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October 31, 2004 |
Random thought:
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Put a Windows PC in your MacSeveral years ago Connectix developed a way to run a Windows virtual machine on a Mac. This made Windows applications available to Mac users. The application caught Microsoft's attention and Microsoft acquired Connectix shortly after the company developed a way to run Windows XP under OS X. Microsoft has continued development of the application an recently released version 7. Why? Because Mac users still need to run Windows applications occasionally. Macs are the preferred computers in the advertising and graphics communities, but the business side of those companies still use Windows computers.
The reasonable and logical choice is to install Virtual PC, but there are a few caveats. The primary warning is that Virtual PC running on a Mac (even the fastest Mac you can buy) will be nowhere near the speed of a Windows PC running on a standard Intel processor. The secondary warning involves memory: Your Mac will need a lot of memory if you want to run Windows applications, even slowly. The more memory you install in your Mac, the faster Virtual PC will run. In other words, Virtual PC is the perfect Mac application to install if you need to run Windows applications occasionally. If you need to run primarily Windows applications, then you should just buy a Windows PC. But if you're in the target audience for this application -- Mac users who need occasional access to Windows programs -- version 7 brings some exciting new features. Primary among these new features is the presence of a Windows Start Menu function on the Mac's dock. Click the "Start" button that Virtual PC installs and you'll see the familiar Start Menu listing of installed applications. Choose one and the Mac launches Virtual PC and then the application you selected. While Virtual PC runs under Unix on Apple's OS X, which doesn't have drive letters as Windows/DOS does, you'll see a "C" drive under Windows and the DVD/CD drive will be drive "D" even though these don't exist under the Unix "mount point" system. The entire Windows file system is just a directory under Unix. All the familiar Windows capabilities will be present -- from creating and assigning printers to scheduling automatic updates. The only disadvantage is speed. And, as I already said, if you want a fast Windows machine, then you want an Intel processor instead of a virtual machine under OS X. Virtual PC is optimized for G5 processors
Running Virtual PC full screen (click the image at the right for a larger view) really does run Windows full screen on a Mac. Except for being able to see that the application is clearly running on a Mac, it would be hard to tell that Windows isn't on an Intel machine when you choose to run it full screen.
Two machines in oneBeing able to run Windows applications from the Mac's operating system is a definite plus for Mac users who occasionally need Windows programs. I only wish that Apple made a similar application available for Windows users who occasionally need Mac applications. Don't hold your breath, though. It's tempting to compare Virtual PC to a spare tire for Mac users – something to use temporarily and only as needed. That's both a fair comparison and an unfair comparison. Few Mac users will consider using Virtual PC for more than the occasional time when they need a Windows application, but the application is sufficiently robust that the person who needs both kinds of computers might be able to get by with just a Mac and a copy of Virtual PC.
Flip-Flop: Why changing your mind is goodFor several years, I suggested that Microsoft's Internet Explorer was the best browser to use. At the time, it was. Netscape hadn't been updated for years; Opera wasn't ready for prime time; IE had control. Fast-forward a few years: Every creep in the galaxy has Microsoft applications in his sights. Part of the problem is Microsoft's previous decision to sacrifice security to ease of use; part of the problem is Microsoft's market share. As Microsoft continues to try to build security into its products, the Mozilla project (Netscape open source) has moved forward. The latest version of the browser (Firefox) has become my default browser. And my favorite. This isn't news. I've talked about it previously, but my respect and amazement continue to grow as I use the application on a daily basis. I'd said previously that I used Opera because it allowed me to open a dozen or more tabbed websites automatically. Since then, I've moved those sites to Firefox and it's the only browser that's open most of the time. Conditions change; minds change
Instead of using Firefox's basic look, I decided to take a look at the various themes available on the Mozilla.org website. There are lots of choices, but I particularly like Noia. It's fun.
