HowTo Run ProShow on a Mac

ByPhotodexCorporation Copyright2010PhotodexCorporation.Allrightsreserved. Photodexisregularlyaskedthequestion,WhenwillIbeabletorunProShowonaMac?Theanswer that you already can might surprise some. If youve purchased a new Mac sometime within the last threeyears,thenallthatsstandingbetweenyouandenjoyingProShowisacopyofWindows.Youcan takethingsonestepfurtherwithacopyofvirtualizationsoftwaresuchasVMwareFusionandParallels Desktop. Virtualization allows you to seamlessly integrate Windows into the Mac OS X operating system,givingyouthebestofbothworlds. ThisguideexplainshowtorunWindowsonaMacusingVMwareFusion.Thereareothermethodsas well,andwhichoneyouusewillultimatelydependonyourpersonalpreferenceandworkflow.While youllneedacopyofWindowsregardless,FusionandParallelsbothhavefullyfunctioningtrialversions so that you can take the time to determine whats best for you. And if your Mac was purchased anytimeafterlateOctober2007,thentheinstallerforBootCampisalreadyavailable. AWordAboutVirtualization VirtualizationallowsyoutoinstallavirtualmachinethatrunswithintheOSXoperatingsystem.This allowsyoutorunWindowsbasedprogramsdirectlyonyourMac,withouthavingtobootintoWindows. Based on internal testing, Photodex recommends using VMware Fusion. Fusion had the smoothest playbackandagreaterdegreeofcompatibilitybetweenOSXandWindows.Alltestswereperformed onbothanentrylevel1.66GHzIntelCoreDuoMacMiniwith2GBofRAM,anda3.06GHzIntelCore2 DuoiMacwith4GBofRAM. Results may vary depending on the performance level of your machine. An upper end Mac Pro or MacBook Pro, which often contains a separate graphics card, may provide different results than Photodexsinternaltests.Itisrecommendedthatyoutrybothprogramstoseewhichisthebestfitfor you. AwidelycirculatedreportbyMacTechoverwhelmingruledinfavorofParallelsDesktopwhenplacedin headtohead tests with VMWare Fusion. While at the very high end the performance difference between the two became negligible, midtolower end systems performed considerably better when usingParallels.Despitethisfinding,PhotodexstillfoundthatVMwareFusionperformed betterwhen running ProShow than did Parallels. Also, Fusions integration between OS X and Windows was far superior to Parallels, with full draganddrop support. This is likely to be the same regardless of the specifications of your system. Again, testing both programs to see which is better for you cant be recommendedenough.

If you are not interested in purchasing additional software, virtualization is still theoretically possible using Sun Microsystems opensource, freetouse VirtualBox. While VirtualBox does appear to be a greatprogram(especiallyforthecost)Photodexwasnotabletosuccessfullyuseittoinstallacopyof VistafromCD.Yourexperiencemaydiffer,andweinviteyoutotryitoutforyourself.Ifyoureableto successfullyuseVirtualBoxtorunProShowonyourMac,wewouldappreciatehearingaboutit! VMwareFusion Company:VMware Price:$79.99 Trial:30days,fullfunctional CurrentVersion:3.0.1 SystemRequirements: IntelbasedMac 1GB of RAM (2GB RAM recommended by VMware, Photodex recommends 2GB minimum for runningProShow) 700MB free hard drive space for Fusion. Photodex recommends at least 15 GB of additional spaceforthevirtualmachine. MacOSX10.5.8orlater Note:Anyoneowninganyversionof10.5canupdateto10.5.8forfree.SeethisApplesupport knowledgebasearticleformoreinformationonhow. MicrosoftWindows2000,XP,Vista,orWindows7installdisks.64bitXP,Vista,orWindows7 requiresanIntelCore2Duo,IntelQuadCoreXeonprocessororother64bitprocessor.Seethis Applesupportknowledgebasearticleforstepstocheckthis. Advantages: WindowsisintegratedintotheOSXoperatingsystem,allowingyoutorunbothWindowsand OSXprograms/applicationssimultaneously. PhotodextestinghasfoundVMwaretobefullycompatiblewithProShowinUnitymode.This allowsyoutodraganddropimagesdirectlyfromOSXsFinderintoProShowasifyouwere runningProShowdirectlyinWindows. VMware can be run without Boot Camp, meaning a separate Windows based partition is not necessary.ItisnotnecessarytoreservepartoftheharddriveforexclusiveWindowsusage. Even running ProShow on a Mac with minimal system requirements (Mac Mini core duo with oneprocessorand2GBofRAMwithsharedvideomemory)resultedinacceptableplayback.

