of everything for you. Windows on the Mac is perfect. I have set it up a bunch of times on a bunch of different hardware and runs great every time.

radiantm3 · 11-03-2009, 09:12 PM

Switching OS' is a matter of holding down the option key on startup and selecting the boot drive. You can also set the primary boot drive for when you don't hold down the option key.

I only boot into windows for 1 reason. Games. So I don't use it very often. If I need to do browser testing (I'm a web designer), I just run windows via virtualization software like vmware or parallels.

EdmBimmer · 11-04-2009, 12:00 PM

+1 for Parallels

I'm only use Bootcamp when I need to CAD.

xbook · 11-04-2009, 01:01 PM

I only dual boot to play iRacing. Upgraded to Win 7 a few days ago, and I was very happy with the performance gains in the graphics dept. I have my external monitor connected to my macbook pro, but couldn't ever get the external monitor to be the primary. And at that time I was getting 51 FPS with very little eye candy turned on. Now I am getting 72 FPS with a lot of eye candy turned on

For the first time ever I am going to say these words, nice Windows upgrade

.:bHd:. · 11-04-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbook

I only dual boot to play iRacing. Upgraded to Win 7 a few days ago, and I was very happy with the performance gains in the graphics dept. I have my external monitor connected to my macbook pro, but couldn't ever get the external monitor to be the primary. And at that time I was getting 51 FPS with very little eye candy turned on. Now I am getting 72 FPS with a lot of eye candy turned on

For the first time ever I am going to say these words, nice Windows upgrade

seriously man.. Microsoft finally came through haha I've been using windows 7 for a month on my pc now and it is definitely the best windows to date.

hotpants · 11-04-2009, 05:38 PM

WMware fusion here as well. used strictly for outlook. why run one OS when you can run 2 simultaneously

Feyd · 11-04-2009, 05:53 PM

I dual boot my Mac Pro tower..... My Windows drive is the default boot disk though because 99.9% of the time I'm running Solidworks/Autocad, etc. I got the Mac because (1)I like their hardware better and (2) At the time the 8-core PCs were more expensive for some reason? *shrug*

I dual boot my Macbook Pro and am in mac or windows 50/50.

FWIW I hate windows, but its a necessary evil. I just wish they'd port solidworks to OSX and I'd be a happy camper. VMWare, etc doesn't run for isht for graphics intensive programs, or I'd be all over it.

11-03-2009, 05:12 PM	#1
UltimateBMW Brigadier General 461 Rep 3,287 Posts Drives: MP4 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South iTrader: (0)	Dual Booting a Mac You Mac fellows mention dual booting alot. Like A LOT. So this question came to me from the other thread asking about which route to take. I don't want to potetially start the OS wars in his thread so we can discuss it here. How often to you boot your Mac in Windows? You guys always say, "just dual boot it", "you can dual boot", "its easy if you just dual boot windows", etc. How realistic is this statement? Is it as simple as holding a key during POSTing and then selecting the OS? Or is it more involved? These are genuine questions since I don't and never have used a Mac. But if it isn't a straight forward solution, I'd say people that game semi-heavily to often would be better served just running a windows machine. Its not like OSX is aesthetically that much different anymore anyways. But thats another topic. Lets stick to how easy[or not] dual booting is for now. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-03-2009, 05:56 PM	#2
FStop7 I like cars 361 Rep 5,051 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	I boot directly into Windows if I want to play a PC game. Otherwise if I need to use Windows I use VMWare Fusion. I probably use it once a day because I like the Windows version of MS Office better than the Mac version. __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-03-2009, 06:29 PM	#3
.:bHd:. Major 371 Rep 1,149 Posts Drives: E92 335i MT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: So Cal iTrader: (0)	I would dual boot a lot but i found most of the programs I need an havn't done is in a while. There are two ways you can do it. Boot at startup which is what I recommend or open up a program in OSX that runs windows. It's so advanced now you can put your windows programs in the dock and stuff. The way the booting up works is you turn on your mac, hold the option botton, a screen will open up saying mac or windows. You click on windows and it works just like a regular PC. The keyboard shortcuts work too, like the volume and itunes control and stuff. I'd definitely recommend it. If you need 3D graphics or games I'd recommend booting from startup.. If you're just gonna use light programs I'd say youse VMware fusion and run both at the same time. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-03-2009, 06:50 PM	#4
jopa489 Major General 127 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Defeats the purpose of having a Mac, at least for what I use it for. My 13" MBP isn't my primary machine (or even my primary laptop). Bootcamp makes it extremely easy. It guides you through partitioning and really takes care of everything for you. Windows on the Mac is perfect. I have set it up a bunch of times on a bunch of different hardware and runs great every time. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-03-2009, 09:12 PM	#5
radiantm3 Apex Everything! 1027 Rep 4,378 Posts Drives: 2007 Honda S2000, 2017 GT350 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cedar Park, TX iTrader: (6) Garage List 2011 E92 M3 [9.35] 2014 BMW i3 [10.00]	Switching OS' is a matter of holding down the option key on startup and selecting the boot drive. You can also set the primary boot drive for when you don't hold down the option key. I only boot into windows for 1 reason. Games. So I don't use it very often. If I need to do browser testing (I'm a web designer), I just run windows via virtualization software like vmware or parallels. __________________ 2011 E92 M3(Sold). 2007 Honda S2000 (Track Car). 2016 Cayman GT4 (Sold). 2017 Shelby GT350 (AKA Crowd Killer). My pet project: https://stickershift.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2009, 12:00 PM	#6
EdmBimmer Lieutenant 36 Rep 403 Posts Drives: '10 X5 35d Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Edmonton iTrader: (5)	+1 for Parallels I'm only use Bootcamp when I need to CAD. __________________ In the Garage '10 E70 X5d Alpine White LOADED UP - '10 EVO X Wicked White RIP '08 BMW E60 535i - '06 BMW E90 330i - '05 Acura EL - '98 Honda Prelude - '99 Audi A4 - '02 Honda Civic - '06 Nissan Xterra
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2009, 01:01 PM	#7
xbook Lieutenant Colonel 139 Rep 1,540 Posts Drives: '14 EBII M235i & '06 R53 GP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northridge, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 MINI Cooper S GP [0.00] 2014 BMW M235i [0.00] 2008 E82 [0.00]	I only dual boot to play iRacing. Upgraded to Win 7 a few days ago, and I was very happy with the performance gains in the graphics dept. I have my external monitor connected to my macbook pro, but couldn't ever get the external monitor to be the primary. And at that time I was getting 51 FPS with very little eye candy turned on. Now I am getting 72 FPS with a lot of eye candy turned on For the first time ever I am going to say these words, nice Windows upgrade __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2009, 05:38 PM	#9
hotpants Private 0 Rep 78 Posts Drives: MB 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ATX iTrader: (0)	WMware fusion here as well. used strictly for outlook. why run one OS when you can run 2 simultaneously
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2009, 05:53 PM	#10
Feyd Major 380 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: a DEEZZULL Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (2)	I dual boot my Mac Pro tower..... My Windows drive is the default boot disk though because 99.9% of the time I'm running Solidworks/Autocad, etc. I got the Mac because (1)I like their hardware better and (2) At the time the 8-core PCs were more expensive for some reason? shrug I dual boot my Macbook Pro and am in mac or windows 50/50. FWIW I hate windows, but its a necessary evil. I just wish they'd port solidworks to OSX and I'd be a happy camper. VMWare, etc doesn't run for isht for graphics intensive programs, or I'd be all over it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote