Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!bbn!husc6!stech!jlh
From: jlh@stech.UUCP (Jan Harrington)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Can I run IBM PC software on Mac II?
Message-ID: <1130@stech.UUCP>
Date: 21 Jun 89 11:51:07 GMT
References: <137@zip.eecs.umich.edu>
Organization: Scholastech, Inc., Waltham, Mass.
Lines: 39

in article <137@zip.eecs.umich.edu>, ksuzuki@dip.eecs.umich.edu (Katsu Suzuki) says:
> 
> I heard from my friend that it is possible to run IBM PC program on Mac II with
> some kind of special hardware. My question is
> 
> 1. What kind of hardware and software do I need to do this?
> 
There are two types of solutions. One is to purchase a coprocessor board like
the Mac286 from AST (retail around $1500, although the street price is
less). This gives you the equivalent of an AT in your Mac II; it does run a
bit faster than an AT, however. The other solution is software only - SoftPC.
To get it to work acceptably, you need 5 meg RAM. It gives you an XT in
your Mac II and is quite a bit slower than the hardware solution; it is much
cheaper ($599???). Whichever you choose, you will need a disk drive that
reads Ms-DOS disks to get the software onto your hard disk. A DaynaFile
will work, as will the new high density Mac drives. In addition, you can
hang an Apple 5.25" drive off the Mac286 board.

> 2. What kind of major software for IBM PC really run on Mac II?

I have the Mac286 board and have found that just about everything runs.
What doesn't work reliably are programs that require more than CGA graphics.
The programs run, but the screen looks really strange. Major sofware runs
just fine (dBase IV, etc.). I use a DaynaFile with 3.5" and 5.25" drives
to get the software onto a hard disk.     

As a writer, this is a perfect solution for me. I do all my own layout, and
its easy to get Mac screen shots of the MS-DOS software, since MS-DOS is
running in a Mac window!!!!!!

Jan Harrington
Scholastech Telecommunications
husc6!stech!jlh or allegra!stech!jlh

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