Apple Mac to Windows.

[jow104]

http://onmac.net/


My sister was sold an apple/mac computer when she changed her computer last year. She had very little knowledge on computers and then learnt to her cost that all her windows software was obsolete.

The above link purports to partition an apple harddrive and allows XP installation. Kind of freeware? (asking for a donation)

Any experience yet in here? Or should my sister stay clear of this little sweetie.

I always new the apple boys really wanted windows,

[bitingmidge]

John,

If she bought the machine last year, it's not an intel chipped machine, and the software you refer to works only on a few machines.

Apple have just released their own version (free) called BootCamp, but again you'd need an intel based machine (this year's model).

My question is: what specific software does she need? Pretty much everything one can think of is either bundled with the Mac operating system, or can be had for free in various forms.

Running a Windows OS is possible, but a complete waste of resources for simple applications.

The next best bet is to buy a copy of Virtual PC from Microsoft, it works fine (MS bought the company that developed it), but again it's best when it's the only way out!

By the way, all her Windows software is about to become obsolete with the introduction of the new Windows system as well, so no harm done in the long term!
Cheers,

P

[Studley 2436]

If I am getting this right she bought a mac (good move) and then found out she couldn't use her windows software on the mac (downer)

Most important software you can get on Windows you can get on Mac too such as MS Office MYOB Photoshop etc Plenty of games etc only go on windows. You can get your old windows software to go on a mac with Virtual PC but it is very slow and you do have to buy it and a copy of Windows XP as well. It might just be cheaper to buy the Mac version of the software you need.

The new Intel Chipped Macs can be loaded with a copy of windows and booted up so they run just like PC's. Thats what boot camp is for. Does have to be a very new mac though. Personally I am not going to upgrade mine until they get a chance to do a thorough debug on it. Have to be very careful that they have it all going right.

Studley

[kiwigeo]

Everyone getting excited about the recently released software that allows Intel chipped Macs to run Windows XP.

It will have it's uses for those who want to run Windows software that doesn't have a native Mac equivalent....I cant think of huge number of examples apart from games. For someone wanting to run something like Office for Windows on a Mac it's a total waste of time and a step backwards.....a bit like buying yourself a Ferrari and remotoring it with an engine out of a 2CV.

People need to be aware that as soon as you load up Windows on a Mac youre still exposed to the same old vulnerablities as you would running Windows on a PC. You need to run anti virus software and a firewall and you need to update your virus definitions just about every day.

[kiwigeo]

I always new the apple boys really wanted windows,

Mac came out with Boot camp to make the changeover to the Mac easier for Windows users. Once they've spent a bit of time running OSX and Windows XP side by side on the same machine they'll soon realise what a crock the latter system is and the change to the dark side will be complete.

[jow104]

kiwigeo, not wishing to stir the pot too much, but I have only been floored once in six years with PC.
Then you mac fellows have got to appreciate you don't have a lot of software to play with.

[Studley 2436]

whenever someone on Windows says to me that mac isn't as good I just ask so when was the last time you had a crash. Silence is deafening.

Actually having a go on photoshop on some brand new PC that was up to the second on it's chips and etc and it dragged it's heels. Don't care how much stuff windows has to play with I have all the stuff I can dream of for work and that is all that matters.

Studley

[jow104]

Ah, here we go. I've got about 70gb of software on my PC so it could be dragging it heels a bit, if a mac had 70gb on its harddrive it would most probably have a job to light up the screen.

[Schtoo]

whenever someone on Windows says to me that mac isn't as good I just ask so when was the last time you had a crash. Silence is deafening.

Studley

Crash?

I can't remember.


When was the last time you had a virus scare?




I do like Mac, but I am going stick with PC thanks. Something about not having to physically hunt down software I think...

Maybe that will change after I start using the Mac here a bit more, but I doubt it.

[woodbe]

Most people don't understand or use more than about 10% of their computers, but they argue till the cows come home that it's better than the other type of computer that they didn't buy for whatever reason.

It's an unwinnable argument. If you want to read about it, just search mac vs PC on google, there's no need to replay it all here...

woodbe.

[Iain]

I had Mac until 2000, heard about this term 'crash' but never knew what it was.
Stumped once by someone who asked me if Mac had windows yet

[bitingmidge]

Ah, here we go. I've got about 70gb of software on my PC so it could be dragging it heels a bit, if a mac had 70gb on its harddrive it would most probably have a job to light up the screen.

If a mac had 70gb of software, it would be running the EEC.

How come a simple question turns into a weeing contest again?? :confused: :confused: :confused:

So come on John, you asked the question, I answered it in the first post, now answer the question that I've asked so often when this sort of stupid argument arises... just exactly what software do you have that is so complex there isn't a free or nearly free mac equivalent??

P

[old_picker]

I never thought I would see this kind of crap on this forum. Sheesh! I thought I was back in aus.computers for a minute.

[jow104]

I never thought I would see this kind of crap on this forum. Sheesh! I thought I was back in aus.computers for a minute.

Well at least it gave Iain a chance to flash is new avatar..Cor!

Biting midge.

I run around three flight programs, plus Microsoft Train Simulator, which after having constructed some routes (which can duplicate a lot of the original files) can be very heavy on hard drive storage.
Plus two trips to Oz and other continents the picture folders are a bit over the top.

Anyway told my sister it looks like she can relax, Windows is coming.

[woodbe]

Actually, the question was about what your sister was running. But in any case the photos are a doddle on a Mac, but I'm not sure there is a good Train Sim for it. I think Auran is porting Trainz to the Mac, but there is no release date yet.

woodbe.