In January I started doing benchmarks between Vista & XP in Parallels, Fusion and Boot Camp. That pretty much ended up being a learning experience. Even apps some of those companies say will run on their system, will not.

Adobe turned me down for some evaluation software, and the benchmarking apps were proving unreliable. Then I got busy with other stuff. Meanwhile Vista SP1 came out and broke some things but it performed better overall. I wanted my tests to all be current.

The initial tests are done: [forums.macresource.com]

Now I know what tests I can run and what works and doesn't work about them. I'm moving onto round 2 which is to get a few games and other apps installed and test how they perform. I'll be running tests under 10 different scenarios:
XP SP3
Boot Camp
Parallels
Fusion
Boot Camp with Parallels Tools
Boot Camp with Fusion tools

Vista Ultimate SP1
Boot Camp
Parallels
Fusion
Boot Camp with Parallels Tools
Boot Camp with Fusion tools

I already ran a series of tests with different configurations for Parallels and Fusion to see with which settings they perform the best. Parallels also supplied me with a review guide. It reminded me one of the key things I'm not testing - integration between OS X and Windows. I'm not testing how long it takes to open up a Word doc from OS X in Word for Windows. All tests are done in windowed mode, 1280x720.

Anyway, I've asked before but figured before I started the second round, I would go ahead and ask again -
What do you use Windows for?

I know some of you use it to run specialized hardware devices that have no Mac support. Sorry, I wont be able to test that. I also pretty much can't test anything I don't already own the software for, or can't find a demo for.

I'll be running some games, some of the common benchmarking utilities, some custom scripts and general timed tests of basic functions (eg, logging in.)

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Netflix and some mapping software.

I use it to run some Diabetes software for my glucometer that isnt Mac compatible. Other than that, its just a "novelty" on my Mac. In my younger days I would have used it much more for the geek factor.

A Casio thermal disc printer.

Looking outside.

Quote
maco
Netflix and some mapping software.

Ok, I haven't toyed with Netflix online rentals... I'll check that out. Which mapping software?

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I use it for the production of a monthly publication. I use Quark 7.x, Photoshop CS and Acrobat 7.

I had intended to migrate this magazine to a Mac but the publisher is a certified Windows nut. He absolutely wants it to remain PC based.

This job pays me decent money (on time) so I am not going to argue.

It's funny how someone (said publisher) can constantly bad mouth the Mac OS but suffer ongoing computer problems that I find totally unacceptable.

The demographic of a typical PC user is someone who enjoys pain.

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I sit on a man’s back, choking him and making
him carry me, and yet assure myself and others
that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his
lot by all possible means — except by getting off
his back. - Leo Tolstoy, novelist and Philosopher
(1828-1910)

I think I figured out a way to benchmark Photoshop for ya, MacArtist. My new way of testing is much more tedious and takes up way more space on my server. Lots and lots of OS images.

There is a Quark 7 demo. I'll just have to figure out how to test it. Launching it would be one test.

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A secure website for work that only works for windoze - I access with Crossover

(Please excuse the temporary hijack)

Quote
maco
Netflix and some mapping software.

maco, I don't use Netflix, but what's missing from Netflix Freak? [www.thelittleappfactory.com]

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deckeda
(Please excuse the temporary hijack)

Quote
maco
Netflix and some mapping software.

maco, I don't use Netflix, but what's missing from Netflix Freak? [www.thelittleappfactory.com]

It doesn't allow you to view the DRM'd downloads Netflix offers.

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Son uses Windows for Ventrilo communication under Windows while on Blizzard's BattleNet. The audio codecs available for the Mac version are not available with all Ventrilo servers.

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Quote
M A V I C

Quote
maco
Netflix and some mapping software.

Ok, I haven't toyed with Netflix online rentals... I'll check that out. Which mapping software?

Global Mapper - the demo version:

[www.globalmapper.com]

Quote
deckeda
(Please excuse the temporary hijack)

Quote
maco
Netflix and some mapping software.

maco, I don't use Netflix, but what's missing from Netflix Freak? [www.thelittleappfactory.com]

Watching netflix instant movies.

Quote
maco

Quote
M A V I C

Quote
maco
Netflix and some mapping software.

Ok, I haven't toyed with Netflix online rentals... I'll check that out. Which mapping software?

Global Mapper - the demo version:

[www.globalmapper.com]

Thanks. I see their demo lacks a lot of functionality but they have a blurb on there about accommodating needs of those who want to try other features. I've emailed them to ask if I can get a fully functional demo.

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Downloading, editing out commercials (frame accurately), making DVD images from my TiVo, using TyTool.

I burn the DVD on my Mac and can use Mac/Java software, TySuite, to feed the video to my iPod though.

Oh and of course running Windoze Update to keep the thing up to date.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2008 11:26PM by ADent.

One of the tests I'm running, although a synthetic benchmark, is PCMark. It does have a video encoding and decoding portion so hopefully that will help demonstrate video capabilities.

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What do I use Windows for?

Absolutely nuthin'!
Say it again y'all.

I use it to access Citrix through my company, in order to access Expedition, Primavera, and other Construction-related software.

And I like playing Win42, a dominoes game. And I had a personal training program called LifeForm...but it's old and I've found other web-based solutions.

Other than that, I find it ultimately entertaining to click the "are you sure you want to do that" button that is constantly thrown at users in Windows...and checking those little boxes that say "don't display this again," which never stop the messages from coming back.

1) Outlook, outlook and outlook.

2) Powerpoint
3) citrix (ica) although when when the citrix vpn client isn't broken (ok in tiger, dead in 10.5.2 at the moment) I can use rdc on the mac for the same purposes.
4) rdc
5) various proprietary java based programs. (I have dumped the jar files for some of them on a mac and they worked fine but mac is not supported.)

I teach at a school that has only PC's so I use it on my Intel iMac to learn how to use Windows.

Quote
maco

Quote
M A V I C

Quote
maco
Netflix and some mapping software.

Ok, I haven't toyed with Netflix online rentals... I'll check that out. Which mapping software?

Global Mapper - the demo version:

[www.globalmapper.com]

Sweet, they sent me a fully functional, timed demo. If you have any suggestions on tests to run, please let me know.

Quote
katkramer
I use it to access Citrix through my company, in order to access Expedition, Primavera, and other Construction-related software.

Any of those that you'd like to see tested? I don't think I could do Citrix without someone giving me VPN access.

Quote
simonm
1) Outlook, outlook and outlook.

2) Powerpoint

Wow, in all my searching you're the first I've found that uses Office.

Quote

4) rdc

You can do that in OS X too.

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UPS Worldship

It's UPS's software that allows you to access and print from their software. For companies that do a lot of shipping and need their super discounted rates (less than half what the UPS.com site lists), it's a crucial application.

I keep wanting to try switching over to QuickBooks for Windows, mainly for their networking feature, but I'm not brave enough to try it yet.

And we use Parallels. But I'm fascinated by Crossover Mac.

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M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 27" Dell S2722QC monitors • M2 2022 13" MBAir (512G 16G) •

Watching the amazon ubox downloads. Only legal source I could find for Law & Order SVU since NBC pulled of itunes.

Sometimes office when working with others who use it, as iwork support for office isn't quite up to par for all things, and I already had the windows version of office.

sorry can't help you... I only use Windows on my Macbook to run proprietary software for my job.