[Aavso-photometry] Advice on Mac Models

[Lou Cohen]

Given that some astronomy software runs on Macs and some on Windows, a
reasonable option is to get a fast Mac and run Virtual PC on it. I believe
that Aaron did his observing that way for some time; perhaps he'll chime in.

Virtual PC may not run everything that a real PC runs, but perhaps there
would be a way of testing: Gary, you know I have both an iBook (G4) and a
PowerMac (G5.) Both systems have Virtual PC installed. If you've got the
software we could install it and try it out somehow.

Because Mac OS X includes UNIX it's hard to not want a Mac. However, I have
also noticed that a lot of open software has been written to run on Windows
because the platform is so dominant.

-Lou

On 9/20/05 13:50, "    Michael Koppelman" <lolife at bitstream.net> wrote:

> Were I you I'd get a Powerbook. Super portable and the only thing it
> lacks vs. the iMac is a larger screen. I run IRAF on mine and it
> works great.
> 
> I could never get the Equinox demo to work with the SBIG drivers or
> I'd probably head that way, too. I don't get why they don't have an
> eval of that. I do not buy software without trying it out. To be
> fair, the guy at EquinoX tried to get me an eval but the thing would
> expire before I got a clear night to try it out. My suspicion is that
> it is woefully inadequate compared to CCDSoft and the like.
> Considering we need to control the filter wheel, the focuser, the
> guide chip and the main chip, we are getting to be pretty high
> maintenance!
> 
> I have actually never tried Maxim because of the lack of an eval as
> well.
> 
> Cheers,
> Michael
> http://www.lolife.com/
> 
> 
> On Sep 20, 2005, at 11:17 AM, BailyHill at aol.com wrote:
> 
>> Hello;
>> 
>> Sorry if you get this post twice.   I was not sure which address
>> list was
>> current.
>> 
>> I have recently gone thru a terrible repair on my dell laptop--no
>> fault of
>> Dell's.   I have without a computer and photometry for 5 weeks now,
>> and another
>> 2 weeks is expected.   It has got me thinking that with the
>> availablility of
>> IRAF to run on a Mac, and with EquinoX Software that controls SBIG
>> cameras (I
>> have tried it) and it controls Takahashi Temma mounts (also lx200,
>> etc)--------perhaps now is the time to get a mac again.
>> 
>> I would appreciate any advice from those who know about what is
>> manditory and
>> what is nice.   I do have 2 observatories and will move the
>> computer back a
>> forth.   It could be an all in one iMacG5, or a portable iBookG4 or
>> powerbookG4.   Now that I am retired and on fixed income, I would
>> say that I want neither
>> the cheapest nor the most expensive, but the best value, and if its
>> good to
>> have, I would pay for it.
>> 
>> I would be planning on using IRAF to do the reduction.   The images
>> would be
>> saved by EquinoX as FITS.   Currently run MaximDL/CCD and if it
>> would run on a
>> Mac, I would go that way.
>> 
>> Another alternative is to buy another pc and just keep on trucking
>> with
>> Maxim.
>> 
>> Comments and Suggestions?
>> 
>> 
>> Gary Walker
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> Aavso-photometry mailing list
>> Aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org
>> http://www.aavso.org/mailman/listinfo/aavso-photometry
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Aavso-photometry mailing list
> Aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org
> http://www.aavso.org/mailman/listinfo/aavso-photometry

---------------------------
Permanent email:           loucohen at jolc.net
Cambridgeport Observatory: http://www.jolc.net
----------------------------