The main difference between Boot Camp and Parallels is that the Boot Camp is a software assistant for dual booting, while Parallels is a hypervisor.
Macintosh or Mac refers to the family of personal computers designed and manufactured by Apple Inc. At times, it is required to install Windows operating systems and run those programs on Mac devices. As such, the two ways to accomplish this task are by using Boot Camp or Parallels.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Boot Camp
-Definition, Functionality
2. What is Parallels
-Definition, Functionality
3. Difference Between Boot Camp and Parallels
-Comparison of key differences
Key Terms
Boot Camp, Hypervisor, Mac, Parallels, Windows
What is Boot Camp
Boot Camp or Boot Camp Assistant is a multi-boot utility Max OS X which allows the users to install Microsoft Windows Operating System on Macintosh computers. Importantly, it guides the users to partition the hard disk drive or solid state drive and install the Windows device Driver on the Apple device.
Initially, Boot Camp was introduced with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. The previous versions of it supported Windows XP and Windows Vista. But, the Boot Camp 4.0 for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard to Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion version 10.8.2 support Windows 7. Moreover, the Boot Camp 5.0 for Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion in version 10.8.4 supports 64-bit versions of Windows 7 and 8.
If the user requires installing Windows 10 on a Mac, he needs a USB flash drive and the ISO image of Windows 10. However, Boot Camp currently supports Windows 10 on a range of Mac newer version devices. For example, Boot Camp 6.0 added the support for Windows 10.
What is Parallels
Parallels or Parallel Desktop of Mac is a software that provides hardware virtualization for Mac computers. Here, the hardware virtualization is a type of virtualization of computers as complete hardware platforms to run various operating systems. In this type of virtualization, the hypervisor is directly installed on the hardware. For example, Parallels is a hypervisor that supports virtualization developed by Parallels Inc., which is an organization that develops desktop and server virtualization software. Moreover, Parallels run Windows applications without minimizing the speed of the Mac device.
Looking at the advantages, the Parallels provides multiple advantages. Firstly, it is seamless. Therefore, the user can use Windows side by side with Mac OS to share files, folders, copy and paste images and text between Mac and Windows applications. Secondly, it is also easy to setup. Furthermore, it executes graphics based and more resource required Windows applications without minimizing the speed of the Mac device.
Difference Between Boot Camp and Parallels
Definition
Boot Camp is a multi-boot utility included with Apple Inc’s Mac OS X that assists users in installing Microsoft Windows Operating Systems on Intel-based Macintosh computers. However, Parallels is a software that provides hardware virtualization for Macintosh computers with Intel processors. Thus, this is the main difference between Boot Camp and Parallels.
Synonyms
The Boot Camp is also called Boot Camp Assistant while Parallels is also called Parallels Desktop for Mac.
Developer
Apple Inc. is the developer of Boot Camp, whereas Parallels Inc is the developer of Parallels.
Stable Release
Moreover, the stable release of Boot Camp was in 2016, while the stable release of Parallels was in 2018.
Type
Furthermore, the Boot Camp is a software assistant for dual booting, but Parallels is a hypervisor. Hence, this is another difference between Boot Camp and Parallels.
Conclusion
In brief, Boot Camp and Parallels allow executing Windows applications on Macintosh computers. However, the main difference between Boot Camp and Parallels is that the Boot Camp is a software assistant for dual booting, while Parallels is a hypervisor.
References:
1.“Boot Camp (Software).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Mar. 2019, Available here.
2.“Parallels Desktop for Mac.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Apr. 2019, Available here.
3.“Run Windows on Mac – Parallels Desktop 14 Virtual Machine for Mac.” Parallels, 28 Mar. 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1.”A simple geometric representation of the Apple Boot Camp logo” By Original:PurplewowiesVector:Badgon – Apple Boot Camp alt.png representation of logo trademarked by Apple (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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