If you uncheck the 64-bit Windows version box at the bottom, Parallels will download the 32-bit version instead. The only reason to do so might be if you have a Mac with less than 4GB of RAM. The 32-bit version of Windows 8 only requires 1GB of RAM versus the 2GB required for the 64-bit version.

You can then select to run Windows applications as if they are Mac applications, without having to view the Windows desktop, or to run Windows as an independent environment--"Like a PC," is how Parallels puts it. Then you'll be asked where you want to store the virtual drive file, which is the Windows data drive. Parallels also handles the Windows installation process for you, using your OS X user information to set up a Windows user.

The first thing you'll need if you opt for this approach is an to download the software. The account setup asks for your name and address as well as a phone number. (No, the company will not call you up and ask "Is your virtual machine running?" before shouting, "You better run and catch it, then" and hanging up. I mean, I would do that, but VMware is more professional about these sorts of things.)

Once you sign up for an account, you'll need to activate it through an email VMware sends you; then you can download a free 30-day trial. (A full version of VMware Fusion is a reasonable $50.) Open the disk image and do the old drag to install.