Would a MAC be a good choice for a laptop for reporting?

Asked by KroerTDraoU {35}
7/28/2010 6:17:55 PM

Was thinking about buying a MAC Pro Laptop because I'm almost out of school...

I would have to install windows on it so I am capable of using Case CAT...

any thoughts on this?

Flag as inappropriate

Answered by krp {57}
7/31/2010 12:03:43 AM

[0 Votes]

Vote this up

Flag as inappropriate

My software - DigitalCAT - doesn't run on Mac's OS. I would love if it did because I like my MacBook better than my laptop PCs. I wouldn't want to install Windows on my Mac because I like the Mac OS so much better than Windows and IMO it kind of defeats the purpose. I am crossing my fingers for the day DigitalCAT is Mac compatible!

Hey thanks for your response. Boot-Camp which comes on Mac, allows you to boot the laptop in windows, this way i can install CaseCAT. If i want to run OS-X, I just shut down in windows and then boot up in Mac-OS X.I heard Boot Camp is better than, VM Fusion and that other program = Parallels. BTW, I heard Boot Camp comes standard on Mac Book Pro. - KroerTDraoU 7/31/2010 5:16:37 PM | Flag

I am on a MacBook and have CaseCAT on my laptop for the last two years. I have no complaints. When I turn on my comp I have the option of going into Windows or Mac.(Just make sure you get an anti-virus when you're on Windows.) - creporter00 8/3/2010 8:36:07 AM | Flag

Add a comment

Answered by gdwarner {1174}
http://www.cheapandsleazy.net
7/31/2010 3:26:33 AM

[0 Votes]

Vote this up

Flag as inappropriate

First of all, it's Mac, *not* MAC. Writing it that way on any Mac forum will get you branded as a clueless Windows user very quickly, and any assistance you may require will be slow in coming.

That said, I have been running build 192 (an older version) of digitalCAT on my Mac for about a week or so now, under VMWare Fusion, and everything was working fine.

I installed a piece of software that required me to install the dot net framework. Alas, digitalCAT was running at the time, but I didn't think anything of it.

Long story short, when I switched back to digitalCAT, it happily told me that my license had expired (I should have had about 80 days left).

No problem, I thought, I'll just download the latest updater and install that ... and that's where the trouble really began!

During the updating process, I saw a little message that basically said, "Are you running digitalCAT under a VM?"

Well, duh, yes I am! I thought, and dismised the annoying message.

That gave me another message about an expired license -- except this time, there were no numbers for me to read to Support!

I called anyway, and the support tech had me download the program that would allow him to "drive" my Mac's PC side. He quickly verified that what I told him was correct, then he said, "Wait a minute. Are you trying to run digitalCAT on a Mac?" (I think in his head, he actually said "MAC," but that's neither here nor there). I told him I was.

He then said, "Oh, digitalCAT doesn't work on Macs." I asked since when? It was working just fine a few minutes ago.

He replied that with the latest build (202010.04.004), digitalCAT NO LONGER WORKS ON MACs(!!!)

As you might guess, I was less than pleased, and remembered that I had an Eclipse disk lying around here somewhere (still haven't found that one) and hung up.

I actually ended up deleting my Windows XP virtual machine, and reinstalling it under an updated version (version 2.0.x, instead of the newer 3.0, which I can't run on my older MacBook Pro) of VMWare Fusion ... and this time, I installed the software that required the dot-net framework FIRST, and will not go any higher than build 192.

Stenovations, I am really, really disappointed in you.

