Ask HN: Best application to run PC programs on a MacBook?

1 point·keltecp11··5 comments

I have the PA Bar Exam this month and for some reason they require it to be taken strictly on PC's... I am very used to my keyboard and would like to use my macbook - any suggestions? I've heard Virtual PC but is there anything free out there?

Thanks

View on HN

I'm assuming you mean Windows. If you have a copy of Windows which you can install, running it on VirtualBox (virtualbox.org) isn't a bad option. The Windows will cost you (or you already have your license) but virtualbox is free to use.

I think VMWare fusion is worth the 70 bucks - I find the performance much improved from the others options out there and it just works. I like to set up a couple of spaces and stick whatever VM I am running in full screen mode in one of them so I can quickly switch between the mac and VM. You can also use fusions unity mode and run IE or whatever other application you need along side your mac's apps as if they where native to OSX.

A free option to try would be darwine (http://darwine.sourceforge.net/index.php), but it can be difficult to get some things working on it. If you have access to the program you need to use before hand, try this out, but otherwise you're probably safer with an option like bootcamp.

Another option if you are planning to take the Mac into the exam room with you would be to install Apple's BootCamp, though again you will need to purchase a copy of Windows

VMWare, VirtualBox and Parallels.

VirtualBox is free and works great.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com