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Windows can run 'on top' of macOS

Posted by AbeCollins (A) on April 11, 2024 at 08:39:18

In Reply to: It's interesting that MacOS will run Windows emulators posted by Feanor on April 11, 2024 at 04:44:43:

The old way -

Intel CPU based Macs [discontinued] had a dual-boot option for running Windows natively on the 'bare metal' Mac hardware as Apple provided the necessary drivers. In other words, by pressing a couple key combinations during bootup you booted Windows on the Mac hardware directly -OR- you booted macOs. Hence the term 'dual-boot'. The Mac could run one or the other OS. [You first had to partition (set aside) a slice of disk space dedicated to Windows and another slice for macOS]. But this wasn't the only option for running Windows on Mac.

A more convenient way -

The other option, which is much more flexible, is to run Windows in a virtual machine environment using software like VirtualBox, VMWare Fusion, or Parallels Desktop. In this scenario you run macOS like you normally would then you launch (for example) Parallels Desktop & Windows 10. You would think that running this 'emulation' might be slow but it's not. There might be a very slight hit in performance (vs dual-boot 'bare metal') but with modern computers being so fast it's not even noticeable BUT it is so much more convenient.

With Windows running 'on top of' the underlying macOS I can easily run both Windows and macOS side-by-side at the same time, or I can instantly switch between the two environments in full-screen mode. AND because both OS's are running I can easily share files between macOS and Windows. Of course, you would still need a legit paid-for copy of Windows to install. And updating Windows within macOS is no different than updating Windows as you normally would.

When people say Macs are expensive I counter by sayinig Macs are like having two computers in one. They can run Windows and macOS. I don't need to buy and carry around two computers ;-)

Very old screen shot of my Mac w/ ability to run various OS's with the click of an onscreen button:

Edits: 04/11/24

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