PC or Windows emulator

[Eric Rathhaus]

I use an on-line database for my business, which I could use to populate letters. I have a 2018 MBP and Office 365 for Mac. However, the integrator by the hosts of the database offered only works with Word running on a PC. I'm trying to decide between three options:
1) get the cheapest PC I can and only use it to integrate and print the letters populated by the database;
2) get a Surface Pro (always wanted one) with this functionality as an excuse; or
3) run a Windows emulation program on my MBP.

Any suggestions or advice welcome.

 

[HomeLate]

Why not install Windows 10 on your MBP?

What's so special about the Word document? Does it include a connection to a (SQL) database?

 

[Nerdyaf]

I use an on-line database for my business, which I could use to populate letters. I have a 2018 MBP and Office 365 for Mac. However, the integrator by the hosts of the database offered only works with Word running on a PC. I'm trying to decide between three options:
1) get the cheapest PC I can and only use it to integrate and print the letters populated by the database;
2) get a Surface Pro (always wanted one) with this functionality as an excuse; or
3) run a Windows emulation program on my MBP.

Any suggestions or advice welcome.

use this https://support.apple.com/en-sg/boot-camp.

you can get a "free" copy of windows 10 from here https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10ISO

 

[HomeLate]

use this https://support.apple.com/en-sg/boot-camp.

you can get a "free" copy of windows 10 from here https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10ISO

I think this will be indeed the best option for the OP.

When I was a BI Dev, we also ran into problems with Mac oriented users (management mostly) and the need for Excel to drill down into cubes.

The need for Bootcamp and Windows was a big nono so we moved away from Excel and introduced Tableau in our company.

 

[maflynn]

Just use Parallels or Vmware Fusion, that way you can stay in macOS and run the apps that you need when you need it without rebooting.

 

[HomeLate]

Just use Parallels or Vmware Fusion, that way you can stay in macOS and run the apps that you need when you need it without rebooting.

Parallels might be an issue when his Word document relies on some sort of database connection like MS SQL of Access. The connection in the Word document might need database drivers which are not available.

VMWare fusion or Virtualbox will work.

 

[maflynn]

Parallels might be an issue when his Word document relies on some sort of database connection like MS SQL of Access. The connection in the Word document might need database drivers which are not available.

VMWare fusion or Virtualbox will work.

Why would Fusion, and VirtualBox work, but not Parallels? All three are running windows in a virtualized environment.

 

[Nerdyaf]

Just use Parallels or Vmware Fusion, that way you can stay in macOS and run the apps that you need when you need it without rebooting.

This will work too, although i think only virtualbox is free.

if whatever you do is resource intensive, bootcamp is the better option because you dont share resources like ram

 

[Eric Rathhaus]

use this https://support.apple.com/en-sg/boot-camp.

you can get a "free" copy of windows 10 from here https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10ISO

Thanks, this does look like the way to go. But I don't understand the "free" windows comment?

 

[Nerdyaf]

Thanks, this does look like the way to go. But I don't understand the "free" windows comment?

you can technically install and use windows 10 without a product key, meaning it's free. there is some minor restriction if you do not activate windows 10, but i forgot what it is exactly. you can try looking that up, but im sure it doesnt affect your use. however, ethically and according to MS' guidelines, you should buy a copy of windows 10.

 

[maflynn]

you can technically install and use windows 10 without a product key, meaning it's free. there is some minor restriction if you do not activate windows 10, but i forgot what it is exactly. you can try looking that up, but im sure it doesnt affect your use. however, ethically and according to MS' guidelines, you should buy a copy of windows 10.

You're new here, so let me put it out that MacRumor's has strick rules regarding piracy. We do not condone or permit people advising others to pirate software.

 

[HomeLate]

you can technically install and use windows 10 without a product key, meaning it's free. there is some minor restriction if you do not activate windows 10, but i forgot what it is exactly. you can try looking that up, but im sure it doesnt affect your use. however, ethically and according to MS' guidelines, you should buy a copy of windows 10.

From what I remember is that you can't personalize Windows (the watermark can't be removed). You only get a year of updates and you can't use some online services like account/device syncing.

If you plan to use Windows 10 any longer, you better get a Home/Pro license.

 

[Eric Rathhaus]

I think this will be indeed the best option for the OP.

When I was a BI Dev, we also ran into problems with Mac oriented users (management mostly) and the need for Excel to drill down into cubes.

The need for Bootcamp and Windows was a big nono so we moved away from Excel and introduced Tableau in our company.

Why was running bootcamp a big no no?
[doublepost=1553576630][/doublepost]

You're new here, so let me put it out that MacRumor's has strick rules regarding piracy. We do not condone or permit people advising others to pirate software.

this is for business use so I wouldn't ever use a pirated copy, thus my question.

 

[HomeLate]

Why was running bootcamp a big no no?
[doublepost=1553576630][/doublepost]
this is for business use so I wouldn't ever use a pirated copy, thus my question.

Bootcamp was a big no no because the IT support staff didn't support software like Bootcamp. It was either native Windows or native Macos but not both combined.

If you wanted to have Bootcamp on your Mac, your were on your own. Most of the management staff wasn't tech savvy so they made the choice not to use Bootcamp/Parallels or whatever.