Comments on: Do I Dare Delete Windows?

By: TrvlngDrew

TrvlngDrew — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:55:34 +0000

I’m having the same quandry but will be keeping the partition. I have to run MS Outlook with specific VPN software so have to keep it. My real quandry is do I go ahead and SELL my Lenovo Thinkpad T61! Can I really do it all on Parallels? I’m pretty sure I can, but do I dare..

By: Chris Magnusson

Chris Magnusson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:04:29 +0000

I’m with Mitchell. Go with Parallels for the few Windows apps you use. You still have access to everything, and no rebooting required.

Either that, or ditch Windows on the Macbook and hang onto the R2Hv for the occassional time you need Windows.

By: Mitchell Oke

Mitchell Oke — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:29:44 +0000

Only reason I have a Windows partition (and an XP Pro one at that ) is for running games, other than that I use Parallels.

By: Rico3201

Rico3201 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:56:38 +0000

Well, let me be the one to say “let it go.”

I use a Dell machine at work, but our house is exclusively Mac OS. I bought a new iMac this past Christmas and I could install Windows, but I haven’t thought of a single reason to do it so far, nor have I missed it in the past few years we’ve used Apple at home.

And my in-laws write textbooks for MS Office!

Mac OS does everything I need it to do. But I am probably not a “power user” whatever that means.

But, if you’re reviewing business causes you to need access to Windows, I’d recommend keeping it too.

By: nomaded

nomaded — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:32:04 +0000

If you plan on using VMware Fusion, then you can download VMware Converter (free) from vmware.com. It’s an app that you run from Windows and it should convert it into a VMware image. I found some info about this at: http://www.macintouch.com/reviews/vmware.html . If you plan on using Parallels, it sounds like Parallels comes with Parallels Transporter that can do the same thing.

I’ve used VMware Converter to convert an existing XP install to a VM that I now run from an Ubuntu linux box at work, so I know it works with XP at least. I haven’t tried the Parallels offering yet.

By: Jenneth Orantia

Jenneth Orantia — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:01:40 +0000

Wow – I wasn’t expecting everyone to vote that I keep it! But there you go.. I guess I’ll hold onto it then! Great idea re shrinking the partition. The virtual image idea also sounds interesting – is it complicated?

By: egadgetjunkie

egadgetjunkie — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:31:58 +0000

I say shrink the partition, but keep it. You never know.

By: nomaded

nomaded — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:30:04 +0000

You could convert the Vista partition to a virtual image and store that on an external drive, and when you need it, fire it up with either VMware Fusion or Parallels.

By: Jerry Raia

Jerry Raia — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:22:45 +0000

Keep it

By: Judie Lipsett

Judie Lipsett — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:20:05 +0000

That’s exactly how much I allotted for my MBP Windows install, but I did XP Pro instead of Vista. I think the 80GB was a small price to pay for the freedom of knowing I can run anything, one way or another.

Unless you have a really small hard drive, I think you should leave it as is.

By: Wayne Schulz

Wayne Schulz — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:00:50 +0000

I’d keep it if for no other reason than most of the stuff Microsoft pushes out requires Internet Explorer (so much for open internet standards).

Plus for $99 as a student – you can grab most of the relevant Microsoft software for it….

http://www.geardiary.com/2008/03/13/microsoft-technet-only-99-for-students-who-know-the-secret-code/

My vote is keep it — as soon as you delete, you know you’ll need.

Just my .02