i am going to get a mac here really soon, but i am worried that since everything in the world today is geared towards pc, i wont have as many options open for software, etc. like i want to buy flight simulator x deluxe, but will that run on a mac? is there even a mac version? what about some of the games i have now for a pc? since leopard can run windows, will they run on my new mac? can i just install them like normal? will they work like normal? so basically, what are my options when it ocmes to buying software? is there less options? or about the same? and my current pc software, can i install it on my mac? wanna donate towards my getting a new macbook? lol thanks for your answers.
2007-12-27 04:53:45 · 16 answers · asked by perrys_porsche 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
Wow! I amazed by how many (essentially) "Don't buy a Mac. They suck." type of responses there are. Have these people actually spent more than a day on a Mac or actually used one exclusively? An operating system is an operating system. Period. What matters is how easy it is to use or how functional it is. "Under the hood" of the Mac OS is Unix, the longest running operating system in the world today. Computer stability just doesn't get better than Unix. You take a Unix operating system, a shell of your choice (whether that be Mac OS, Gnome, KDE, Window Maker, xWindows, etc) that makes using the operating system easier, and there you have it.
Getting back to your questions...today's Macs run on Intel processors. Therefore you can configure your Mac to be dual-boot with Windows via BootCamp. However, most of the major games are ported to Mac. This isn't always done by the original studio or publisher of the game but by third parties that are generally quite passionate about it (visit http://www.destineerstudios.com for an example). When Apple rewrote their operating system to be based on Unix, it made for much easier conversion of Windows-based games to Mac OS.
Now, further because of Mac OS being based on Unix, there are a myriad of open-source products (games and all other sorts of software) that will run on Macs that won't run on Windows. http://www.sourceforge.net is a great repository of open-source software.
The reason that there are relatively few viruses for Macs is not because they have a relatively low market share of installed base but because the majority of viruses today are "macroviruses" which won't even run on Unix operating systems without great and deliberate effort. Much of Unix today itself is open-sourced which means that programmers from all around the world are able to view the source code and report bugs or vulnerabilities. This is not at all true for the closed-source Windows operating systems. So you get your patch when Microsoft gets around to it or there's enough negative publicity for them to respond (aka a fairly recent patch for a vulnerability reported some four years ago).
Apple hardware tends do run on the expensive side, yes. What you get, however, are virtually hand-picked, high quality and limited set of hardware components for which an operating system gets build around. What better circumstances for gaining stability?
Anyway, it's a shame that there's so much "versus" dialog when it comes to operating systems. You know, there's justs really not that much to discuss. An operating system is and operating system...it's all a matter of what works best for a given user.
2007-12-27 05:25:57 · answer #1 · answered by bogus_dude 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Macs don't use Windows applications/programs though Windows can be installed on Macs assuming the Mac supports such an install and the correct version of Windows is used.
Mac hardware seems to struggle with some games. Flight Simulator is a Windows designed game, so I suspect there is no Mac version which would require you to install Windows on the Mac. While the display may be good I'm not entirely convinced Mac is your best bet for Flight Simulator. However below is a link for Apple's Bootcamp which allows and supports the install of Boot Camp.
2014-01-03 08:32:55 · answer #2 · answered by RAK 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, for starters, Flight Simulator X does not run on Mac natively. Maybe with the dual boot of Windows and Mac, but definitely not natively.
Software wise, PCs are probably the most flexible, as it is the OS of choice for practically all games, and a large number of multimedia and business products. Macs include incredible stock programs for media and video editing, though they do not have nearly as much software to buy as PCs, unless you have the dual boot.
But, if you do buy a Mac, consider whether you want to play games in the future, as though Macs are very compatible with various pieces of software, they are not as compatible with raw hardware updates like PCs (graphics cards, motherboards)
2007-12-28 08:26:13 · answer #3 · answered by Callum H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will have to install windows on your Mac (via Bootcamp) for any windows native software to work. Leopard doesn't run windows. The Mac can be rebooted into windows once it is installed, or you can use VMWare or Parallels to run Windows within Leopard.
Go to the websites for the games you play, and see what there is for Macs. Mac laptops are about 20% of the laptop market now, and developers are paying attention to that.
Mac software is widely available, through many websites such as MacMall, and Academic Superstore (if you're a student or teacher). Fry's carries a large variety of Mac software, as well as the Apple Store.
I have a dozen or so games I play, and all the big titles are available for Macs.
2007-12-27 13:03:15 · answer #4 · answered by gromit801 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Here is hoping you get an answer from a real Mac user. But let me tell you one thing. If I had to edit video for a living I would get a Mac before I would get a PC. It is so much better on a Mac. I know because I have watched my friend with a Mac and have been amazed at how well it works and how long the Mac battery lasted while editing video. So not everything is done the best on a PC.
2007-12-27 12:59:33 · answer #5 · answered by Broadcast Engineer 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
1. No, there is no Mac version. It would, of course, work if you installed Windows on your Mac.
2. Your options are probably somewhat more limited, as most stores won't carry the Mac version. You should be able to order them from the game's website, however.
3. As I said, you can use your "PC" software on a Mac if you install Windows.
2007-12-27 12:59:28 · answer #6 · answered by inclusive_disjunction 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Get on your search-engine and look up the software you want to use. It will tell you if it's compatible with Mac. If not, then ask yourself 'why do I really want a Mac?'
There may be less viruses that Mac's are susceptible to, because most people have IBM compatible computers so viruses are geared MORE toward them. If the software you want isn't compatible, I say just stick with a PC. Don't make things difficult on yourself.
2007-12-27 13:00:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anthony D 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
this is why a lot of people don't buy macs... no real options. this is why mac has had to cater to the windows crowd. they have some software that allows you to run windows software on a mac including games. it's the only thing that makes a mac viable in my opinion - the ability to run pc software. other than that, it's a decent little toy for a workstation.
at the same time, they are slowly getting games and such. but macs aren't powerful enough to run some of the more processor and video heavy games.
maybe in the next 10 to 15 years, mac will be on par with pc/windows but when that happens be prepared to deal with some pc/windows type problems like viruses and malware. keep in mind, people make these malicious programs. people are attracted to big targets. pc is already HUGE so it's always been a big target. mac is still puny in comparison. so enjoy it while it lasts. be happy there is some "software" the mac can't run...YET!
keep your old pc if you wanna do more than type up a paper!
edit: i had to say this from seeing the first answer regarding video. i've actually worked with video while interning at HBO (in 2002) and afterward. they use PCs for avid and final cut pro. there are also some macs laying around but i never saw them being used. but the avid rooms at HBO on 42nd street and studios on 23rd street use PC, not mac! don't get me wrong. many companies use mac for video and graphics. but don't believe the hype. many large companies use mainly PCs for everything. but trust me, PC is much smoother when it comes to most things. macs are just cuter at it!
(good luck with the mouse lol)
2007-12-27 13:06:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anthony Taurus 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I just got a iBook for Cmas.
It isnt really differant.
I like the "mac help" thing on there!LOL.
But you can look on the back of the game or whatever that thing is and it will tell you in little icons @ the bottom!
Macs arent that hard,
**Internet explorer is called Safari on macs!!!LOL.
2007-12-27 12:58:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If your really thank concerned just run boot camp on a mac and install windows.
2007-12-27 12:57:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