Macbook, install: Win XP+Vista, Ubuntu and OS X 10.5.1 external hdd

Hi there,

I am a Macbook user 3rd generation (Mac OS X 10.5.4, 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB Ram) and I would like to use my internal HDD primary for my education and work. I truly like experimenting with software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Logic Studio etc. Further more I like to play games (on windows) and sometimes I need to use Windows for my work or study. At the current moment I would like to increase my knowledge of Linux and am interested in the Ubunutu distribution.

I am planning to order an 500 GB external HDD so I can install Ubunto, Windows XP (and maybe Vista as well) and OS X 10.5 on it. The issue here is Windows. I have searched for a solution to install windows on an external HDD and found the ngine.de site but I repeatedly failed to install XP on my current 80GB external HDD (made several modified ISO install CD’s and none works)

Now I have read a lot about Parallels Desktop but people say that the gaming experience is poor (I need windows for gaming). The alternative VMware is still in beta and according to many others not as powerful as Parallels.

Now I have read some stuff about Cedega for Linux which allows to play Windows based games (range of games is limited?!. But this would mean that I need to reboot to Linux in order to play games, and I would have to use windows just for some minor programs, which in my opinion is a waste of space.

If anyone has a solution / suggestion or maybe some experience feel free to comment.

Facts:

-Windows for Gaming
-OS X for running software like CS3, logic Studio etc.
-Linux for "fun"
-500 GB External HDD is from Western Digital (WDE WDE1U5000E, 500GB USB2.0 )
-Macbook, 3rd gen, OS X 10.5.4, 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB Ram, 80 GB HDD

bluescotch,

It may be some time to come up with a solution to run Windows from an external...

So, why not order one of the new Macbook-capable 500GB hard drives and put that in your Macbook instead of using it as an external. That way, instead of depending on an external for Windows, Linux, etc., you could install everything internally, with room to spare.

Of course that would mean installing Windows under Boot Camp to get the best gaming experience (Native speeds not available with Parallels and Fusion). But it would also allow you to add all of the Windows programs you want.

Noel

Well your suggestion does fix the problem and thank you for pointing the alternative out, but my budget does not allow it. I am a law student and to be honest the big bucks come after you graduate Furthermore my Macbook is barely 7 months old so it would be quite weird to buy a new one?!

(PS: I saw the double post/thread but somehow I cannot find the "option" to delete the thread)

bluescotch said:

Hi there,

I am planning to order an 500 GB external HDD so I can install Ubunto, Windows XP (and maybe Vista as well) and OS X 10.5 on it.

Click to expand...

500GB

bluescotch,

Maybe that new 500GB for the Macbook IS too expensive, so consider a 320GB instead, perhaps. A WD 320GB Scorpio costs about $130 from Newegg and would certainly be plenty of room for what you want to do. I have one and I used the original hard drive as an external for backups. Then later on, you could upgrade to a 500GB internal when prices go down and use the 320 for a "new" external...

Maybe beats trying to collage your external to do things not yet meant to be done (except maybe for Linux).

Noel