01-25-2011, 01:07 PM

I have just purchased a Macbook with decent spec and am wondering if I can safely run windows based software on it.
I have a few pieces of software based on the automotive ecu software sector and it runs well on a pc but it is processor intensive and burns them out within 6 months to the point they run so slow I end up giving them away to my kids school.
Problem is, I have lots of files within this software and have to reload them one by one taking ages.

The software itself has a security key (usb) which enables the software to open on the pc so my question is, if I had windows on mac software wouldit act just like a pc?

01-25-2011, 01:13 PM

Yes, if you load Windows on your Mac it will work the same as your Windows computer. If you're doing something that is resources-intensive (uses lots of CPU/RAM), you will want to load it through Bootcamp (app that comes with your Mac).
If it's something quick and simple like MS Office or some other software that isn't a resource hog, you could go through a Virtual Machine like Parallels or Fusion. This allows you to open "Windows" while running your Mac OS as if it was another app. You don't have to re-boot like you would with Bootcamp.

01-25-2011, 02:19 PM

The software itself has a security key (usb) which enables the software to open on the pc so my question is, if I had windows on mac software wouldit act just like a pc?

Having to use a USB security dongle is probably going to require that Windows be installed to a separate partition using the Boot Camp assistant. Trying to run that software from a VM may not work because of the security key.

You can give it a try if you wish, but Parallels or Fusion is going to cost you $$ to buy along with needing a legal copy of Windows. VirtualBox from Oracle is free but not as robust as the other two. I would suggest trying VB if you wish to go the VM route.

01-25-2011, 02:30 PM

Thanks for the replies.
The money isnt an issue, the major point is reliability, its a work tool so I can claim it back

01-25-2011, 04:07 PM

I actually think the USB dongle will work fine through a VM. Since other USB peripherals are pretty much compatible, all the app is doing is making a call to the driver services to access the port, sends in a little value, return a hash and confirms.

I'm almost positive someone from another board was running HPTuners through a VM under OSX. If you're not familiar it's a tuning solution for several different models, I had it for my Z06, and it uses a USB interface to communicate to the OBD-II port.

01-25-2011, 06:05 PM

hi. i have a macbook white one. is this post about using a usb dongle and parallels vm. cos thats wot i do. i havw win7 running on paralells alongside my mac osx. if it is all u do is connect through mac osx and the vm shares the connection...simple...if u can read this post then it is working fine....parallels 6....t mobile dongle....all is good...hope this helps....

01-25-2011, 06:07 PM

ps....using the same dongle under bootcamp also works fine...it just auto connects under its own software and works without a hitch...just a standard dongle from pc world....

01-25-2011, 07:50 PM

A T-Mobile dongle is not the same as a security dongle which much supply the correct hash or the application will not work. Some dongles will work in a virtualization environment while others won't. It depends on the particular software being used.

01-25-2011, 08:27 PM

Yeah, I wish I still had my HPTuners setup, I'd give it a try just for hoots (even though I don't think that's the system the OP is using).

Actually OP, tell us more about the ECU software I'm a car nut and have done a bit of my own tuning, own a couple of diag/scan tools, etc.