[Aavso-photometry] Advice on Mac Models

Wed Sep 21 06:44:34 EDT 2005

> 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.

 Gary and I talked about this at the recent CV Syposium so that's why I haven't chimed in
publicly yet. Yes I used an iBook with Virtual PC and a serial to USB adapter from Belkin
to run my mount and CCD camera. The mount worked perfectly but I had some problem with the
CCD camera. However, I feel that error was with the camera software and not Virtual PC due
to tests I did with a regular PC.  However, this was ~4 years ago and now VirtualPC is
owned by Microsoft and many new versions have been released with considerable changes. So
I can't attest to whether the current Virtual PC works as well as the former versions. You
really need to try one. I believe Apple has a 15 day no-questions-asked return policy.
 I love my Macs and we are converting most of the AAVSO HQ workstations to Macs. If you
are serious about astronomy then Macs are definitely the way to go. At each AAS meeting I
notice a higher and higher percentage of Macs around. I'd estimate it at around 60% now in
the professional community. The UNIX system just makes it so much powerful and they are a
breeze to use. Although, you can of course be very effective on a Windows PC as well. I
usually recommend people get what they are familiar with because you can get most anything
to do what you want if you are dogged and patient enough. But when people are completely
open and don't prefer one over another, I recommend Macs. In Gary's case, I'd get the
highest end iBook or the lowest end Powerbook and just move it from one observatory to the
next. Get a memory upgrade of at least 512MB extra. It's a small price and will give you
the biggest impact in terms of speed and useability.

Aaron

> 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
> >> 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > 
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> 
> ---------------------------
> Permanent email:           loucohen at jolc.net
> Cambridgeport Observatory: http://www.jolc.net
> ----------------------------
> 
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-- 
Aaron Price (PAH), Technical Assistant, Technology
American Association of Variable Star Observers
http://www.aavso.org