How do I run Windows or Windows programs on my Mac?
On a Mac computer, you can install software that allows you to run Windows and Windows applications. The specific software depends on what kind of Mac you have.
Intel-based Macintoshes
Because newer Macs use Intel processors, they can run Windows and Windows applications as quickly as other PCs. Several different methods are available for running Windows on Intel Macs. To dual-boot between OS X and Windows, you can use Apple's Boot Camp. This approach provides the most compatibility with Windows software and peripherals, but it does not allow you to run Windows and Mac OS X applications at the same time.
A second method is to run Windows in a virtual machine within OS X. Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, and VirtualBox use this method, and although they don't support as much Windows functionality as a dual-boot configuration, they allow you to run Mac and Windows applications concurrently.
The third option makes use of a Windows compatibility layer, which allows you to run Windows programs without having to install Windows itself. A compatibility layer, such as CrossOver Mac, typically offers good functionality for a limited set of Windows applications.
PowerPC-based Macintoshes
To run Windows and Windows programs on a Mac with a PowerPC chip, install hardware emulation software. Hardware emulation works by mimicking hardware within an application. When you run a PC program in the emulation environment, the software intercepts commands and translates them into code your computer understands. In this way, you can run many PC applications and, with some programs, even multiple PC operating systems (e.g., Windows XP, Linux). Unfortunately, the speed will be much slower than on a PC or a Mac with an Intel chip. Following are examples of hardware emulation software:
- Guest PC by Lismore Software Systems, Ltd.
- Bochs x86 PC emulator
Last modified on August 26, 2009.
