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I am planning to replace my stolen Dell 9400. Possibly with a MacPro laptop - 17"/2.33mhz, etc...
I wonder of course about using the much tlked about BootCamp utility to run Windows XP pro on the Mac, AND be able to use some of my existing Windows stuff: AL's Animated Director, AL's 16channels controller(s) - via USB to serial adapter, an Flight Simulator (the only game I play).
Any info about this unusual question??
I'll appreciate - seems that AL forum has answer from dedicated folks just about anything!
I did all my programming last year on my 15" Mac Book Pro running Bootcamp. It worked great at home and on the road for my commercial installation. I've now installed Parallels and AD runs fine, but I haven't hooked it up to the Monster Brain as of yet. I'm sure it will work as well. Like you mentioned in your post, I hooked my laptop up to the MB using a serial adaptor.
I highly recommend Parallels for running any Windows software. The great thing about it now is that you can use the XP install that you use in Bootcamp. In Coherence mode, you can have a PC app or window running alongside a Mac app or window, and then work in each one side-by-side.
If you want the best of both worlds, I really recommend this set-up. If you want to run the Flight Simulator, you'll want to do that in Bootcamp, since the processor is fully running as a Windows computer. Also, be sure you get a least 2 Gigs of ram for Parallels if you decide to use it, since both OS's are running at the same time.
I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions.
Wow, Mikez, I certainly did not expect such a quick and detailed answer.
So you have run AD in Win mode on a Mac. Seems like successfully, w/o loss of performance. Amazing, since I was under the impression that Parallels extracted a bit of performance out of the Mac to be able to run Win and MacOS concurrently, as opposed to BoootCamp enabling each OS to have fll control by itself of the Mac.
So it looks like it is a go, as you are happy with Mac running Win and AD. You did run the channel controller with a USB/serial adapter, right??
I programmed and ran the Monster Brain while in Bootcamp, but I have yet to run AD controlling the MB while in Parallels. I doubt if it will be a problem, but you should install Bootcamp regardless. When you install Bootcamp, carefuly figure out the sizing of your partitions. Unfortunately my partitions are split 50/50 and I almost have the Mac side, which I use the most, filled up. When you install Parallels, Windows will feed off of the Bootcamp install.
I used a Keyspan serial USB adapter on my old MB and a standard to mini USB cable for the newer MB I purchased for the Zoo install. Either set-up will work.
I really think you'll love your Mac Book Pro. I've had mine for a year now and it's been great!
Thanks again... I am impressed with the Mac - especially since similar features (Hardware wise) in Win Laptops cost as much... If not more (i.e. 2.33ghz processor, 7200rpm drives, hidef screen, etc...). Have you run other apps in the Win side (aside from FlightSim X as I was asking about!)? Did you detect any lesser performance as opoosed to running them in a dedicated Winmachine?
How about hardware: mouse must be Apple's I suppose (one button, etc...) As to the USB ports for example, can the Win side use them as if they were installed in a wn dedicated machine: gain, I am thinking FlightSim and CH controllers (i.e. pedals and stick).
I think u got me going there: I was hinking about the Mac out of frustration with Win laptops (the current crop is quite unexciting!)
Sorry I did not comment before about your work... So you are the gu with the 2006 video driven xmas display(s). Wonderful indeed: very smooth, professinal, and most importantly... artistic (not just a bunch of lights flashing!)
I see that you have also moving spots: would you care to tell me where to get those?
I edit on a Windows machine at my day job and a Mac at home, and I definitely prefer the Mac. The experience has always been better for me. The only reason I have the PC at home is to run AD. I bought a desktop PC years ago just for that purpose. When I needed the laptop to travel, I didn't want a dedicated Windows PC, since I would rarely use it. The Mac Book Pro was the best solution.
One thing you'll want to get is a two button mouse, wired or wireless. The one thing Apple hasn't gotten right yet is their mouse. I'd recommend a Microsoft or Logitech mouse. All of the ports and peripherals seem to port over to the Windows side.
Thanks, I'm glad you liked the display. Just so you know, the display was running on my desktop Windows PC controlling the MB and an additional installed video card, that fed the projector.
