UNIX, macOS and OS X, Linux, Sun Solaris Expertise

Companies commonly rely on software applications designed to run solely on Microsoft Windows. For businesses that have a mix of Mac and Windows computers, there are two popular alternatives for running Windows-only software on an Apple Mac: remote control of an actual Windows PC or local simulation of a Windows operating system on a Mac computer. Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection Client for Apple Mac allows you to attach an Apple Mac to a remote Microsoft Windows-powered computer to use Microsoft Windows applications and access network resources. Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac is a component of Office for Mac and features significant improvements over previous versions. Virtual PC for Apple Mac simulates Windows on an Apple Mac computer so you can run Windows software directly. Virtual PC for Apple Mac was included in high-end versions of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac but is not included in the current versions of Microsoft Office for Mac. VMware Fusion allows you to run Windows as well as most other operating systems on a Mac.

Progent's macOS and OS X support experts can assist your business to manage these solutions for using Windows software on your Apple Macs and can also assist your organization to assess and install third-party solutions for Windows platform simulation.

Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection Client for Apple Mac
Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac allows you to connect your Mac to a Windows-based computer to execute Windows software, exchange documents, and utilize network resources. You can copy files between your Mac and your Microsoft Windows-based system and output from Windows applications to any printers attached to your Mac.

Desktop simulation demands relatively modest CPU power from the local Mac and therefore in typical situations offers higher performance than processor emulation. To attach to a Windows-powered computer, you need network connectivity and permissions to connect to the computer. The Microsoft Windows machine must also be running either Terminal Services or Remote Desktop. Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac is available as a free download or as part of Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 and is compatible with Windows Server 2008, 2003, Windows XP Professional, and Microsoft Windows 2000.

Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection for Mac version 2 provides enhanced features that include:

• A GUI interface and options bar that makes the connection window simpler to operate
• Remote Desktop Protocol version 6.0 for faster performance and Vista and Windows 7 compatibility
• Multiple session capability for managing sessions with multiple computers
• Automatic reconnection for restarting a session if you lose the network connection
• Session Window sizing options for executing the remote connection as a full screen or in a resizable window
• Mac printing compatibility for printing Microsoft Windows documents on a Mac-attached printer
• Network Level Authentication (NLA) for improved protection when attaching to Windows Vista and Windows 7 PCs
• Improved screen resolution to accommodate wide-screen displays
• Faster login procedures for improved efficiency

Virtual PC for Mac
Virtual PC for Mac emulates an Intel/AMD-type CPU and turns an Apple Mac into the equivalent of Microsoft Windows machine that permits you to utilize Windows PC software, files, and network resources. Processor simulation is processor intensive on the local Apple Mac and loses some speed for convenience, versatility, and a richer array of features. Virtual PC 7 for Mac is compatible with the Apple Mac G5 processor and Apple Mac OS X version 10.3 (Panther) and was included with the Professional Edition of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac.

Important features of Virtual PC version 7 include:

• Shared Folders and Removable Storage enables file and media sharing between Windows and Mac applications and permits saving files in a folder on a Mac and retrieving them from within Windows
• Access to Mac and Microsoft Windows PC Peripherals allows access to a variety of Windows PC and Apple Mac peripherals including printers and removable drives, even ones made exclusively to be run on a Microsoft Windows computer
• Cross-OS Cut and Paste enables Microsoft Virtual PC 7 for Mac and an Apple Mac program to share a common clipboard for copying and pasting between Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac environments
• A Quick Save capability permits users to turn off a virtual PC in one step and start again from that point
• No Set-up Printing for Panther users (Mac OS X version 10.3) does away with the need to download special printer drivers. Users can select Print and use the identical output functionality and software drivers used by the Apple Mac operating system.

How Progent's macOS and OS X Experts Can Assist Your Company to Run Microsoft Windows Applications on Macs
Progent's Microsoft-certified engineers and Mac technology experts can assist your organization to select and configure the right products to enable your Mac users to utilize Windows software. Also, Progent can help you to integrate your Macs seamlessly into your network infrastructure to enhance reliability, performance, and security and to maximize productivity. Progent can in addition provide Mac and Exchange Consulting plus macOS and OS X Training.

Get in Touch with Progent If You Need Expertise for Running Windows Programs on Macs
If your organization is in need of a macOS or OS X consultant, call Progent at 800-993-9400 or refer to Contact Progent.

Progent's Support for UNIX Systems
Progent's UNIX-family support experts provide small companies and developers help with managing and servicing UNIX/Linux/Mac-based networks that may coexist with Microsoft-based environments. Progent offers your company access to UNIX support experts, authorized Microsoft consultants, Cisco CCIEs, and security experts accredited by CISSP. This broad array of expertise offers you a readily available single resource to assist your business to create and maintain a safe and robust cross-platform connectivity and communications infrastructure that blends Microsoft technology with leading versions of UNIX such as: Apple macOS and OS X , Solaris, IBM AIX Open UNIX, HP-UX (Hewlett Packard UNIX), Berkeley UNIX (BSD), SCO and SGI/Irix or major Linux distributions including RedHat, SUSE Linux, Debian GNU/Linux and CentOS, Ubuntu, Mandriva, PCLlinuxOS, fedora Linux, and Gentoo.