Last year, Apple announced it's plans to abandon the PowerPC processor and start shipping all of their computers with an Intel based chip. It didn't take long for the buzz to start about these new machines and their ability to run Windows XP.

There are currently two applications available to help you run Windows XP. The first program is Apple's Boot Camp. The second option is Parallels Desktop.

Before we compare these two applications, let's take a look at why you'd run Windows on a Mac. Some applications, like the latest version of Quickbooks or many industry-specific programs, are not available for Mac. If you are a gamer, you are sure to have a list of Windows only games. Or if you develop websites, you may want to test your sites on a variety of different browsers without having to own two computers.

Boot Camp is an application released by Apple which allows you to partition any Apple Intel machine's hard drive and install a variety of operating systems including Windows XP. This solution requires you to reboot the machine whenever you want to switch from one operating system to another, but is the fastest way to run Windows. Boot Camp is a free download from Apple, but it is not officially supported since it is beta software.

Parallels is an application which takes a fundamentally different approach to allowing you to run Windows on a Mac. Unlike Boot Camp, Parallels allows you to run Windows within OS X without rebooting. Because Parallels takes advantage of the built in virtualization technology on the Intel chip, it can run Windows and Windows applications at near native speeds. Parallels costs $79 and is available from Tech Superpowers. It is an official release which means it is also fully supported by the manufacturer.

For the majority of computer users looking to run windows on a Mac we recommend the Parallels solution, Although it is more expensive than Boot Camp and not as fast, the value is realized with the continual updates and technical support services. The speed difference is also negligible for most applications. If you are a user who would like to play Window video games on your mac, it may be beneficial to look at the Boot Camp solution because it is the only solution that will give you true native performance.

If you are considering installing Windows on your Intel Mac you will need a copy of Windows XP, starting as low as $99. Also, because you will be installing an operating system that is permeable to viruses, antivirus and antispyware software is highly recommended.

If you have and questions about installing Windows on a Mac or would like our recommendations, feel free to email us or give us a call at 617-267-9716 - press 1 for sales!