RE: What computer, what software for a lab? (take II)

["Sam Beard" <sbeard -at- oico -dot- com>]

Geoff,

   Yeah, I have heard of CrossOvers, as well, but I don't recall much
about it. It only sounds vaguely familiar. It very well could be what
I'm talking about, but I don't really remember exactly where I heard it,
so I can't say for sure. 

   I'm planning on getting either VMWare's Fusion or Parallels Desktop
for my Mac at some point (or something else that may come out, if it's
better). I'm also looking at getting a personal copy of Frame at some
point, and I'll probably run it under one of those two apps. My wife
uses a PC, but there are a couple of problems with putting Frame on
that: it's hers and I'm more comfortable with my Mac, and it would
preclude her being able to do her own things on her computer while I'm
doing anything with Frame on it. Since Mac's now have Intel chips and
the capability to run Windows, I'll probably do that. I'll also probably
get another hard drive and use it exclusively for Windows, along with
another drive for my photos and music.

Thanks for the info!

Samuel I. Beard, Jr.
Technical Writer
OI Analytical
979 690-1711 Ext. 222
sbeard -at- oico -dot- com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Hart [mailto:ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca] 
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 11:19 AM
To: techwr-l List; Sam Beard
Subject: What computer, what software for a lab? (take II)

Sam Beard wondered: <<I heard that one of them (possibly Fusion?)  
will allow you to run a Windows program just like running another Mac  
app, meaning that you don't necessarily have to start up the  
virtualization software, only the app you want to run.>>

Possibly you're thinking of CrossOver (http://www.codeweavers.com/ 
products/cxmac/)? Reports from a friend suggest it's fairly buggy at  
this stage of its development, and that many standard productivity  
apps aren't yet supported well enough for prime time; the developer's  
list of officially supported applications is small, and their  
database of tested programs suggests significant problems for  
standard programs such as Office 2003.

Crossovers appears to work via WINE [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 
Wine_(software)], which is a way-cool technological achievement, but  
it will probably never be as fast or reliable as actually running the  
programs under Windows. One particular problem you may find is that  
Microsoft and other developers control piracy by scanning the  
registry or some other hidden code to ensure you're running a  
legitimate, registered copy of their software. So odds are excellent  
you won't be able to upgrade your software or run any patches.


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
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