Using purportedly Windows-only devices with Mac OS X (#4)
Using purportedly Windows-only devices with Mac OS X (#4)
We continue to receive reports from readers who have had complete success using purportedly Windows-only hardware devices with Mac OS X.
As we've been noting in our prior reports on this topic, most of the devices mentioned need no driver installation. In many cases, this is due to devices' adherence to the OHCI (Open host controller interface) standard, which Mac OS X supports. FireWire and USB devices that use OHCI generally exhibit at least partial compatibility with Mac OS X out-of-the-box, and if truly compliant, full compatibility.
Gaming devices MacFixIt reader Laurie Nyveen reports success using the Thrustmaster Cougar with Mac OS X, out-of-the-box, with no driver installtion.
Laurie writes:
"I use the Thrustmaster Cougar joystick and throttle set. It works fine, with the exception of one slider and one hat on the throttle. That leaves me with only three four-way hat switches, one eight-way hat, one slider, and more than a dozen buttons. I even plug in my old Thrustmaster RCS rudder pedals."
Steve Phillips notes success with a USB to Game Port adapter marketed by the notoriously anti-Mac-support Radio Shack.
"I purchased a Radio Shack catalog number 26-164 USB to Game Port adapter for use on my Power Mac G4 running OS X 10.3.9, despite the packaging and the Radio Shack sales person telling me that the adapter is not Macintosh compatible. I am happily using it with both EA/Feral F1 Championship Racing, and DanLab's Jamin Racer. The adapter is connected to an old Thrustmaster Grand Prix racing wheel that was formerly connected to my Windows PC via the game port. I installed no extra software or drivers. It just worked."
Some standard documents labeled "Windows-only" Some documentation for hardware or other electronic data is inappropriately labeled "Windows-only" when it is in fact constructed using standards like HTML and completely viewable on Mac OS X systems.
One reader writes:
"The Canadian Province of Nova Scotia issues a CD version of "The Nova Scotia Atlas". For 'Minimum Requirements' it states: 'Pentium based PC with a CD-ROM drive, 16MB RAM, 10MB free disk space, Win98 with IE5 or Netscape 4.7.' The atlas is entirely HTML-based and works fine under OS-X with (probably) any browser. Most things work under OS-9 also. The only thing that stops a few things from working with Mac OS 7-9 (or earlier version of Windows, for that matter) is that a very small number of the files have Joliet file names rather than names following the standard DOS 6.3 convention. Adding the extension 'Joliet Volume Access' to OS 9 lets everything work just fine. The CD could easily have been modified to work in virtually any computer with any browser."
USB adapters Most adapters that convert one I/O standard signal's into one that can be transferred through a USB port work well with Mac OS X -- in some cases better than for the Windows systems for which they exclusively claim compatibility.
One reader writes:
"Some time ago I purchased a Belkin FSU109 USB to serial port adapter. The store clerk warned me that most of these are returned because people cannot make them work. He was horrified that I wanted to try it with a Mac. No mention of Macs on the package, or on Belkin's web page. Just plugged it into my Titanium PowerBook with OS 9.1 and it worked. (It is possible that the needed driver was already there from a previous, but different model, Belkin adapter I had used.)"
Another reader adds:
"I bought a USB to parallel-port printer cable/adapter to use with a PowerBook G3 and Epson printer (don't know the adapter brand; don't have it any more). I figured at least I should be able to make it work with Virtual PC. But first I tried just connecting it between PowerBook and printer: on the Mac OS 9 side, it just worked, using the previously installed Epson printer drivers! Then I tried to make it work with the USB capabilities of Virtual PC. Had to first download and install some printing package from Microsoft, then install the drivers for the adapter, then re-install the Epson printer driver, then configure manually. It didn't work the first time, so I re-did everything making sure I followed the instructions verbatim. Took about 45 minutes, but it worked."
Targus Wireless Presenter MacFixIt reader Mike reports that the Targus Wireless Presenter is out-of-the-box compatible with Mac OS X.
He writes:
"I recently bought a Targus 900MHz Wireless Presenter Model PAUM30 at Staples, which is pretty much equivalent to the HP version Model # PAUM30Y03U. The HP link and the package of the one I bought both state Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP, USB Port as system requirements. Obviously, I was reluctant to shell out 50 bucks without knowing whether it would work on my laptops (old iBook and 17' PB, 1GHz). However, I had a hunch that it might work at least partially. The friendly salesman didn't know either, but pointed out that I could return it no questions asked. I tried it out and it works - at least the basic functions of moving a Powerpoint (X and 2004) slideshow forward or backward. The mouse function where you can move the cursor using a center button is unsupported in OSX. But so what? I'm happy with the basic functionality I get, that's all I need. I called the store and left a message for the then unavailable salesman, who later called me back since he was curious about the outcome of my experiment. He now knows what to tell a future mac-based customer."
Internal DVD burner Some "Windows-only" internal DVD burners can be had for ultra-cheap, and sport full Mac OS X compatibility.
One reader writes:
"I have an HP Internal DVD burner installed in my eMac 700. This is one of the old HP's -- ironically it burns only DVD R, which Apple didn't support until just recently. iLife 4 didn't support it directly, but Toast did. iLife 5 does support it directly though. The box said Windows only!"
Another reader adds:
"I also had luck with an Emprex 16X dual /- R/ /- RW and double layer DVD writer drive (Got it for US$29.95 on sale) from Fry's. I installed it into a Dual G4 Mirrored Door in place of original slow SuperDrive. It will read all media, but I have had mixed results using generic CDs and DVDs (some brands it will write and some it will not at all) I have had better luck with brand name media."
Check for full rebates, OHCI Obviously, you should check for full rebates (make sure there are no restocking fees) when rolling the dice with a "Windows-only" hardware device.
As mentioned above, look for a label indicating OHCI compliance on FireWire and USB devices before purchasing.
Also, note that in some cases, you get what you pay for. As we reported yesterday, devices without explicitly listed Mac OS X compatibility will likely lack customer support for any Mac-related issues, and service technicians may immediately terminate calls when users state usage of the Mac platform.
Feeback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
Previous coverage:
- Using "Windows-only" devices with Mac OS X (#3)
- More on getting purportedly unsupported devices to work with Mac OS X
- Getting a Dell 1100 printer to work with Mac OS X (some OEM printers work with alternative drivers)
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