Technology Windows on a mac?

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So, I've been looking at computers to get for pharmacy school in the fall. I was previously on a mac, and I loved my mac. I barely had any problems with it until the end, but I blame a lot of that on me because I didn't treat it very well, but up until the end it worked great for having it for 4+ years.

Anyways, all the schools I've been accepted/waiting on say to get a windows based laptop. I really rather have a mac, so I was thinking about putting windows on it from bootcamp or whatever (I'm not exactly sure). To those that have done this, what has been your experience with it? Does it run the windows based things you might need for pharm/med school fine? Thanks! 😀
 
TMP-SMX said:
Fine if you have plenty of RAM. But yes you can also use bootcamp if you have another copy of Windows to install on it.
Click to expand...

So if you buy a parallel program, you don't have to buy a copy of windows? If you do bootcamp, you do? How do they compare in performance? If I ultimately decide to get a macbook, it'll have 4 GB of RAM.
 
DarlingNikki said:
So if you buy a parallel program, you don't have to buy a copy of windows? If you do bootcamp, you do? How do they compare in performance? If I ultimately decide to get a macbook, it'll have 4 GB of RAM.
Click to expand...
You have to buy a copy of Windows (or install a non-OEM copy if you already own one) regardless of which option you go with, there is no getting around that.
 
Is parallels and bootcamp used to open word/excel files that are saved on a windows pc on a mac (or is this unnecessary? Or is it mainly used to run other programs that can't be run by mac?
 
i prefer mac. i used windows up until I came to college. I bought a mac for college and i love it. they used to have combatabilty problems but now that you can run Microsoft office, along with fusion those problems are no longer an issue. I can upload files that have been originally composed on a Dell or windows computer. I have had no problems with my mac. Also there are no viruses for macs. As far as performance my mac seems to be a lot faster than my roommates Dell. Whether its the internet or downloading files.

So my vote is for mac. I Have the macbook white and I believe that it has enough memory for just about anybody. If you want to be safe and are willing to invest the extra money then you should get the macbook black or a macbook pro. Hope this helps.
 
Depending on what you need to do in Windows, I'd suggest that you create a separate partition and install Windows so that you're not running a virtual machine. That seems to be the purest way to run Windows.

Finally, if you need a free alternative to VMware and Parallels, take a look at:
http://www.virtualbox.org/
 
mdjkim said:
Depending on what you need to do in Windows, I'd suggest that you create a separate partition and install Windows so that you're not running a virtual machine. That seems to be the purest way to run Windows.

Finally, if you need a free alternative to VMware and Parallels, take a look at:
http://www.virtualbox.org/
Click to expand...
The only way you aren't running a virtual machine is if you use boot camp. All others use a virtual machine to run windows on top of a mac.

That being said you don't need windows to run office or even open any office documents (I prefer iWork to using MS Office but your milage may vary). The only thing I use windows for currently is my Polar watch to sync data and transfer workouts. Since Polar doesn't make the hardware compatible (yet). Other than that I stay away from windows with a 10 foot pole... too much hassle and crap to deal with.
 
copingwithit said:
i prefer mac. i used windows up until I came to college. I bought a mac for college and i love it. they used to have combatabilty problems but now that you can run Microsoft office, along with fusion those problems are no longer an issue. I can upload files that have been originally composed on a Dell or windows computer. I have had no problems with my mac. Also there are no viruses for macs. As far as performance my mac seems to be a lot faster than my roommates Dell. Whether its the internet or downloading files.

So my vote is for mac. I Have the macbook white and I believe that it has enough memory for just about anybody. If you want to be safe and are willing to invest the extra money then you should get the macbook black or a macbook pro. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I agree. I love mac so much better than windows. I don't think they have the macbook black. I plan to get an aluminum macbook (the more expensive of the two).

Someone from one of the schools I've been accepted to sent me a PM from a 1st year student that is actually using a mac even though the pharmacy school recommends getting a PC. He stated that as a first year, he hasn't had any problems with using a mac, and the only thing that he needed to use windows for was to use the school printers (which wouldn't be necessary if you don't plan to print at school). In the 2nd year, you have to have windows to make labels for a lab, so I think I'll be okay with getting a mac. Yay. 😛
 
TMP-SMX said:
Why would you need Windows to print from a printer?

Anyway, you can run Windows just fine on a Mac so it's not that important.
Click to expand...

Actually I ran into needing a Windows driver in order to be able to print from a heavy duty printer. It would have cost $400+, so I just used a thumbdrive/email to send files to my PC.
 
Chocolate Bear said:
Actually I ran into needing a Windows driver in order to be able to print from a heavy duty printer. It would have cost $400+, so I just used a thumbdrive/email to send files to my PC.
Click to expand...
Was this a while ago? Anything where people feel they are getting ripped off like that you will be guaranteed to find it for "download" somewhere. I have yet to find an exception to this rule.
 
TMP-SMX said:
Why would you need Windows to print from a printer?

Anyway, you can run Windows just fine on a Mac so it's not that important.
Click to expand...

It has something to do with needing a 32 bit operating system. Even if you get a 64 bit version of Windows, it will not work with the printers on campus.
 
That's no fun. Don't you have computer labs at school? Use a flash drive to get the file on there and print from those computers? That or email.
 
TMP-SMX said:
That's no fun. Don't you have computer labs at school? Use a flash drive to get the file on there and print from those computers? That or email.
Click to expand...

I don't think they do since it's a requirement that everyone have their own computer. I'll have my own printer, so I don't think I'll be needing to print on campus. If I do, I'll have a flash drive, and maybe someone will be nice enough to let me use their computer to print. 😛
 
Then I'd assume your printing isn't included in your tuition. If that's the case, it's probably cheaper for you to print from home. If not, then you should figure out some way to get it working.
 
I'm running windows on a mac for school and haven't had any problems. When I switch back into OS X the system runs slow for a few minutes, and it definitely slows my system down when I run it as a virtual machine within OSX. I have 4 gigs of running memory too! But for the few things I have to do in windows (our testing software!) it works fine. I will tell you that if your school says PC only they may refuse to service your machine on campus which can be a disadvantage compared to just getting the PC they want you to have. But for me it wasn't enough to outweigh all the advantages of a mac.
 
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