Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Question about the new Macs

They advertise now that Macs will run both OSX and Windows. Does this mean, if i get a new mac that runs both, i can use my current programs for PC on macs.
I am getting confused, because on apple.com, they talk about "universal" programs, and that makes me think i can't run just any software for PC on a Mac, that it has to be "Universal"

I need a new laptop for my business, and i would much rather get a MacBook, but dont want to spend another $2k for my Signmaking program.

How old is the signmaking program? I would call the software company and ask if it is universal or not.

I'm pretty sure the "universal" they are talking about refers to programs designed to run on the Intel Mac platform, meaning Mac OS programs that are actually designed for intel processors and not the old power pc processors. As far as running windows programs, the Mac "Boot Camp" program lets you install Windows XP as an operating system you can boot into instead of Mac OS, so theoretically anything that runs on a PC will run on the Mac while you are in Windows. I don't have one of the new macs, so I haven't tried it myself but from what I have seen it works just as well as running windows on a PC

OSX includes Rosetta which is a PPC emulator (of sorts) that will run PPC Mac software with a slight performance hit. It should be fine.

you can install windows XP onto the macbook using mac's bootcamp program. you just choose to boot to OSX or winxp. however, you will have to purchase a copy of winxp for the mac. but $200 win xp is better than re buying $2000 software, right?

There are 8 Apple stores in NJ - any one near you? I'd definitely recommend calling either the store or 1-800-MY-APPLE to get info on specific programs (and for graphics/design, they had better know what program you're talking about!). It might also affect the ports if this program outputs to an actual sign machine - another question to ask.

I heard that to use Boot Camp, you had to completely shut down one operating system in order to boot into the other - is this true? Highly inconvenient if you ask me.

Actually looking on their website Apple doesn't even advertise Boot Camp on their main site - they recommend a third-party solution called Parallels Desktop (which can have both OS's open at the same time).

EDIT: Gonna go on a slight tangent about their reasons to switch. #4 and #5 are just begging for people to exploit OS X's holes (which definitely exist, though Apple evidently pretends not)

Went to the apple store last night and i'm sold.
But instead of a Macbook, i am going with the iMac.
I am going to wipe out my laptop, and reload with only my sign program, and use that when i need it.
The iMac is such a nice system and perfect for Graphic Design. Unless i go with the $3000 Macbook Pro, the displays are a little small.
The sales guy said that I can get the program paralells and run OSX and XP simultaneously, and run all my PC based programs.
The main thing though that sold me, is the lack of viruses and spyware/addware.
My GF's sister has had her mac for 4 years now, and never had a virus or any problem like that.
Same with my GF's iMac. A year so far and NO problems.

Now my question is...
I need a key that plugs into my parallel port, but nothing has a parallel port anymore....so i am assuming that a USB-Parallel adapter should work...correct?

I've had a PC for... oh, 15 years now at least and have never had a virus or any issues with ad-ware either. Haven't ever ran any anti-virus software of any kind either, that crap is just more trouble than it's worth. And few people spend as much time on the 'Net as I do.

The reason Macs haven't ever gotten any major problems with virii is because the market's so small it's not worth the effort to create hostile software. Recently, the recent boom of Apple has created some interest and those programs are on the rise. I wouldn't bet the farm on the relative "safety" of Macs continuing for too terribly much longer as long as Apple's popularity continues to grow. And since Apple hasn't had to deal with virtually the entire hacking community trying to break it like Microsoft has, they haven't had the incentive to plug security holes like MS has.

You need a key that plugs into the parallel port? You mean you have a key? Like one for software? A 'dongle'? For most devices, the adapters work fine, but dongles can be very picky. You'd need to talk to the software developer to see if their dongle will work via an adapter, if a dongle is indeed what you're talking about.

And I wouldn't say that "nothing" has a Parallel anymore. Apple doesn't have them anymore on most of their stuff, but I don't know if I've ever seen an ATX PC motherboard that didn't have an onboard LPT Parallel port. It's still the standard, although slowly dying, for Printers and Scanners.