So, is Virtual PC good or bad? i think i'm gonna have to get it cuz I need Microsoft Access and other Microsoft Office apps for my classes.
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Virtual PC: Good or Bad?
- Thread starter GiantsFan
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It's slow, but it works. Use the OS X version of Office for Word, Powerpoint and Excel. I guess you'll have to use VPC for Access. I suggest waiting for VPC7 if you can. It's supposedly faster.
Office for X is so much better than trying to run them with VPC and the files are totally compatible with Office for Windows. Plus, it's much more affordable for students.
On the other hand, I find VPC 6 to run quite decently on my PowerMac G4.
On the other hand, I find VPC 6 to run quite decently on my PowerMac G4.
It's slow, but useable. Use the Mac apps for everything you can (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) I used it (VPC) for my Access class, I'm using it currently to run Oracle Forms Developer 6i now, connecting to the database I run on the mac side under a different user, and using Project98 as well. All are slower than molasses, but it beats going to the campus computer labs to do my homework.
Basically, devote as much RAM to it as you can (more than 256MB if possible), and if you have the luxury of waiting until the end of the year, do wait for VPC7. If you can't wait, go ahead and get VPC6 with a bundled OS, preferably some version of XP, as more and more things will not run on 98 anymore.
Basically, devote as much RAM to it as you can (more than 256MB if possible), and if you have the luxury of waiting until the end of the year, do wait for VPC7. If you can't wait, go ahead and get VPC6 with a bundled OS, preferably some version of XP, as more and more things will not run on 98 anymore.
Awimoway said:
So there is a Mac version of Microsoft Access that can read MDB files? And I can read PST files from Outlook? Everytime I hear about alternatives to Microsoft Office for Windows, people forget that there isn't a equivalent MS-Access out there. Open Office and Appleworks don't have anything like MS-Access but people suggest they can replace Office with those programs.
Microsoft Office works fine with Virtual PC on a 1Ghz Mac. I prefer to use the native Mac versions Word and Excel and Virtual PC for Access and Outlook PST files.
Do you need Access or do you need "a database program"? FileMaker Pro runs on either platform, is very powerful, is easier to use, and has a free trial.
AppleWorks also has database capabilities. What's it cost, $40 with student discount?
AppleWorks also has database capabilities. What's it cost, $40 with student discount?
Most college classes are application specific, and instructors want files and homework submitted in a certain format. Filemaker and Appleworks wont cut it for an Access class, as the tests normally have program-specific elements in them -- how to create forms and assigning properties to the forms (or even tables) is different between different programs.
Word, Excel and PowerPoint are laid out similarly enough and save in the same formats so that they can effectively be used in a course study environment. Access, Outlook, Project and other windows specific programs should be used within VPC. Word of warning: the full version of visual studio and .Net will not install within VPC as of 6.1 ...(not that you'd want to).
Word, Excel and PowerPoint are laid out similarly enough and save in the same formats so that they can effectively be used in a course study environment. Access, Outlook, Project and other windows specific programs should be used within VPC. Word of warning: the full version of visual studio and .Net will not install within VPC as of 6.1 ...(not that you'd want to).
thanks. yeah, i'll probably hold out til VPC 7 comes out. not taking Access database class in the fall quarter anyways.
Dont forget about open office! thats compatible with word and excel.
Dont forget about open office! thats compatible with word and excel.
Depending on what the class is supposed to be, I might get pissed. A lot of computer classes just end up being "how to use such and such Microsoft product."
Yeah, damn electives. I got to take "Information Technology" which is just Office ****. I already have VPC6 (I don't use 6.1 because it messes with Safari something awful) but I might consider 7 if it can support the GPU fully. Then I can play FF8 and Half-Life. That'd be enjoyable.
Horrortaxi said:
the only microsfot product i ever used in my computer classes is visual studio when i first learned c++. my business classes (MIS etc...) use word, excel and microsoft access
I had a "computers for teachers" type class once where we "learned" to do things like make a gradebook out of a spreadsheet and create a memo. It was insultingly easy stuff and I had to waste 4 hours a week there. On top of that, all the PCs in the class just had MS Office. I asked the teacher if we had to use Office and she said 'no'. So I whiped out my iBook and used TextEdit for Memos, Keynote for presentation, FileMaker Pro for database, and Excel for spreadsheets. I got an A, of course, but she couldn't quite grasp that I wasn't cheating when I used FileMaker Pro. It's just so much easier to use than Access.
