These aren’t the only options, but are some of the most common for running non-compatible software on a Mac or Linux Operating System. Here is a youtube video of one of Parallel’s demos. Instead of booting into Windows like you would do with BootCamp, Parallels opens a new window onscreen where users can run a Windows desktop via Virtual Machine.
Parallels: also for Intel-based Macs is Parallels, which is actually hardware virtualization software. Think of the GSLIS lab computers where you can choose to boot into windows. This allows Mac users to install Windows on their computers (but requires a copy of Windows as well as the know-how to partition your hard drive). It is based on Wine.īoot Camp: software that is already installed on machines running Leopard (OS 10.5) and Snow Leopard (OS 10.6). Here’s a youtube video of a Linux user playing the game Braid on his machine running Ubuntu (a distribution of Linux).ĬrossOver Games: for-pay software (though there is a free trial) created by CodeWeavers that works on Intel based Macs (not PowerPC Macs, which tend to be older… to find out what your Mac is go to the Apple in the top left of the screen and choose “About this Mac”… a window should pop up that has processor information) and Linux. Wine: free software that allows computers using Unix-like operating systems to run Windows software. Portal 2 is slated to be the first simultaneous Mac and PC release.Īlthough Windows has been the main OS for PC gaming, Mac and Linux do have options including: The images were parodies of mac ads such as The Heavy from Team Fortress 2 in a spoof of the iPod ads as well as reference to Apple’s 1984 ad. Prior to the official announcement on March 8th, teaser images featuring well-known Valve characters were sent to various Mac and gaming sites. Steam is the platform used by Valve Corporations (creators of the popular Half Life, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead and Portal games) for content delivery. News sources over a month ago began receiving images that seemed to suggest Steam was going to be available for Mac in the near future. Now that everyone’s gearing up for the end of the semester, I thought it would be nice to do a for fun post (though don’t forget, ITD still has office hours going on where you can practice presentations and ask questions!).Īpple’s iPad isn’t the only news for Mac aficionados lately.