Any computer people here? Mac friendly - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Chrisco22 · 11-20-2014, 09:28 PM

I know this isn't the right forum exactly, but i figured i would give it a try. I recently purchased a macbook pro (mid 2010).. Didn't want to spend 12-1500 since its my first mac and i was very skeptical about using it. Long story short, i am in love with the mac. It runs 10000x better than the 6-8 month old HP laptop i had. The only problem i am running into is this. I am giving my old laptop to my sister for college this weekend. And i use my laptop to tune the car. They only have software for PC. I realize there are programs like "Parsallas" (hope thats spelled right) that you can run your PC on the mac. I need something like this, and hopefully soon, so i can tune my car and do all that small stuff. I would like to data log it and everything and hopefully update my tune (just took to the track for the first time yesterday and had a great time.. perhaps the modding bug is back

).

I am hoping to get some help with installing a such program and not looking to spend valuable money on it (money i can be throwing into my car). I just graduated school and am not exactly wealthy as of yet. Any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated.

45thCamaro · 11-20-2014, 09:42 PM

Look into VMware fusion too. This will allow you to run another OS inside of Mac and the whole windows partition is a single file. You could always use boot camp to run windows separately if you wanted to go that route.

Merc · 11-20-2014, 11:17 PM

I switched to Mac a few years back...................................but kept my PC laptop to use EFI Live.

TheGhosty · 11-20-2014, 11:24 PM

I have had the same problem in the past. I switched from an HP laptop to a custom PC desktop and a MacBook Pro. Before you ditch your old laptop see if the program will run off a flashdrive. Then you can borrow someones laptop if you want to switch your tune or even buy a cheap used laptop with a bad battery.

I have little experience running PC programs on a mac and while I do think you could get it to work if you spent some time on it I'm not sure about the cable. I don't know how you could get PC drivers for the cable to work on a mac. I believe this is your biggest hurdle.

45thCamaro · 11-21-2014, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGhosty

I have had the same problem in the past. I switched from an HP laptop to a custom PC desktop and a MacBook Pro. Before you ditch your old laptop see if the program will run off a flashdrive. Then you can borrow someones laptop if you want to switch your tune or even buy a cheap used laptop with a bad battery.

I have little experience running PC programs on a mac and while I do think you could get it to work if you spent some time on it I'm not sure about the cable. I don't know how you could get PC drivers for the cable to work on a mac. I believe this is your biggest hurdle.

Shouldn't be an issue. If the drivers are something that windows sees and installs automatically once you plug in the device and tell the program that you want that device to access windows, it will see the device as normal. In the event of the drivers having to be installed manually, if you can find the drivers, you can instal them as you normally would.

130R · 11-21-2014, 07:18 AM

I've tried several emulators, and Apple's Boot Camp works the best, and what I use to run HPTuners.

All you need is an appropriate Windows OS. Once your drive is partitioned and the OS installed, you just hold down the Option key at startup when you want to boot into Windows.

https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

stoopid · 11-21-2014, 08:05 AM

Could also get a cheap used laptop for just running the tuning software.

JaniMaks · 11-21-2014, 08:27 AM

As 45th said look into Vmware fusion, and BTW OP i think the program you are referring to is called "Parallels".

With Vmware you will be able to run a windows virtual machine within your MAC laptop. Giving you the flexibility to use any Windows program from within the virtual machine. No need to buy a new laptop, use that money towards a mod instead

sting808 · 11-22-2014, 01:47 AM

To be safe, run native win OS using bootcamp. It's free, but you'll need to pay for the win OS. VMs have quirks with hardware drivers running through the native Mac OS, plus the overhead.

I've been using mid 2010 MacBook pro 13" running win 7 pro bootcamp. No problems so far. Upgraded to 512 SSD a couple years back and it's still kicking. Got a surface pro 2, but win 8.1 touchscreen would suck for data logging.

hawk02 · 11-22-2014, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 130R

I've tried several emulators, and Apple's Boot Camp works the best, and what I use to run HPTuners.

All you need is an appropriate Windows OS. Once your drive is partitioned and the OS installed, you just hold down the Option key at startup when you want to boot into Windows.

https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

I second 130R's recommendation. Boot camp will be your best option.

The biggest issue you'll face using your mac will be getting Windows installed on it. Since you say you have a mid-2010 MacBook I'm guessing it has a built-in CD-ROM drive. This will make the install process a whole lot easier.

I have an original MacBook Air with no CD-ROM drive. I'm an experienced Mac user but after analyzing the situation I just thought it was going to be too much effort to get Windows on my MB Air. I ended up buying a refurbished HP laptop with Window 7 Home Premium. It's kludgy and slow but works well enough with HP Tuners and the DashLogic config utility.

45thCamaro · 11-22-2014, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawk02

I second 130R's recommendation. Boot camp will be your best option.

The biggest issue you'll face using your mac will be getting Windows installed on it. Since you say you have a mid-2010 MacBook I'm guessing it has a built-in CD-ROM drive. This will make the install process a whole lot easier.

I have an original MacBook Air with no CD-ROM drive. I'm an experienced Mac user but after analyzing the situation I just thought it was going to be too much effort to get Windows on my MB Air. I ended up buying a refurbished HP laptop with Window 7 Home Premium. It's kludgy and slow but works well enough with HP Tuners and the DashLogic config utility.

If you had a windows disc, why wouldn't you copy the disc onto a flash drive?

