OK, the time has finally come when I need to use some Windows-only programs.
Anyway, I noticed there are about a gazillion flavors; there's XP Home, XP Pro, Vista Pro, Vista this, Vista that and an imminent release of Windows 7 which is being hailed as the be all end all. I have no idea which one would be best for my use.
I'll be using it mostly for data collection with LabView and possibly some analysis using MatLab. I'm not providing the licenses for these software packages, so even if a Mac version is available, it's irrelevant and purchasing my own license is cost-prohibitive.
Also, I'll be switching out my 100GB HD on my laptop for a 500GB HD so I'll have more space. With my desktop, I'd simply add a drive to the cabinet and keep working with the OS on the original drive, but I can't do that on my laptop. Has anyone done a complete restore to a new drive on a MacBook? Can I simply use Time Machine and continue seamlessly?
XP is probably the lightest weight version and should do what you need. Win7 will be a better performing OS than Vista, so if you want the newer one, I would wait for Win7 to be released next month and say "Hasta la Vista".
Yeah, Win7 is apparently the lightest/tightest windows package of the recent times. I think I might get a free upgrade with my laptop that I bought not to long ago,I hsould check.
MatLab and Labview are both available as native OS X applications, but you might not need to purchase them. A separate software license would likely be required to install on another computer anyway, and it might be as simple as calling them to switch from the Mac to PC version.
Crossover may allow you to install and use the PC version of both on your Mac without installing ANY version of Windows. It would simply run off the standard Intel hardware. You might have to dodge one installation issue, though.
XP is probably the lightest weight version and should do what you need. Win7 will be a better performing OS than Vista, so if you want the newer one, I would wait for Win7 to be released next month and say "Hasta la Vista".
i agree with spiffy, Vista is the biggest pain in the whole world. and there is some program that allows you to switch all your stuff from one Mac to another, but ihavent looked into it b/c i was switching from a windows to a mac.
I have been running Win7 on my Macbook and can attest that it runs better than Vista Ultimate, though there were no major issues with Vista, 7 just runs better. David's (Scarbrd) direction on HD swap is sound (not that he needs my validation). :)
OK, well, I upgraded the HD to a Seagate 500GB using Time Machine. Took a bit over an hour to get all the data transferred and all seems good and it was super easy.
I think I'll get Windows Vista because I can get the upgrade to Windows 7 for $9.99. I'm not excited about Vista, but I don't want to pay full price for XP, then full price for Win 7.
OK, well, I upgraded the HD to a Seagate 500GB using Time Machine. Took a bit over an hour to get all the data transferred and all seems good and it was super easy.
I think I'll get Windows Vista because I can get the upgrade to Windows 7 for $9.99. I'm not excited about Vista, but I don't want to pay full price for XP, then full price for Win 7.
You can get Win 7 today, if you can find someone who has the ISO file (I have the ISO file for the 64-bit version if that helps). You can still download a product key, just not the file.
An alternate path is to download a 90-day free trial of Win 7, then buy it after it is released. BTW, after release, you should be able to get is as OEM if you buy some piece of hardware with it.
OK, well, I upgraded the HD to a Seagate 500GB using Time Machine. Took a bit over an hour to get all the data transferred and all seems good and it was super easy.
I think I'll get Windows Vista because I can get the upgrade to Windows 7 for $9.99. I'm not excited about Vista, but I don't want to pay full price for XP, then full price for Win 7.
You can get Win 7 today, if you can find someone who has the ISO file (I have the ISO file for the 64-bit version if that helps). You can still download a product key, just not the file.
An alternate path is to download a 90-day free trial of Win 7, then buy it after it is released. BTW, after release, you should be able to get is as OEM if you buy some piece of hardware with it.
Just a thought - it sounds like you don't have to buy your software as it is needed for business (and therefore supplied).
If that is the case - maybe they have a copy of windows to give you (after all you need windows to run the programs). If that is the case they may supply you with vista business. I can see why you would want vista> From what I read Windows 7 can be installed over the top of it and therefore you don't have to do a whole install (like snow leopard).
I run XP pro in bootcamp. I like to keep the two OS separate. But if I want to put win 7 on I will have to do a complete install rather than an upgrade.
One of the nice features of Snow Leopard, is that you can read your Mac partition from windows. So that makes life a little easier.
Check with your IT people about win 7. A lot of people were given copies (for trial) that don't have to be licensed until March next year. That would save you any upgrade path (you would have the OS you wanted from day one) and give a little breathing space until you needed to purchase a license.
OK, well, I upgraded the HD to a Seagate 500GB using Time Machine. Took a bit over an hour to get all the data transferred and all seems good and it was super easy.
I think I'll get Windows Vista because I can get the upgrade to Windows 7 for $9.99. I'm not excited about Vista, but I don't want to pay full price for XP, then full price for Win 7.
You can get Win 7 today, if you can find someone who has the ISO file (I have the ISO file for the 64-bit version if that helps). You can still download a product key, just not the file.
An alternate path is to download a 90-day free trial of Win 7, then buy it after it is released. BTW, after release, you should be able to get is as OEM if you buy some piece of hardware with it.
Is the 90-Day trial something I can d/l now?
Link?
BTW, thanks everyone for your help and advice.
Yes it is, a friend just did so this past week. I don't have a link at hand, but it's direct from a Microsoft site, so a little poking around should get you there.
Just a thought - it sounds like you don't have to buy your software as it is needed for business (and therefore supplied).
If that is the case - maybe they have a copy of windows to give you (after all you need windows to run the programs). If that is the case they may supply you with vista business. I can see why you would want vista> From what I read Windows 7 can be installed over the top of it and therefore you don't have to do a whole install (like snow leopard).
I run XP pro in bootcamp. I like to keep the two OS separate. But if I want to put win 7 on I will have to do a complete install rather than an upgrade.
One of the nice features of Snow Leopard, is that you can read your Mac partition from windows. So that makes life a little easier.
Check with your IT people about win 7. A lot of people were given copies (for trial) that don't have to be licensed until March next year. That would save you any upgrade path (you would have the OS you wanted from day one) and give a little breathing space until you needed to purchase a license.
Here's the deal: I'm working with another consultant on some projects, the software licenses are his (his license covers 10 seats), but he only has the Windows versions.
I checked with my IT people, but I'm my IT people...so...
I think, I'll look for the 90 day trial of Win 7, but if I can't find it, I'll just get Vista with the Win 7 upgrade included.
