Need Help Understanding Virtual PC
 

We have Power PC's... not intel chips... 10.4.11

We have to run a subscription and bulk mail program in the front office and the version we have right now is Mac. We have to upgrade it and they no longer make Mac. In fact, nobody does. I have researched this to death so there isn't any other solution. If I had known this, when we bought the new computer for the front office we would have gotten one with an Intel chip so we could use Parallels or Boot Camp but we didn't and this is a VERY small office. It isn't an option to buy another computer right now.

My question is... I don't understand the Virtual PC thing. I can't find where to purchase it. I only find links to the Microsoft website. Will someone please just point me either to where I can purchase it or to the correct version that I can download. Thanks so much for your help... Also, if anyone has any other help or advice that will help me get through this... I actually have no choice. I have to do it.

Really? How about these?

Virtual PC is emulation software that Microsoft bought several years ago. It could do this for you, but you're probably better off using one of the above solutions.

Thanks... but clicking that link got no hits for me... (I did find Postage Saver which is a bulk mailing program that operates on Mac but that subscription part of it does not operate on Mac and it is way too complicated to do both of those things.) and, I might mention that we are a newspaper and we have tons of USPS regs to comply with. We are using Satori software that keeps us within guidelines since we have inserts and ads and all that other stuff. We also have to be able to put in subscriptions constantly and all the things that go with newspapers.

I hope you understand that I am minimally technologically talented. I had Virtual PC many years ago on my home Mac. I had purchased it because I had a PC at school (my day job) and a Mac at my night job. So, Virtual Pc is downloadable for free from Microsft now. I just download whatever is the most recent version... correct.

Thank you for your help... and I know this is not a good thing... I just hope it does not make troubles.

No, Virtual PC for the Mac is not downloadable free from Microsoft. The downloads that you may see are just updates for those people who have paid for Virtual PC/ Mac. Or, you might be thinking of Virtual PC for Windows.

Virtual PC for Mac is still available for purchase from resellers.

Trevor

Many thanks!

:confused:
It got these and more for me:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/7394/direct-mail
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id.../bulk-mac-mail
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id...ailing-manager
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/19595/quaik
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/5702/intellimerge
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id...1st-mac-mailer

Free VM software can be found here:

www.virtualbox.org

Another option would be to run a Windows version on an intel based Mac with Crossover. I have done this in the past for those pesky 'windows only' apps that are really good with no Mac alternative.

Not Bulk Email- Bulk Postal Mail- Sorry I was Unclear
 

These are bulk Email programs. Not bulk mail and subscription programs to use with the United States Postal Service. Sorry, guess I wasn't clear.

You folks are just the best about being generous to offer suggestions!

She said in post one that they had PPC macs and virtual box is intel/amd only. Also that getting an intel mac was not viable at the moment.

So, I have done some more research and found that it is very hard to purchase this software because I don't think they actually distribute it anymore... because of the intel chip... When you look at the list of vendors and click them, they are out of stock. I have found a few copies here and there and I will buy one of those. So, I am going to say the unthinkable.... That man should have listened to me and bought computers with an intel chip!

:o Sorry, I just assumed you meant email.

What's wrong with the mail merge capabilities of most word processors?

Wow, I must have um totally missed that.

Virtual PC sucks performance wise, I would really try to find a Mac alternative or invest in a cheap intel Mac Mini or something.

Actually, your better option is to just buy a normal PC; at this point, they are VERY inexpensive and your application is not one that needs a great deal of power to run, so buy very modestly and you can probably get a decent machine for somewhere around $600 or less, including monitor. Check the Dell site, for example.

Joe VanZandt

Yup you can get Dells super cheap with their super coupons. Google Dell coupons and I have seen people get 800 dollar computers for 300 dollars after rebates and instant savings.

If it was me... would buy a cheap XP box and run it headless (no keyboard, mouse or monitor) and control it from your Mac using any number of free apps (MS's own Remote Desktop app springs to mind)..

that way you have the best of both worlds... and PC's are practically free at the moment... they can't give them away :)

Just out of interest... what is the software you are currently using.. (that have stopped Mac support?)

Multiple part comment/question...
1. I am very intrigued by what you say about controlling the PC from the Mac with a free app... that sounds very nice because then I wouldn't need another monitor, correct? I would like more information about that idea.

2. We are not on a real network. But we do all save to a NAS. I assume that if I add a PC to the mix that it would also be able to save to the NAS?

fixed the link here:

http://www.satorisoftware.com/Produc...r/default.aspx

It looks like it uses SQL database on the back end for the application, probably the standalone install you can run on desktops. That is why OS X doesn't support it, or the developer I should say doesn't support OS X.

How do you feel about getting a really cheap PC and running just that software on it?

I love calling MS support and creating a ticket with them and then when they ask what machine I am using to manage the Windows boxes and servers I say a Macbook Pro, there is always a distinct pause before they continue, HAHAHAHAHA I laugh every time.

I am digressing, its free, and I use it all the time at work and at home.

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/product...p/default.mspx

Check it out.

Yes as long as your NAS supported SMB, which is windows file sharing. Which I have never seen one that didn't.

If you have multiple computers saving to a NAS, then you ARE on a real network. I don't understand what you mean that you are not. Why do you think that your network is not real?

Yes, the PC should be able to save to the NAS as well. The vast majority of NAS's use SMB/CIFS, which is basically (at this point) a Windows sharing protocol that has also been ported to Linux and OS X.

Trevor

OK people... I want to thank you for solving a 3 month problem for me. This is what I have decided to do. I am on a very small budget. I am taking my home PC to the office and putting the Satori software on it. (and getting a new computer for home.. HOORAY!!) I will put the Remote Connection software on the Secretary's Mac and maybe I won't have to have the PC in her little cramped office space. I will have to try all of that out. She is a little technologically challenged but maybe it won't be too difficult for her to access the bulk mail program using the remote software. If it is difficult I will figure out something better with having two freaking computers at her desk because my husband says he just paid $400 for quicken or quickbooks or whatever for her and also just got her that computer and he is absolutely NOT going to put a heathen Bill Gates computer out where the public can see it. You Mac guys are a little rabid, you know it?

Your husband is a good man. ;)