402 · 11-22-2014, 01:02 PM

Apple's boot camp for sure, last thing you want to do is have something glitch and end up bricking an ecu.

Chrisco22 · 11-23-2014, 11:55 AM

IF I HAVE A WINDOWS DISC FOR OTHER LAPTOP, CAN I SIMPLY USE THAT TO INSTALL WINDOWS ON HERE?

45thCamaro · 11-23-2014, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisco22

IF I HAVE A WINDOWS DISC FOR OTHER LAPTOP, CAN I SIMPLY USE THAT TO INSTALL WINDOWS ON HERE?

Yes

11-20-2014, 09:28 PM	#1
Chrisco22 Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro LS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: United States Posts: 368	Any computer people here? Mac friendly I know this isn't the right forum exactly, but i figured i would give it a try. I recently purchased a macbook pro (mid 2010).. Didn't want to spend 12-1500 since its my first mac and i was very skeptical about using it. Long story short, i am in love with the mac. It runs 10000x better than the 6-8 month old HP laptop i had. The only problem i am running into is this. I am giving my old laptop to my sister for college this weekend. And i use my laptop to tune the car. They only have software for PC. I realize there are programs like "Parsallas" (hope thats spelled right) that you can run your PC on the mac. I need something like this, and hopefully soon, so i can tune my car and do all that small stuff. I would like to data log it and everything and hopefully update my tune (just took to the track for the first time yesterday and had a great time.. perhaps the modding bug is back ). I am hoping to get some help with installing a such program and not looking to spend valuable money on it (money i can be throwing into my car). I just graduated school and am not exactly wealthy as of yet. Any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated. __________________ 2011 Camaro LS: [Rally Yellow] [22" Status Rims] [BBK Long Tube Headers w/ High Flow Cats] [Trifecta Tune] [K&N CAI] [Blacked out Bow Ties and Tail Lights] [15% Tint] [MAC Mufflers] [Rear Cat Delete] [Vmax Black Ice]

11-20-2014, 11:17 PM	#3
Merc In The Circle Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SSRS IOM M6 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Abbotsford BC Canada Posts: 11,291	I switched to Mac a few years back...................................but kept my PC laptop to use EFI Live. __________________ My Build Thread

11-20-2014, 11:24 PM	#4
TheGhosty Drives: '11 SW 1LT RS Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Granite Bay, CA Posts: 717	I have had the same problem in the past. I switched from an HP laptop to a custom PC desktop and a MacBook Pro. Before you ditch your old laptop see if the program will run off a flashdrive. Then you can borrow someones laptop if you want to switch your tune or even buy a cheap used laptop with a bad battery. I have little experience running PC programs on a mac and while I do think you could get it to work if you spent some time on it I'm not sure about the cable. I don't know how you could get PC drivers for the cable to work on a mac. I believe this is your biggest hurdle. __________________

11-21-2014, 08:27 AM	#8
JaniMaks ~ Confused ~ Drives: 2014 Camaro 2LS Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 151	As 45th said look into Vmware fusion, and BTW OP i think the program you are referring to is called "Parallels". With Vmware you will be able to run a windows virtual machine within your MAC laptop. Giving you the flexibility to use any Windows program from within the virtual machine. No need to buy a new laptop, use that money towards a mod instead __________________ Never Give In ! CAI Cold Air Intake, MRT V2 (03/01/2016), VTC (03/01/2016)

11-23-2014, 11:55 AM	#13
Chrisco22 Drives: 2011 Chevy Camaro LS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: United States Posts: 368	IF I HAVE A WINDOWS DISC FOR OTHER LAPTOP, CAN I SIMPLY USE THAT TO INSTALL WINDOWS ON HERE? __________________ 2011 Camaro LS: [Rally Yellow] [22" Status Rims] [BBK Long Tube Headers w/ High Flow Cats] [Trifecta Tune] [K&N CAI] [Blacked out Bow Ties and Tail Lights] [15% Tint] [MAC Mufflers] [Rear Cat Delete] [Vmax Black Ice]

11-20-2014, 09:42 PM	#2
45thCamaro Drives: 2012 Camaro 45th Anniversary RS Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: New York Posts: 2,418	Look into VMware fusion too. This will allow you to run another OS inside of Mac and the whole windows partition is a single file. You could always use boot camp to run windows separately if you wanted to go that route.

11-21-2014, 07:18 AM	#6
130R Drives: SS Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: USA Posts: 221	I've tried several emulators, and Apple's Boot Camp works the best, and what I use to run HPTuners. All you need is an appropriate Windows OS. Once your drive is partitioned and the OS installed, you just hold down the Option key at startup when you want to boot into Windows. https://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/

11-21-2014, 08:05 AM	#7
stoopid Drives: 4 wheels Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: anyplace, USA Posts: 1,177	Could also get a cheap used laptop for just running the tuning software.

11-22-2014, 01:47 AM	#9
sting808 Drives: 2010 SS RS Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii Posts: 930	To be safe, run native win OS using bootcamp. It's free, but you'll need to pay for the win OS. VMs have quirks with hardware drivers running through the native Mac OS, plus the overhead. I've been using mid 2010 MacBook pro 13" running win 7 pro bootcamp. No problems so far. Upgraded to 512 SSD a couple years back and it's still kicking. Got a surface pro 2, but win 8.1 touchscreen would suck for data logging.

11-22-2014, 01:02 PM	#12
402 Drives: Camaro Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: NEB Posts: 242	Apple's boot camp for sure, last thing you want to do is have something glitch and end up bricking an ecu.