The pains of a Mac user

[StarWeasil]

Hi all.

I'm a Mac user patiently waiting for the platform release (read drumming fingers, watching Twitch feeds, YouTube vids and considering digging my Amiga 500 out of the garage to play Frontier: Elite 2 until Dangerous gets its Mac release!).

I backed on Kickstarter and can see my Mercenary Edition ready for download.

1. I assume I just wait for Mac release then download at that time - yes?

2. Are there any other Mac users in here with their noses pressed longingly against the shop window?

3. Will there be a Mac Beta???

Answers on a postcard

 

[Tiamat]

Bootcamp?

The mac client should appear in the shop when available but I haven't seen any definite release dates posted by FD yet unfortunately.

 

[Pulse]

Hey, what mac do you have (cpu/gpu/ram)? Mac user here since beta (via bootcamp) and it runs very well - maybe I can help you get started?

 

[StarWeasil]

New 2014 IMac - runs everything on Steam right now so confident it should do the trick. I have no idea what Bootcamp is, but looks like I'm going to investigate.

Specs - OSX Yosemite
Intel® Core™ i5 processor (3.2 GHz, 3.6 GHz with TurboBoost)
8gb Ram
Nvidia GeForce GTX775M (1 GB GDDR5)

Should work, right?

 

[Liquidream]

Sounds like you've got a slightly newer iMac than me and I can play ED via Bootcamp like a charm (1080p on High settings)

You really should look into Bootcamp (Apple actually provide lots of helpful info on the topic)
It will require you to have a copy of Windows (I run Win 7), but in my experience, this has been the EASIEST duel-booting experience I've ever had!

All the best Commander

 

[StarWeasil]

Sounds like you've got a slightly newer iMac than me and I can play ED via Bootcamp like a charm (1080p on High settings)

You really should look into Bootcamp (Apple actually provide lots of helpful info on the topic)
It will require you to have a copy of Windows (I run Win 7), but in my experience, this has been the EASIEST duel-booting experience I've ever had!

All the best Commander

Thanks. I'm furiously browsing the net for the cheapest version of Windows I can find. Ebay and Amazon both coming up cheaper than buying from Microsoft direct, but my impatience to play this game may outweigh the cost to wait-time ratio.

Do you use a joystick set up for your Mac? If so may I ask what you use?

Thanks again.

 

[Pulse]

Thanks. I'm furiously browsing the net for the cheapest version of Windows I can find. Ebay and Amazon both coming up cheaper than buying from Microsoft direct, but my impatience to play this game may outweigh the cost to wait-time ratio.

Do you use a joystick set up for your Mac? If so may I ask what you use?

Thanks again.

Bootcamp is just the term apple use for 'putting windows on your mac, natively'. Natively means not via a virtal machine, i.e it's installed on your computer just as it would be any other. The internal of macs have actually based on x86/x64 (PC) architecture since 2006 so have been able to do this since then.

Bootcamping isn't for total novices, but you can learn how to do it really easily. All you need is a copy of windows as an ISO (file image, you can either burn one from your legit cd, or download a torrent of your legit cd), flash drive of around 20gig for the install - and around 1-2 hours in total. There are so many tutorials out there, if you need more advice/help i'd be happy to take you through it

The only huge thing to remember is to get the right version of windows. Your processor is 64bit, meaning you'll need to install a 64 bit version of windows. I use windows 8.1 pro 64bit

The end result is that you get to play ED now, natively at 20/30%+ performance than it will ever be able to run under OSX!

I have a macbookpro bootcamped, when it's on my desk I use a T-Flight X HOTAS, and when sat in bed or on the sofa I use my xbox 360 pad. No problems at all, just plug and play.

 

[StarWeasil]

Bootcamp is just the term apple use for 'putting windows on your mac, natively'. Natively means not via a virtal machine, i.e it's installed on your computer just as it would be any other. The internal of macs have actually based on x86/x64 (PC) architecture since 2006 so have been able to do this since then.

Bootcamping isn't for total novices, but you can learn how to do it really easily. All you need is a copy of windows as an ISO (file image, you can either burn one from your legit cd, or download a torrent of your legit cd), flash drive of around 20gig for the install - and around 1-2 hours in total. There are so many tutorials out there, if you need more advice/help i'd be happy to take you through it

The only huge thing to remember is to get the right version of windows. Your processor is 64bit, meaning you'll need to install a 64 bit version of windows. I use windows 8.1 pro 64bit

The end result is that you get to play ED now, natively at 20/30%+ performance than it will ever be able to run under OSX!

I have a macbookpro bootcamped, when it's on my desk I use a T-Flight X HOTAS, and when sat in bed or on the sofa I use my xbox 360 pad. No problems at all, just plug and play.

Thanks again. As soon as I get myself a copy of windows I'll be all over this. I've read up a bit over the past half-hour on bootcamp and the assistant on Yosemite seems very user friendly. Looks like I may be exploring the galaxy sooner than I thought!!!

 

[Ulysses_W]

Bootcamp user here. ED works perfectly on my late 2013 iMac.

A couple of things to note tho (in my experience).

