Sorry, can't answer your questions because I've never had a need to partition and run any type of windows program; but, as a MAC fan and seeing you are new to it I have a program you will love!
Quicksilver!! Program is so simple, yet so powerful. By far my favorite MAC program.
Here is a brief video tutorial on it and this guy has many many more. It takes a little while to get use to it, but once you do you'll be so happy you did!
https://youtube.com/watch?v=EBvFUhTqKK4