I'm not sure what Ian and Jez are on about ... however!

If you have an Intel Mac (MacBook Pro, MacBook, new iMac, new mini), then you have two options:

a) install Apple's Boot Camp. You'll need to provide a copy of Windows XP. You'll be able to boot your Mac into either OS X or Windows. Note that you won't be able to run Windows programs from within OS X, or the converse.

b) Install Parallels Desktop, which should allow you to run Windows programs within Mac OS X. Parallels lets you run virtual machines, so you'll be able to run Linux programs too.

With either of the above, you're not emulating the x86 processor--code is running native.

If you have a PowerPC Mac, then neither of the above options will work. You can use Virtual PC to run Windows or Linux, but you'll running an emulator and as such performance will be not-so-good.



That doesn't make any sense ... installing Linux is not a prerequisite for installing XP.

Now, on a PowerPC, you can install Yellow Dog Linux, which works fine. Note, however, that you won't be able to run Linux programs that are provided only as x86 binaries (for the obvious reason). Programs built from source will work fine.

I would imagine that on an Intel Mac, you should be able to install Linux although I haven't seen instructions on how to do so (other than using Parallels).

Of course many Linux programs available as source build and run fine on OS X. X Window programs work, too.

-a