I found that I couldn't install Windows (it has to be 64bit) from any of my usb sticks, I had to burn my image to a portable USB drive.
The built in sound/mic output doesn't work for the microphone. I don't think apple bothered with the required drivers for this bit.
But since I've invested in a Corsair 1500 USB gaming headset, it mattered not.

 

[StarWeasil]

Bootcamp user here. ED works perfectly on my late 2013 iMac.

A couple of things to note tho (in my experience).

I found that I couldn't install Windows (it has to be 64bit) from any of my usb sticks, I had to burn my image to a portable USB drive.
The built in sound/mic output doesn't work for the microphone. I don't think apple bothered with the required drivers for this bit.
But since I've invested in a Corsair 1500 USB gaming headset, it mattered not.

From your experience how would that effect me downloading Windows directly to my Mac from the Microsoft site? Should that not work with bootcamp?

 

[Ulysses_W]

From your experience how would that effect me downloading Windows directly to my Mac from the Microsoft site? Should that not work with bootcamp?

I have no experience of this, I didn't get my Win 7 ISO using this method, but as long as you can burn an image of it using the bootcamp tool I don't see it being an issue.

Also, make sure you obtain a copy of windows that is 64bit only. Not one that is 32/64 bit. Bootcamp will bork if you do.

 

[CmdrClueless]

Watch my stream too

http://www.twitch.tv/smokanci

 

[StarWeasil]

I have no experience of this, I didn't get my Win 7 ISO using this method, but as long as you can burn an image of it using the bootcamp tool I don't see it being an issue.

Also, make sure you obtain a copy of windows that is 64bit only. Not one that is 32/64 bit. Bootcamp will bork if you do.

Thanks for the heads up. Looking at Windows 8.1 right now, they all seem to be 64bit.

 

[paddymcginty]

I've been running on a 2008 Mac Pro, 2 x 3.2ghz since Beta 1.4.

I Partitioned my drive to create a Windows partition to 200gb (very important, be careful as OSX formats a Mac and Windows partition differently). Installed Windows 8.1 pro - 64 bit. Do all the Windows updates before installing ED (not essential but tidier).

Only issue I had was audio. I had no sound (a common bug) until I re-installed the bootcamp audio files.

Works great

 

[Pulse]

here's a tip for you or anyone else looking to put bootcamp on, I wish i'd seen this when I did it all:

When bootcamp 'makes' the windows install on your flashdrive within the bootcamp osx tool - let it do it's thing, then when it starts downloading the bootcamp drivers, cancel it.

That download is notoriously slow, probably for a reason knowing apple... I have a 100meg connection and it was still hanging a few hours later. Unless they've changed it since yosemite, cancel the download and google the bootcamp drivers you need for your exact mac. There are different ones for each year/configuration of imac.

EDIT: this is the one you need http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1721

Once the drivers are downloaded, put them in the root folder of your flash drive (which will have other stuff in it now from the bootcamp tool) - then restart your machine, hold ALT at statup and choose your windows flash drive to boot from, the installer should start from there.

 

[Farso Latido]

From your experience how would that effect me downloading Windows directly to my Mac from the Microsoft site? Should that not work with bootcamp?

I downloaded a trial version of windows 7 from Microsoft.. Works ok, I'm able to play elite.
if you do this, you will need to make a disk image and burn it to cd. Use that to install windows.
Easy. Ish. Once you've installed 170 updates the 'old school' way.

 

[Dstud208]

From your experience how would that effect me downloading Windows directly to my Mac from the Microsoft site? Should that not work with bootcamp?

I have a lot of experience in this. Basically unless you are going to go into your system files and unlock different "Abilities" for you mac you will just need to do this:

1. Download the ISO from microsoft to your mac

2. Create a bootable "Thingy"
2.a If your mac has a disc drive you will need a burnable DVD, open bootcamp assistant and use it to create a bootable disk
2.b If you mac doesn't have a disc drive then you need an 8Gb USB, open bootcamp and use it to create a bootable USB

3. Bootcamp assistant will also partition your drive

4. Reboot off your bootable thingy, follow install directions.

 

[Luftwolfe]

I know FD said early 2015 for a Mac release but how far away is that? I don't want the possibility of screwing up on a bootcamp install and ruining my laptop.

 

[Liquidream]

Thanks. I'm furiously browsing the net for the cheapest version of Windows I can find. Ebay and Amazon both coming up cheaper than buying from Microsoft direct, but my impatience to play this game may outweigh the cost to wait-time ratio.

Do you use a joystick set up for your Mac? If so may I ask what you use?

Thanks again.

Sorry for the late response. I'm currently using an Xbox controller (wireless, via the Xbox wireless PC adapter) and it works really well.

However, I'm hoping Santa (says a 35 y/old) will bring me the Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS that I asked for
(I would've asked for a more-expensive Saitek, if I thought there was cat-in-hells chance my Wife- I mean, Santa would've gone for it! )

 

[Ijon Tichy]

Hi there,

I am running ED on a MacBook Pro Retina 15-inch (late 2013) using Bootcamp & Windows 8.1 and a Thrustmaster T-16000M Flight Stick plus CH Pro Throttle USB for flight control, works very well.