Entries from August 2007 ↓

Why go virtual?

Initially when I bought the MacBook Pro, I started off with using Boot Camp to switch between Mac OS X and Windows XP. Boot Camp is the cost-free option for installing both Windows and OS X on a Mac computer. It helped me break down the mental barrier of owning my first Mac since Boot Camp is free from Apple and Windows XP is free from school. Well, I really shouldn’t say ‘free’ because it’s baked into my hefty tuition :(.

Now that I have more confidence as a Mac user and am ready to invest more in the system, the alternative option is to purchase virtualization software such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion for Mac OS X, install Windows as a ‘virtual machine‘, and access Windows within OS X. Virtual software’s main attraction is it eliminates the need to reboot between the two OS’s. Instead, I can start Windows XP within a window in OS X:

(VMWare Fusion)

As I researched more into these two softwares, it became apparent that investing in one of these is a no-brainer. They both:

• Recognize existing Boot Camp partition so there is no need to re-install Windows (good thing because I only have 1 copy of Windows XP through MIT)
• Eliminate the need to reboot my computer through Boot Camp to switch between OS’s
• Allow quick launch of applications through the Mac dock
• Give me the option to boot natively into Windows through Boot Camp for the best performance and for 3D gaming

Fusion or Parallels?

In the past 2 weeks I’ve been comparing VMWare Fusion and Parallels. My ‘research’ consists of good ol’ googling, blog picking, and finally downloading trial versions of both Fusion and Parallels softwares. In the end VMWare Fusion won my business:

• Fusion performs better. From CNET: While Fusion’s performance on this test was significantly slower than we saw with Windows running natively under Boot Camp, Fusion was still more than 3.5-times faster than Parallels. (link)
• Fusion’s Unity works a lot better than Parallels’ Coherence. Basically this feature allows the same word document from the picture above look seamlessly integrated into OS X. Fusion’s implementation is noticeably smoother from my experience.
  (VMWare Fusion, Unity view)
• VMWare is a stronger company. Although Parallels has more features, I am biased towards VMWare since they practically invented virtual machines.

I could have avoided all this trouble if I continued as a Windows user, but then I’d be deprived of a beautiful laptop, iMovie application to edit travel videos from Mongolia, and nourishment for my inner geek :).

Since quitting my job at Accenture in May, I’ve had to return my only laptop, the Dell Latitude D510, to its rightful corporate owner. This left me laptop-less and in the market for a new one for business school.

I have never purchased a laptop. The last computer system I owned was purchased in parts - a desktop I assembled lovingly by hand. I know, who does that any more? I assure you, back then, it was the thing to do for a geeky computer gamer. Anyways, I had a lot of work to do to find a laptop.

vs.

Apple MacBook vs Lenovo ThinkPad

I admit my initial desire for a Mac comes from a style and social standpoint, not practicality. All other things being equal (price, power, platform), I’d much rather be pulling out a shiny new MacBook from my backpack than a Lenovo. And let me tell you, this was a huge pull on my female psyche. However MIT Sloan’s student computer requirement calls for a windows-based laptop. Thus I needed to be convinced that a MacBook would work at school without threatening my productivity. As it turns out, there are tons of articles on the web about why this is the best time to switch to a Mac. The tipping point for me was the new (well, last-year new) intel processor platform on the Macs, which allows dual-boot into OS X and Windows operating systems. This takes away the mental block associated with switching to a new OS, making choosing the Mac a no-brainer. My thinking was: I can try out Mac OS X while booting into Windows when occasion calls for it. In the worst-case I find OS X utterly annoying, I can make the MacBook a solely Windows-based laptop.

My First Mac

The truth is, I only booted into Windows once on my MacBook Pro to play CounterStrike. I use my OS X every day for the last 3 months to chat, surf, make videos, and even do web development. True, school hasn’t started yet so I can’t speak to intense, work-heavy situations. But as of now, I am a happy MacBook Pro owner whose heart twinkles with glee every day at the sight of her laptop. I don’t think a Lenovo owner would ever gush about her computer the same way. Excuse me, I’m going to go ahead and give my MacBook Pro a kiss now.