Is there a solution for those who love Apple products but are stuck using a PC due to Windows exclusive software?

For those in the Real Estate profession, or any other profession for that matter, who love Apple products, but are forced to use a PC because of applications that run exclusively on Windows, there is a possible a solution. The particular solution for you depends upon whether you use a traditional Apple Macintosh computer such as an imac or a Macbook Pro running OSX, or you use an ipad.

If you have a standard Mac with OS X you can purchase a program called "Parallels Desktop".
http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/

It allows you to install a “virtual machine” running Windows, directly on your Mac. The great benefit of this program is that you can run both Windows OS and Mac OS side by side without having to reboot and choose between the two. You can drag and drop files and also share folders. You can even run it in "coherence" mode which runs Windows applications like they were native. When you switch to “coherence” mode the Windows desktop disappears, leaving Windows applications running on the Mac desktop and appearing on the dock. However I have tried it and it can get confusing, and I personally just didn’t like it.

If you have an ipad, there is a different solution. You can purchase an ipad app called Citrix Receiver.
http://www.citrix.com/English/ps2/products/subfeature.asp?contentID=2300386

It allows you to run windows 7 on your ipad. Granted you don't install Windows 7 locally. You install Receiver on your ipad and it runs Windows 7 as a "thin client" connected to a server.

Unfortunately the ipad is probably not yet going to be a viable tool for most people that need Windows exclusive software. To use it your company must be running the Citrix Xendesktop software on the server side. And Xendesktop can be a bit pricey. Hopefully in the near future someone will offer a commercial server you can log into individually for a reasonable price.

However, for those Mac users who use traditional laptops and desktops but need Windows exclusive software, a Mac running Parallels is a great solution.


Phillip Baird
Realtor
Austin Real Estate Shop
512-289-5738
phillip@austinrealestateshop.com
www.austinrealestateshop.com