Can PC software run on iMac?

Godiva500

Hi

I used to have a mac, many years ago. I loved it so much, but i changed to pc to get the software that I wanted at that time.

I now have the chance to get the new iMac, and replace my old pc. My question is with modern software, will my external pc files (99% jpegs and ps) on my hard drive, load on to my iMac,will my new photoshop software (6) , work on either PC or mac? In other words does modern software work on either pc or mac, without too many problems?
Very grateful for any advice given.

Cycrow

It depends what OS you are running on the Mac. Most modern macs can run Windows as well as MacOS.

if its running MacOS then windows software will not run on it. Many software will have a mac version that you can use instead. And there are ways of getting some software to work using a kind of emulator.

for your basic files like videos/images, etc. They will run on either without a problem.

Photoshop you can get both mac and pc versions, althou i dont know if you have to buy them separately

securityguy

Godiva500 wrote: »

Hi

I used to have a mac, many years ago. I loved it so much, but i changed to pc to get the software that I wanted at that time.

I now have the chance to get the new iMac, and replace my old pc. My question is with modern software, will my external pc files (99% jpegs and ps) on my hard drive, load on to my iMac,will my new photoshop software (6) , work on either PC or mac? In other words does modern software work on either pc or mac, without too many problems?
Very grateful for any advice given.

jpegs yes.

In principle, you could run Windows Photoshop in something like Parallels, but it rather defeats the object of buying a Mac. Photoshop will run, in its OSX incarnation, but that involve buying it afresh. I have a feeling that some Adobe licensing actually covers both versions, but it will depend on exactly what you have.

Windows software does not runs natively on a Mac, and vice versa. There are versions for both platforms available for most major applications, and in the few obvious cases (no visio for Mac) there are usable alternatives.

macman

Almost all of your data files should open on the Mac without issue. But you will need to buy new Mac-based application software for any existing programs that aren't dual-platform.
Not sure on CS6, but the documentation should make it quite clear.

almillar

OSX (which will come on an iMac) needs OSX apps. Your Photoshop will be a Windows program.
As has been said above, JPEG, MP3, ZIP etc are just data files, you just need the right software to read them, all of which for the above 3 is free in OSX.
If you actually want to run Windows programs on your Mac you can, but not free:
You can cut off a bit of your hard drive on your mac (partition) and install windows onto it. You can then reboot your computer, and run Windows, and reboot back into OSX (this would let you install your copy of Photoshop). You would need to buy Windows.
You can also get 'Virtual Machine' software, which is a computer inside a computer. You still need to buy Windows, but it runs inside OSX, no need to reboot. Parallels Desktop is a really good one with stacks of features, but costs. VMWare Fusion is free, not quite as easy to use and I'm sure doesn't perform quite as well, but suits my needs.

Lum

Short version: Unless you want to faff with dual booting or virtual machines, you'll most likely need to buy another copy of Photoshop.

If you do want to faff with dual booting or virtual machines, you'll need to buy another copy of Windows.

Buying a Mac to run Windows seems like a huge waste of money to me.

securityguy

almillar wrote: »

VMWare Fusion is free, not quite as easy to use and I'm sure doesn't perform quite as well, but suits my needs.

Since when has Fusion been free? Are you sure you aren't confusing it with VirtualBox, which is free?

Godiva500

Thanks for all of your advice.

Godiva500

New question please

I know i am being thick, but

I am thinking about this iMac

Apple 21.5" iMac 8GB RAM, 1TB i5 Quad Core LED Backlit Screen,

I can't for the life of me work out where you can insert CD's to download software etc? I have looked through the descriptions etc and can't find any reference to this. Where is the slot?

securityguy

Godiva500 wrote: »

New question please

I know i am being thick, but

I am thinking about this iMac

Apple 21.5" iMac 8GB RAM, 1TB i5 Quad Core LED Backlit Screen,

I can't for the life of me work out where you can insert CD's to download software etc? I have looked through the descriptions etc and can't find any reference to this. Where is the slot?

No optical drive. You can buy an external one if you want (they're about fifty quid for the Apple one, which works off one USB port, or the cheaper sort that needs two probably work) but all that slimness doesn't come without a cost. I've got a bunch of OSX machines (six in the house) and I doubt that the optical drives we have left get used more than once a year. You'll find that the vast majority of software is now available online. There are some applications that are so big that downloading isn't viable (for example, Sibelius full version comes on four DVDs) but that's why you have a portable drive for those rare occasions.

Apple got laughed at when they took floppy drives away, too.

SuperHan

There used to be some of talk of Adobe doing a trade in on Photoshop, where if you contacted them they would take away an old license and issue a new Mac license instead.

Not sure of the validity, or if this still happens, but most definitely worth a try!