burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The Mac Pro is a super fast computer due to the multi-core processors and the fast bus. That 256 GB drive is an SSD (essentially, very fast flash memory).

The computer itself is a small, spacey-looking cylinder with LOTS of I/O ports on the side for expansion. You can run most any kinds of peripherals at their maximum rated speeds, so attaching a RAID array of SSDs or conventional hard drives will work perfectly for expanded storage.

I agree with others here who would caution the OP to run malware and virus protection on the Windows partition.

I'd also encourage the OP to run Windows using virtualization software such as Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion. With that, in exchange for about a 10% PC performance hit (inconsequential on a Mac Pro), you can run Mac and Windows application programs side by side! You can cut and paste from one OS to the other, and use the best of both worlds. It does take a lot of drive space and a lot of RAM to do that, but it is worth it.

For several years, I ran a MacBook Pro with 4GB RAM and a 750 GB conventional hard drive. I ran WinXP with Parallels Desktop on top of OS X 10.6.8. I could run four or five apps at the same time with no problems. Only when editing video on the Mac did I need to shut down Windows. My Windows instance running virtually on the MacBook Pro actually ran 2.5 to 3 times faster than my Dell Latitude D610 laptop that I used for field training.

Once you get used to the keyboard command differences, going back and forth is very easy. I love it.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

Macs not susceptible or not getting viruses and/or malware continues to be an urban and a suburban myth. While arguably less common, they have the same problems windows based computers have. My guess is it is based solely on numbers of users of windows vs OS. More users of windows so, they must be more susceptible to invasion and or hacking. If windows feels comfortable and is faster, why not use it? No different than a camera or a vehicle. Drive what you like and what fits the budget!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

My experience, too.

I've run Macs and PCs since 1985, and most of that time, I had both in my office because I created PC software training materials and PC databases, and I managed a Mac network for a high-volume desktop publishing/on-demand printing center.

In short, I use the Mac because I want to. I use the PC when I have to. Since 2000, I've run Windows on my Mac, with virtualization software. I still have a Mac and a PC, but it's ONE device!

Caysnowman Loc: MN & SC

I believe Apple does not offer One to One anymore.

Bill

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

It is considerably more difficult to inject a virus into a UNIX system than it is into a Windoze system. *NIX machines tend to be restrictive whereas MS machines tend to be permissive by nature.

In offices I've worked, numerous steps were taken to restrict Windoze permissions in order to make them less susceptible to problems induced my users.

I realized I had been working as a sys admin sufficiently long when I saw a car with a bumper sticker which proclaimed "Users are Losers" and drugs was not the first thing that came to mind.
--Bob

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Many MAC users have come to believe they need some kind of protection. This is largely due to the fact that trojans and viruses are internet based. Easily picked up by visiting a website. Just look what happened with the Flashback Trojan. Flashback infected half a million MAC's and formed a BOTNET attack. It took Apple nearly 2 months to address this infection in Snow Leopard, and you only got patched if you were on the latest OS. I believe this is largely because they were dependent on Oracle to patch Java.

Apple has attempted to lower the risk by sandboxing itself with a app store for MAC's, but you can still purchase outside the store unlike iDevices.

Even those who don't think they need it should still have it. A virus can be embedded in a word doc, an email or many other ways. While I may not open it or worry about it in my OS, it's easy for me to pass along to my PC friends unknowingly.

If you're running Windows on a MAC, you can also get one of those nasty boot sector viruses, and lose your entire machine. It may require a Nuke-and-pave to fix. Oops, now you have to restore two operating systems!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I wouldn't worry about Macs getting viruses. Trojan Horse Malware is another matter... Both Mac and Windows users can let it in the front door by being tricked into clicking on an installer and entering an admin password. They can also be tricked into a remote access session with a "support" person (criminal).

I once put a "honey pot" unprotected Mac outside our network router's firewall, and left it for a week. It was running stock OS X 10.10. It got ZERO infections.

I put a Windows 7 PC outside the firewall during the same period, and it got hit with a virus that crippled it in the first 30 seconds! That PC had to be re-loaded from a backup image after a low-level drive format. It now runs three separate protection packages and it is so slow from checking itself that it is useless for several hours after startup.

Do a little deep research into the matter and what you learn is that Macs have many layers of anti-VIRUS protection built into them. The UNIX core is a very different structure from that of Windows. That's the REAL reason programmers don't waste time writing viruses for Macs. The ASSUMED reason is that Macs have a small market share.

Yes, Macs can be attacked, IN PRINCIPLE. Various geeks are demonstrating that at conferences from time to time. But there are simply few confirmed reports of viruses IN THE WILD. The only virus I ever saw on a Mac was a MS Word Macro virus, and that was back in 1998! The entire company I worked for caught that one. Symantec hadn't updated their software yet.

Most attacks on Macs involve trojan horse schemes that, oddly enough, masquerade as the Mac OS telling you you have a virus! They tell you that you have to call a support line, and the person on the phone BSes you with FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) until you give him remote access to your computer. He charges you $100 to install REAL malware that looks for all your credit card numbers and personal information... and turns your computer into a zombie on a botnet. But of course, you don't know that until your bank accounts are dry and your identity is in the wind.

If you see a message in your browser that tells you a virus has been detected, JUST FORCE QUIT THE BROWSER. Go to the Apple menu in the upper left corner, choose Force Quit..., and find Safari or Chrome, or FireFox or whatever, and click Force Quit.

DON'T install JAVA on your Mac. (JavaScript is okay.)

AVOID installing Flash on your Mac. Flash is dying technology, since it does not run on iOS devices. Most sites don't need it, since they've moved or are moving that functionality to HTML 5.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Have we put to bed the false statement that someone said not to worry about MAC's getting infected? I hope you understand now that it can and has happened. Google "Flashback Trojan"

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The key to remember about trojans as a class of malware is that they can affect ALL computers, because users have to let them in the front door. Be suspicious of ANY web site that asks you to install anything. If you get a message to install a new version of Adobe Flash, do it from your System Preferences dialog box, or go download it manually from Adobe.com.

Flashback is no longer an issue, unless your very old Mac is running very old unsupported versions of OS X.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Agree et all. Just used falshback as an example of what can happen.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My son is considering getting an iMac, but he would like to keep using Cyberlink PowerDirector for editing video. Would it be practical running that using Parallels?

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

To be honest I've never used any photo/video editing software in Parallels, but I think there is a Cyberlink for MAC. There are also a couple open source video editors. Of course iMovie is built into the MAC OS.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

I believe that not trying to get accustomed to Mac OS is not the best plan. Windows 10 on MacPro may be faster but vulernability to all the Windows viruses, malware and worms far outweigh the advantages gained.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I think it is now spelled "Lusers"! :-D :-D

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

If you are not worried about viruses on your Mac you are missing the big news. My daughter had a virus on her laptop. Took it into the Mac store. They charged her $150 to get rid of it.

More virus-criminals are targeting Macs today than Windows. The only reason Macs had few viruses in the past was that they were too small a target. Now they have 7-8% of the market, its a better target. Check out Sophos (They do anti-malware for corporations.)

Almost all the anti-malware companies have free antivirus for Macs.