I've spent a few hours searching but have not found a definitive answer.

I'm going to be using EvoScan and EcuFlash on my MacBook Pro(upgraded 2.7 processor)

My Question is which is the preferred way to use Windows for these programs, bootcamp or just run paralells? Are there ANY downsides to running them parallel? Some people are saying parallels are slow, some are saying they work like a "champ". Any downsides of running bootcamp, like not being able to open files, etc?

Thanks

 

I used VMware Fusion (very similar to Parallels) and I switched to just using Bootcamp. There were too many driver/usb issues, it was too slow and it just felt clunky. I am using a Macbook early 2009 Dual Core 2.0 with 4gb ram and a 7200 rpm hard drive. Bootcamp alone is awesome in comparison.

Dan

 

Bootcamp > Parallels

 

I assumed bootcamp would be faster, but the problem is that I would have no programs(excel) while I'm using the windows "side".. any insight?

 

I ended up just getting Excel for that very reason, but you can also use Google Doc's for quite a bit.

Dan

 

Are you using Windows 7 or XP? 32bit or 64bit? Trying to decide if I should go 32 or 64, I have a Late 2010 Macbook Pro 2.7gHz with 4gb ram

 

64 bit Win 7 no doubt about it

 

If the windows side is pretty much only going to be used for tuning/logging what should the memory limit be set to? I'm assuming the initial 30gb is a bit overkill?

 

Well the windows install uses over 10 gigs for sure, and you want to have room for programs and virtual memory so...

It all depends on if you are going to use other stuff on it. I have my partition a lot larger because I've got quite a few video games on it.

 

You definately want to use Bootcamp, VMWare and Parralells are virtual machines within OS X so there's gonna be usb driver issues and slowness problems due to two OS's sharing the computer's resources. I have a 2008 (or was it 2009? i forget..) Macbook Pro running Windows 7 64bit and ecuflash/evoscan work great. Have not had one issue with either yet. You'll probably want to stick with the 30gb of space since a full 7 install is around 15gb, never know when you might need the extra space!

 

Thanks for all the help guys... Bootcamp seems to be the way to go.

I may go ahead and just install parallels and I can use my bootcamp partition for the vm with parallels as well. Seems to be the best of both worlds seeing as I can switch to to bootcamp for more memory intensive/usb programs, and use parallels for the quick crossovers such as just pulling up a log to look at... Or do you think this would cause the same USB issues as if I was just running parallels?

 

I did 30gb of partion for my Windows 7 64bit and I wish I would have done at least 40gb if not 50. There are so many cool things on the Window's side that I keep adding programs and running out of space!

Dan

 

Why not use OpenOffice or LibreOffice? They are both free, opensource and work very well.

http://www.openoffice.org/
http://www.libreoffice.org/download

Both will allow you to read the logs in Windows / Linux / MAC



-Bink

 

If you're going to use a product that virtualizes an OS you should probably use vmware, it has the best USB virtualization support. A few years ago before cobb released 64bit windows drivers (had a different car then too) I was using VMWare Workstation to update my AP and put new maps on it, worked without a problem!

 

go with bootcamp. I have the 2010 mac mini server and run windows 7 32bit. i purchased parallels and tried for a few days and gave up on it. i use 3 memory intensive programs in windows 7 and parallels cant keep up with it. it lags. bootcamp runs super smooth. i allocated 250gb for the hard drive and 4gb of ram and it runs great.