Re: [WinMac] Multiple OS Macs

jeff thorstad(thorstadj[at]macconnect.com)
Thu, 17 Sep 1998 11:14:57 -0500

>
>Our department is investigating either upgrading our Macs or migrating to
>Windows. I'm considering recommending taking some of my artists to Macs with
>an Intel processor, so they can switch from MacOS to Windows at will.
>
>What stories or experience can you relate?

I have to assume you mean Macs with add-on PC cards. When I used one of
these dual computers, I found it very convenient. A few unique problems
came up, but generally a bit of troubleshooting solved them easily.

If you are networked, be sure to have different IP addresses for each
processor. That way you can skip over some of the problems because the
Windows computer mostly acts like any other on the network. The biggest
problem is if you have serial peripherals. There are no ports, and using
the Mac ports supposedly works if done properly, but that is difficult
(you may have to make your own cables). As long as fairly standard
software is used, and peripherals can be accessed through the network,
you hardly notice a difference from a *real* PC. We have had some
problems with esoteric software, but this software gave *real* PCs
problems, too.

I now use Virtual PC, which is far cheaper than a PC card. With a recent
Mac (G3), the speed is adequate for most business applications, like word
processing, spreadsheets, etc. High end graphics work may not be a good
idea on Virtual PC. But, if you need to do that kind of work, you
probably are doing it on the Mac. I do not recommend using VPC on any Mac
slower than a 200Mhz 604e processor.

Both of the above give you a great ability to share files with both OSs.
It is instantaneous and uses standard concepts: Folders on the Mac become
drive letters in Windows, just like any other sharing situation. This is
perhaps the best feature in both PC cards and VPC.

Another option:
Some of us here use two actual computers. That is, a Mac box, a PC box, 2
keyboards, 2 mice. Then we have only one monitor (to save on space) with
an A-B switch box for the monitor. Most of the computer boxes get stuffed
on an out of the way shelf anyway, 2 isn't much different than 1. And
access between the two happens through the network. There are even ways
to share the keyboard and mouse, but I personally don't like what is lost
with these methods. The number of buttons on the mouse becomes a problem,
and the differences between Mac and Win keyboards cause problems.

Jeff T
thorstadj@macconnect.com

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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Thu Sep 17 1998 - 09:17:35 PDT