RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion
Software not Mac compatible
Alan:
With so many options for running Windows software on a Mac, some of which are free of charge, Ring software being PC only doesn't seem like a show stopper. The dual partition/virtual OS link Bill posted looks like a real winner. A machine that can boot into Mac or PC mode would be down right handy. Even with Ring aside, it still sounds like a great thing to have. It would permit selection from the whole wide world of software without regards to operating system.
As an example here is a little piece of software I stumbled across many years ago. It is free but Windows only. Turns out it has been super handy. I find myself using it all the time. If nothing else a dual boot Mac would be nice when you come across other little gems like this.
http://joshmadison.com/convert-for-windows/
I'm not trying to sell any Mac user on the idea. Just would be sad to see another railroader miss out on RP coolness because of an operating system.
KPack:
Darryl, the bottom line is that there are many options to make Railpro work with Mac OS as well as Windows XP. Tons of free programs to make it possible.
Eventually the Railpro software will be coded for Mac, but I wouldn't wait for it. If I were you I would download one of the free programs listed throughout this thread on your Mac, then install the Railpro software on the virtual Windows. You can have all the features of Railpro right now without having to spend any money on a computer.
Take the step into Railpro. You'll have a blast actually running trains and not slogging through CV's.
-Kevin
G8B4Life:
Darryl,
I really hope you don't take this the wrong way, I'm not trying to be nasty or demeaning or derogatory etc etc etc but is the roadblock the OS installed on the computer in front of you or are you subconsciously creating the OS roadblock in your mind?
The members here have given many great suggestions on how to get yourself up an running with RailPro on your Mac and it seems every one of them has hit a brick wall of "it's still not native Mac". As an aside, It's been a long time since I really looked but I don't see any Mac software from any of the DCC manufacturers either (JMRI not counted, not a manufacturer of DCC products).
For what it's worth, I've got XP running on this PC right now as I type. XP is no longer supported for RP so I've got Win7 running in VirtualBox when I need to use RailPro software. Once I've milked XP and Win7 for all they're worth and then migrate fully to Linux I'll have to use RailPro software in a virtual environment (VirtualBox) full time. Linux native code RailPro software? Not likely to ever happen.
The members here are willing to help but you need to take the first step.
- Tim
darryl.trains:
Tim
I am not to thrilled about having any Windows on my iMac as I did that a number of years ago with parallels and that worked fine but I installed Windows XP Pro and my Mac when nuts. Had to do a disc restore but a dummy, me, gave it another try with the help of a locale computer wiz, it crashed . Nuff said. I'll just wait till Tim makes the software more friendly and I think that might happen sooner or later. My train buddy here likes RailPro but he has an iMac too but very little DCC stuff. So two us of will be waiting. Not a problem as I have to figure what asking price I might sell all the DCC stuff piece by piece or by the lot. Then on eBay or maybe I'll try one of the many model train websites that have listings one can use for free and hopefully find a new home for my DCC stuff. Time will tell. Many thanks to all that gave good responses. I'll most likely will be using RailPro some day. Cheers, the old fardt in Oregon... Darryl
Dean:
You could run 'Wine' on your Mac. It allows running of Windows programs natively on Macs. It's been around for years. Most of the Mac owners I know use it for running Windows program.
I run VMWare Player which is free. It is the premier virtual operating program for Linix, Mac, or Windows.
I kept all my DCC equipment. Instead of buying a second NCE throttle, I bought an HC-2 and some LM-2s. Now I run RailPro on my DCC system, while running DCC locomotives too.
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