Advice please anyone.

Father aged 74. User of a PC since 1998. Fustrated beyond belief with Windows problems. PC constantly in repair shop. Eyes my Mac with avarice, but is too scared to commit as he is into family history research and maintains that most said software programmes only run on Windows (probably true).

Do I get him onto a Mac?

If I succeed, is it Bootcamp or should he try Virtual PC?

I ask because he may find switching between Windows and Mac time after time too tiresome.

OK, not a geek question, more ethereal really.

Parallels would be the good solution. VirtualPC is for PowerPC (i.e. old) Macs only. Parallels runs Windows quite fast, and unless that software makes crazy use of 3D graphics cards and can't run without it, it's perfect.

It looks good. Thank you.

Intel only of course, but that would suit the old man very well - if I can persuade him!!!

My wife uses "Mac Family Tree"
http://www.onlymac.de/html/stammbaum4en.html it saves in the standard genealogical formats for others in the family to view on Windows machines.

There was also a program called, I think, Reunion or something similar.

All the rest is web based ancestry stuff and Excel.

Found Reunion, but not used it.
http://www.leisterpro.com/

Many thanks for these. They look very useful.