ZEMAX runs under Windows™ and Windows XP will run on Intel-processor based Macintosh computers via Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop. ZEMAX has been tested with Windows XP under both of these platforms. If you attempt to run ZEMAX on either of these platforms, it is highly recommended that you install the latest version of the respective software (Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop).

If you have a parallel port ZEMAX key, you will need to exchange it for a USB key as Macintoshes do not have a parallel port.

Please note that ZEMAX Development Corporation cannot provide support on installing Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop or Windows XP on your Macintosh computer.

Once you have setup XP under either Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop, you can install ZEMAX on your Macintosh using the normal installation procedure: see How to install ZEMAX for the first time.

There are some differences between running Windows XP and ZEMAX under BootCamp versus using Parallels Desktop. The principal difference is that BootCamp allows access to both cores of a dual core processor machine, while Parallels Desktop currently allows access to only one.  As ZEMAX supports multiple processors, it will run about twice as fast under Boot Camp than with Parallels Desktop. Parallels Inc. is presently working on a new version of Parallels Desktop which will utilize multiple processor cores in the same computer. It is expected that this new version of Parallels Desktop will be available in mid-to-late 2007.

While speed is the primary difference between running ZEMAX under Boot Camp versus Parallels Desktop, there are other differences which may affect which method you choose to use. Here is a summary of the differences:

Boot Camp	Parallels Desktop
Product provided by Apple Inc.	Product provided by a third party (Parallels Inc.)
Beta software (as of January 2007)	Released software
Cost: Free (until OS X 10.5 released)	Cost:  $80
Utilizes both cores in dual core processors	Only utilizes one core in dual core processors
Can only install Windows XP or Vista	Can install any version of Windows including Windows Vista
Requires reboot from Mac OS to Windows OS	Does not require reboot—Windows and Mac OS run side by side simultaneously

In summary, ZEMAX can now be run on all Intel-based Macintosh computers. You can either use Apple’s Boot Camp software or Parallels Desktop to run Windows on your Macintosh and, hence, run ZEMAX. A USB hardware key is required to run ZEMAX on a Macintosh computer.