Integrating an Apple IMac into a Windows xp based LAN - anyone done it?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Marjorie Proops
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Marjorie Proops

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Hello chaps,

I'm in need of a change.

I'm thinking of getting an Imac 24" set to use as my overall computor for family use but also to 'oversee' the business side of things.

The current system uses xp pro and office pro in a 4 pc setup using both wireles (netgear) and ethernet connections.

In theory the Apple gear seems to be able to exchange windows type files using either duel boot or a 'virtual windows' setup.

Anybody use mac & windows combined?

Any tips?

Cheers

(this could be the start of a mini saga! :eek: :D )
 
I am confused that the Mac software (office) has word, publisher and excel, but doesn't seem to have an equivalent to Outlook - is there a mac equivalent to outlook? - can it be shared with pc's using outlook?

In other words, if I am using the mac, can I update diaries on the windows pc's and vice-versa, can we exchange address books etc :nenau
 
Steve,

It's called Entourage. It is different to Outlook and will have problems if you have outlook setup on a mail server (only usually done in corporate environments). Otherwise there should be not much problems. If your emails are from ISPs then no problems should be encountered.

Migrating your existing outlook data across (from memory) is ok. May have some issues that you need to do manually (i.e. create new entries in Entourage again, but I remember that most things transfered across ok). I remember having problems synchornising my palm but there was a work around in the end.

If sync with your Windows PC is essential then I suggest you use boot camp or parallels to use PC software on the Mac. Then just use OSX for all the fun stuff.

Have a 24" iMac at the moment. It's great. The screen size is perfect, and wouldn't want to downsize again.

Networking should be EASIER than setting up a Windows PC. It should just work, like most thing on the Apple.

If you have any issues. Send me a PM. I can see if I can help.

:D
 
Marjorie Proops said:
Hello chaps,

I'm in need of a change.

I'm thinking of getting an Imac 24" set to use as my overall computor for family use but also to 'oversee' the business side of things.

The current system uses xp pro and office pro in a 4 pc setup using both wireles (netgear) and ethernet connections.

In theory the Apple gear seems to be able to exchange windows type files using either duel boot or a 'virtual windows' setup.

Anybody use mac & windows combined?

Any tips?

Cheers

(this could be the start of a mini saga! :eek: :D )
Click to expand...


Mac and Pc will work in a network environment but the Pc users will soon want a Mac upgrade too :) Are you Peer to peer or using a server? if so what server software are you using?

To be honest Macs are NOT yet as good at networking as Pcs but if you are peer to peer and just talking about using std office programmes you should be ok. If fact more than ok as the Mac is dead easy to set up to work on a peer to peer PC network

If your using any sort of database then hold fire and think things through. Parrallels works well and gives you windows on a Mac, Boot camp is ok but takes longer to switch between mac and pc applications.

PM me if you get stuck with anything

regards
 
Google Docs is specifically aimed at the cross platform ditherer like your good self.

Works a dream.

Suggest you ditch all thoughts of Outlook Mac or PC, as it's an incorrigible nest of pirates, viruses and macros.



Thunderbird 2 on Mac does most of what you want, is cross platform too and without infestation worries. Or you could get on down and join the new SeaMonkey project which really does do everything.
 
boundless said:
Google Docs is specifically aimed at the cross platform ditherer like your good self.

Works a dream.

Suggest you ditch all thoughts of Outlook Mac or PC, as it's an incorrigible nest of pirates, viruses and macros.



Thunderbird 2 on Mac does most of what you want, is cross platform too and without infestation worries. Or you could get on down and join the new SeaMonkey project which really does do everything.
Click to expand...

Seconded, Outlook on a Mac is bad karma.
 
OSX has a utility called directory access that allows you to make the mac act like a domain member. (or a DC/LDAP server if you want). So you could go the whole hog.

I just use my macbook at work as a mac, and use neooffice to create / edit stuff that has to go to windows. The only things you need to be careful of are:

1. Using fonts that windows has no clue about, as substitution can affect layout.
2. Trying to graph large data sets in the equivalent of excel is crappy.
3. Actually the open/neooffice graphing interface is generally rubbish.

Mac mail can do imap, so it ought to be able to connect to exchange. 2 of us at work have played with this independently and hit a wall on authentication.

Browsing domain shares, easy. Authenticate once using your domain credentials and they are kept locally in keychain.

The only thing i really need a parallels install for is to use the nortel contivity VPN client. There is a separate one for osx but its 99$ where windows comes free with the HW. Even then it's just when on the road for accessing big mails that aren't practical on a bastardberry.

You could of course set up a rule in outlook to send a copy to a real IMAP server like .mac, but then you need to get whatever ports that uses open at the company firewall.

There's about 5/70 mac penetration in my office and about the same over 1000 staff, and the rate improves as more folk get fed up with tosh like uncontrollable virus scanners/personal firewalls/domain policy, and they get slowed down.

I'm up and working in 2 mins in the morning while the others get the 5 minute boot, login, virus scan.
 
I have a 24" Imac. It's a fine piece of kit. I use it alone without windows so I'm not much help in this thread but I am very proud to own the Mac!
 
Tunneruk said:
I have a 24" Imac. It's a fine piece of kit.

I use it alone without windows ........
Click to expand...



VeetHRemMousse.jpg
window2.gif


Mighty relieved to hear that......
 
Steve,

Done this several times both for myself and clients, as Richie says no problems with networking or file sharing thought Macs don't like NTFS formatted drives so its read only. Easiest workaround is set up an external drive (networked storage) using FAT file format and keep all files on that then both pc and Mac can read/write both ways (that's how I have it). Also solves the problem of file duplicity etc.

Where problems can be had is with files and their formatting/fonts, if you use heavily formatted Word docs or windows fonts you will run into lots of fun and games. I am a devout Outlook user, alas NOTHING I have encountered yet comes close to this on the Mac, Entourage is a disaster and is best left well alone lest the devil gets inside your head or worse your computers!

I use both but its each OS for different reasons, media stuff on a Mac (music, video, photo) web development stuff (because those I collaborate with are pc based). and 'business stuff' on a pc.

There are good and free cross platform 'office' suites out there and these will read existing office docs (word/excel/powerpoint). OpenOffice for pc based, Google Docs for web based are two good starters for 10.
 
Thank you very much indeed for all the info chaps :clap

I'll spend a few hours chasing all the links, may have to come back with a few more Q's if that's ok.

Decision now made to get the iMac this week regardless - it's just a matter of how I integrate it then.

Sounds simple enough though (:eek: )

Thanks again.
 
Hi Steve,
Just done this in the office here - if it is a simple windows network - then no problems with the latest imac. We have all the shared drives visable and dont seem to have any probs at all. Also the printers are shared via the pc - not tried it the other way round but works well.
As a parent you can get the student n taecher version of Office for Mac 2004 for a lot less than full version.

Also you can download the beta of Bootcamp and set a partion up running XP - just done that as we needed Internet Explorer - strange seeing the windows boot up on the screen. This is a dual boot option.

If you want a chat give me a call - +36 70 326 5926

Ohh and the mac is sooo cool - I really want one for home use! but i would need at least two !

regards to the rest of the family - hope to see you again sometme

Gavin
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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