Windows on a Mac

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Can you run Windows software on an MacBook air........my friend bought one and now would like to run some Windows programs.all help appreciated.:D
 
You can't install Windows software directly in OS X, you would have to do it through a Windows install. That can be done through using either Boot Camp which creates another partition allowing you to boot into Windows instead of OS X or you can create a Virtual Machine using something like VM Fusion or Parallels. The advantage of VM Fusion or Parallels is that it allows you to use Windows software as though it was installed in OS X, but behind the scenes it is still running on Windows in the VM.
 
what programs? some software vendors will let you transfer the licence from the windows to mac version.

Mainly sage......I think ....she did contact sage but they told her that she would have find another way to install it as they would be able to supply her an Mac option
 
ah good old sage.

in that case as above parallels or bootcamp would be the way forward. but a good example of check whether everything is compatible before you buy :D


I told her not to buy it but the nice Apple sales person told her different:D
 
I have been running Bootcamp on my iMac 27 without any issues. Having said that - I don't use it every week! I guess the downside is that you need to re-boot each time you want to get into Windows......
 
I use VM Fusion and it's a doddle to set up and use. You can just run the windows programmes as if they are mac ones, or run the whole virtual machine in one window

Don't forget there's the cost of both the vm ware and a windows licence
 
I use Parallels (Currys had it on offer at £30 for v10) with Windows 7. So a full set up for <£100 for those pesky non-Mac programs.
 
If you setup windows in a bootcamp partition you can then use Fusion or Parallels to access it within OSX. This means you get the best of both worlds; native running if needed for performance or within a VM for convenience. For just using Sage I'm sure running it in a VM would be fine.
 
I agree. Sage wouldn't need more than a virtual machine. As a free alternative to VMWare Fusion or Parallels there is also VirtualBox which should be fine for that use.
 
Or move from sage to xero and problem solved :)
 
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