There are many virtualization programs available, but Parallels Desktop for Mac is the most popular and will be the one we focus on. With virtualization software, it is almost like you are using two computers at the same time on one machine. They create a virtualization of another computer, allowing you to install a separate operating system. These are third-party applications that run on your Mac just like any other program. You can either install Windows in Boot Camp, a native feature of the Mac OS X operating system, or you can use a virtualization program. If you are looking to install Windows on your Mac, you have two options. This is especially useful for individuals who want to use Macs but may rely on a few programs that are Windows-specific. While you need to purchase a copy of the Windows operating system separately from your Mac, once you do you can install it and enjoy the benefits of both operating systems. These individuals overlook a key feature of the Mac lineup - you can run Windows on them. In the classic 'which is better' argument between Macs and PC's, PC advocates sometimes bring up features or characteristics of the Windows operating system as an argument for PC's being better than Macs. At the same time, Apple released Mac OS X Tiger (10.4), the first Mac OS to support running on Intel processors. This introduced the possibility that Windows and Windows-based applications could run on Mac hardware just as they run on PCs. Because in 2006, Apple began moving away from its PowerPC processors and offered Mac hardware with Intel processors like those used in PCs. If you wanted to use the full features of both operating systems, you'd have to buy both a Mac and a PC.īut in 2006, that all changed. A few brave souls tried to take an all-inclusive approach by trying to run both using virtualization software, but even that presented limitations. It wasn't unusual to hear heated arguments between two users about which was the better system. This created a great rift between users of each system. MacOS couldn't run on PCs, and Microsoft Windows couldn't run on Macs. Justin Sullivan/Getty Imagesīack before 2006 (which is like 100 years ago in the technology industry), there was a clear dividing line between Apple's Macintosh computers and Windows PCs. Boot Camp is the software that allows Intel-based Macs to run Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. The Microsoft Windows website is seen on an iMac computer monitor at an Apple store.

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