[sbc]

I'm coming close to getting my first MAC, and I want to wrestle out all my concerns first. How often do you run into not being able to find the Mac version of a program? (Example : Typestyle is a Windows only application). Or limitations of a application because of MacOS?

If VirtualPC does not run more efficient on the Apple, per se, and I find myself contantly having to use it for various programs, am I really benefiting with buying the Powerbook. I am becoming a huge fan of the machine but I do not want to regret my decision b/c of lack of use.

[NeXTLoop]

One factor to remember is that although there may not be the exact program you're looking for, there are others. Whereas Windows may have 20 different programs that do the same thing, the Mac may have 5 or 6. But many people find that the Mac version usually run better than their Windows competitor.

So even if Typestyle doesn't exist, you should have no problem meeting your needs.

[Arkham_c]

I almost never run into this. On the rare occasion that there is a Windows program that has no Mac equivalent, I just go to Freshmeat or Sourceforge and get the free Linux app that does it. Since 99% of Linux apps compile right up on OSX I've generally always got a solution.

[CharlesS]

Why don't you tell us what apps you need to use?

[mitchell_pgh]

I rarely find an application for Windows that doesn't make it to the mac. Like the previous poster indicated, it may not always be the name your recognize, but that doesn't mean it's not as good. Sometimes it might take a few months, but it always shows up, and is usually designed as well if not better.

The only thing that I have gone "Ahhhh, that would be nice..." is Kazaa (when it first came out) and some VERY advanced engineering applications like AutoCad.

If I was a major gammer, I could see being upset, but I'm not (or rather, I keep my games to my PS2 and Xbox.

[mitchell_pgh]

One thing I did when I was switching from OS 9 to OS X was make a list of things I couldn't live without.

It went something like this.

Outlook Express - 20%
Internet Explorer - 30%
MS Word - 5%
MS Excel - 2%
Adobe Photoshop - 5%
Adobe Illustrator - 5%
Quark X Press - 2%
MP3 player - 5%
FTP program - 1%
Adobe Acrobat - 3%
Chat Application - 3%

and on and on... (I had something like 20+ applications with a percentage of how much I used them.)

When I got to 80% I made the switch... It seemed to have worked for me...

[sbc]

Originally posted by Arkham_c:
Since 99% of Linux apps compile right up on OSX I've generally always got a solution.

Goldmine! I was not aware of that. Is there a program needed to compile Linux apps?

CharlesS, offhand, I cannot think of any programs but let's consider TopStyle(bradsoft.com)for example. It's a 3rd-party application that can be used in Dreamweaver, as well as other web-dev software.

As quoted from their site, "... tap into the power of cascading style sheets (CSS) and XHTML with TopStyle Pro! ... TopStyle Pro contains powerful tools for building standards-compliant sites."

Would there be a Linux/Mac equivalent similar to TopStyle that integrates into DW-MX?

Additional question Is there a program to run Mac programs in Windows? For occaions where I'm doing work on a desktop as opposed to the laptop but only purchased the Mac version of the software?

[nobitacu]

I don't have any problem at all trying to find a program I need to use that I've used back in the Windows days. Even if a software you were using on Windows was never ported to Mac, it doesn't mean there isn't any other program out there for Mac that was made for the same usage.

Check out File Avenue and Version Tracker

With those two sites alone, you can pretty much find any program you need that can take care of your everyday usage.

Hope this helps.

Ming

[york28]

There are certainly many more programs available for Windows, but there is no correlation between this number and the number of quality programs that are available for either platform. There are some programs that are Windows-only, yes, but there are also Mac-only apps. My experience is that Mac-only apps are generally of higher quality than Windows-only apps. When it comes to Macintosh applications, a lot more value is given to things such as user interface, usability, and design. 'Shareware' programs on the Mac are often indistinguishible from 'commercial' software in such ways.

I wouldn't let the fear of not finding a certain program keep you from getting a Mac, unless you are a hard core gamer or need high-end engineering apps (like mitchel_pgh said).

Answer to your question: Mac emulation on a PC isn't possible currently (you can get emulators for the old 68k Macs, but nothing even remotely recent will run on them.)

[cpac]

before somebody else says something, it's "Mac" not MAC (MAC refers to some networking number). I only mention it 'cause it ticks some people off and then they go nuts...

ANYWAY...

We can't be very helpful when you ask for mac equivalents to what seem essentially to be plug-ins for windows versions of Dreamweaver.

We CAN tell you that almost anything you can do on a Windows machine, you can do on a Mac, and many things you can do must better.

So if you give us a list of programs you use regularly, and/or descriptions of the tasks you need to be able to do, we can suggest the best way to do them on a Mac.

[malvolio]

Originally posted by sbc:
Is there a program needed to compile Linux apps?

Everything you need to compile Linux apps for OS X is included in the free Developer Tools from Apple.

[nickm]

The only software I really want that isn't available for OS X is street mapping software. You'll need to look for yourself, though. If you just want a program that does X, you probably can find it. If you need it to be compatible with a program on the PC, that is often much more difficult.

[spiney]

There's not a decent flight based game either, although there are great flight sims.

[sbc]

Originally posted by cpac:
We can't be very helpful when you ask for mac equivalents to what seem essentially to be plug-ins for windows versions.

I get it now.

I am so programmed to think in a Windows mindset that I'm bringing this patten to Mac's when it's unreasonable. On the most general end, the main programs I'd use or will be using all have Mac equivalents, it's just a matter of buying the version. On the other end, it's not point of me looking for Win plugins when they're mainly exclusive to that OS.

I do want to know is there any software that works with smart card readers for additional security for Mac's?

[cpac]

Originally posted by sbc:
I get it now.

I am so programmed to think in a Windows mindset that I'm bringing this patten to Mac's when it's unreasonable. On the most general end, the main programs I'd use or will be using all have Mac equivalents, it's just a matter of buying the version. On the other end, it's not point of me looking for Win plugins when they're mainly exclusive to that OS.

Good good. Welcome to a better world.

I do want to know is there any software that works with smart card readers for additional security for Mac's?

A quick search of version tracker confirms there are plenty of smart-card readers that work with OS X. Not sure if there's specific security software for linking smartcards or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were.

If you're super paranoid about safety, there are even fingerprint readers that work well with OS X.

[JKT]

One thing to consider is that many bigger software companies offer crossgrade pricings on their software (that is, you can buy the Mac equivalent at a reduced price if you already own the Windows version). E.g. Adobe do so for Photoshop etc.

[Mediaman_12]

For a great CSS app try CSS Edit
from this forums very own Jan Van Boghout.
This is as close as the Mac gets to the excellent TopStyle Pro!

[Thor]

Would there be a Linux/Mac equivalent similar to TopStyle that integrates into DW-MX?

The TopStyle stuff is pretty much built into DWMX 2004.