Encore Pro on a MAC--need advice

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:08 pm

I just got a new respironics auto bipap with biflex. I've used it three days and I like it alot. It really seems to be helping my aerophagia.

I've also got the Encore Pro software and the cardreader. However, I only have a MAC (an old cube) at home and Encore Pro won't run on my MAC. I have been trolling this board trying to figure out what to do and it appears to me that I should replace my old MAC cube with a new Intel-based MAC and buy Parallels software so that I can run Windows XP on the MAC. Then I should be able to install and run Encore Pro and also install the cardreader driver. Since I am getting ready to buy this new computer, I want to be sure that I am doing the right thing.
Computer wizards out there--please advise.

thanks,

Maryb

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:01 pm

You can also use a Microsoft product (shudder) called Virtual PC.

It'll run a lot slower than Parallels would on an Intel Mac, but it'll do the job for you.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:06 pm

Or buy one of the outdated Windows PC, to run the program on, just make sure it has useable USB. Jim

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:23 pm

If you're ever around the Portland area, you could pick up a PC that would do the job GoofProof suggested for about 20 bucks at a place called FreeGeek. You'd still have to get Windows on there, but yeah.

Might be a better option unless you really really want to use your mac.

EricF · Post by **EricF** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:14 pm

Ayyyyy!!! Don't buy a PC just for running Encore Pro!!

Use Virtual PC on you Mac... Or install Windows XP on a secondary disk partition on your intel/mac machine!

Eric

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 9:46 pm

EricF wrote:Ayyyyy!!! Don't buy a PC just for running Encore Pro!!

It's cheaper if you don't have an intel mac.

alpha1340 · Post by **alpha1340** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:25 pm

What? Program virtual PC can install on a mac and run encore pro? Sorry but I was going to use my hubbies pc to do that. Did not know you could! How much does the virtual pc program cost? I have a G4 desktop was a dual boot but i just upgraded it to panther.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:36 pm

Virtual PC with Windows XP home is $249. You have to get Windows XP specifically for Virtual PC, so you might as well just buy them together.

When you plug in your reader, you'll have to tell Virtual PC to use the device. There'll be something like a Devices menu that you can browse through and then tell Virtual PC to connect the device to Windows.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:59 am

I would go the route you are thinking with Parallels Mary, if you go with iMac get the one up model with the Superdrive and 1GB memory (minimum).

If you don't have an existing copy of Windows to load on it, you can go to egghead.com and purchase a OEM version of XP Home for $89 bucks. To make it OEM you have a purchase some hardware with it (they will sell you a screw for a disc drive or something for $0.02 cents. If you have an old version of Windows even 3.11 and have the disks, you can go with the Upgrade version, just leave the #1 floppy in the drive.

XP Home Edition is all you need. I wouldn't ruin my MAC making it dual-boot with Windows. A buddy of mine loaded the Parallels RC1 and XP and everything worked including the serial ports and USB ports. Not sure if you can create an image of the XP like Virtual PC, so when it gets a virus or worm you can delete it and copy another.

Spidermonkey · Post by **Spidermonkey** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:05 pm

Mary,

I'm using Encore Pro and EPA on my Intel Mac with Parallels. It works fine.
If you are a Mac devotee (as I am), it will be well worth your while to upgrade to a new machine anyway!!

Susan

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:35 pm

I've been intending to upgrade my MAC all along. My cube is getting old.
I really don't want a PC at home (although I use one at work).
I just wanted to find a good way of also being able to install/run EncorePro and the cardreader driver. It sounds to me that using Parallels should work and so I intend to go that route unless anyone else has had bad experience with it.
Sounds like it works fine for Spidermonkey! Thx monkey!

thx,
Maryb

EricF · Post by **EricF** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 4:36 pm

Maryb ... Why don't you want a Windows PC machine at home??

If it is because you better like the Mac graphical Interface, You could customize the windows graphical interface as you want... Even make it look exactly like Mac OS X if you want...

If it is because MacOS is more secure than Windows... heeee... It is really not!!

So why don't you want a Windows PC at home... I really cannot see!!

Eric

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:28 pm

Eric-
It's because I've had Macs at home since the toaster days.
I feel more confident manipulating everything on a Mac. If something goes wrong I'm not afraid to try and fix it. I've only used PCs at work and there I've always had IT support to fix things for me. I have no idea how to fix things on a PC except for the most basic things.
Also, yes I think that the Mac is more secure than the PC--less worry about viruses.
Just an old dyed in the wool Mac person, I guess.

Maryb

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:41 pm

I can't imagine what he's thinking! Macs are so secure it's not funny - never, ever had a virus no matter how little protection I've had on it.. I LOVE mine! My Encore runs on my h's PC and that's fine with me. I debated getting an old cheapo Dell to run it, but so far can't be bothered.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:20 pm

I use Parallels to run Encore Pro all the time on my MacBook Pro. The newest beta even has a mode called "coherence" where windows apps are just windows on your desktop (and even have icons in the dock if you want) like every other app.

I installed a BootCamp partition, and then have Paralells boot off of that, so that if I want to game or do anything that requires hardcore video acceleration, I just boot into it, but if I just want to run Encore, I can do that without restarting.

This is what it looks like. (I'm not posting it inline because I don't want to make the page extra wide.)

Works great (if you have an intel mac).

Also, that wasn't one of my better nights, but you get the idea. lol.