Installation Question

I am brand new to the Mac world. I recently purchased a MacBook Pro. I also purchased Parallels 8 and Windows 7. I would like the capability of booting directly into Windows or being able to use Windows side by side with OS X using Parallels. Is this feasible (pros/cons?). If so, how would I go about the installation?

Thanks

 

Yes. Use Bootcamp Assistant.app to install a partition for Windows and install Windows (don't activate it), install Parallels, then New Virtual machine, use Bootcamp, (only activate Windows in Parallels, this is to prevent having to reactivate).

The biggest Con might be in terms of how to backup Windows, as you won't be abe to use Time Machine for it.

 

Specimen, thanks for the response. Does that mean I will have 2 installs of Windows, 1 in Bootcamp and 1 in parallels or will they both use the same installation? How would I have to install to be able to backup Windows? Would the backup utility in Windows be available?

 

Uses the same Windows installation.
The backup would have to be done via a Windows backup program inside Windows, like Windows own backup tool.