Intel-based Macs: Rosetta (#5): Latest application compatibility listings; Speed issues
Intel-based Macs: Rosetta (#5): Latest application compatibility listings; Speed issues
We continue to track the compatibility of various PowerPC-coded applications running under the Rosetta environment utilized by Intel-based Macs.
The entire list of working and non-working applications can be found in our comprehensive Rosetta Compatibility index.
VLC Media Player -- compatible This software works under Rosetta on Intel-based Macs -- a boon for users who need to play AVI files, because the Flip4Mac plug-ins for QuickTime (which allow AVI and WMV playback) are not compatible with Rosetta.
Splinter Cell -- compatible This game works fine under Rosetta according to several readers, but as documented here, many input devices (like those used by this and other games) pose problems for Intel-based Macs.
One reader writes:
"Everything seems fine. Ran Splinter Cell in max resolution and looked good. Tried with a Gravis Xterminator and did not work. It does show up when I profile the system but before it would act like a mouse and now it did not."
Adobe GoLive -- compatible, but slow Adobe's GoLive works under Rosetta, but exhibits inordinately slow upload speeds through the built-in transfer utility.
MacFixIt reader David writes:
"The new iMac with Intel Core Duo processors does not like Adobe GoLive. The program runs fine until you try to upload a file. Uploading a dozen 15k files can easily take 20 minutes with a cable modem. This is much slower than it would be with an old 28.8 dial-up modem."
Change Desktop -- incompatible The utility does not work properly on Intel-based Macs. The actual application works fine however the 'server' component that actually changes the desktop pictures does not function correctly.
iTerm -- compatible with caveat This Terminal replacement application works well under Rosetta but the control key does not work.
MacFixIt reader Bryn writes:
"I've tried iTerm 0.81 on a 20" iMac - the app almost works properly but the ctrl key is broken. This is unfortunately a big deal for a terminal app. And yes I've made sure it's not a bad keyboard."
Office applications slow to quit As noted in-house, Microsoft's Office 2004 applications often hang on quit under Rosetta.
MacFixIt reader Rob White writes:
"I have had numerous instances lately when either Entourage or Word will hang on quit, requiring me to force quit the app. It will hang as long as 5 minutes (the limits of my patience!) before I am forced to do that. Other apps will run okay; I just can't get these two to die peacefully."
Marine Aquarium -- incompatible The developer is working on an updated version.
Adobe InDesign -- display bug There seems to be a bug in InDesign running under Rosetta that causes all displayed measurement values to be displayed with extra decimal places.
For example if you add a text box and enter a width value of 3.5mm, InDesign changes it to 3.5005005005005003mm
Azureus -- Universal release now available There is now a patched version of this peer-to-peer application that works on Intel-based macs.
MT Newswatcher 3.4 -- compatible but unstable This application crashes whenever it is made active after being hidden.
MacFixIt reader Michelle Steiner writes: " This happens 100% of the time. It also crashes randomly while in use. These crashes did not happen on earlier hardware. I've notified the developer and provided him with crash logs."
RCDefault -- incompatible This software installs, but fails to launch.
Extra RAM is crucial to performance As we've begun experimenting with a broad variety of applications running under Rosetta, it has become clear that adequate RAM is crucial to acceptable performance.
1 GB of RAM seems to be the sweet spot for most Rosetta-reliant applications.
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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