posted 03-25-2013 08:00 PM            

Thank You,

posted 03-25-2013 08:53 PM            

I use a VM (Oracle VirtualBox) for testing.

My Toshiba ultrabook recently went up in smoke after a little more than a year (normal for me 'cause I am hard on computers). Replaced it with a new machine - not fun re-installing all my things. Windoze 8 is far from pleasant as Microsoft is more interested in forcing us spend our time mousing and clicking around and trying to remember how to accomplish anything, instead of focusing on getting our work done. Biggest problem is that it locks up a lot and programs seem to stop responding quite frequently.

So I am running XP in a VM on Win 8 just to get my work done.

With a VM on your Mac you can run any version of Windows you like. I'd suggest stay with either XP or 7 if you can. But the LXSoftware does work well with 8 or any version you have.

I've run field exams on the Win 8 machine (not the VM) with no problems - and recently saw the LXSoftware running just fine and fast on a couple tiny netbooks that were so small they made my eyes hurt to see the details.

.02

r

------------------
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room."
--(Stanley Kubrick/Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove, 1964)

posted 03-27-2013 09:43 AM            

However, it requires planning in advance to do this easily - including selecting a programming language for which compilers and tool-sets (buttons and dialogs etc.) exist for each platform. It also requires a language for which libraries exist to do all the kinds of tasks we want to accomplish - for example: plot controls to display the data, .pdf converters, CD burning tools etc, audio/video recording tools. Otherwise programmers will have to develop these solutions themselves for each platform and the software will inevitably be different because problems get solved in different ways in different environments - and the result is two different software products.

Perhaps I am wrong, but it appears to me that most polygraph software development was either begun before Mac computers had become popular outside the realm of graphic and music production. And, a lot of tool-sets and code libraries exist for Win-doze. The result has been that polygraph software seems to have been built with tool-sets and libraries specific to Windoze - such as MFC and .NET.

Because polygraph software today is mature and complex - with lots of features and capabilities that have been developed over a period of 10 to 20 years - it will probably require some effort to re-code and re-compile effective stable software products that are cross-platform.

Polygraph is actually a small niche market. In contrast, Microsoft - which has a much larger market, and also charges a lot of money for their software licences - has the personnel to re-invent (and re-license) their software every few years. The result is interesting, but also frustrating to us because new software brings new headaches (Windows 8).

Others can chime in if I am wrong, but I believe the situation of software being somewhat built around Windows tool-sets and Windows libraries is shared among all the different instruments.

The other option is to develop and support completely different versions of the software for different platforms. This would effectively double the expense of software development and support - a major expense (and most polygraph software is free to people who purchase the instruments).

So, it is possible to liberate the software from Windows, but it would require commitment effort, and of course the universal constants (time and money).

.02

r

------------------
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room."
--(Stanley Kubrick/Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove, 1964)

posted 03-27-2013 01:42 PM            

Apple brand notebooks just rose slightly over 10.6% of the US market last quarter, That means about 90% of notebook computers run on Windows operating systems.

If I were developing new software, my efforts would certainly be geared towards the 90% share rather than the 10% share of the market.

posted 03-27-2013 05:38 PM            

floor mats??? What kind of analogy is that? Was it necessary? Do we feel better as a profession finding ways to slam on each other? An android is a computer that can have apps(software downloaded) You should be able to use one if you so choose..

Thank you to those who helped me out and answered my questions! Much appreciated.

Mark

posted 03-27-2013 07:44 PM         

Skip makes a very valid point in his "floor mats" statement. The technology will never come unless the market potential for a profit makes it worth the risk. Don't be so quick to drink from Dan's canteen. We are all in the same game here!

posted 03-27-2013 09:27 PM            

There is no need for anyone to chime in and criticize anyone else's choice of equipment or computers... Macs are fine computers as are PCs.

My point is: if all someone is going to add to anyone's question is criticism and negative remarks about what they do, then don't respond.

I was looking for help and advice not wise cracks.

posted 03-27-2013 09:27 PM            

There is no need for anyone to chime in and criticize anyone else's choice of equipment or computers... Macs are fine computers as are PCs.

My point is: if all someone is going to add to anyone's question is criticism and negative remarks about what they do, then don't respond.

I was looking for help and advice not wise cracks.

posted 03-27-2013 09:27 PM            

There is no need for anyone to chime in and criticize anyone else's choice of equipment or computers... Macs are fine computers as are PCs.

My point is: if all someone is going to add to anyone's question is criticism and negative remarks about what they do, then don't respond.

I was looking for help and advice not wise cracks.