VMware Fusion Vs. Bootcamp

VMware Fusion and Bootcamp let you keep using Windows programs.

Switching to a Mac can involve finding replacement programs for Windows software. If the software you absolutely need is windows-only, there are alternatives that allow you to run it on your Mac.

VMware Fusion

Fusion uses a technology called virtualization to run other operating systems side by side with your Mac OS. These systems can include different versions of Windows and even Linux distributions. The program creates a virtual computer where you install Windows and run programs as you normally would.

Bootcamp

Bootcamp is a program provided by Apple that allows you to dual boot on your Mac. It can shrink your OS X partition or prepare a second hard drive if you have one, so that you can install Windows on it. On starting the Mac, you can choose to boot into either Mac OS X or Windows.

Considerations

Bootcamp ships with Mac OS 10.5+ and supports Windows XP, Vista and 7. It provides Windows with direct access to the hardware, making it a good choice for graphics-intensive programs such as games, but you can only use one system at a time, either Windows or Mac. VMware Fusion supports every version of Windows available, as well as other operating systems such as Linux. Fusion allows you to run the two systems at the same time, and with most programs you won't notice a difference in performance on the virtual machine.

References

• Apple Support: Bootcamp
• VMware Fusion