Chasing with a MAC?

[Darrin Rasberry]

I've been shopping for a new laptop over the past few weeks, and one of the ultraportables I'm interested in getting is the new 11' Air. I know that Gibson Ridge won't touch Apple OS, but I'm wondering if there's anything comparable out there for you Mac users that works just as efficiently while chasing.

I tried finding a thread on this subject and couldn't find anything newer than 2007. That particular thread recommended RadarLab HD, but won't that be pretty slow on the road?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Robert Dewey]

Perhaps someone has tried using GR products within Parallels? It would definitely be interesting to find out.

 

[Rob H]

I can't remember if GR works in Parallels for sure, but I don't see why it wouldn't. I used to boot into Windows with Boot Camp on my MBP but the battery life was horrid and the metal case would transfer heat right onto my legs so I stopped chasing with it. Boot Camp is free, and Parallels/VMWare Fusion isn't, so there's that aspect too.

 

[Andrea Griffa]

Actually I'm every day more impressed that they don't make a version for Mac Os...It's more and more incredible, if we even only imagine the Apple quote on the computer Market. For us Mac user it's a wasted opportunity and for them it's thrown away money.
I'm so impressed that sooner or later I will chase with the only iphone, no doubts about it

 

[Jerry Prsha]

I'm sure I'm repeating myself...

I'm an Apple Consultant Network member based in St. Louis and all I do is Apple installs, troubleshooting, upgrades, etc.

I'm sure I'm repeating myself but I deal with this issue all the time. There are a few options for running Windows on a Macintosh but all issues in running Windows-based, current weather software revolve around ActiveX.

ActiveX is only available on Windows and all of these software vendors have decided that their software will be based on this technology. ActiveX is a security hole and I really doubt that Apple will ever want to port it to the Mac OS because of that.

So, the current options are in my personal opinion:

• Running Windows in Boot Camp which is a partitioned volume on the Mac Hard Drive
• Using WeatherTap or other Java-Based weather software natively on the Mac
• Using virtualization software like Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion.

I have not been able to get ActiveX working in Crossover even though there's claims that it does work for other applications.

I've used Parallels and Fusion on the road in the past and although it works, my philosophy is this. But program run Windows as an Application and pass Windows processor calls through to the Mac OS. When you consider the layers involved and that the weather application is running on top of Windows, then on top of The virtualization software, and then on top of the Mac OS, you can see where it gets complicated and where slow downs occur.

Parallels has actually made this process fairly quick and although you'll never run at full speed, at least you can run the Mac OS for all of the other applications you need and just the weather software.

My point that I've made to others is that by running a virtualization software package, you add complication to troubleshooting. Add an internet connection that suddenly stops working because of a USB dongle or something and tracing the real culprit as to why your connection went down because a long process and not one you need in the heat of a chase.

With regards to Parallels and Fusion.... I can tell you that they are mature products and are rock solid. Parallels, at this point in time, is faster than Fusion. that may change in the next six months and as this thread matures, feel free to drop me a note for my opinion. I use both because I'm always testing this for my clients who need this kind of solution.

I used to run a virtual Windows XP when chasing and it just wasn't reliable. Windows Vista was a complete turd and Windows 7 finally is a decent OS. I have two machines running when I chase... The on-board Mac mini I have installed permanently in my vehicle will boot into Windows 7 and the Laptop will stay on Mac OS 10.6 and uses WeatherTap based in Java.

I'm hoping that all of the development on the iPhone and iPad will convince weather software vendors to port their code directly to the Mac OS over time and I can abandon Windows completely. But while everyone depends on ActiveX, that's not going to happen.

Hope this helps?

 

[Scott Hammel]

Running Windows in Boot Camp which is a partitioned volume on the Mac Hard Drive

Hope this helps?

I've been chasing with a Mac the past 4 years and I've found this option above to be the easiest. I'm currently running XP on my partitioned drive and I've had no problems at all. I thought about upgrading to Windows 7 on the partition but I'm gonna go with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra. My knowledge of Windows is far less than OSX so I'm just going to leave it! I'm hoping that eventually a tablet of some sort will negate the need to bring a full laptop setup out chasing but time will tell on that front...

 

[Mike Gibson]

I'm sure I'm repeating myself but I deal with this issue all the time. There are a few options for running Windows on a Macintosh but all issues in running Windows-based, current weather software revolve around ActiveX.
ActiveX is only available on Windows and all of these software vendors have decided that their software will be based on this technology. ActiveX is a security hole and I really doubt that Apple will ever want to port it to the Mac OS because of that.

The GR programs do not use ActiveX, they use DirectX (specifically, Direct3D).

Mike

 

[czenzel]

I haven't tried the latest version of Parallels (v. 6) with GRLevelX, but I remember I was having problems with version 5 and some versions of Windows running GRLevel3. I used VMware Fusion with Windows 7 and everything worked fine.

 

[Tyler Allison]

I run VMware Fusion. GR apps work just fine.

 

[Jason Harris]

erhaps someone has tried using GR products within Parallels? It would definitely be interesting to find out.

I use Parallels 4.0 to run GR 3, seems fine (on Windows XP).

 

[Darrin Rasberry]

I run VMware Fusion. GR apps work just fine.

Does this require buying a copy of Windows, or just the Fusion program?

 

[Tyler Allison]

Requires windows of some version. Can probably get an XP disk from someone you know that upgraded to Win 7 recently.

Im hoping the guys at BaseVelocity release a RadarScope for the Mac sometime soon.

 

[Josh Durkee]

I too have no problems running any of the GRLevelX programs through Parallels using Windows XP.

 

[Darrin Rasberry]

The GR programs do not use ActiveX, they use DirectX (specifically, Direct3D).

Mike

So why not convert the GR products to the Mac format?

 

[Robert Dewey]

Mac's PC market share is something like 3.6% as a whole (the market share in the chaser / wx enthusiast sub-demographic may be higher or lower), so it might not be "worth the time or money" to do it.