Preview: Running DW on an Intel Mac using Parallels

[David Owen]

This 10-step outline is a high-level description of how I recently got DesignWorkshop running on an Intel Mac using DesignWorkshop for Windows, Parallels 5 and a copy of Windows XP.

For the uninitiated: This kludge may actually be seen as a step forward for the die-hard (and beloved) DW Mac user because current versions of DW for Mac don't run on an Intel Mac - only on PowerPC Macs.

Sometime in the near future, I'll post a much more detailed step-by-step report with links and screenshots.

DW on Parallels

1. Install Parallels (standard Mac OS installer stuff)

2. Install Windows (point Parallels at the Windows disk, pick your preferred Windows installation options, wait, wait some more.)

3. Install DW (straightforward)

4. Launch DW, if you get a QD3D error, do #5, or else, skip to #6.

5. Install QuickDraw 3D using the QuickTime 5.0 installer, custom installation option (the QT 5.0 may want to defer to the QT 6.5.2 installer, if the installer insists on 6.5.2, install _only_ QuickDraw 3D.)

6. Try using the Block Tool. If the Alt key doesn't work as expected, remap "alt" to "Z". (couple steps in Parallels)

7. If you're a Mac user, consider remapping the "Control" key to the "Command" key.

8. Decide how you'd like to use Parallels: Coherency mode, Crystal mode, Full screen mode, etc.

9. Know a bit about Parallels: get to release control of the keyboard and mouse from Windows (press Control+Alt); depending on your installed RAM and processor speed, be prepared for performance bog-down in your other Mac apps too.

10. Go forth, fair modeler, and create!

Please send any questions, corrections, clarifications or comments to support@artifice.com

[Rolando]

Will DW run in Windows 7? I'm hesitant to install Windows because of lack of need, but if I were to, I would want to use the best available, which is Windows 7, not Windows XP. Also, what about the expense? Purchase the Parallels program, the Windows system, a PC version of DW? I don't know, I think I'd rather spend the money on an OSX version of DW. ???