subroc

iTrader: (2)

I kno this is an odd question but im a Mac guy and its getting time for me to get a new laptop and i figured if i could kill two birds with one stone cool. I need a laptop for tuning and burning chips using tunerpro. I realize tunerpro is a windows based program but using parallels you can run windows programs on a mac

http://www.parallels.com/landingpage...FQjf4Aodygwc6Q

Just curious if anyone else has done this and if it worked. Id hate to get the computer and then the software to run windows programs on it and have it not work for some odd reason.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

I have done it from a Parallels VM.

It does work. But I bought a netbook just for tuning because while VM's are great, the USB to Serial translation and the assignment of the MAC's USB port to Parallels can be a sore point.

I'd start off with attempting to data log.

AKa, it works, but its not best practice.

Though, if you are burning chips, and have a spare chip its no big deal if a flash goes wrong. But for people like me with flashable PCM's (94 LT1 and up) it can put you in a world of hurt if something screws up.

rough

Macs are like fords You should invest in a Pc "Chevy"
Don't be labled as a mac guy!

subroc

iTrader: (2)

Once you go mac you dont go back!! Ive been a mac guy since 2004 and love em.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Lets not go there. I can post 10 arguments for both sides, and about twice that as to why Unix/Linux based OS's are superior to both.

As for Commercial operating systems Mac OS is by far my preferred OS. I'm so glad I have a Mac for work while all my co-workers have PCs.

BTW, if you want to be blown away by Linux you should check out this Ubuntu Compiz demo. Ubuntu could do this back in the early part of this decade when MS and Apple were still sorting out their graphical jewelery.

This video will blow your mind considering its running on an old crappy P4 with only 512mb of ram.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lawkc3jH3ws

3.8TransAM

The far better bet is to get your hands on 2 duplicate older laptops that run on 98 and never worry about it again.

U can snag them dirt cheap and only thing u really need is to make sure they have good batteries.

If your going to be using them in and out of cars, at the track, in the driveway, etc and so forth its going to hit the ground.

I can almost guarantee anyone on these forums who has been doing it for any length of time has had an 'Oops, oh @#$#^!" moment with their laptops.

None of the required programs need anything fancy whatsoever, so going simple and cheap is your friend.

That's my 2 cents at least, specially if your talking 148,730,749 land like most are here.

Six_Shooter

iTrader: (2)

Mind = NOT blown.

Cool GUIs and fancy transitions/blending are neat, but does nothing to really impress me.

I'd be more interested in how stable the programs are running on it, and compatibility of programs and devices.

I haven't used a MAC for tuning, but I know that the Windows emulator seems to work well for Windows based programs. If you currently have a MAC, trying running an Emulator or what ever is needed to boot into or run as a Windoze machine to see if a new Mac would work for you.

If it comes right down to it, you can pick up a cheap Windoze laptop used that will be more than enough to run just about any tuning program out there.

Thirdgen89GTA

iTrader: (5)

Linux setup right is the most stable Desktop OS out there. I could never shutdown or reboot my desktop if I chose to do so. It'll do all that with the GUI effects enabled too. Best performing, smallest install, best usage of RAM. Linux is quite simply free of ALL the bloat that infects other operating systems. OS X being built on Darwin which is a UNIX port inherits this, though I have seen stupid users screw up an install the same as they do to Windows.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

Mac OS is a much better OS than Windows any day of the week. Although Direct X is world's ahead of Open GL, and that's what stinks about MACs and gaming. For all other tasks, MACs do it better IMO.

Linux is the most stable and least "fat" OS out there although does not have much mainstream developer support. I am convinced Apple and MS advance technologies and features slowly in order to map out their profit margins over the next few years and more.

Been using MACS since 1990's and PC's as well. The transition from PPC to G3, g4, g5, and then intel processors, and from mac os 6, 7, 8, 9 to FINALLY a stable UNIX based OS (OSX) was a great migration.. A tough one, for users AND developers alike because it sorta meant abandon ship and move on to the new one (carbon, cocoa, etc.) (Although OSX did have Classic support until OS 10.4 I believe, in which you could use Rosetta to run PPC apps).

I run Windows on my MAC with boot camp. I don't like running it in Virtual mode, I find it lame... I had Virtual PC back in the day with Windows 98 and it was garbage, although it sort of worked, it was SLOW. Now that we have Intel processors, you can run Windows on a separate disk partition and just boot up from there. I have XP on one and Vista on the other (although Vista should BURN IN HELL, I am installing Windows 7 soon which seems to be MUCH better, more optimized, etc.)

I would be concerned about USB functionality as mentioned above, but test it out, maybe it will work better than a cheaper PC laptop! Macs are built much better and majority of the time use better components (well, not always better, but they are definitely built with strict quality control so that they make sure they don't use components that typically fail like other 3rd party PC manufacturers).

subroc

iTrader: (2)

I wanted to try on my current mac but its a 2004 model laptop (that still works mind you) but seems to not be compatable with parallels. I think its just out of date.

hmx

I am not even going to get into the Mac vs. PC thing, but I have used WinALDL (Windows XP) under boot camp on a 2007 Intel MacBook, and it is flawless.

Although I have no experience with the parallels application, I would be dubious of the USB connection because of emulated com ports.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

I agree. Booting up with Xp or W7 is the best option if you're using a mac.

hmx

For those running Tunerpro RT under XP/BootCamp on the mac (i.e., not emulated, but actual copy of windows running under dual boot on the mac), you need to follow the instructions that came with the old Moates USB installer. I don't know where you get them anymore, but I have attached the PDF. You use the Windows Install Wizard; the Moates YouTube channel says not to, but I never could get mine to work unless I followed the PDF specifically. Then, boom, TunerPro saw the autoprom and all was well.

So, for those that want to know how (for Windows XP at least):

1. Download & unzip the latest drivers from FTDI here:

http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

(This link still works from moates' site). These are the drives that make your computer think that you have a serial COM port hooked up to your USB.

2. Follow the instructions on the attached PDF.

3. Check to make sure the drivers installed corectly - open the device manager (My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager) and look for the Ports: COM & LPT. If the drivers didn't install correctly, it won't be there.

4. Hook up the AutoProm, then start TunerPro. It should autodetect. For those without the AutoProm, I don't know exactly what you need, but the drivers should be there.

Good luck!