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I haven't had the need to run a window application on my mac for about 5 years. There is such a wide range of applications available for the mac platform now that it would be a backwards step to put windows on it.

I also agree with nicemonkey.  My PC is also only used when there is no other option (for example for my bookkeeping program)

You can use Mono on Mac to run .NET applications.
http://www.mono-project.com/Mono:OSX

A few years ago I ran Windows on my Mac using Virtual PC. It worked, but was VERY slow. The MAC OS now includes Boot Camp. But as I understand it, you can only run one OS at a time under this. That is, you must boot up in Windows, do stuff, then re-boot to run Mac OS. To me, that would be way too cumbersome.

I also used a utility at my last job called Chicken of the VNC. It too allowed me to connect to the Windows server and work, but it was very slow and the cursor was very jerky, so sometimes you accidentally clicked on things you didn't want.

Until they come up with software that makes Windows run pretty much like native OS software on the Mac, I don't think I would run a Windows ap on my Mac.

I have a small Acer Inspire PC I use for checking functionality of websites I build. I do the minimum amount I have to on Windows XP.

Parallels and VMWare both do exactly that. They both run very well on Intel Macs with enough memory.

If you really have to use some Windows application then they are perfect.

The X11 layer is now installed by default with Snow Leopard on Macs AFAIK so maybe that is another possibility. And has long been available as an optional.

Or what about doing it as a standalone Java application ?

A frequent problem with apps ported to the Mac but not designed on the Mac is that they do not properly integrate with the environment - both in terms the visual design sensibilities and methodologies (integration with menus etc) - and in terms of where they install their data.

I do run windows only apps on my Mac - but only when absolutely necessary, not by choice. I use Parallels software to run TinyXP. I have set up a Windows partition and Bootcamp, but Parallels works fine for what I need.

I use an application called Deep Sky Stacker that is windows only.

After nearly two decades as a win user I few years ago I switched to mac. As so many other users I advertised it to my friends to switch and forget that loser PCs. Three years gone and I silently switched back to PCs and using my mac only for locational shooting.
My advise is simple: don't use a mac for WIN programs, use a PC for it. And use the mac when you need to run a mac software. And you will live longer.

Looks like the best option, another programming language to learn 

David

Windows running in Parallels or natively  (installed via Boot Camp) run perfectly. I've used both with no issue. My sister is a teacher and there is one program that she has to use which is not supported for the Mac and so she installed Parallels on her Mac Book Pro. I enjoy First Person Shooter games so I installed Windows on a separate internal HD which runs natively, used boot camp to install, and so far no issues at all.