My options

[frankm007]

All i need windows for is internet explorer and a very simple application for pdf's. My best bet is parallels then correct? How does this program run anyway?

 

[Steve1496]

Though I haven't tried it, Wine will also run Internet Explorer without the need for windows. For PDF's, why not use Preview or use Adobe Acrobat for OS X if you need it? Otherwise, Parallel's is currently the only solution for Virtualized Windows, so yes it's your best bet if you need Windows.
http://parallels.com
http://darwine.opendarwin.org

Steve

 

[balamw]

PDF support is much better on OS X than Windows, so there is most likely a native alternative for your PDF app. What does it do, if you're willing to share...

Also, what do you need IE for? If it's just to access sites that think they only work with IE, some simple UserAgent spoofing can be all you really need.

As suggested above DarWine might be able to run your PDF app if it is really very simple, but AFAIK it can't run IE.

B

 

[Steve1496]

As suggested above DarWine might be able to run your PDF app if it is really very simple, but AFAIK it can't run IE.

I thought Wine could run IE? I know it can under Linux, works fine on my cheap linux box. Is this a limitation of Darwine?


Steve

 

[balamw]

Is this a limitation of Darwine?

I thought you needed something in Crossover Office to run IE? Maybe I'm wrong and it has been backported. That's why I qualified my statement with an AFAIK.

B

 

[frankm007]

I need IE to access the MLS (real estate) and the PDF program i use is "AltaStar" which contains all the forms I use, although I'd love to find an alternative to this.

 

[balamw]

I need IE to access the MLS (real estate) and the PDF program i use is "AltaStar" which contains all the forms I use, although I'd love to find an alternative to this.

Ah. Try AltaStar on Darwine, but since it creates the PDFs from forms, I doubt you could replicate it.

Does the MLS site require IE for an ActiveX plugin or just due to lazy web coders? You might try changing your UA in Safari of FireFox and see if it works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_agent

B

 

[frankm007]

I installed Parallels yesteday and I was able to run IE and AltaStar without a problem. I'm sure dual booting would make this work flawlessly - after all, they are both early releases. Too bad that damn MLS isnt accessible on the mac (direct x)...