[h7q5]

Is there a KVM swith that would allow me to use the i-mac screen? In other words, use a pc under the desk, so to speak, and switch between it, all the while using my apple keyboard and mouse? I would rather not install boot camp. A worse case scenario would include an additional monitor for the pc. Thanks for any thoughts- Larry
BACKGROUND: I recently convinced my spouse (I recently purchased a macbook pro) to switch to an i-mac 20. So, this past weekend I set up her new i-mac and pulled out her workstation. The first hurdle was an older HP LaserJet printer that wouldn't communicate with the i-mac. Okay, not an impossible task, I replaced it with a new LaserJet all-in-one. Now we've discovered that certain programs she uses for her work will only operate on IE. IE running under Rosetta functions but a later version is necessary. Bottom line- I jumped early and now need to make some amends- thanks!

[macnuke]

you cannot use the iMac screen for anything other than the iMac.
period.
which iMac does she have? G5? or Intel? if it's Intel, she can use windows on it in other ways.. either in emulation (no restart required) or a reboot into windows.
perhaps a question on that in the Windows on Mac forum would be best.
but KVM for the iMac monitor os a definite no go.
and there is no "-" in iMac /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[griffman]

Don't use Boot Camp, just buy Parallels -- for $40 (if you buy before they ship), you can get near-native Windows speed, and excellent compatibility. IE will run perfectly. And since Parallels is just an app, you can load and quit it as you wish, all from the friendly confines of OS X. No reboot required.
http://www.parallels...oducts/desktop/
I've tested it relatively extensively, and I'm pretty amazed at its performance (on a Core Duo mini and MacBook).
-rob.

[MiniMoe]

One of the peripherals on my Mini is a 3.6GHz Pentium 4 workstation with NVIDIA 7600GT under the desk. It's connected via a 5-port Netgear gigabit-ethernet switch and I use Microsoft's Remote Desktop Client for Mac to access it.
I run it at 1280 x 1024, which gives me a 17" diagonal 4:3 Windows XP window on my 23" Apple widescreen display. At that large size, using "millions" of colors (32-bit) is a little bit slow, so I stick to the default "thousands of colors" which can be 16 or 15 bit, the default (which I use). At that, it's responsive enough to keep the PC set to show window contents while dragging, but not fast enough for gaming. It also performed reasonably well when connected via 100baseT.
You might give that a try. It doesn't cost anything if you already have a network switch.
[edit] I don't run the audio across the network, but leave it on the PC. I run the output of the PC sound circuit to the secondary audio input on the speakers connected to the Mac.

[macnuke]

Rob
can you use the IE Xp browser thru parellels? that would be th eonly drawback is lack of internet support while running it.

[griffman]

Parallels has full internet support; it's just a simple pass-through from OS X. When running Parallels, you're basically using a full Windows XP inside OS X, with a few key exceptions (not all USB devices work, and there aren't presently any accelerated 3D graphics). But you have full internet, LAN access, etc.
Here's a shot of IE on Parallels. I put Parallels in the background, so you can see this thread in Camino in the foreground. But in the Parallels window, I'm about to start downloading the IE7 beta from Microsoft's site (which works fine in Paralels, too; I've installed it before).
-rob.

[macnuke]

Rob
thanks for the screenshot and info.. I haven't read up on it, but just that little bit will sell me.
my house is somewhat G5 rich.. and I am waiting patiently for a MacPro when the G5's are dc'd.
but I do believe that is truly the way to go.
thanks again for now.. I shall be reading up on it more as the ETA of the MacPros gets closer.

[PeterG]

Mark, Rob,
M,
As you know concerning my situation with specific code for IE Windows, does this sound like it would fix my problems using a Mac in a Windows Industry/ Real Estate.
If so, are there protections (A/V) I would have to add to protect my Mac from files and IE from Windows computers.
Thanks guys,
Peter

[griffman]

If your software runs in Windows and doesn't require any USB dongles or other hardware protection, and doesn't need 3D accelerated graphics, it should work just fine.
Your Mac is basically "invisible" to Windows in Parallels, unless you choose to share some folders with it, so no steps are required from an A/V point of view -- if your Windows install gets infected, your Mac files will be safe. That's not to say, though, that you won't want A/V protection on Windows /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
-rob.

[macnuke]

heh, I would be partial to the "get in and get out" closed real estate system.
then again, it IS windows. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
so normal Windows AV would be best imo.