Mac and Garmin

[dfinazzo]

Now that the Intel Macs have arrived and can run Windoze has anyone loaded Windoze and then loaded the Garmin software and see if there are any issues. Issues would be:

1. Can you run Mapsource?

2. Can you communicate with the GPS unit directly and perform
a. Uploads
b. Downloads

3. Can you communicate with the Memory Card directly and perform
a. Uploads
b. Downloads

[Hilton]

Dan, sorry I can't answer your specific questions right now, but in about two weeks picking up a 13.3" model. Perfect size for touring long term, and as I understand it, will run a proper version of windows (plan to use XP-Pro as per our current PC) The only issue I have regarding that particular model is the absence of a express card/34 slot. Also buying now, I think I have to buy "Boot Camp" the software that starts up the windows PC, latter on I heard it will come supplied. Oh well, such is life. Cheers

[nightcrawler921]

Dan, sorry I can't answer your specific questions right now, but in about two weeks picking up a 13.3" model. Perfect size for touring long term, and as I understand it, will run a proper version of windows (plan to use XP-Pro as per our current PC) The only issue I have regarding that particular model is the absence of a express card/34 slot. Also buying now, I think I have to buy "Boot Camp" the software that starts up the windows PC, latter on I heard it will come supplied. Oh well, such is life. Cheers

You can get boot camp for free here: http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

[nightcrawler921]

Now that the Intel Macs have arrived and can run Windoze has anyone loaded Windoze and then loaded the Garmin software and see if there are any issues. Issues would be:

1. Can you run Mapsource?

2. Can you communicate with the GPS unit directly and perform
a. Uploads
b. Downloads

3. Can you communicate with the Memory Card directly and perform
a. Uploads
b. Downloads

My understanding is Mac will run windows better than a PC. Should be able to everything you do on PC. Looking at gettting a MacBook next month.

[ecirwin]

I can't comment on this specific issue, but I don't think that Macs run Windows better than PCs. At this time, it is very capable of running Windows, but there have been issues reported with peripherals. The GPS may be one of those peripherals. The issue is in the drivers for those peripherals. All of this is going by what I have read. Hopefully there will be someone here that will respond with specific experience.

BTW, I am a Mac person. Used to be that I did most of my job on a Unix box, used Windows for email and general office software, and ran a Mac at home. Now Unix is out of the picture and all of my job is done on Windows and all of my personal stuff is Mac. I have used Mac at home for about 13 years, yikes! Bad news is I bought an iMac last spring and they intro'd the Intel machines this year. This bad boy needs to last a few years. The Macs usually do last longer, but the Intel thing might speed up obsolescence.

Eric

[Dick]

I can't comment on this specific issue, but I don't think that Macs run Windows better than PCs. At this time, it is very capable of running Windows, but there have been issues reported with peripherals. The GPS may be one of those peripherals. The issue is in the drivers for those peripherals. All of this is going by what I have read. Hopefully there will be someone here that will respond with specific experience.

BTW, I am a Mac person. Used to be that I did most of my job on a Unix box, used Windows for email and general office software, and ran a Mac at home. Now Unix is out of the picture and all of my job is done on Windows and all of my personal stuff is Mac. I have used Mac at home for about 13 years, yikes! Bad news is I bought an iMac last spring and they intro'd the Intel machines this year. This bad boy needs to last a few years. The Macs usually do last longer, but the Intel thing might speed up obsolescence.

Eric
Hi, Eric. Question (or a thought at least). I'm not a Mac user (run two desktop PCs and a laptop - all Dell), so my thought may not present a problem for Mac users, butt.... I've heard folks in the past say how Macs are essentially free from hackers and viruses, etc., because there just aren't plentiful numbers of Macs out there. Windoze presents more of a target for hackers, due to numbers of programs running and the widespread impact from a 'good' virus. So, my question is: should a Mac user running Windoze now, be concerned about an increase in the possibility of virus attacks? Just curious. A good anti-virus program should solve the problem if in fact Macs suddenly become fav targets for the PC-bored hackers?? You think???

[nightcrawler921]

Eric- OK I got alittle carried away. Should have said runs windows better than a cheap PC. I too am a Mac user, have 5 of them. My son's high school is completely on Apple. Every student has one and all homework, assignments, notes, etc. are all on computer. It had some bugs, but is very cool now.

Dick- It is my understanding that you will need some anti-virus software for when you run windows on the Mac.

[ecirwin]

Dick,

What you have to keep in mind is it is not really the computer that is under attack from viruses, it is the operating system. So, any time you are running Windows and you are attached to the internet, you are potentially vulnerable to all viruses written for Windows. Now there may be some specific virus targets that aren't running/working on a Mac system running Windows.

The Mac operating system does have viruses written for it, but so far they have relatively few and far between. Those viruses have also been realatively harmless, required very specific actions to activate them, and/or are easily contained.

Nobody is immune out here, but so far the Mac is the less sickly of these two. Not sure how Linux compares.

Just remember it is the software that is under attack, not the hardware. So it really doesn't matter what hardware you run. An HP/DELL/Lenovo/Sony/Apple all running Windows are vulnerable to the same viruses.

Eric

[Hilton]

Thanks for the link to 'Boot Camp" much appreciated.
One other question was what effect on the Mac side of things would a massive "crash" on the PC cause, say caused by a virus. Say something that trashed the drive? I run both Mac & PC and have never had a problem with either, but do run Norton Anti Virus on XP Pro. I was told the average time to catch a virus on an unprotected PC connected to the net is around 12 minutes, That's scarry! Time will tell

[ecirwin]

A PC type virus will obviously only be able to run while you are booted into XP. The scary thing is that if you get a malicious virus that does data damage, that damage could be done to the OSX partition of the drive. Both OS's have access to both partitions.

So, if you are going to dual boot, you have the risks of both OS's. Not just one or the other. Thankfully you don't double your risk. You have to be careful no matter what OS you are running and no matter what hardware you are running it on.

All of this should be fairly obvious, but I hope it helps to clarify things.
Eric

[meese]

Can't help with the XP/Garmin question, but I'm typing this on a 13.3" Black MacBook. It works well, and is a good balance between screen size and bike portability. The new screens are also sharper and clearer than my old 12" PowerBook. I'm still looking for the perfect case, just barley bigger than the MacBook, but with a few extra pockets and flaps for the necessities.

I'm also waiting for Garmin's Mac-specific software, but no word yet on expected delivery date.

[nightcrawler921]

Found this on Mac World. Looks like a viable option to Boot Camp.
http://www.macworld.com/2006/06/reviews/parallels/index.php?lsrc=mwweek-0710

[meese]

Found this on Mac World. Looks like a viable option to Boot Camp.
http://www.macworld.com/2006/06/reviews/parallels/index.php?lsrc=mwweek-0710I saw that, too. Much better than Boot Camp, as it allows you to run both Mac & Windows simultaneously. If forced to use Windows software on a Mac, then this seems like a great solution.

[Hilton]

Interesting option to boot camp, but I still wonder if the "virtual" issues, re USB drivers etc, especially to garmin, will work. Although reluctant to buy a PC, so far I've no issues with it, and if boot camp only allows XP that's fine, as that's all I know. Next year, the native mac software from garmin should be more convenient, providing it works well. Thanks for the links to the software. Cheers