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Question Profile
| DATE | Apr 23, 2007 |
| TICKET | #334060 |
| STATUS | Closed |
| SUBJECT | Converting Windows 98 software for MAC |
| CAT | Computers, Operating Systems, Applications or Connected Devices |
| TYPE | Software Applications |
| DESC | Other Software |
| DESC | |
| PLATFORM | Apple Macintosh (PowerPC G3,G4,G5) |
| MODEL | MAC G% |
| PROC | 2.1 GHz PowerPC G5 |
| RAM | 1.5 GB DDR2 SDRAM |
| DRIVE | 250 GB |
| NAME | Alan |
| USERNAME | alstephens |
| TECHNICAL | Beginner |
| ISSUE | Just Started Looking |
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> Converting Windows 98 software for MAC
alstephens - Apr 23, 2007 - 4:09 pm
I have a simple Travel Planning program originally written in DOS that has been upgraded for use on Windows 98. The developer and owner tells me he does not write for MAC.
Are there people who do such conversions? How expensive is it?
Program is called EuroData. It is very simple to use and, I think, is largely a database type program. Once info is entered through a calendar-type format, the program generates an itinerary which can be printed out. Obviously, from what I have written you know I am not a programmer or software writer.
This is only a personal matter; I have not interest in selling the converted version.
I'd just like to use this program which has been a great help to me over the years in planning my own travel.
If anybody has a suggestion, I'll be glad to put them in touch with the the original writer.
Are there people who do such conversions? How expensive is it?
Program is called EuroData. It is very simple to use and, I think, is largely a database type program. Once info is entered through a calendar-type format, the program generates an itinerary which can be printed out. Obviously, from what I have written you know I am not a programmer or software writer.
This is only a personal matter; I have not interest in selling the converted version.
I'd just like to use this program which has been a great help to me over the years in planning my own travel.
If anybody has a suggestion, I'll be glad to put them in touch with the the original writer.
Stuartpau - Apr 24, 2007 - 12:53 pm
It is not really viable getting an application from another OS to work on another OS. Especially when the target computer is totally different from the one the application was written for. The original developer would have to completely rewrite the application and most would not be interested in doing this.
As you are not on an Intel Based Mac, you could try running Virtual PC, this allows you to run most Windows software inside a simulated PC on your Mac. The only thing I am not too sure of is if it runs on any OS higher that 10.3.9.
On an intel Mac you have multiple choices as you can have the Mac boot up as a PC or run a Virtual type PC called Parallels.
These are about the only ways you could have a chance at getting that application to run on a Mac.
Also of course it is illegal to rework someone else's code, so I doubt that you will find anyone who would do it for you commercially. I have heard of companies that create PC software hiring other programmers to help them compose their software to work on the Mac, but this is a very expensive process and there is a lot of things involved. Not only that, it has to be the owner of the program's copyright, that has to make that decision, not someone who purchased a license to use the software.
IF you read the agreement that you get with almost any software that you use, you will find that it is a license to use that software that you have purchased, you do NOT own the software.
Sorry, but I think that the Virtual PC is the best chance you have of actually running this software and mot certainly a lot less expensive. It is no good for games as it is a soft PC and not a real PC, but it works very well and will run a lot of other Windows based software as well so it could have multiple benefits for you.
At the kind of prices you would be talking about getting someone else to rewrite the application or one similar to it, to work on the Mac, you might as well go out, buy a MacBook Pro, the biggest meanest one they have, set it up to run as a PC or a Mac using Boot Camp (Supplied by Apple), or have it run both types of computer simultaneously by purchasing Parallels . Even with all that lot you would still be saving money.
There exists the possibility depending on exactly what the software does, that you could hire Database developer to create something similar, using Filemaker, but again I think you would find that pretty expensive as well.
If you want to take this further, you could check on the net for people who write Filemaker databases and ask them what they would charge for a piece of work like this, however I honestly feel you would be better served by using the simulated PC software that can run on most Macs running any OS before 10.4. IN fact if you have a G4 your system is still capable of booting into OS 9.2.2 and there are versions of Virtual PC that will run in that configuration and give you access to Windows software that way as well.
So you have some options, but I think that rewriting an application even with permission from the owner would be pretty cost prohibitive.
About the only other way you could go, would depend on what language the application you want converting is written in. If is written in BASIC, you could get Real Basic for the Mac and try coding the application from one type of Basic to another.
There are other languages that lend themselves to this kind of conversion, but as you are not a programmer yourself, you are still left with hiring someone to do the conversion for you.
If you have any questions related to this, drop me a line OK.
Stuart
As you are not on an Intel Based Mac, you could try running Virtual PC, this allows you to run most Windows software inside a simulated PC on your Mac. The only thing I am not too sure of is if it runs on any OS higher that 10.3.9.
On an intel Mac you have multiple choices as you can have the Mac boot up as a PC or run a Virtual type PC called Parallels.
These are about the only ways you could have a chance at getting that application to run on a Mac.
Also of course it is illegal to rework someone else's code, so I doubt that you will find anyone who would do it for you commercially. I have heard of companies that create PC software hiring other programmers to help them compose their software to work on the Mac, but this is a very expensive process and there is a lot of things involved. Not only that, it has to be the owner of the program's copyright, that has to make that decision, not someone who purchased a license to use the software.
IF you read the agreement that you get with almost any software that you use, you will find that it is a license to use that software that you have purchased, you do NOT own the software.
Sorry, but I think that the Virtual PC is the best chance you have of actually running this software and mot certainly a lot less expensive. It is no good for games as it is a soft PC and not a real PC, but it works very well and will run a lot of other Windows based software as well so it could have multiple benefits for you.
At the kind of prices you would be talking about getting someone else to rewrite the application or one similar to it, to work on the Mac, you might as well go out, buy a MacBook Pro, the biggest meanest one they have, set it up to run as a PC or a Mac using Boot Camp (Supplied by Apple), or have it run both types of computer simultaneously by purchasing Parallels . Even with all that lot you would still be saving money.
There exists the possibility depending on exactly what the software does, that you could hire Database developer to create something similar, using Filemaker, but again I think you would find that pretty expensive as well.
If you want to take this further, you could check on the net for people who write Filemaker databases and ask them what they would charge for a piece of work like this, however I honestly feel you would be better served by using the simulated PC software that can run on most Macs running any OS before 10.4. IN fact if you have a G4 your system is still capable of booting into OS 9.2.2 and there are versions of Virtual PC that will run in that configuration and give you access to Windows software that way as well.
So you have some options, but I think that rewriting an application even with permission from the owner would be pretty cost prohibitive.
About the only other way you could go, would depend on what language the application you want converting is written in. If is written in BASIC, you could get Real Basic for the Mac and try coding the application from one type of Basic to another.
There are other languages that lend themselves to this kind of conversion, but as you are not a programmer yourself, you are still left with hiring someone to do the conversion for you.
If you have any questions related to this, drop me a line OK.
Stuart
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