Bootcamp is a feature of Apple's OS X Leopard operating system, which allows any Intel-based Mac to boot into Windows. It comes pre-installed (free!) on all Macs with Leopard and gives you basic Windows compatibility and the ability to run Windows programs at their normal speed.

Since Apple computers all use the very latest Intel processors, this is really fast! You still have to provide your own copy of Windows XP or Vista but Bootcamp opens up the Mac to let you run it.

Bootcamp allows all Windows applications to have full access to multiple processors and cores, and leaves all your Mac data in the same place on the hard drive whilst creating a separate partition on your drive for Windows.

It gives you full access to all your Mac hardware peripherals such as iSight webcam, wifi, Apple remote, trackpad, Apple-specific keyboard keys and so on.

Although Bootcamp provides a basic level of compatibility to suit most potential Windows-to-Mac users, the one big disadvantage is that you have to shut down your Mac and restart it in order to switch from Leopard to Windows and visa versa.

If you have a computer lab or classroom where you need Macs for one type of lesson, and PCs for others, restarting machines between lessons probably isn't an issue so Bootcamp could be the solution for you!

Parallels - a virtualisation program - is a third party utility which takes the Mac's ability to work as a PC to the next level.

This means that Mac and Windows applications can run side-by-side. This is a major improvement on Bootcamp and integration of the two operating systems is brilliant. Running two operating systems at the same time does have an impact on the overall speed of the machine, so Bootcamp is still best for intensive Windows software. However, the advantage of Parallels becomes really clear if you need to switch quickly between Mac and Windows software.

The 'coherence' feature allows you to hide the main Windows desktop, leaving the Windows applications running, apparently on the Mac desktop. It also gives you the capability to use the Windows Taskbar to launch any Windows program on the Mac desktop without going through the Window's desktop.

Parallels Explorer, one of the newer features in Parallels Desktop 3, is a browser which lets you view all of your Windows files and programs so you can load them straight onto the Mac desktop - you can even keep the Windows programs icons in the OSX Dock and launch them directly from there.

For more information about which is right for you, get in touch with us on 03332 409 300 or email learning@Jigsaw24.com .

Tags: Apple , Parallels , bootcamp , OS X Leopard , windows compatability , integration , parallels explorer , parallels desktop 3