I have always liked the Mac better for design and graphics, but I can't get one because the most important software I use is MS Office and a few important learning tools and games. The commercials I have seen comparing the two say the new MAC's can use many windows based programs. Is this true? Do you have to have a certain program that translates or do some of the MAC's have 2 operating systems that will run windows programs also?
I'm looking for a new laptop and Im hoping to continue my other work while using the graphic programs on MAC.
Thanks for your help!
Ska
2006-09-27 11:22:09 · 7 answers · asked by Ska 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
These people are so behind the times... Yes! New Intel Macs can run Windows, natively! No emulation required. There are TWO ways to do this. First and free, BootCamp. BootCamp is free software from Apple that allows any new Intel Macintosh to dual boot with Windows XP Home or Pro with Service Pack 2. Second and not free is Parallels. Parallels allows you to run ANY PC operating system (Windows 95, 98, ME, XP, Linux, OS/2) on TOP of Mac OS X at FULL speed. So, with BootCamp, you have to restart the system in order to boot into Windows, but with Parallels, you can run it in the Finder (the OS X desktop). I believe Parallels even allows you to cut and past and drag and drop between OS X and Windows. There are some videos on YouTube demonstrating Parallels. It's pretty awesome. Right now, BootCamp is only a beta. The future release of OS X will include BootCamp, but it may also allow you to run Windows inside OS X like Parallels. No one is sure at this point, but BootCamp will be included in Leopard. Right now, you have to download it from the Apple website. But, hey, it's free.
Oh, and yes, there is a Mac OS X native version of Microsoft Office. It's supposed to be more feature-rich than the Windows version.
2006-09-27 11:39:58 · answer #1 · answered by UbiquitousGeek 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OK, here is the deal, There is a version of Mac Office which you can run in native Mac mode. Don't need windows. Or for free, you can download Open Office from Open Office.org. These are free programs that are 100% compatible with office.
The new Macs, can run something called boot camp, you use it to install Windows in a separate partition. I believe only one is bootable at a time. It is able to run all Windows based programs. The new OS for Mac is coming out either sometime this winter or early next spring. Supposed to handle the windows installation better and have a whole bunch of new features.
(Also, the 11n standard for wireless should be in production by then, so if you don't really need a new computer now, it might be worth waiting for).
Apple is increasing in market share much faster then any Windows based boxes, as a result more software is being written for it, so some of the windows based tools and games maybe out in a Mac version by now.
I would avoid Windows if I could, I have had my Mac for over a year now and have been able to find a suitable substitute for every windows based application that I have needed.
2006-09-27 11:39:12 · answer #2 · answered by starting over 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's possible. My boss has a Mac and runs windows programs using a third-party software tool. Apple itself also has a beta version of a nifty little tool called Boot Camp that allows Mac users to run Windows XP natively. You just install XP on your Mac and hold down the option key at startup to choose between Mac OS X and Windows. Pretty cool. Here's a link if you end up buying a Mac and want to download Boot Camp:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/
2006-09-27 11:35:31 · answer #3 · answered by LB 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have an eMac and bought Microsoft Word Student Edition for the Mac software to go with it. We needed it because everyone required .doc format now days. It works GREAT no problems. Macs are the best!
2006-09-27 11:24:16 · answer #4 · answered by 30 year old 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think there is a MAC version of office. But most programs are backwards compatible meaning that u can use both a MAC and a PC. Read the lables on the programs and u should see the MAC symbol somewhere.
2006-09-27 11:24:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yes, absolutely. There are two applications that let you do this from right within the OS X operating system.
CrossOver
http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/
Parallels
http://parallels.com/en/products/desktop/
Then there's also Bootcamp from Apple itself that lets you dual boot between Windows and OS X.
2006-09-28 22:49:17 · answer #6 · answered by GrayTheory 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's possible to run WIndows programs on your MAC, but first you'll have to install Windows Emulator to your Mac and then install windows xp and programs that you want to use, one of my old friends had a Mac and i've seen it, so it can be done
2006-09-27 11:28:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