Best way to run Linux and Windows XP on a MacBook Pro

Hi,

I've just started to use a MacBook Pro (with Lion) having used Windows since version 3.1 and, in more recent years, various flavours of Linux. I love the MacBook Pro and would like to move all my data and applications over to the Apple equivalents, but it's not possible in the short term.... so, I'm stuck with needing to run Windows XP and Linux. My XP use is now pretty limited, but I use Linux very regularly - mainly for a personal finance application.

I want to be able to run Linux and XP on the MacBook Pro, but I can't decide the best way to do it.

I'm looking for glitch-free installation and reliability. What's the best way to go? Virtualisation? Triple-boot? Something else? If the best option is virtualisation, which one would you recommend?

Many thanks,

Mike

Give Virtual Box a look and its free.

Don't Do It

Having used Windows since 3.1 for personal and business and now work for a major user of Win XP I had the same thoughts a couple of years ago. I had Win 7 installed in my new iMac and then bought Parallels and Office. I could have saved myself a couple of £100.

I never boot into Windows and all the data I had in Windows easily ported across to Snow Leopard. Any problems with work stuff ? I forward stuff to my home email and documents, powerpoints, appointments, etc. all open OK in Mac software.

After my iMac my only concession to using Microsoft stuff on my MacBook Pro was to install Office for Mac. Although Pages will open Doc and Keynote will open Powerpoint using Office has some advantages, especially if you rely on Outlook, and much better than having to run Windows.