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Re: (OT) RE: bad excuse but inquiry

I have to agree with Joseph, I've been very happy with running Xy under
VPC on my Powerbook and my G4 Cube.


I am running XY under Dos 2000 under VPC 6.0.
I initially got a mac as i was not happy with the direction that MS and
their applications were heading. I wanted to find another OS, as long
as I could run Xy and a couple other DOS programs, i knew that that was
all i would need. While looking at Linux, Apple announced the G4 cube
and also introduced OS X. My goal then was to be able to run my
favorite programs completely MS free! I have been able to achieve that
goal and can recommend VPC. As Joseph mentioned, MS recently purchased
VPC and the forthcoming version will be lacking certain features that
had been planned. Depending on your experiences with MS, I would be
cautious with installing a Windows OS under VPC. If you have had
problems with a Windows OS, VPC my emulate those problems as well.
Also, I am kind of aggravated about how it seems most MS apps tend to,
after they are installed, want to phone home to the mother ship. I have
a legal copy of Windows 2000 that i also installed under VPC. I did
nothing but install the os and closed VPC. The next morning i received
email from MS telling me that there was a patch for my copy of
Windows!!

I can say that i have been happy, both with my Mac and with VPC running
Xy. My powerbook is the code named Pismo model. To speak to apple
engineering, the Pismo came out in 2000. This is a 400 Mhz G3 that is
currently running the LATEST version of OS X, and is running it more
than well enough for use. I got this Powerbook used, about a year ago
for $600. When every people start to talk about Mac, i just say that
well, I have a four year old machine running at 400 Mhz running the
current version of the multitasking OS, and working well enough that it
is my work machine. Can your machine do that? :)


fwiw,

Russ
On Sep 16, 2004, at 6:13 PM, Joseph Fisher wrote:
I would like the advice of people here who use XyWrite DOS what
laptop would

you recommend. I've been wanting to venture to switch to a MAC.

Mimi,
I am by no means an expert on XyWrite as other on list - I am an
advanced computer user with backgrounds in DOS, Win (3.1 thru XP), and
Mac OS (6.0 thru OS X 10.3). I've used Virtual PC (VPC) ver 3.0 thru
6.0 - so here's my thoughts concerning your questions.

I've gleaned some messages recently about people who have
successfully been able

to run XyDos on a MAC.
I operate Xy3+ on my MAC PowerBook G4 800 MHz, 1 GB RAM using VPC 6.0
booting into Win 98 SE. I find Win 98 to run very quick and nimble
with this configuration.

As such, I know Mac is a viable option. At this point Apple has been
releasing new Mac G5 desktop machines so G5 PowerBooks may not be far
behind. Also in the not too distant future Apple will release Mac OS
10.4 "Tiger" - You may want to wait on a Mac purchase if you can. But
since Apple like Dell, IBM, GateWay, and MicroSoft are always coming
out with "new" stuff if you can't or don't want to wait it not a big
deal because OS X 10.3 is a solid OS and a G4 processor is plenty of
punch to run VPC. My advice go with the fastest CPU and more
importantly Maximum RAM.

The good news since I purchased mine a couple of years ago is; (1)
faster CPU and lower price on G4 laptops (2) More RAM capability (3)
even more stability with Mac OS which was already solid (4) hinge and
paint - two nagging hardware issues with the original G4 PowerBook
line were corrected over a year ago with changing the placement of
hinges and using aluminum rather than titanium for the case causing
paint issues - The current line of lower price iBooks are an even
better deal which I would probably go with - especially since moving
away from the late 90's "neon fruity toliet seat design" - what were
they thinking? enough said -

Mac notebook computers are not cheap - but historically have not need
replaced as quickly as compared with similar priced Win notebook
computers.

A nice 14" iBook 1.2 GHz CPU with maximum RAM 1.256 GB is going to
cost about $1,900 and up
A top of the line 15" PowerBook 1.5 GHz CPU with maximum RAM of 2 GB
is going to set you back $3,000+
added hardware options like 60 GB hard drive, recordable DVD drives
etc. are going to push price up -
Take into account also that you will probably have other software
purchases as you switch platforms from Win to Mac.

If MAC is a viable option, would it entail purchasing "Virtual PC"
program?

Yes, the purchase of any Mac will necessitate the purchase of VPC $129
(now owned by Microsoft). VPC version 7.0 is also soon to be released
according to MS. If you have a legal copy of Windows OS or even DOS
you have not needed to purchase the complete VPC package. VPC has come
as stand alone and as a more expensive version bundled with a DOS or
Windows OS. Currently MicroSoft's Macintosh software site
www.mactopia.com lists pre-order for VPC 7.0 packaged with Win XP Pro
at $249.

My final suggestions: - If you live where you can visit an Apple store
or a CompUSA with an Apple section - go visit - The sales staff at
both will let you play with the machines - In my experience they are
not "pushie" especially at Apple store -

If you do decide on getting an iBook or PowerBook and load Virtual PC
- if you don't need Windows XP to run XP specific programs - I would
suggest loading Windows 98 SE - I believe you will find in the end
that you have a very fast multi-platform OS machine - That has been my
experience - I run three platforms at one time. Mac OS 9.2, Mac OS X,
and Windows 98SE without any rebooting or switching - Also if Windows
or OS 9.2 crashes (and they both do at times) I don't have to reboot
my computer - OS X is that rock solid - I rarely even shut my
PowerBook down - I just put it in sleep mode - travel where I need -
hook up when I need to recharge the battery and I am off and running -
I average maybe one shutdown and reboot a week usually due to adding
software updates etc.

Good luck and please feel free to contact me at kzfisher@xxxxxxxx
if you have other questions I might be able to help with.

Anyway, anyone who has the energy or whereabouts to respond, I would
be

grateful.

Mimi Gauthier LeBien
(list member for many many years!)