Trackplanning Software for MAC?

[davefoxx]

Forum,

Does anyone have a good suggestion for trackplanning software for a MAC?  Unfortunately, Atlas' software, as well as other software like 3rd Plan-It, are only available for Windows.  Since the software is not exactly cheap in some cases, it would be nice to have an idea of what is a good investment or not.

Thanks,
Dave

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm watching this one.

Closely.

Dave, sadly, I think our best bet is going to be, gulp, Parallels...

[central.vermont]

Dave,

I have been using XtrkCad for my layout drawing. I use windows
though and not Mac. Apparently you can use it on Mac but there
has been some discussion of people having troubles with it. I
haven't been following the talk of it all that closely just happened
to notice the talk of it.

Here's a link to the Yahoo group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XTrkCad/?v=1&t=search&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=group&slk=1

Jon

[pnolan48]

You can run many Windows programs on a MAC using an emulator. With a fast MAC, it's not a problem, although I have not yet figured out how to get the window size above 1024 x 768! I use a native MAC architectural program and make my own templates for switches. I don't use sectional track, but I suppose you could make your own templates for various radiae and lengths. Making templates is not a big deal, if you understand the workings.

Most all programs use the same geometric engines. Understanding how these engines work is probably beyond most modelers' interest but, given the effort, you can produce outstanding results.

[Walkercolt]

OK, all I know about Mac's will fit on the head of a pin, except I do know there are "PC emulators" for older Macs. I was wondering about Micro-Snot Wish-it-would-work, and went to the new Best Buy at the new shopping center on the way to work. I took my MS "Train Simulator" disc with me. Put it in a new Dell Duo Core PentIV with Vista and it wouldn't work. Took it over to a Mac G-6, dropped it in and boom, it was up and ran better than on my PentIV at home. MS Outlook won't transfer to Wishta, but it will to the new Macs.

[ednadolski]

Dave, sadly, I think our best bet is going to be, gulp, Parallels...

Does vmWare support MAC?

Will Xen run on a Mac, with MacOS as an (H)VM ?   (license issues resolved, I'd presume )   (But I don't know if the Mac has a BIOS that will boot Xen)

[lashedup]

I usually use Railmodeller

http://www.railmodeller.com/

It isn't too difficult to use and generally works well.

[kiwi_bnsf]

Hi Guys,

So I am ignorant of any decent model railroad CAD software that runs natively on a Mac (so Iam keen to learn from others' experience too.

However I do work for Apple (in New Zealand) so I can offer some more info on running Windows software on a Mac.

If you have a Mac with an Intel processor (anything shipped in the last 3-4 years) you have several options for running Windows software. Intel Macs running the current Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system can install a copy of Windows XP or Vista on a separate partition using a free Utility called Boot Camp. This allows you to choose to boot into Windows or Mac OS X when you start up your computer. Windows programs run natively and there are no compatibility or speed issues.

Another option (mentioned briefly in a post above) is to virtualise Windows - effectively running Windows and Windows programs ax a layer at the same time as Mac OS X. This requires you to purchase either Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMWare Fusion Mac. This is pretty cool as you do not need to reboot your Mac to run a Windows program. Also it is not "emulating" Windows (as was required on older PowerPC Macs) - so eveb demanding CAD programs run well.

I have gone with the Boot Camp option as it is free and I don't mind rebooting my Mac every now and then.

Hope this helps

(first post - and written on an iPhone while on the train!)

[kiwi_al]

Hey MAC weenies here's some OSX stuff

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=151737&package_id=167813&release_id=563698

But only if you have an Intel chip (ugh)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D

[ljudice]

It's not an answer to your question, but I can't help but point this out:

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary


/Lou

http://www.mountainrails.com