Switching to a Mac (maybe)

Rachel · Post by **Rachel** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:39 pm

I'm thinking about making The Big Switch(TM) to a Mac laptop. The thing is, I haven't had a Mac since the IIGS. (Heh.) Does anyone know if NESASM 3, MagicKit, or other DOS-prompty-looking NESDev things will run on a Mac? Or would it be best to keep my old laptop as a NESDev workstation? I guess I could ask Google, but I'm lazy, and I figure that someone here will know.

kyuusaku · Post by **kyuusaku** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:02 pm

If those command-line programs come with the source code it's possible they can be relatively easily recompiled for Darwin.

There's always Boot Camp as well: http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bootcamp.html

dXtr · Post by **dXtr** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:19 pm

isn't cc65 supported under Mac?

Post by **tepples** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:46 pm

dXtr wrote:isn't cc65 supported under Mac?

It's not "supported" as in the author provides tech support, but cc65.org does state that Sheppy got it working on at least PowerPC-based Mac OS X with no changes from the FreeBSD configuration.

blargg · Post by **blargg** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:42 pm

Hell, I compiled cc65 for Mac OS 9 (Classic), for use in Apple's MPW shell environment.

If you're getting an Intel Mac, then you'll be able to run Windows in a virtual machine inside a window on OS X.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:20 pm

DON'T DO IT!!!
(Triple-boot into OSX Linux & Windows instead...)

Celius · Post by **Celius** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:13 am

I find that Windows is pretty universal. That's why I stick to it. And also, doing lots of work on the computer really makes you want a two-buttoned mouse; not that slick-looking-but-inconvenient mouse that basically is a button.

EDIT:

Rachel wrote:Or would it be best to keep my old laptop as a NESDev workstation?

I think so. Just so you won't have to dink around so much.

blargg · Post by **blargg** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:50 pm

And also, doing lots of work on the computer really makes you want a two-buttoned mouse; not that slick-looking-but-inconvenient mouse that basically is a button.

So get a Mac with Apple's two-button mouse, or use any third-party USB mouse.

Zepper · Post by **Zepper** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:25 pm

atari2600a wrote:DON'T DO IT!!!
(Triple-boot into OSX Linux & Windows instead...)

Uhh... is this SO bad after all, eh?

Anyway, true, Windows is universal, but it doesn't mean "the best one".

Celius · Post by **Celius** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:53 pm

I wasn't trying to imply that it was the best one, I was just saying it's standard. Windows definitely has flaws, but they don't really get in the way of what I do. I generally deal with small files and software that doesn't require high speeds or anything like that.

I suppose I don't know too much about Macs. I just think that if you're going to be doing stuff with homebrew programs, Windows is standard, so a lot of them may only be compatible with Windows.

blargg · Post by **blargg** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:08 pm

I suppose I don't know too much about Macs. I just think that if you're going to be doing stuff with homebrew programs, Windows is standard, so a lot of them may only be compatible with Windows.

I agree; several tools are probably only available as Windows executables, no source code (and not portable even if there were), so running Windows is a good idea. But, you don't have to use it as your main OS, just run it in a virtual machine, almost as another program. Parallels is one that integrates Windows programs at the window level.

Zepper · Post by **Zepper** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:08 pm

Celius wrote:I wasn't trying to imply that it was the best one, I was just saying it's standard. Windows definitely has flaws, but they don't really get in the way of what I do. I generally deal with small files and software that doesn't require high speeds or anything like that.

I suppose I don't know too much about Macs. I just think that if you're going to be doing stuff with homebrew programs, Windows is standard, so a lot of them may only be compatible with Windows.

Heh, I tried out a Mac 10 years ago. Actually, most of open-source programs aren't specific for Windows, but fully portable. About the web, I had some problems while using Linux, like websites don't playing a music because they were "unable to find Windows Media".

Bregalad · Post by **Bregalad** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:26 am

I don't know why, but I feel like an enormous amount of people are considered switching to Macs this year and the past year too. I don't know why, while I'm no expert in PC nor macs, and while I've never used a mac in all it's potential, I feel like the extra price of Macs is just a waste for the consummer that can do exactly the same with a PC but by paying less. So use a mac if you want to look cool, fashionable and loose money stupidly and else use a PC.

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:51 pm

A lot of regular people are wanting a Mac due to there misleading TV adds with that fast talking kid playing off fake bill gates. Misinformation dose not make for happy customers though so in the long run they may harm themselves.

In reality I consider all current OS'es bloated and resources wasting but unfortunately there is no real alternative with the kind of support windows has.

Windows is the best because its what most people use. This results in more software being developed for it and more hardware to run in it. So the most practical choice is XP at the moment

BTW I hate Vista

Zepper · Post by **Zepper** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:11 pm

I hate Vista too.