OS X, Linux, Solaris Consulting

Organizations often depend on software applications designed to run solely on Windows. For businesses with a combination of Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows desktops, there are two basic solutions for using Microsoft Windows-dependent applications on an Apple Mac: an external connection to a physical Windows PC or local emulation of a Windows environment on a Mac computer. Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac allows you to connect a Mac to a remote Microsoft Windows-based PC to use Microsoft Windows applications and access system resources. Remote Desktop Connection Client for Apple Mac is included in Office for Mac 2011 and features significant improvements over previous releases. Microsoft's Virtual PC for Apple Mac emulates Microsoft Windows on an Apple Mac computer so that you can use Microsoft Windows programs directly. Microsoft's Virtual PC for Mac was available in high-end editions of Microsoft Office 2004 for Apple Mac but is not included in the latest releases of Microsoft Office for Apple Mac.

Progent's Apple Mac OS X consultants can assist you to manage these products for running Microsoft Windows programs on your Apple Macs and can also assist your business to assess and configure other products for Microsoft Windows platform simulation.

Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection for Mac
Remote Desktop Connection for Apple Mac enables you to attach your Mac to a Microsoft Windows-powered computer to run Microsoft Windows software, access files, and share system resources. You can copy files between your Mac and your Windows-based system and print from Microsoft Windows applications to any printers connected to your Mac.

Desktop simulation requires relatively modest processing utilization from the client Mac and therefore in most situations provides higher performance than processor emulation. To connect to a Windows-powered computer, you must have network connectivity and permissions to attach to the computer. The Microsoft Windows machine must also be running Terminal Services or Remote Desktop. Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection for Mac is provided as a no-cost download or as a component of Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 and is compatible with Windows Server 2008, 2003, Windows XP Professional, and Windows 2000.

MS Remote Desktop Connection for Mac version 2 provides enhanced capabilities including:

• A GUI interface and options bar that makes the attachment window simpler to operate
• Remote Desktop Protocol 6.0 for faster throughput and Vista and Windows 7 compatibility
• Multiple session support for managing connections with multiple computers
• Automatic re-attach for resuming a remote session if you drop the network connection
• Window sizing alternatives for executing the remote connection in full-screen mode or in a resizable window
• Mac printer support for printing Windows documents on a Mac-connected printer
• Network Level Authentication for improved security when attaching to Vista and Windows 7 computers
• Higher screen resolution to support wide-screen monitors
• Streamlined login options for enhanced efficiency

Microsoft's Virtual PC for Apple Mac
Microsoft's Virtual PC for Apple Mac emulates an Intel/AMD-type processor and turns a Mac into the equivalent of Windows computer that allows you to access Windows programs, files, and network resources. Processor simulation is processor intensive on the client Apple Mac and trades off some performance for convenience, versatility, and a more complete array of capabilities. Microsoft's Virtual PC 7 for Mac is compatible with the Apple Mac G5 platform and Apple Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) and was provided with the Professional Edition of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac.

Key benefits of Microsoft's Virtual PC 7 for Mac include:

• Shared Files and Temporary Media enables folder and media sharing between Windows and Apple Mac applications and permits storing files in a folder on an Apple Mac and accessing them from within Microsoft Windows
• Shared Mac and Windows PC Appliances makes it possible to access to a variety of Windows PC and Apple Mac appliances such as printers and external disks, even ones made exclusively to be used with a Microsoft Windows computer
• Cross-platform Cut and Paste enables Microsoft Virtual PC 7 for Mac and an Apple Mac program to use the same clipboard for cutting and pasting between Microsoft Windows and Mac platforms
• A Fast Save feature permits you to turn off a virtual PC in one step and start again from that position
• No Set-up Printing for Panther systems (Mac OS X 10.3) does away with the need to download specific printer drivers. It is possible to click Print and use the same printing capability and software drivers used by the Apple Mac OS.

How Progent's Apple Mac Experts Can Help You to Use Microsoft Windows Software on Macs
Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers and Mac technology experts can assist you to select and install appropriate applications to allow your Apple Mac clients to run Windows software. In addition, Progent can help your organization to incorporate your Macs efficiently into your network infrastructure to enhance stability, throughput, and security and to optimize business value. Progent can in addition provide Mac and Microsoft Exchange Consulting as well as Mac OS X Education.

Contact Progent to Find Help for Running Microsoft Windows Software on Macs
If your organization is looking for a Mac expert, phone Progent at 800-993-9400 or email Progent at apple-help@progent.com.

Progent's Help for UNIX Environments
Progent's UNIX-family consulting experts offer small businesses and developers assistance with administering and supporting UNIX/Linux/OS X-based networks that can coexist with Microsoft technology. Progent offers your organization the services of UNIX technical professionals, certified Microsoft engineers, Cisco-certified CCIEs, and security specialists certified by CISM. This broad range of expertise offers your company a readily available one-stop resource to assist your business to build and manage a secure and reliable multi-vendor network and communications infrastructure that incorporates Microsoft technology with leading derivatives of UNIX including: Mac OS X, Sun Solaris, IBM AIX OS, HP-UX, BSD, SCO and Silicon Graphics IRIX (SGI/IRIX) or important Linux platforms such as RedHat Linux, SUSE Linux, Debian GNU/Linux and CentOS, Ubuntu, Mandriva Linux, PCLOS, fedora, and Gentoo.