As a web developer, I was interested in being able to run XP on my MBP for browser and platform testing. As a computer geek, I was interested in the apparently successful bid Parallels has made for providing multiple operating systems on a Mac. So, I picked up a copy of Parallels ($100 CAD), and Windows XP ($250 CAD) and went to work.

However, shortly after getting XP up and running, I belatedly realized that a *stable* version of Vista had been released by Microsoft. The chance to try out Microsoft’s long-delayed, much-hyped, overdue operating system? Let the fun begin!

Disclaimer: The following is not a technical look at the new OS or the installation process, but rather a visual walkthrough of the Vista install process, and some thoughts on the look and user experience of the new OS. It is intended to be helpful to others attempting to install Vista on their Macs. All times are generalized, and dependent on my overworked machine.

Software:

• Windows Vista (Release Candidate 1) 32-bit
• Parallels (Build 1940 – then Build 1966, see Step 23)

Hardware:

• MacBook Pro 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo (1.5GB RAM)

I used the tutorial and many pointers from this thread at the Parallels site to get Vista running properly. I set up the Virtual Machine as described here using the Vista .iso file downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx.

The newest build of Parallels (October 12th, 2006), has a VM Setup Template for Vista. This seems to work perfectly, though it does require 16GB of free hard drive space. After a bit of re-organizing, I managed to find 16 free gigs, and continued.

On to the install…

1. A pretty Vista loading screen greets me, asking to set language properties. So far, a much better-looking installation than XP (blue screen of death!)



2. The first step, Copying Windows Files, was very quick – perhaps a minute.



3. The second step, Expanding Files, took much longer, approximately half an hour, though I was working in other applications in OS X at the same time.



4. The VM restarts to a black and grey screen which indicates that Windows is loading for the first time.



5. The installation window is displayed and quickly zips through Installing Features and Installing Updates.
6. The Completing Installation step takes about 12 minutes.



7. This black screen displaying the Windows Vista Build number is displayed for around a minute.



8. VM restarts to the same screen. After about a minute, with the pointer displaying an animated circular green icon beside it, the Set Up Windows dialogue is displayed.



9. Next, a computer name and desktop background dialogue. Interesting how the setup emphasis to this point is on personalization, customization, and demonstration of the UI. The gorgeous background photos update on selection, and it’s at this point that I realize I’m IN Vista – I can drag around the Setup window, and select options from the language drop-down menu. However, it’s also at this point that it becomes evident Vista is still Windows – after some dragging around, my window skips a bit and whites out the background image. The setup hangs for a second and then refreshes.



10. Time zone and clock setup.



11. No no, Thank You. Very slick!



12. Back to the green and blue nebula, with a progress bar: “Please wait while Windows checks your computer’s performance.” A series of icons with adspeak fade in and out: “Quickly find anything”, “The most secure Windows® to date”, “Information and tasks at your fingertips”, etc.



13. At the end of the progress bar, back to the black screen from steps 7 and 8.
14. Familiar Windows login sound, with a cool animated Windows logo burst, then “Welcome…” and “Preparing your desktop…” with the animated circle thingie (I like it). Looks like this Release Candidate is a version of Vista Ultimate (Ultimate, really? Why not Windows Beefcake, or Windows to the Max? Those are equally stupid.)



15. Vista has landed! First screen is a Welcome Centre displaying details about the machine, and the usual Getting Started… type stuff.



16. All elements of the UI are smooth, often animated, and very ‘Web 2.0.’ First impression is a good one, although the icons in the system tray look like Windows 3.1 – I’m sure these will be glossified. I like the minimal start button orb and the black base colour of the UI.



17. After boosting the resolution, I started to look around. The wallpapers shipped with Vista are substantially more impressive than XP. Better than OS X? Hmmm….some of them are. I like the option of Widescreen wallpapers, and the organization into categories all in one display is faster than the Mac folder selection approach, which I often find tedious.





18. Most of the familiar options are available in each screen, and laid out similarly to XP. I expected the Color Scheme option under Appearance to allow me to change the base colour of the OS (the black carried through the Start menu and task bar). However, only the Windows Vista Basic option looks good – all the other options are hideous ports of XP (95?) colour schemes. Maybe more polished versions will ship with the retail version. I do like the Recent Tasks menu in the sidebar which is updated as you navigate windows – useful and subtle, and faster than Finder’s ‘Go > Recent Folders…’ option.





19. Next step, setting up the Parallels Tools to allow OS to OS mousing, and other improvements. Interesting warning from Vista on install.



