So what is so different?

[alan]

I use Virtualbox on my iMac its free and seems to work very well http://www.virtualbox.org/. XP oem versions install easily and are not too expensive.No partitioning required, it just runs like any other application on the Mac.
http://www.virtualbox.org/

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Printed some of the user manual, will see if I can digest later.  I take it that I D/L this freebie and get a copy of XP, install it then I use my Imac like a Windows machine, so it will accept all these window disks I have.. Dosn't sound to complicated at the moment anyway.. If I have it correct?

[Tacitus]

Same here. Unfortunately, I need IE for my Egg Money Manager.

TBH I would ditch any bank that effectively dictates 'thou shalt use Windows'.  Pure idleness or incompetence on the part of their web developers.

Given the growing use of Macs and, that Mac users are supposed to be more affluent than most I can't see why they would pass up the chance of doing business with Mac users.

[Steve]

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Printed some of the user manual, will see if I can digest later.  I take it that I D/L this freebie and get a copy of XP, install it then I use my Imac like a Windows machine, so it will accept all these window disks I have.. Dosn't sound to complicated at the moment anyway.. If I have it correct?

You install/unistall Virtualbox like any other program on the Mac. To install an additional OS it creates itself a virtual machine, it asks you to specify a size for a virtual drive which is actually just a folder on your mac harddrive (so its easy to get rid of in trash) You will need to allocate some memory for the OS and allocate hardware its allowed to access such as your CD/DVD . You can use your iMac in any mode you wish whilst virtual box is loaded i.e run Windows applications and Mac OS applications at the same time you just flick between the application windows on your screen. The only real issue I had was with the Apple bluetooth mouse I did solve it can't remember how but can remember resorting to a usb/wireless one temporarily. The advantage of a virtual machine is that no reboot is required to run either OS as with bootcamp.If you have 4gb memory you won't notice any difference in performance for Mac OS X for routine tasks with 1Gb allocated to the XP virtual machine.

Attached jpg from a related webpage

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[alan]

Many Thanks Steve... It sounds easy enough for me.... Now to get me XP eom on the old ebay.
Worth a try for a few quid. Watch this space!!

[alan]

Right, got some time to play with this now... I have this Bootcamp application already installed on the imac, so going to do it that way..
Now looking at purchasing XP.. I see Amazon have it for £65.. Before I take the plunge can somebody confirm that by booting up in Windows mode I shall be able to run all of my windows Cd's just like a normal PC. I would hate to have to buy XP only to find the my windows disks wont work on a mac drive.
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Thanks

[lozcart]

Alan,

Your Windows CDs will work just fine using XP with Bootcamp and your iMac drive.

[alan]

Alan,

Your Windows CDs will work just fine using XP with Bootcamp and your iMac drive.

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Smashing. Thanks Lozcart.