October 27th, 2008
Macs that can run 64-bit Vista
Which Macs can run 64-bit Vista? It depends whether you insist on an all-Apple solution or will run a more-flexible approach using third-party virtualization technology.
A recent Apple technical note lists which Intel-based Mac models can run the 64-bit editions of Windows Vista. To little surprise it’s the 2008 flavors of Macs for professionals: the Mac Pro (Early 2008) workstation, the 17-inch MacBook Pro (Early 2008) and both Early and Late 2008 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks.
However, it’s a different story when we look outside Boot Camp.
VMware Fusion supports 64-bit Windows Vista as well as the 64-bit edition of Microsoft Windows XP Professional (and a bunch of Linux and Unix OSes). The hardware requirements are “Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo or Xeon processor,” which greatly expands the list of usable machines, including many non-professional iMacs and MacBooks as well as the MacBook Air (and even several models of the Mac mini).
Here is a place on the comparison table where VMware Fusion differentiates itself from Parallels Desktop; the latter currently only supports 32-bit OSes. Now, Parallels Server for Mac can run 32- and 64-bit OSes, however, this runs on Leopard Server and costs $1,248.75.
So, for most of us, VMware Fusion scores in the 64-bit department.
David Morgenstern has covered the Mac market and other technology segments for 20 years. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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