Fusion allows snapshots to be taken of your current system configuration for Windows. Multiplesnapshotscanbetaken,andyoucanrollbacktoanyofthesesnapshotsatanygiven time.ThisallowsyoutoeasilyreturntoaknowngoodWindowsconfigurationwithouthaving toreinstall,ormaintaindifferentsetupsfordifferenttasks.Forexample,youcoulduseasetup exclusivelyforProShowusage. Virtualization allows you to deactivate your internet connection for Windows based software, withoutaffectingyourOSXapplications.Thisreducestheneedforrunningsecuritysoftwareon your Windows partition which has the potential to decrease performance. But keep in mind there is no way to completely eliminate security concerns with either OS X, Windows, or any operating system. It is good practice to maintain a healthy skepticism on content from any sourceyoudonotfullytrust Note:YoumustenableaninternetconnectiontoactivatecertainPhotodexproducts,suchas StylePackvolume2.Thisisonlynecessaryforactivation,afterwhichyoucanagaindisablethe Windowssideinternetconnection. Disadvantages: Thebigdisadvantagetousingvirtualizationsoftwareisperformance.Yourcomputerisrunning two operating systems and thus requires more of your systems resources than if you were running Windows directly in Boot Camp mode. Virtualization will allow you to prioritize between OS X or the virtualized OS, and if you have a robust system then the performance differencemaybenegligible. Using files located on the OS X side is similar to using files located on a network or external drive. There is the potential for slower performance. Photodex testing found this to be negligible with basic shows, although with complex shows this may be more of an issue. For bestperformance,itisrecommendedthatyoucopyallfilestotheWindowsvirtualmachineor partition. InstallationInstructions: ThefollowingassumesyouareinstallingthelatestversionofFusion,3.0.1.Thestepsmaylookdifferent ifyouareusinganearlierversion. 1. DownloadtheinstallerforVMwareFusionfromVMwareswebsite.Thereisa30dayfreetrial versionavailable.

 2. Oncedownloadingiscomplete,opentheVMwareFusion.dmgfileandlocatetheInstall VMwareFusionpackage.Doubleclickonittoinitiateinstallation.

3. Continuepasttheintroductionscreen.

 4. ReadandagreetotheSoftwareLicenseAgreement.

 5. IfyouareinstallingaversionofFusionearlierthan3.0,youmaynowseeanoptiontoInstall MacFUSE. This allows you to view virtual machines when they are powered off. It is recommendedtoleavethischeckedthencontinue.

6. Atthispointyoullneedtoenteraserialnumber.Ifyoudliketotrybeforeyoubuyit,youcan request a trial registration from VMware by clicking on the Get Serial Number button. After enteringyourregistration,continue.

7. At the select destination screen, select the hard drive youd like to install Fusion on then continue.Volumesavailableforinstallwillbemarkedwithagreenarrowpointingdown.

8. Youwillgetanindicationofhowmuchspaceisrequiredtoinstall.Forourteststhiswas718.4 MBbutthismayvary.Youcanchangeyourinstalllocationifyouneedto,otherwisecontinue.

 9. YoullbepromptedforyourOSXpassword.Enteritnow.Ifyouveforgotten,seethisarticle fromApplesKnowledgeBase.

10. Installshouldnowfinishandindicateitwassuccessful.YouarenowreadytorunFusion.

 RunningFusionwithoutaBootCamppartition YouhavetwooptionsforrunningFusion.YoucanrunitusingyourcurrentOSXhardvolume,oryou canuseanexistingBootCamppartition.ThesestepswillapplytothosewhoarenotusingBootCamp. ThisprocesswilldiffersomewhatdependingonwhetheryouareusingFusion3.0oranearlierversion. 1. LocateandlaunchVMwareFusion.ItshouldbelocatedinyourApplicationsfolder.

2. YourVirtualMachineLibrarywindowwillappear.Itwillbeempty.UnderGettingStartedwith VMwareFusionclickontheoptionInstallWindowsoranotheroperatingsysteminanew virtualmachine.

3. TheNewVirtualMachineAssistantwillopen.IfaWindowsinstalldiscisalreadyinsertedinto yourMac,Fusionwillaskifyoudliketousethisdisk.

OtherwiseFusionwillaskyoutoinsertyourinstallationdisc,orContinuewithoutdisk.

 Our instructions will assume you have a Windows install disk. If you havent inserted your WindowsinstalldiscbeforebeginningthesetupofyourVirtualMachine,youwillneedtocancel theprocess,insertyourWindowsinstalldisc,thenstarttheprocessagain. 4. TheWindowsEasyInstallwindowappearsandasksyoutofillinyouraccountinformationfor Windows.Fillinanaccountname.Apasswordisoptions.ThenenteryourWindowsProduct Key.

 5. YoullnowbepromptedtoselectyourlevelofIntegration:

IntegrationdetermineshoweasilyyoullbeabletosharefilesbetweenOSXandyourWindows VirtualMachine.YouroptionswillbeMoreIsolated:

 OrMoreSeamless:

MoreIsolatedisrecommendedforthosethathaveconcernswiththesecurityoftheWindows file system. It prevents Windows from being able to modify any of youre the files in OS X. Youll only be able to share files between the two operating systems through dragging and dropping. MoreSeamlessallowsyoutomirrorfilesandsetupsharedfolders.Thisallowsthefilesystems ofbothOSXandWindowstointeractwithoneanother.Thismethodcanbemoreconvenient,

butinternaltestingPhotodexfoundsomedifficultyusingaudioandvideocontentinProShowif itwasinasharedormirroredfolder. ThesesettingscanalwaysbemodifiedlaterinyourvirtualmachinesSharingSettingssodont betooconcernedwithyourselectionhere.Testbothoptionsoutforyourselfandthenchoose theonethatfitsbestwithyoursystemsperformanceandyourpersonalworkflow. InearlierversionsofFusion,youmayinsteadseethefollowing:

MirrorfoldersisthesameaschoosingMoreSeamlessinFusionversion3.

