[The Crusher]

The arrival of my 10v is imminent, and I have to decide what to install, but the options and their pros and cons aren't entirely clear to me. I definitely want to install OS X (this was the whole point). But I'm wondering what else I might consider? I'm an anti-Microsoft guy, and have no Microsoft products. But every once in a great while it might be helpful to have a Windoze box. And Ubuntu might be fun to play with now and then.

The main point is, I don't want to make a choice, and find out later that it was the wrong choice, and have to backup and rebuild and restore everything.

1. So I can just install OS X using NBI, overwriting everything.
   • I could just use virtualbox for windows and ubuntu installations, yes?
   • If I use GUID partitioning, I should be able to resize and add partitions later for dual-booting, right? Do I do this entirely with OS X tools?
   • In this case, what would handle dual/multiple booting?
   • Can I reinstall XP into one of these other partitions later or does it require MBR partitioning?
   • Is there any other reason why I might prefer to keep the original XP installation?
2. I can use the NBI OS X installer, and partition the drive at the start of installation with Disk Utility to set aside space for Windows and Ubuntu. (There's a four-part YouTube on how to do this).
   • Less space available for OS X
   • I have to predict the future of my usage?
   • Or I'll be using GUID anyway, and that should let me resize these things as needed.
3. I can use the detailed instructions elsewhere in this forum on keeping the original XP, repartitioning with EASEUS, and adding an OS X partition.
   • What are the advantages or disadvantages of this approach?
   • The only funky OS X change is the OSInstall file that's needed for MBR booting, is this correct?
4. Any issues I need to think about that I haven't mentioned?
   
5. Other approaches I don't know about?

Thanks for any advice,

tom

[holmes4]

I'm moving this to the Dual Boot section.