What deco program for a MAC computer?

rogeringebo

I have Proplanner and Vplanner on my old PC.
It would be nice to have them on my MAC.
The MAC can run windows program in something called Bootcamp...yes MAC and PC in the same computer. Just install your old Windows program.
The thing is that I have my old Windows XP cd back in Sweden and do not want to buy something new just to run a deco program...especially not Vista.
But V-planner can be used on a MAC you say?
Is that a special version of the V-planner?


Rodge

vidodivr

Vplanner can be installed and run on a couple software programs for the Mac...Parallels or Fusion. These allow you to create a windows image and install your old windows operating system on your mac and run windows as an application without restarting the computer....the problem with Bootcamp, is you have to restart your computer and only run one at a time.

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matt crane

Only problem is I dont fancy dirtying my nice new shiny iMac by putting a MS Vista disc anywhere near it

Sten

If you don't need any fancy graphics try ddplan

It works for me on my MacBook Pro.

DDPLAN [FrontPage]

/Sten

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NEDIVER

I also have a macbook pro, some things to consider;

A lot of these programs have you buy a copy of windows and install it. This takes up A LOT of extra space just to run a dive planner.

Some good things about Fusion is that it can make a "fusion friendly" version of your old PC and transfer it to your new Mac (if you are just switching to Mac, at OP stated).

All in all, my buddies have all run Apple Boot Camp, Fusion and Parallels. All of them say that Parallels is the most functional and problem free. But all of them said that they all have problems!

I choose not to install or run any of the window programs on my mac and currently use my old PC for Dive Plan software until the rest of the world realizes that Mac is the new standard. Especially for us photographers (Aperture software rocks!), and those who like to make videos.

So, my humble recommendation is use your PC as an "expedition notebook" for dives until you have found the right software for you.

TM

Dive Sprite

I use Fusion on my MacBook Pro. It runs Windows XP very quickly, loads up in seconds and links to my network, CD drive and USB ports without any additional configuration. In short, for me it just works. I have a colleague that uses Parallels to do the same thing and he has no problems either. They are both stable IMHO. Both are very easy to install. Yes they can take up a large part of your drive - but that won't be a problem on a newish mac running OSX, as they don't generally get slower even when the hard-drives are over 3/4 full.

I link a second monitor to my Mac which shows the Windows environment, while the laptop screen shows the OSX environment simultaneously. There is no noticeable speed reduction in running both operating systems at the same time, and neither has and crash problems. Both are quicker than my previous PC's running XP.

I purchased and run a copy of GAP which is an excellent program, allowing me to compare Buhlmann/gradient factors against RGBM. Cutting bailout tables is easy, and they are very well formatted. I can print them off from the Windows environment to my laser printer without any issues. I use water proof laser labels and laminate them using pre-made pouches for extra protection.

As has already been mentioned, you would do well to find a program that does everything you need it to, then choose the tools to do the job.

The cost has been:
1 x copy of Fusion for Mac: £40 ($80 USD)
1 x copy of XP (I already had this knocking around the house)
1 x copy of GAP (Which you would need on a PC anyway): $180 USD for the full monty version.

Purchasing a good PC laptop that will run XP and GAP so well would be more than £40, even on ebay.

I love my Mac - partly because it does Windows so well when I need it to.

Beanie

Or boot camp

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Ritchard

Beanie

Sprite is right, you really ought to run running Fusion or Parallels instead of merely Boot Camp, you're short-changing yourself. While Bootcamp works great, to run it you must reboot the machine, and run a windows 'puter on your Mac. With either Parallels or Fusion, you run Windows alongside Mac OS, within the OSx GUI, but really under the Unix skeleton of the OS. You can easily run both computers at the same time, with very little noticeable reduction in performance.

My personal preference is VMWare Fusion. I tried Parallels but prefer Fusion for a few reasons, one is the UNITY setting, allowing you to run Windows apps as though they are Mac apps. I use it everyday to run a few Windows apps that I cannot do without in my work. Though neither are entirely without bugs.

I like Nautilus in Mac OS, and Vplanner under the Windows side of my Mac, but mostly use a PocketPC version of VPlanner.

Ritchard

Dive Sprite

£40 and you can run both operating systems at the same time, with no need to reboot. If you are a busy working person like most people that can justify a rebreather, you'd probably find Fusion or Parallels very helpful. Just my humble opinion.

Here's my mac desktop running fusion and showing GAP software as a mac application:

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