More Mac Questions

[RogersDA]

Running Parallels with (MS Office Windows version), MS Money, and a few other windows-based apps - should that be a problem? I don't use Office enough to justify a new MAC-version, and Money does not come in a Mac version.

Current network in the house uses Linksys wired (for my wife's work-supplied laptop). Daisy-chained to the linkys router is a Netgear wireless/wired router. Would the Mac Pro with airport be able to connect to the Netgear wireless router?

Are the Mac monitors good for photo editing, or should other monitors be considered first?

[Poseidon]

Running Parallels with (MS Office Windows version), MS Money, and a few other windows-based apps - should that be a problem? I don't use Office enough to justify a new MAC-version, and Money does not come in a Mac version.

No Problem at all.

Current network in the house uses Linksys wired (for my wife's work-supplied laptop). Daisy-chained to the linkys router is a Netgear wireless/wired router. Would the Mac Pro with airport be able to connect to the Netgear wireless router?

No Problem there either. My Mac Pro is hooked up wired to a Linksys router, and I use a wireless PC as well. I can access my laptop from the Mac without any issues as well.

Are the Mac monitors good for photo editing, or should other monitors be considered first?

I don't have an Apple Monitor yet.... But I will have. Yes from what I have read, and what I hear here, the Cinema Displays are the Cat's Meow! I have a pair of Samsung 204B's right now, and they are OK, but I can't get them to match.... For some reason I don't expect to have that issue with a 30" display!!!! ;)

[colourbox]

Running Parallels with (MS Office Windows version), MS Money, and a few other windows-based apps - should that be a problem? I don't use Office enough to justify a new MAC-version, and Money does not come in a Mac version.

Should be no problem. I test much heavier applications in Parallels. Parallels Desktop 3.0 came out this week with many new features including 3D support. Just make sure you added enough RAM to your system to run two whole operating systems at once.

Current network in the house uses Linksys wired (for my wife's work-supplied laptop). Daisy-chained to the linkys router is a Netgear wireless/wired router. Would the Mac Pro with airport be able to connect to the Netgear wireless router?

Yes. Macs use standard Ethernet and 802.11 wireless networking. For example, Mac laptops connect to public wireless networks, where the router brand is unknown to users, as well as PCs do. My Mac and PC network includes Linksys and D-Link because the Apple router is too expensive. Netgear is also widely used by Mac users, like some of my friends. The only thing I've read about the Mac Pro is that its wireless range isn't so great but if it's near the router you should be OK.

Are the Mac monitors good for photo editing, or should other monitors be considered first?

Mac monitors are in the middle. Much better than the cheapest monitors, a little better than Dells, not as good as Eizo or other high-end graphics monitors.

[DavidTO]

Running Parallels: I have no experience with it, I've avoided it up till now. I would say this: do you really want the overhead of two OS's both space and your-time wise? There are alternatives to buying Office for the Mac. I don't care for them, since they are more Windows-like, but hey, it's more Windows-like, it's no worse than loading Parallels! http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php or http://www.openoffice.org/

And, you can replace MS Money with Quicken.

I'm not saying this is a better solution, but it's at least equally good! Consider it. Part of the beauty of owning a Mac is not having to deal with Windows. I like to keep it that way.


NOTE: There are some apps that make me think 2x about this stance: i2e, Garmin Mapsource, and Star*Explorer. The apps you're concerned about aren't on that list. :D

[colourbox]

And, you can replace MS Money with Quicken.

Although, many Mac users and switchers acknowledge that the Mac versions of Quicken and QuickBooks are worse than the Windows versions, missing features and lacking the same level of bank support. A shame, because Quicken owes its life to the Mac, where it started.

[DavidTO]

Although, many Mac users and switchers acknowledge that the Mac versions of Quicken and QuickBooks are worse than the Windows versions. A shame, because Quicken started its life on the Mac.


This is true. Although Quicken already has way too many features for me. I just want to track my expenses and balance my checkbook. All the other bells and whistles are lost on me.

[RogersDA]

NOTE: There are some apps that make me think 2x about this stance: i2e, Garmin Mapsource, and Star*Explorer. The apps you're concerned about aren't on that list. :D

i2e and Star*Explorer are on my PC and would hopfully be transferred to the MAC should I go this route. I have a few other non-photography related apps that do not have mac-alternatives.

Would this mean that I have to install Windows OS too, or is parallels +applications sufficient?

[DavidTO]

i2e and Star*Explorer are on my PC and would hopfully be transferred to the MAC should I go this route. I have a few other non-photography related apps that do not have mac-alternatives.

Would this mean that I have to install Windows OS too, or is parallels +applications sufficient?


No, that's the whole thing, you need to run Windows. It eats up space on your drive and bandwidth in your brain. But it's cool that you can run all those apps and be on a Mac, don't get me wrong. Just think 2x before doing it, is all I'm saying.

[RogersDA]

No, that's the whole thing, you need to run Windows. It eats up space on your drive and bandwidth in your brain. But it's cool that you can run all those apps and be on a Mac, don't get me wrong. Just think 2x before doing it, is all I'm saying.

Thanks..appreciate all the help.

[colourbox]

Parallels is not the only way to run Windows applications on the Mac. Crossover (http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/) is another solution that doesn't require a Windows license or full Windows, but it has limited compatibility because some applications won't run unless certain parts of Windows are present. For example, I don't know how well StarExplorer runs on it.

VMWare Fusion (http://www.vmware.com/whatsnew/macsignupform.html) is virtualization software, like Parallels. Some users prefer it. I already have Parallels so I haven't tried Fusion or Crossover.

Last note: Windows Vista only allows virtualization with the more expensive versions like Business. The Home version license doesn't allow use under virtualization, but I think it's legal to run it on a Mac by rebooting the whole Mac into Vista. XP Home is fine under virtualization.

I mention all of this because the costs of running Windows on a Mac can add up depending on how you're running it.

[DavidTO]

I'll buy a doughnut for anyone who can get Crossover Mac to do what they want it to do. I've yet to find anyone who can get that to work. Including me.

[Andy]

Running Parallels: I have no experience with it, I've avoided it up till now. I would say this: do you really want the overhead of two OS's both space and your-time wise?
This is of no concern to me, whatsoever. There's no overhead timewise. And the system resources are negligible, IMO. If you are running a Winders app (in my case, I2E), then you get what you need. When not running Winders App, then shut Parallels down.

[DavidTO]

This is of no concern to me, whatsoever. There's no overhead timewise. And the system resources are negligible, IMO. If you are running a Winders app (in my case, I2E), then you get what you need. When not running Winders App, then shut Parallels down.


Jane, you ignorant..... never mind. :D

[wxwax]

Jane, you ignorant..... never mind. :D
It's spelled p-h-o-b-i-a. :flip