Dudley, Thanks for the explanation - I figured it was something like that. I worked for many years in the computer industry, so I understand about the OS-level issues, proprietary BIOS and such. But I suspect there are a lot of people interested in Flex who don't understand the fine details of computer genealogy, and can't tell a "standard PC" from a non-standard one. It used to be that "standard personal computer" effectively meant any box that would run Windows. Not so any more I guess.
I suggest that at least the web FAQs be amended to explicitly say that Macs, even though they are running XP, are unsupported. Personally, my "personal computer" is a Dell running Debian Lenny. I'm hoping that the "new architecture" PowerSDR will eventually mean one can choose what hardware/OS base to run SDR. I've talked with several non-computer hams recently who are very confused about the PC requirements for a Flex. The KB has an article on how to configure a Mac with XP for use with the Flex. But the forum says it's not a supported configuration. The web site says that Windows XP and Vista are supported. But advice on the forums is to avoid Vista at all costs. It's pretty confusing for a non-computer-geek, even before you dive into Firewire and patches and DPCs and such. One of my friends is waffling between a Flex and an Icom as his first HF rig. Given his head-banging experiences over the years with "standard PCs" and the confusion about what computer hardware he would need to buy to pair with a Flex, he's leaning now back towards tried-and-true knobs-and-switches. If I were Flex, ... I'd ship a "Live CD" with each unit, that had *all* the software, patches, service packs, drivers, tweakhounds, configuration settings, and other arcane tidbits needed to make any "standard PC" hardware into a functional, problem-free "PowerSDR Front Panel" for any Flex product. Better yet, make it downloadable, give 'em away at shows, etc. Then anyone could try it with whatever hardware they like - if the Live CD won't load, it must not be a "standard PC". Kind of like the Ubuntu CD - just put the CD in a computer and turn the power on. I've been amazed at the variety of machines that their Live CD runs on. No more discussion of Macs - they're experimental.... 73, /Jack PS - I think you're being misled to think so much about the desktop market. Desktop users almost never use real-time programs, so the software (Windows OS) doesn't support it well at all, and probably never will. Flex users are strongly advised to evict all other software from the Flex PC, and disable any non-radio OS functionality. So that PC is no longer really usable as their desktop general purpose computer. It becomes a dedicated DSP box with a nice front panel. Which is fine, that's how mine is set up and it works well with the F3K. I wonder how big a share Windows PCs have in the "realtime digital signal processing" market...e.g., computers doing realtime DSP in radio astronomy, seismic monitoring, oil-drilling, satellite surveillance, etc. I'd be surprised if it was even 5-8%... On Thu, 2009-08-06 at 13:41 -0500, Dudley Hurry wrote: > Jack, > > The iMacs are not standard PCs due to the way that Apple forces the > BIOS to be set up to try to keep OS X from being run on "industry > standard" hardware. If only Steve Jobs years ago would have just > let go of the Apple proprietary firmware code, we would all be > running MACs or at least Apple's OS instead of Windows. With 85% of > the world running Windows OS, Apple is still running on a closed OS > market, and small at that, I think that Apple's market share is in > the 5 to 8% range of total desktop market. > > So with Boot Camp from Apple (and their drivers included) you are > able to run XP, but it is still not a "standard" PC. Apple could > make a BIOS change, and Boot Camp would cease working. > > > 73, > Dudley > > WA5QPZ > > > Jack Haverty wrote: > > >From the Flex-radio FAQ: > > > > "For FlexRadio Systems products that would be an Intel or AMD based > > personal computer and a recent Microsoft Windows operating system such > > as XP or Vista. > > " > > > > Doesn't an Intel-based Mac, running Windows XP, fit this definition? I > > have a Macbook Pro and an Imac and I was going to try them with my F3K. > > Why is Intel-based Mac hardware, using Win XP, unsupported? > > > > /Jack K3FIV > > > > On Thu, 2009-08-06 at 12:12 -0400, Tim Ellison wrote: > > > > > Folks, > > > > > > As per the FlexRadio Users Reflector description > > > (http://www.flex-radio.com/Support.aspx?topic=Reflector_Description), any > > > discussion regarding the operation of FlexRadio's products on unsupported > > > hardware, such as the iMacs needs to be moved to the FlexEdge Reflector. > > > > > > Thank You. > > > > > > -Tim > > > --- > > > FlexRadio Internet Systems Administrator & List Moderator > > > W4TME > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > > > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of elan paim > > > Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:38 AM > > > To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz > > > Subject: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] Appel mac book pro > > > > > > > > > > hi > > > can some one let me know what i need in order to work with flex with > > > apple mac book pro > > > there is boot camp what i need then win xp to load ?on the partition ? > > > Elan g0uut > > > > > > > > > E&T Paim > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz > > Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ > > Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: > > http://www.flex-radio.com/ > > Message delivered to jhu...@austin.rr.com > > > > _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