Well, thank you, I appreciate the advice. I already have a Mac, but I'm not running Boot Camp on it with Windows.My apologies on MAC technicality...heheIt's the fact that I'm thinking about buying Mac Book Pro, and I'm going to be using Case Catalyst; just wanted to make sure people haven't reported too many problems running CaseCAT via Boot Camp with Windows. Thanks again :) - KroerTDraoU 7/31/2010 5:23:41 PM | Flag

Hi!A couple years back the JCR had an article about running CC on Macs. It was called CAT on a Hot Tin ... Mac?!, and the author talked about the various options for running CAT software on Macs. Alas, I can't recall which issue it was, but it was within the past two years.As for my Tale of Woe, I deleted the Windows VM and reinstalled Windows, being very careful to install the dot net framework *first* before installing digitalCAT ... and it works much better!As for buying a Mac, this is a great time to do that, because Apple has an educational discount going. I got $100 off on a a new 15 MacBook Pro ... and I got a $200 rebate on an iPod Touch (8GB, alas). They also offered a printer ($100 off on a $100 printer), but I didn't have an extra $100. The offer expires on or about the 6th of September, so you have some time! - gdwarner 8/2/2010 5:59:40 AM | Flag

Add a comment

	Comments from Facebook
		Brenda MacNaughton I`ve heard that reporters who get their software to run just love it. I`ve tried install Case on my Mac. I purchase the software Fusionware to do this. I was able to install Windows XP and Case with any issues. But I could never get it to recognize my security key. I tried the obvious fix of making sure it was recognizing my USB, but I never did get it work. It was an expensive experiment. Friday, July 30, 2010

		Kate Piper I have heard it is wonderful from the ONE source I know who has done it. I have a MAC at home, but the county I work for provides a PC. I would much rather try with the MAC than be on this, but I don`t have that option. Best of luck :) Friday, July 30, 2010

		Dawn Herbert Ryan I know that when I was looking into a new laptop, I found that most of the court reporting software wasn`t compatible with a Mac... I hope that has changed since, since Mac`s are the best computers ever! Good luck! Friday, July 30, 2010

		Susan Wight France Simonetti FYI, I just bought a Toshiba and the keyboard is very comfortable. I have Case Cat on it. Friday, July 30, 2010

		Beverly Thomas There are many reporters who run their CAT software on MACs. If you want to get some great advice from them, check out The Courters Forum at http://community.compuserve.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=start&webtag=ws-crforum. Friday, July 30, 2010

		Melanie Bruno I have a Macbook Pro and running CaseCat on the windows 7 side of it and I love it everything works great!! Friday, July 30, 2010

		Michael Simon I LOVE my I-mac. you have to partition the hard drive but it`s easy peasy! Friday, July 30, 2010

		Katherine Cullman Eclipse recommends using a program called Boot Camp. I understand it partitions between Windows and the Mac operating system. They also said it runs great, very efficiently. Since Macs now use an Intel chip, basically you can run anything, both programs. Friday, July 30, 2010

		Monica Moore If u have time for training on how it works with out software, yes. Otherwise stick with windows XP, none of that other junk Friday, July 30, 2010

		Anita Spurger Carrasco After getting about 400 viruses on my trusty PC (thanks, Facebook!), I decided to purchase a Mac. Like someone else mentioned, after installing the VMware Fusion, it`s difficult to get it to recognize my Case key. It`s hit or miss. Sometimes it`ll take it on the first time and other times, it takes up to 30 minutes or more. Another thing to think about is if your laptop is going to be your sole computer and you`re freelance, producing your own transcripts, many of the softwares that we use a Friday, July 30, 2010

		Kayla Rauscher I just upgraded to Windows 7 in January and bought a ThinkPad SL510. It`s awesome and I don`t need an external mic to record audio. Friday, July 30, 2010

		Brenda Hutchinson Boyce Kayla, so are you saying the ThinkPad`s mic pics up the audio well? I used to have an IBM ThinkPad and the audio was EXCELLENT! Then I switched to a Fujitsu and need an external mic and it`s still not as good as my ThinkPad`s audio was. Was thinking about trying a Lenovo ThinkPad, but wasn`t sure what the audio was like compared to my IBM. Sunday, August 01, 2010

		Brenda Hutchinson Boyce Kayla, so are you saying the ThinkPad`s mic pics up the audio well? I used to have an IBM ThinkPad and the audio was EXCELLENT! Then I switched to a Fujitsu and need an external mic and it`s still not as good as my ThinkPad`s audio was. Was thinking about trying a Lenovo ThinkPad, but wasn`t sure what the audio was like compared to my IBM. Sunday, August 01, 2010