Moving to a Mac

Former Member over 13 years ago

My PC running Homeport recently decided to "retire". Can I download the Mac version and install it on my Mac or do I have to purchase another copy just for the Mac?

Please tell me I don't have to buy another copy of Homeport just to run it on a Mac.

0 Dr Phil over 13 years ago

I'm picking that the answer would be yes. However, you can run Windoze on an Intel based Mac either using Apple Bootcamp or a commercial product like Parallels. I also understand Virtual Box, a free OpenSource app is ok too.

So, with one of those and your original Windoze OS, you can run Homeport on the Mac

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

I have Windows installed on my Mac and can either boot into it directly with BootCamp or run it as a task under MacOSX using Parallels.

However, you cannot use "your original Windoze OS" on the Mac. You will need to buy a separate copy, just like you would if installing on a Windows machine. It will need to be activated on Microsoft's website.

I don't know the answer to the original question in this case - I suggest you contact Garmin support. The license varies on other programs that I own. Some of them allow you to install on more than one computer that you own for personal (not business) use. Others do not.

Even if you did have to purchase another copy of Homeport at $30, I think that would be cheaper than purchasing Windows (not to mention the pain involved with installing it on your Mac :))

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

I'm asking the question on here in hopes that it helps others with the same question. Look at the Homeport options you can buy one of three versions for the same price

1. Windows
2. Mac
3. MicroSD/SD

Under requirements for #3 it says Windows or Mac which implies that both versions come on the card. It would sure seem silly to have to buy a separate version when there is option #3.

0 Dr Phil over 13 years ago

You can use your original Windoze on your Mac as long as you do not have it loaded and working elsewhere. You just need to go through the painful rigmarole of registering manually.

My copy came from a laptop and has now been through 3 different Macs without any issues.

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Of course you're right Philip, if you no longer use the old Windows machine and if you have the installation disks, you can de-register/re-register the operating system to your Mac. But as you said, it's painful. :D

Also, when I installed Windows on my Mac using bootcamp, that required activation from Microsoft. But if I use the same version of Windows on my same Mac under Parallels, Windows sees this as a different computer (since it's a "virtual machine"). That also required going through the telephone activation process.

0 Dr Phil over 13 years ago

Of course you're right Philip, if you no longer use the old Windows machine and if you have the installation disks, you can de-register/re-register the operating system to your Mac. But as you said, it's painful. :D

Also, when I installed Windows on my Mac using bootcamp, that required activation from Microsoft. But if I use the same version of Windows on my same Mac under Parallels, Windows sees this as a different computer (since it's a "virtual machine"). That also required going through the telephone activation process.

Aren't Macs wonderful? :D Life is so easy when upgrading the OS :rolleyes:

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Aren't Macs wonderful? :D Life is so easy when upgrading the OS :rolleyes:

No. It isn't an "upgrade". LOL I run em all .. none are perfect. Mac "fans" are just pretentious. I don't have a PC right now so I'll use the Mac if I can.

0 azdrmn over 13 years ago

My PC running Homeport recently decided to "retire". Can I download the Mac version and install it on my Mac or do I have to purchase another copy just for the Mac?

Please tell me I don't have to buy another copy of Homeport just to run it on a Mac.

I don't set (or often understand) the distribution policies, but the official answer is you are supposed to buy a separate downloadable version for the Mac assuming you bought the downloadable version for the PC.

I can't imagine running the PC version on a Mac, but each to his own.