I bought the American DJ Accuspot 250 2 at a local DJ supply house. There's many online stores that you can get it from, and the pricing seems to be consistent. Chauvet now seems to have a comparable lower priced spot, which I believe is the Q-spot.
Yes, very nice display. I keep looking at it and keep detecting new details, even though of course the online videos are quite small for something of such intricacy!
I see that DMX is becoming something quite often mentioned. Will this technology supersede what I use now, i.e. AL channel boxes type of technology?
Glad to hear that the classic two or more button mouse will work with the Win side of the MacPro. I am assuming that for all practical purpose, Mac OS is better to work visuals (I have to put together a large slide show of stills and video segments for my upcoming Family Reunion + July 4th light show) while the Win side is fully functionalfor Window programs that simply are not available for the Mac. I am definitely trying to get something that will complement my stable of Win machines (13 beteen two businesses) whie getting me into the Mac world of vaunted visuals.
I can't comment on AD compatibility (sounds like that's already confirmed anyway) but just chalk me up as a VERY happy Parallels Desktop user. For work I do extensive development on both Mac and PC, and for the last year or so I've used my MacBook Pro almost exclusively for both platforms. Performance is quite good.
WirelessInn wrote: I see that DMX is becoming something quite often mentioned. Will this technology supersede what I use now, i.e. AL channel boxes type of technology?
I think the technology is very similiar, but there is a huge cost difference. Dimming control is much pricier per channel in DMX. I'm not sure about Lightorama, but AD uses the same 0-255 setting range like DMX as the light level control range. Many of the higher end intelligent lights and dimmer packs are very expensive, and since they cater to a professional market, they know they can get the prices they charge.
Parallels is a great piece of software that's also backed with great customer support. After I purchased and registered the software, I received an email from the West customer support rep to let me know she was available for any help. I ended up having a small problem, and she promptly got me the help I needed.
Thanks, Tin for the advice. Actually, I am quite surprized of the popularity expressed here re: Parallels: I was under the impression from other comments elsewhere that Parallels, allowing to run 2 OS concurrenty, would extract significant penalty in operation speed, as opposed to Boot Camp, which devotes the entire Mac to just one or the other OS.
What kind of development do you d on the Mac, especially the WIn side, if I may ask?
I feel now confident that the Mac should eb a good machine to use for the much vaunted video processing the the Mac environment - I have to prepare a massive phot/video slide show for a coming Family Reunion, and I think that the software that comes with the Mac is pretty much all I would need to do tht smoothly. Seems slao that the Win side of the Mac will allow for smooth operation of AD as well as AL channel controller(s). I trust that my favorite FSim, MS Flight Sim X will run on it as well.
WirelessInn wrote: Thanks, Tin for the advice. Actually, I am quite surprized of the popularity expressed here re: Parallels: I was under the impression from other comments elsewhere that Parallels, allowing to run 2 OS concurrenty, would extract significant penalty in operation speed, as opposed to Boot Camp, which devotes the entire Mac to just one or the other OS.
What kind of development do you d on the Mac, especially the WIn side, if I may ask?
I feel now confident that the Mac should eb a good machine to use for the much vaunted video processing the the Mac environment - I have to prepare a massive phot/video slide show for a coming Family Reunion, and I think that the software that comes with the Mac is pretty much all I would need to do tht smoothly. Seems slao that the Win side of the Mac will allow for smooth operation of AD as well as AL channel controller(s). I trust that my favorite FSim, MS Flight Sim X will run on it as well.
Thanks for everything
- rt
Sorry for the slow reply, I missed this post.
I work on a product called Finale, which is a music notation program (think "Microsoft Word" for music). It's the world's leading program of its kind, and used by home hobbiests, school and church music directors, on up through professionals -- in fact the vast majority of the music you hear on movie soundtracks originated as a Finale score. You can check it out at http://www.finalemusic.com, where you can even download a free version called Finale Notepad, or check out our brand-new (just released this week) Finale 2008.
Anyway, I'm one of the developers. We work mainly in C++ in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET for Windows and XCode for Mac.
The biggest key for Parallels is that you need a lot of RAM. I have 2GB on my MacBook Pro and that works pretty well. When I first got it, I had 1GB and it was too slow.
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