6. The Finish window appears, with options to Customize Settings and set the virtual machine you are now installing to open by default. You can choose to hit finish now, but it is recommendedtocustomizeyoursettingsfirsttomakesuretheyareoptimal.

7. Whatever choice you make, you will now be asked to save your virtual machine. Keep the default suggestion or enter your own. For the location, you can also leave it in the default VirtualMachinesfolderorchooseacustomplace.Hitsavetocontinue.

8. Ifyouchosetocustomizeyoursettings,thesettingswindowwillnowappear.Otherwise,skipto step13.

9. Inthesettingswindow,selectProcessors&Ram.MakesureyourRAMissettoaminimumof 1024MB,althoughyoucandesignatemoreifyouhaveit.IfyoudonothaveenoughRAMfor 1024MB,getasclosetothisnumberaspossible.Anythinglessthan1024MBwilllikelyresultin extremelypoorperformance.

10. IfyoudlikeyourWindowsvirtualmachinetogetonline,skiptothenextstep.Ifyoudliketo prevent internet access on your virtual machine, select Show All then the Network section. UnchecktheConnectedbox.Seenotebelow.

 Note:SomePhotodexproducts,suchastheStylePackvolumes,requireaninternetconnection toactivate.ThisinternetconnectionmustbeontheWindowsside.Afteraproducthasbeen activatedtheinternetconnectioncanagainbedisabled.Settingsforavirtualmachinecanbe launchedfromtheVirtualMachineLibraryatanytime,providedthemachineiscurrentlyoff.If you need to disable or enable your virtual machines internet connection after setup is complete,selectyourmachinefromthelistandclickSettingsatthebottomofthewindow.

 Thenfollowsteps1012again.

11. Whenyouaredonemakingchanges,clicktheredclosebuttonintheupperleftcornerofthe settingswindow.

12. YoushouldnowseetheVirtualMachineLibrary.Yournewlycreatedvirtualmachineshouldbe listedinthecolumnontheleft.Clicktheplaybuttontotherightofyourmachinename.

13. FusionwillnowinstallWindowsontoyourvirtualmachine.Onceitfinishes,Windowswill launchandmaypromptyoutologin.

14. Fusion should automatically begin installation of VMware Tools. This enhances graphics and mouseperformance.

15. IfinstallationofVMwareToolsdoesnotbeginautomatically,selecttheVirtualMachinemenu fromyourmenubaratthetopofthescreenandthenselectInstallVMwareTools.

 16. WhenpromptedhittheInstallbutton.

17. YoullthenbepromptedtoselecttheRunsetup.exeprogramfromtheVMwareToolsdrive. DoubleclickonittoruntheToolsinstaller.

 18. TheVMwareToolsinstallerwindowwillappear.HitNextandwaitforinstallationtofinish.

19. AfterVMwareToolsfinishesinstallation,Windowswillrestart.YourWindowsvirtualmachineis nowreadyforoperation.

RunningFusionwithaBootCamppartition

If youve already setup Boot Camp, then Fusion installation is much easier as Windows is already installed.InformationforinstallingBootCampcanbefoundonAppleswebsite. 1. FindandlaunchVMwareFusion.ItshouldbelocatedinyourApplicationsfolder.

2. YourVirtualMachineLibrarywindowwillappear,andwillhaveaBootCamppartitionlisted. Clickontheplaybuttonjusttotherightofthis.

3. VMwareFusionwillprepareyourBootCamppartitionforuse.

4. FusionwillnowlaunchWindowsforthefirsttime.LoginwithyourWindowspassword(ifyou haveone)whenprompted. 5. Fusion should automatically begin installation of VMware Tools. This enhances graphics and mouse performance. If installation of VMware Tools does not begin automatically, select the Virtual Machine menu from your menubar at the top of the screen and then select Install VMwareTools.

 6. WhenpromptedhittheInstallbutton.

7. YoullthenbepromptedtoselecttheRunsetup.exeprogramfromtheVMwareToolsdrive. DoubleclickonittoruntheToolsinstaller.

 8. TheVMwareToolsinstallerwindowwillappear.HitNextandwaitforinstallationtofinish.

UsageNotes: Fusionsupportsseveraldisplaymodes.OneofthemostusefulisUnitymode.Thiswillcombineyour Windows programs with the OS X interface so it appears that you are only using OS X. The only indication youre still using Windows will be the stylistic look of the main program window. For example,thetrademarkMinimize,Maximize,andClosebuttonswillbeintheupperrightcorner.OSX

windowshavesimilarbuttonsbutintheupperleftcorner.Seeparttwoofthisguideformoredetailed instructions.

Needadditionalhelp?Contactoursupportdepartment,7daysaweek. 18003774686 support@photodex.com

Copyright 2009 Photodex Corporation. All rights reserved.