Mac

[stokoe]

is anybody aware if MS are planning to make the next release compatible with the Mac ?

[LOT_Pilot]

I'm converting to Apple myself (haven't decided desktop or laptop yet) but unfortunatly I don't think it's going to be Apple compatable. They could make an Apple version (as with certain MS office programs), but that would cost alot to do.

[JSkorna]

Hi,

Nope, MS would have to charge the 10 people that purchased it way too much!!:P :P :P :P

Hope this helps,
Jim
ActiveSky Sales and Support
http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_dev_team.jpg http://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_proud_supporter.jpg

[stokoe]

ok in that case can anyone suggest how I can prevent 2004 from crashing (black screen then close - sometimes closing Windows as well) on virtually every flight on my pc ?
I've installed the latest MS FS upgrade as well as new video card drivers but no improvement
I also have a Mac which runs X-plane with no problems - hence the original question
help !?

[RFields]

About your crashes - it sounds like either a bad texture or a bad AFCAD.

Can you set FS to fly only with the default scenery, textures and aircraft? See if the issue occurs them? That would indicate a hardware issue. Otherwise it's a bad addon.

About the Mac - since they dropped the proprietary OS and use a Unix based platform - who knows - the Mac community has not demonstrated much of a demand.

I have to laugh when people promote Lunix and don't consider the Mac - a much better, much more stable platform.

But since Unix/Lunix/Mac OS X+ are competitors with Wintel - I doubt that Flight Simulator will be ported to an OS the Mac can use.

[ladamson]

It's always been bad add-ons, or drivers. I actually use some older drivers, but then my CPU is "old". Even various versions of X-Plane will crash on it too!

But on the whole, MSFS has been quite stable for all these years.

Ladamson

[mgh]

I agree. In the vast majority of cases the problems seem to be drivers or faulty add-ons.

I run a low-end PC and after 9.1 it's been steady as a rock with NO CTDs or other failures.

[Mojo2000]

>But since Unix/Lunix/Mac OS X+ are competitors with Wintel

IMHO, that doesn't quite hold water since Microsoft has made a number of MS Office ports for Mac. Office 2004 and Office v.X being the two latest...


>I doubt that Flight Simulator will be ported to an OS the Mac
>can use.

I have doubts about that as well, given that the projected paying user base might be too small to break even on development costs. (Talking out of my butt)

I wonder if there are any emulation options...


SIGLINE: "Stealth is where it's not." :D

[LOT_Pilot]

I think all the hype around Linux is based on it's "tech support" and it's pretty open-ended. A friend of mine made a good point when he said that if something breaks in Linux, then there will always be someone to develop a patch for just about anything.

FS could possibly be emulated for the Mac (Gameboy games have been emulated on PCs so why not computer to computer :P) but it would be hard (for me at least) to tell you what might happen if it was attempted. If there is a good joystick for the any Apple system, then it is possible.

I've seen the new OS-X and Whistler (can't remember what M$ is calling the new OS), but they both look pretty cool. The OS-X is very clean, efficient and well organized, while the M$ OS will be very customizable and I think the see-through windows are awesome. I like them both and since I'll have a PC and Mac, I'll have the best of both worlds :)

[RFields]

On the OS level they are competitors.

Remember MS Excel first was produced for the MAC, and not available for the PC. Of course this was back when Windows 2.0 & 2.1 was an application and not an OS.

Microsoft's initial versions of MS Office - up to Office 95 - really could not compete with WordPerfect, Wordstar, Lotus 1-2-3, Lotus Freelance, Quattro Pro, dBase - etc on the PC / Intel platform computers.

The MAC market was where MS learned to develop a suite of software, and where they learned to use the Hardware Abstraction Layer to leave all the driver issues to the OS.

[Mojo2000]

>FS could possibly be emulated for the Mac (Gameboy games have
>been emulated on PCs so why not computer to computer :P) but
>it would be hard (for me at least) to tell you what might
>happen if it was attempted.

I won't make any bets on framerates! :+ Emulating portable game consoles at full speed on a PC is a far cry from a whole OS and FS...


>If there is a good joystick for
>the any Apple system, then it is possible.

Since modern Macs can use pretty much any USB device, it seems logical to me that much of the controller hardware available to PC flyers should be usable, too.

[RFields]

The MAC had USB first - it's a extension / development of the ADB - Apple Desktop Bus.

Most of the joysticks do work with the Mac.

Some have special versions

Gravis G2014-1 Blackhawk Programmable Joystick

Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox 2 Pro USB Joystick - MAC or PC

WingMan Strike Force 3D

F16 CombatStick USB

CH Products Flight Sim Yoke, Pro Pedals, & Pro Throttle all include MAC drivers. The Throttle Quadrants are not MAC compatible.

As noted earlier on the thread - modern Mac computers are exceptional platforms for X-Plane.

[aafuss]

>is anybody aware if MS are planning to make the next release
>compatible with the Mac ?
There used to be a Mac version-a new one would be great (as Apple will switch to Intel chips from next year)-and it might use Core Inage/Quartz or OpenGL.

[Mojo2000]

Off-Topic:

I'm sure many computers are good platforms for X-Plane... but you have to actually like X-Plane. :+ Not that there's not a lot to like, but I was just never sufficiently motivated to pay full price after multiple stabs at the demo.


SIGLINE: "Stealth is where it's not." :D

[Ed Lin]

>is anybody aware if MS are planning to make the next release
>compatible with the Mac ?

It will be if MS buys out XPlane! :7

[LOT_Pilot]

I don't think it's going to happen... X-Plane has contracts in the gov't and many high level uses (Level D mainly). It's too scientific, and complicated for the casual simmer. You would have to be more into flying than the eye candy to truly get everything out of X-plane. The ATC (sans robot voice) is VERY realistic, and overall, it's like an offline VATSIM. Very good for the "real" pilots amongst us (those who fly PMDG/RFP online with VATSIM and start from cold, dark 'pits).