Should I run Linux on a bootable drive or a virtual machine on Mac?

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I have a 2011 mac running OS 10.10.5. I'd like to give linux a try. Is it better to install it on a separate drive and run it through boot install or use a virtual machine like parallel?
 

chscag

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Always go with a virtual machine as it's safer and can be easily removed if you're unhappy with the results. VirtualBox is free from Oracle and makes for an excellent VM choice.
 

Slydude

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Always go with a virtual machine as it's safer and can be easily removed if you're unhappy with the results. VirtualBox is free from Oracle and makes for an excellent VM choice.
Good point Charlie. I hadn't thought of that.

I've been thinking of experimenting with Linux for some time now. The second drive in my 2008 MacBook Pro has Snow Leopard on it. I haven't run that in ages. Might put Linux on there.
 

Raz0rEdge

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Definitely recommend the VM route and VirtualBox at that, so it's a free affair all around. Only in very specific situations would you need to go down the VMWare Fusion/Parallels route when it comes to Linux.
 

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