Newbie needs advice on MBP - BooCamp - Parallels HELP PLEASE

[bonus11]

I would be grateful if someone could answer the below for me…

Does the built-in iSight camera, keyboard backlighting, USB Ports, Apple USB Modem & Apple Remote work in XP via BootCamp or Parellels?

I will be using the MBP every day for at least 5 hours, will it be able to cope with heavy usage or will there be issues (e.g. overheating)?

Also, have been reading about BootCamp & Parallels, what would be the better option for me?

- On OS, I would like to view & burn DVD/CD’s, Use Macromedia (Dreamweaver) and Photoshop software.
- On Win XP use IE (wireless), Microsoft Office (Outlook for emails).

Questions:
- Would I be able to share files between these two operating systems e.g. create web page in Dreamweaver in OS, then open it in IE in WinXp, without having to reboot.
- Is it correct that I can share and access files between OS & WinXP using Parellels/BootCamp? i.e. create a graphic in OS, then open in WinXP to edit?
- Will the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse Mouse, USB drives etc work in both operating systems using Parellels/BootCamp.
- Would I be able to connect to internet wireless in both operating systems at same time, so I could be online via Safari (via OS) and IE (via Win XP) depending what window I was looking at?

Running Win XP on Parellels or Bootcamp, would I still receive Windows automaic updates?

Appreciate any help

Thanks

 

[joem]

I can answer a few, but not all of your questions.

First, if you run bootcamp, switching between OSX and XP will always require a reboot.
You can share files between OSX and bootcamp with some limitations, and you can share files between Parallels and OSX with some limitations. Sharing with Parallels is done via the network. You have effectively, two computers running at the same time on the same box. They can be networked and share files just as if they were two boxes. My MBP talks to my wireless network through OSX and Windows at the same time.

Windows automatic updates happen when Windows is running and connected to the Internet, whether on a dedicated box, bootcamp, or parallels VM (if you turn them on).

As to which is the better option, that depends on what you need to do. If you need both OS's running at the same time, Parallels is the only choice. If you need full hardware access by XP, than bootcamp is the only choice. Other criteria include the requirement to choose a disk partition size in advance when installing bootcamp, and a great deal more flexibility with Parallels. Backing up a VM is a matter of copying a couple of files, while backing up a bootcamp installation is no different from backing up a windows machine.

The MBP will get hot with heavy CPU usage no matter which choice you make. If you get one of those little platforms with a couple of fans in it to put the machine on, it will stay cool enough to run continuously. Without forced air flow, it will overheat and slow down or shut down with intensive use. Parallels provides one CPU core for Windows' use, but does some of the housekeeping that Windows would otherwise have to do using the other core. Bootcamp will give XP both cores. 100% CPU will cause the machine to slow down (as part of its thermoregulation strategy) in either case after a few minutes. Laptops aren't designed for continuous 100% CPU for long periods.