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My question is actually fairly simple: is there any way i could run windows programs (for example PC games) on my iMac? (i am currently running OSX Snow Leopard). I know about things like VirtualBox and Parallels to run windows itself, but is there a Mac application that will allow me to run .exe programs and the like?

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The closest thing you can get would be using WINE, however, the list is relatively limited as to what it can run (especially on Mac). As for games, there is Crossover - which is getting decent - but still not native speeds of a normal OS.

The absolute best way to run Windows applications would be to set up BootCamp and dual boot (that way you have real Windows and real OSX, not OSX and an emulated, kind-of Windows that is bug laden.

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  • well i have VirtualBox, but i have never been able to make a game work on it (thats a different issue altogether)
    – Jon Valentine
    Nov 1, 2012 at 20:49
  • Yeah, VB doesn't support full hardware usage and leaks performance. 3/4 of that is because you are essentially running an OS on an OS's hardware, so the first one degrades and the second one does not get all the resources.
    – nerdwaller
    Nov 1, 2012 at 20:54
  • huh. stinks, but i gotta say that makes some sense though
    – Jon Valentine
    Nov 1, 2012 at 20:56
  • Agreed. But DualBooting is easy enough - if you are okay trying that. It will be the best performance.
    – nerdwaller
    Nov 1, 2012 at 21:03
  • seems that way. i just want to avoid that though if i can. seems like i cant
    – Jon Valentine
    Nov 1, 2012 at 21:04

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