Mac + Vista + FFXI = ?

[forster]

From what I have read, Vista will install on a Mac without very many problems, does this mean that FFXI should be runnable now from a Mac?

I know its kind of a long way round of doing it, but Id much prefer to use a Mac than a PC these days, so I could sell my PCs, pick up a Mac (MCB probably) and d/b Vista.

What I dont know is the performance of games under the Mac hardware, running vista.

Anyone tried or know any links to advice?

Many thanks.

[Effedup]

Re: Mac + Vista + FFXI = ?

I don't think you'll be too happy with the result, even if it is possible. Vista is the most power hungry operating system I have ever seen...and given that macs are typically just a shade under the specs of a PC, it'd be ugly.

Here's some facts concerning Vista...I work at a retailer that sells computers, and I was the one running the Vista launch on the 30th, so I demo'd all the new machines. For one thing, out of the 8 different model desktops we had for launch, 3 of those were dead right out of the box. No boot, no nothing. 3 of the 8 came standard with 512 mb of ram, which we all know is pretty much the minimum you want to run XP effectively...upon going into task manager, 90% of the page file is being used. One PC took 20 minutes to first-boot, and each boot since has taken 10-15 minutes minimum.

The thing with Vista is that it's just way too power hungry, and not stable by any stretch...trust me, I end up having to fix them all day long because stupid customers come in and try to run like 20 different programs at a time. Everytime I walk our laptop wall I have to reboot half the laptops because they got locked up. I would say about half of all our Vista machines come back within a month because they fail. It's actually a running joke in the tech shop...everytime someone sells a Vista machine the next line is "Did they buy a service plan on it? No?? Yup, they're screwed lol."

I would honestly stay far away from Vista, at least until they come out with a service pack for it. Stick with the tried and true XP on your dual boot and save yourself a LOT of headaches. Just because a thing may be possible doesn't necessarily mean you should do it.

[Mhurron]

Re: Mac + Vista + FFXI = ?

A) Mac hardware is pretty much the same as what you're calling a PC

b) Yes Vista will install provided you use Boot Camp

c) Why the hell would you? Running Vista on Apple branded hardware is no different then running it on everything you're calling a PC. The reasons for running a Mac are to use OS X on it, It's no different then anything else without the OS.

[HurfDurf]

Re: Mac + Vista + FFXI = ?

Running Vista on my MBP and it works great. I DID have a little trouble with FFXI in the begining, but I found that reinstalling the game, then copying over my old POL folder, then running POL in WinXP admin mode fixed all my problems.

So..

Vista runs fine on MACs (Home Premium upgrade was what i used)

But..

I have yet to find a good reason have it over WinXP. Pretty interface you say? Bah, I'll just boot into OSX for that


(FFXI is the only reason i use Windows)

[forster]

Re: Mac + Vista + FFXI = ?

Running Vista on my MBP and it works great. I DID have a little trouble with FFXI in the begining, but I found that reinstalling the game, then copying over my old POL folder, then running POL in WinXP admin mode fixed all my problems.
So..
Vista runs fine on MACs (Home Premium upgrade was what i used)
But..
I have yet to find a good reason have it over WinXP. Pretty interface you say? Bah, I'll just boot into OSX for that
(FFXI is the only reason i use Windows)

Thanks for the first hand knowledge, rather than those posting who have no real experience of what I was asking for.

After doing a bit more research this afternoon I found that I could also run WinXP on a Mac, which I didnt know at all, I thought Vista was the only Microsoft OS that would run on a Mac, hence why I asked about it.

Its good to see that this is possible.

To 'Effedup', I sympathise that you are having Vista problems, but Im running Vista right now, using all the apps Ive used on XP and havent had any problems aside from my memory card reader not having a Vista ready driver. No biggy. My laptop is hardly 'powerful' and I cant say Ive noticed a drain on resources - play WoW, CS, HL2, FFXI (two instances at once at one time) and all fine. While browsing the net, checking email, MSN, listening to MP3s. I havent had any problems lag / resource wise. Im confident that Vista will only improve, and yes I know a lot of people are having problems but I havent had any. Yet. Just minor inconveniences.

To 'Mhurron', actually, there are more reasons to using a Mac than running and using OSX, same as there are at running windows on a 'PC'. As Hurf said, the only reason he runs windows is to play FFXI, thats the only reason I do too, everything else I can do under OSX. What I DONT want to do is have to own a PC and a Mac, thats just a waste of money. I find that I prefer OSX for several reasons, mostly work related and graphically, yet I have 3 'PC's and no Mac. Id love to reduce that to one small server and a Mac that can run FFXI on the occasion I cant get my 360 hooked up and my gf is hogging the TV with her Wii, or Sky or whatever.

Its all about convenience, and trying to save a bit of money, space, and get the most out of my computer systems.

Thanks HurfDurf for answering my question, appreciated!