20. First look at DashBar, or SideBoard…err Windows Sidebar, with GadgWets, or WidgGets…err Gadgets. Only joking, nothing wrong with borrowing a good idea. Performance seems pretty slow, but the Parallels Tools are still installing.



21. Restart after Tools are installed. Vista boot is around 1 1/2 minutes. I can now mouse between Vista and OS X seamlessly…wow. On second login, Vista still looks good. I’m beginning to like this.
22. Gadgets load a bit slowly (but no more slowly than Dashboard sometimes). However, they can be dragged on to the desktop to be perma-gadgets, a feature I have heard people wish Dashboard had. Screen savers are almost all 3D oriented, and at this point 3D graphics are not supported by Parallels, so I’m stuck with the Windows logo (a new angular flourish?).
23. First problem: can’t get online. I found a newer build of Parallels which attempts to address Shared Networking problems. Power down the VM and update Parallels to Build 1966 (from 1940). Doesn’t work on first try, but after browsing the Configuration for the VM (in the Parallels Property Page View), I found the Network Adapter tab, which allowed me to set Shared Networking (Virtual Network Adapter), as described here. I can see that Mac OS X has detected a new connection with a local IP (192.xx.xx.xx) (using iStat Pro), so I try Vista again.
24. On reboot, having detected a connection, Vista launches a Network setup wizard, which I click through without editing, selecting a ‘Home’ network setup. Works like a charm!
25. First look at IE7 running in Vista. UI looks significantly more polished from the IE7 Beta I’ve been running on my PC. Also, new front page…look familiar? Perhaps the Microsoft user interface designers are finally getting the point that simpler is better. Page loads seem extremely fast – faster than Safari or Firefox running in OS X. This could be for a number of reasons, I suppose, but a nice surprise, as my Beta version of IE7 was incredibly slow. Navigating to a flash-driven site, IE7 automatically recognizes the necessary plugin and installs it with two clicks in about 10 seconds. I’m impressed. Flash performance is great – streaming a video with sound quickly and without jitters. Also my first experience with Vista sound in Parallels, which others have had problems with. Seems fine so far.



26. I’m also able to access my local server from Windows by browsing to my Mac IP address. I’m running MAMP at port 8888, so my local server address looks something like http://24.xx.xx.xx:8888/. Seems fast, and to my great joy, my in-development websites seem to look and behave in IE7 exactly as they do in Firefox! Praise for .png’s and standards-based CSS!
27. Browsing to a .pdf document calls up a dialogue to find software to read it. So, no built-in PDF reader like Safari. Anyway, two clicks take me to a list of suitable software, and I’m directed to the Adobe Reader page. Download speeds also extremely fast. Good. After install the Reader interface is integrated with IE7, and works well.
28. Nice new feature of IE7, which I expect will show up in other browsers, is a view which allows you to see all tabs which are open in a window in a tiled layout, to quickly navigate between. It also shows if a tab is loading, and allows you to open new tabs without exiting the tiled view. Nice feature for people who often have lots of tabs open.



29. The emphasis on security in Vista is understandable, but as usual a bit clunky. Each potential ‘threat’ (unsigned certificates, software downloads, installs) prompts a fullscreen shade-out with a dialogue asking you to verify that you would like to continue the given action. Only one-click to continue, which is nice, but still seems a bit extreme. For web prompts, I prefer the option in Safari to confirm a downloaded application which pops up from the Download panel. It’s less intrusive and doesn’t interfere with other things you might be doing. The shade-out demonstrates Vista’s improved screen effects, though.

All in all, I’m impressed with Vista’s visual overhaul, and the UI designers have thought of some nice features and implemented them smoothly. It’s still not OS X, and I’m sure there will be problems under the hood, but my first impression is certainly a positive one. Good luck, Bill!

Notes on Parallels:

1. Three times during installation, Parallels prompted me with: “Parallels Desktop has detected that the virtual machine is running without Parallels Tools. Installing the Parallels Tools will make your work with the virtual machine more comfortable: the tools smooth mouse moving, enhance video susbsystem functionality and other characteristics. To start installing Parallels Tools, please select VM->Install Parallels Tools in menu.” This dialogue didn’t seem to interrupt the installation, but it seems odd that Parallels would display this message during an OS install.
2. I could run the install in Fullscreen mode on my second monitor, but Parallels had to switch back to console view to take screenshots. Still, nice that a screenshot feature is built right into the application – saves image editing.
3. Shutting the VM down using the Power Off Virtual Machine button caused Vista to display a ‘Windows was not properly shut down’ black screen on the next startup. I guess Vista needs to be shut down using the Start menu before powering down the VM.
4. XP boots from the .iso in about 15 seconds. Vista takes closer to a minute. More overhead, I guess.