So you decided to make the switch from PC to Mac. There are some basics you should know as you move forward.

First, you don’t have to give up your old operating system. You can install free virtualization software that works really well, called VirtualBox. Using VirtualBox, or any of the other virtualization software (Fusion or Parallels), you can run your Windows XP or Windows 7 applications on your Mac. This may not be for everyone, but if you don’t mind doing some reading, there is a lot of good information on the web on how to get started. If you want some help setting up a virtual machine to use on your Mac, let me know, and I will be happy to provide some assistance. Just remember, you have to treat this virtual computer just like you would a real PC. It needs antivirus and windows updates. It turns on and off just like a real PC, but it has a software on/off switch. The virtual machine even needs its own license if you run a Microsoft operating system, just like a real PC. The best thing though, is that you can make backups of it just by copying the files to another safe location, like a USB hard drive. This gives a great option to try out a new piece of software or a way to keep a simple backup of your computer, important software, and critical data.