Will MacBook Air run Parallels and Windows 8?

epiphone

Hi,

Does anybody know if a MacBook Air 1.7ghz Intel Core i5 with 4gb Ram will run Parallels and Windows successfully?

It is just to do Basic programming on it for a student.

If so what is the best way to buy Windows for a college student?

Thanks in advance for your help..

ZENER

It'll run it ok but if it's a 128GB SSD model it will be cramped. Virtual Box will do the job just as well if not better in my opinion and it's free as well !

Ken

epiphone

Thanks for your reply. It has a 120gb drive - not sure about the SSD element. This is for a student who wants to program in basic etc. Any idea what is the best way to buy windows. Seems to be no student version anymore. I presume an OEM version will not run on a Mac with Virtual box or parallels?

I'm probably better off buying a low end windows laptop - i think?

ZENER

Being a Mac user I'd obviously like to encourage you towards the Bright Side but if you're work is mostly Windows based then you're probably better off getting a decent Windows computer.

The MacBook Air comes with a 120GB SSD (Larger options are available) which will soon fill up. Windows 8 will need at least 50 GB for normal use and a lot more if you're going to use it for anything serious. It'd be a waste to spend that amount of money on a Mac to just use it for Windows. 1,100 euro would buy a very very decent Windows machine.

Ken

epiphone

Thanks for your advice Ken - We have the Macbook air already and I was just trying for the best priced solution to use basic also.

It would be mainly used in Mac mode.