Running Macintosh O/S on a PC ?

I'm seriously considering RealBasic as my company's programming langauge for our next gen of software.

The fact that it compiles for Macintosh is just an added bonus. 

I'd like to be able to test the Macintosh compiles, but I don't want another computer in my office.

Anyoe tried:
http://www.emulators.com/softmac.htm

Or perhaps Virtual PC might allow that?

The real Entrepreneur
Friday, February 13, 2004

"The PowerPC processor is not emulated at this time by current releases of SoftMac, so Mac OS 8.5, 8.6, 9.0 and X are not supported since those versions of Mac OS require the PowerPC processor. PowerPC native applications are also not supported at this time."


This would be the dealer killer for me. Apple has antiquated the < OS 9.x with OS X. I mean, there just is no comparison and why anybody would voluntarily run OS 8.x... ugh!

m
Friday, February 13, 2004

Unfortunately, he only real solution is to get another computer in your office. 

underscore
Friday, February 13, 2004

IIRC there is a Mac emulator for Linux.

Lou
Friday, February 13, 2004

Currently none of the mac emulators will simulate a PowerPC. I am not aware of any publically sold tools that will allow you to test MAC OSX in a simulated environment.
You might want to look for the lowest common denominator among Macs that can run MAC OSX and call your local mac shop for deals. They always do trade ins (macs have pretty decent resale value) so can always give you some kinda deal.

Li-fan Chen
Friday, February 13, 2004

Ah, the Mac-On-Linux project was what I had been thinking of, but that is for PPC processors.  While I have an old 266MHz iMac in the attic that is capable of running OSX, I wouldn't suggest using it as a test machine.  For approximately 1,000 USD you can find either an eMac, iMac (G4), or iBook (G3 dual usb).  Those will offer enough power to approximate the low-end of Macdom for a majority of potential consumers. 

Lou
Friday, February 13, 2004

For $1099 you can pick up that new G4 iBook!

Joe
Friday, February 13, 2004

Buy a new eMac for about $800 from Apple, or if space is the most urgent issue, you could get an older Powerbook Titanium G4 on eBay for about the same price.  Just promise not to start rumors that Macs are slow if you buy something so old it's under 800Mhz, or get too little memory.

veal
Friday, February 13, 2004

Just a warning about buying a new Mac notebook for testing...
...it might make you miserable whenever you have to use your Windows or Linux PC.
:-)

veal
Friday, February 13, 2004

Yes,

I too bought a low end iBook for testing. Now I am working fulltime on it and I no more use my super fast PCs on Windows and Linux.

I love this Mac!!!!

Jordan
Friday, February 13, 2004

+1 for the iBook; I have a year-old G3 and it's still pretty sweet (and Panther fixes some of the more annoying things I miss from Windows).

XCode seems a little buggy, though -- not that it'll matter to you if you're going with RealBasic.

Sam Livingston-Gray
Friday, February 13, 2004

The latest MacOS you can use on your PC is of version 8. It runs fine under Basilisk (freeware). You will need an image of Apple ROM which you can only use legally if you own a Mac computer (I had zero problems getting it illegally by posting a message in a proper forum). But getting an older PowerPC Mac for testing is probably a better idea, as those can be now had for peanuts.

Before getting a new Mac, imagine an ordinary configuration dialog with the OK button and *flashing* all the time, while pressing enter in an entry field won't trigger it (you *have* to click it with the mouse), and standard accelerator keys are non-existant. Enter Macintosh coolness.

Egor Shipovalov
Friday, February 13, 2004

Also consider getting a Mac desktop (like a G5, not an iMac) and using a KVM switch to share a mouse, keyboard and monitor with your PC.  E.g.,

http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/gcs12dp.html

Robert Jacobson
Friday, February 13, 2004

I'm interested in this RealBasic cross compiling thing too

can you post summary details - whenever you're ready of course (I realize might be a while) - of how you got on, and what sort of app(s) you are dealing with

S.Tanna
Friday, February 13, 2004

Egor, try turning on full-keyboard access. Then you can press enter for the default button, and space for the currently outlined button (and switch the highlighting via the tab key.)

Ziktar
Saturday, February 14, 2004

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