Once I've opened all of the sites in tabs, I have immediate access to 15 or more sites. The exact number varies depending on whether I'm at home, at the office, or on a dial-up from a hotel: In the case shown above I have 17 sites open. Beyond tabbed browsing, extensions
If I need to transfer a file, the FTP client is immediately available. While this is a nice feature, it's not something that most users will need. That's true of many of the extensions. I've added a powerful Javascript console, a bandwidth tester, and an application that keeps an eye on my GMail account. I also have an extension that can be used to accumulate RSS (really simple syndication) information from sites that support it.
A few weeks ago, I said that my default browser is Firefox. I say that again today, with emphasis. My favorite extensions:
More than 150 extensions already exist for Firefox. The current version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (with the addition of an ad blocker) nearly convinced me to go back. Firefox, with a few extensions, is simply unbeatable.
Politics (not for use on the air)This is a not-for-air segment of Technology Corner. As I tell PR people who call to pitch stories, I DON'T DO POLITICS on the air. Period. That's why this segment will not be on the air. It's why you'll have to follow a specific link to see it if you want to see it. It's why Joe's name is not associated with it. Nerdly NewsWindows is safer and cheaper than Linux (Steve Balmer)Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer sent a huge message to clients, to the media, and to employees this week. Balmer is clearly concerned about the options users have and about whether users will choose Unix, Linux, or Windows as their operating system. The message is too long to include in the main section of this week's report, but you can read it here. Google buys planet EarthNo, that hasn't happened. At least not yet. Maybe in 2007 or 2008. But Google is now providing a $70 mapping application for $30, the result of the company's acquisition of Keyhole. Google has gained access to thousands of satellite and aerial maps in the deal. Keyhole claims the Earth's largest on-line database of 3D imagery. It covers more than 80 major metropolitan areas along and many smaller cities. Keyhole's images were used by the major networks during the invasion of Iraq to show where the war was being fought. In the Columbus area, resolution is 2 feet – enough to let you see your house reasonably well and your neighborhood clearly. Some areas double the resolution (Philadelphai, Oklahoma City, and Bismark [North Dakota]) while other areas have even finer resolution – San Diego's downtown resolution, for example, is 3 inches. At that resolution, you might be able to see a pencil in the middle of the street. Keyhole founder John Henke is now the general manager of the service at Google. Privacy concerns? Images are 6 months to 2 years old and there's not enough detail to identify people, but buildings and vehicles are clear in most images. For more information, see the Keyhole website. Let us know what you think about this program! Write to: |
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Graphic designers and advertising agency employees can add a second computer to their desks so that they can communicate with the agency's time-billing software or they can install Virtual PC 7 on their Mac and have a full-fledged Windows machine.
Or so Microsoft tells me. I don't have a Mac with a G5 processor, so I can't say for sure. But I'm impressed by the way Virtual PC runs on my Powerbook with a G4 processor. 
When Microsoft sent a copy of Virtual PC for me to take a look at, they also included a copy of Visio. At the left (click the image for a larger view) you'll see the Windows desktop sitting on top of the Mac OS X desktop. I'm using the Start Menu to run Visio.
From that point on, with the exception of some of the function keys, I have a Windows-like experience on a Mac. (Click the image at the right for a larger view.)
I'm particularly impressed by the opportunity to add "extensions" and "themes" to Firefox. The basic appearance of Firefox is fine, but I'm the kind of person who enjoys the addition of a bit of panache to daily life.
Several weeks (months?) ago, I'd written that I used Opera as my primary browser because I can have it open a dozen or more sites when it opens. Firefox allows me to open any (reasonable) number of sites with two mouse clicks, so I've now started using it as my default browser and my main browser. 
Another big advantage Firefox brings to browsers is the ability to download and install "extensions" that add features you'd like to have in a browser. As you can see from the image at the left, I've added several.
I have a full-featured FTP (file transfer protocol) application, but Fire FTP lets me have an FTP application that's part of the browser:
