Discussion: Route Planning w/ Windows emulators

I’m planning my first meet and would like some advice. Does Condes 9 work well on a windows emulation or should I just run it on a PC?

This is a good question. I've asked something similar before. You could search this forum.

I run Condes on my Mac/Apple laptop. I only use two Window based programs, both for orienteering--Condes and OGPS (http://www.orienteering.mb.ca/OGPS/).

I use Boot Camp, the Mac OS utility that allows you install and switch between MacOS and Windows. It works perfectly except that you have to reboot each time to switch between the two operating systems. If you can run a Windows emulation then you will be able to more easily switch between programs without rebooting.

For me Boot Camp was the my cheapest option.

Another option is CodeWeaver's CrossOver. I use it to run both Condes 10 and OCAD 2020. It will likely run Condes 9 also.

A couple notes about CrossOver, it's not an emulator or virtual machine, it allows Windows apps to just run "native". It costs $40 and it doesn't require a Windows license ($$). It's based off of WINE which is an open-source reimplementation of the Windows API to allow Windows apps to run on Linux, macOS and BSD. It's not perfect, Condes every once in awhile throws up a warning dialog about an incorrect path but otherwise works fines. OCAD is functional, but has some issues that I can go into more detail if anybody is interested.

I've found that using Bootcamp to dual-boot provides the best experience but have also had success using Parallels and VMWare Fusion. For something like Condes the latter will probably be a-okay. I went with the Bootcamp option because I ended up having to devote a lot of resources to the VM, meaning I wasn't really able to do any Mac stuff at the same time anyway.

Thanks for everyone’s input! It is much appreciated from someone who’s not tech-savvy. I decided to give Bootcamp a try.
Thanks again!

Thanks linville, I know of Wine but not CrossOver.

The CodeWeaver CrossOver option sounds very interesting because I like the convenience of native software (or in this case, native-like software).

I'm using Boot Camp on an old laptop so that I don't have to re boot all the time but once I retire that old laptop I may go with CrossOver--there's a free 14 day trail to try it out. If it doesn't work well I can continue using Boot Camp. CrossOver allows you to install it on your laptop and desktop machines, which is handy--course plan on the big screen with event portability of the laptop.

I suspect you guys are well aware, but for the general audience: As folks move off of Macs with Intel processors (i.e., Macs made in the last 15 or so years, which use the same processor type as nearly every Windows PC) to Macs with the new "Apple silicon" (ARM-based) processors, it will become more difficult or impossible to run Windows software on these newer Macs. Unless and until software which emulates the Intel processor (which is not a cinch to engineer) becomes available on the Apple-silicon Macs.

Apple's processor changeroo sounds fabulously worthwhile by all reviews I've seen: The new Apple processors are supposedly radically cheaper, faster, and more parsimonious with electric consumption and heat generation than the Intel processors. But for running Windows software such as Purple Pen or Condes or OCad on a Mac, you will have to hang on to your current Intel-powered Mac for a while, possibly indefinitely.

That's one of the nice things about CrossOver, it works on M1-powered Macs using Apple's Rosetta 2 (x86 to ARM64 translation).

Yes, lots of history here, with Apple and which chips its computers use and running PC software on Mac computers. Way back was Motorola. Pre ~2005 was IBM PowerPCs, from then to ~2020 has been Intel. Now Apple Silicon or Apple M1 CPU computers. I believe Boot Camp is gone. But Rosetta 2, the Big Sur OS built-in emulator should help and CodeWeaver CrossOver is still an option (from their website: CrossOver Mac System Requirements: Apple Silicon (M1 or better) requires at least macOS 11.1 or better).
I wonder now with Apple having a similar or shared arm-based chips in their computers as well as their i devices if we'll see the ability to use PC apps on i devices similar to PC software on Mac computers?