Boot Camp Poker

Get it while you can. Parallels has just released their latest version of their Mac Desktop emulator. The new version promises support for Windows 7 and compatibility with Snow Leopard. They’ve made a lot of performance enhancements as well. Read more at parallels.com.

The real question is…how much longer will we really need Parallels, Fusion or any other desktop emulator? Well, I still use one application for work that requires WinXP. No workaround has worked around this so far. SO I’ll probably keep one or the other around. But the primary reason for bootcamp, fusion, parallels, etc., in my mind is to run Pokertracker, the venerable wizard of poker stats. And rumors abound that an OS X version is coming out soon.

Until then.. $44 for a parallels upgrade sounds worth it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So you’re a gambler. And although you like to consider all of the angles before laying odds on anything, you’ve come to trust the Apple franchise to such a degree that you’ve installed Snow Leopard without hesitation.

What now.

Will you still be able to 20 table pokerstars with pokertracker running on your virtualization solution? Here’s the skinny.

Parallels: Parallels is ready to go. Check out Parallels desktop 4.0 - compatible with Snow Leopard and with significant speed claims over the competition (read VMWare’s Fusion). To make the transition they recommend:
Backing up your system as you normally would. Copy the parallels files (.pvm) located in User/Documents/Parallels. Close Parallels prior to Snow Leopard installation. Then once Snow Leopard and Parallels 4.0 are installed, transfer your .pvm file(s) back to the same folder and click on it to add it back in to your virtual machine list.

VMWare Fusion: VMWare has been a bit slower to react to the early release of Snow Leopard. This is the same issue that has plagued many OS X developers - and they can’t be blamed. However, at this point, Fusion has dropped once again behind Parallels. Clearly they are working on it and are reporting an experimental support in version 2.0.5. Shouldn’t be long before they are back in contention. Looking forward to their newest version, as it may be too much to switch back to Parallels.

Oh well, I’m not sure if I want to review PokerTracker and suffer through my most recent losses on Full Tilt and Pokerstars all over again.

Yes, I wish I had a fancy new MacBook Pro (but isn’t an even fancier one right around the corner?).  Anyhow, I’ve cleared out my Black MacBook and there is tons of empty storage on it.  I had Parallels on my MacBook and VM Ware on my iMac, but find myself playing on my laptop - duh.  So, with all this empty space avaiaable, it is time to migrate back from desk to laptop.

First Step.  Delete Parallels (sorry guys).

Second Step.  Install VMWare Fusion.  I headed to their website.   Found the download page.  Logged in (you may have to register) and agreed to the EULA.  Downloaded the newest version (2.0.4) with 12 months of McAfee Antivirus software.

Third Step.  Waited for download to finish.

Fourth Step.  Clicked on “Install VMware Fusion which appeared in the unzipped .dmg.  Agreed to everything they wanted including MacFuse.
Fifth Step.  Waited for Fusion to install.   Read a bit about MacFuse while waiting for 1 minute install to complete.

Sixth Step.  Entered my serial number.  You can get a free demo license for a 30-day trial online, if you haven’t bought it yet.  Note: copy and paste works much much better than trying to figure out if you are seeing a 0 or an O.

Seventh Step.  Open VMware Fusion from applications.   Choose Create Virtual Machine.

Eight Step.  Look through piles of unboxed disorganized discs looking for WinXP.  Found them.  Decided it might make sense just to copy the virtual machine from iMac.  Started transfer.  40 hours pending.  Decided Target Disk mode might be faster.  Saved this post as draft.  Okay that didn’t work not sure why, but Fusion wouldn’t open the copied Win XP Virtual HD.  Okay don’t use the Win XP Pro x64 version on a MacBook.  You aren’t 64bit capable.  Use the disc that doesn’t say “disc 2″.  Getting closer…

Ninth Step.  Found VMware instructions re: copying virtual machines.  Decided to try again.

Tenth Step. Hey! That worked!
Eleventh Step. Now trying to port all my prior hand histories from Pokerstars and Full Tilt to the Fusion side.  Plan is to only play in Fusion - so I receive the benefit of Poker Tracker and stop donking everything away.  Though, I’m not sure if Poker Tracker has a setting that will stop me from playing way above my bankroll.
Twelfth Step. Okay, I was going to say “Alcoholics are sober at this point, and I still don’t have VMware on the MacBook.” but I managed to install it several steps earlier.  Man VMware is easy.

Parallels has released 4.0.  It seems like they are trying to catch up with VM Ware’s fusion.  The changes are listed in these categories:

Easy

• New Interface
• iPhone Access
• Speech Recognition
• OS X Leopard Server
• Scale Win XP Windows
• Share Screenshots between WinXP and Mac OS
• SmartMount mounts devices between Mac OS and Win XP

Fast

• Up to 50% Better Performance
• On-Demand Power
• Blazing Fast 3D Graphics
• 20% Longer Battery Life
• Maximum Video Performance
• 64 bit computing
• Interaction at your speed

Powerful

• Parallels Internet Security by Kaspersky
• Acronis Disk Director
• Acronis True Image Home
• Safe Mode

VM Ware is offering their fusion for only $59.99 right now.   I’ve been using this flawlessly on my iMac.