30D RAW with CS2 & ACR on both a Mac and a PC?

I recently bought a new PC for my digital photo processing. My wife is looking for a new computer as well. She can't be bothered to learn about internet debris, spyware or drivers so I have convinced her to get a 24" iMac. My PC is in the basement. I'd like to be able to do some digital processing on her new machine upstairs once in a while so that we can still have some semblance of a relationship -LOL.
What should I do? She will buy the Parrallels software as much of her professional software (she's a Chartered Accountant - internal audit - fraud investigator and has a Real Estate licence) only runs on Windows.
Will I be able to install my copy of CS2 on her Mac? Will it run with Parallel or must I also install XP Pro on top of that? Is this wise to run PhotoShop off of XP, off of Parallel, off of OSx?
Should I even bother? I have 4 GBs RAM, E6600 CPU on a Intel Badaxe2 D975XBX2. Processing my Canon 30D RAWs is fast, quick and stable on my PC. I did 'convince' her to get 2 GBs of RAM on her iMac. How fast would processing 30D RAW files on ACR and CS2 be on the iMac with less RAM?

I have the 20" Imac and have CS2 installed and it runs faster than my pc's do with the same programs. As for parrallels, I personaly wouldn't do it because your Imac would then be open for all of the virus's and spyware that your pc is, as for speed it would be slower running it that way. All my info comes from people who have tried that route and had problems. You can get Adobe lightroom to do your raw's.

Paul Lowell wrote in post #3095745
I have the 20" Imac and have CS2 installed and it runs faster than my pc's do with the same programs.

So you are refering to CS2 for Mac running on the Mac?

Paul Lowell wrote in post #3095745
As for parrallels, I personaly wouldn't do it because your Imac would then be open for all of the virus's and spyware that your pc is, as for speed it would be slower running it that way.

Actually we'd never do any web surfing with Parallels. The whole point of going to the Mac was to avoid the internet web debris/spyware/viruses​.
I was kinda worried the CS2 wouldn't work well if 2 operating systems were needed

Paul Lowell wrote in post #3095745
You can get Adobe lightroom to do your raw's.

I'm not going to spend an additional $200 for 1 GB extra Mac RAM and THEN an extra $200+ for Lightroom. Heck, I can stay on my PC in the basement and set up a video conference with the wife - LOL. I'll spend the money on new filters or a divorce lawyer.

Thanks for your response.

Maybe

CS2 (for Windows) in Parallels or Boot Camp should run faster that CS2(Mac) in OSX. The Mac version of CS2 has to run under Rosetta (translation software because CS2 is PPC code). I'm not sure, but I don't think there is a speed hit or much of one using Windows under Parallels.

You would still need to install Some variation of Windows under Parallels or Boot Camp.

There will be a speed increase in OSX by adding more RAM.

Don't buy RAM from Apple - get it elsewhere - OWC currently has a 2 GB stick for $210. Max RAM on 24" iMac is 3 GB.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

wlescall wrote in post #3097403
CS2 (for Windows) in Parallels or Boot Camp should run faster that CS2(Mac) in OSX. The Mac version of CS2 has to run under Rosetta (translation software because CS2 is PPC code). I'm not sure, but I don't think there is a speed hit or much of one using Windows under Parallels.

You would still need to install Some variation of Windows under Parallels or Boot Camp.

There will be a speed increase in OSX by adding more RAM.

Don't buy RAM from Apple - get it elsewhere - OWC currently has a 2 GB stick for $210. Max RAM on 24" iMac is 3 GB.

Hope this is somewhat helpful.

CS2 for PC running faster on a Mac than PC for Mac seems counter-intuitive but thanks for the info. I would have thought running Parrallels, XP as well as OSX ALONG with CS2 would all tax the system tremendously. So who runs CS2 for Mac on a Mac if CS2 for Windows runs faster (on the Mac)?

Thanks for the RAM purchase advice!!!!