Using a MAC for RE

Created by: Elaine Santovenia, Licensed Real Estate Broker, Boone, NC

Date: Jul 24, Number of Replies: 5

I've purchased a MAC laptop because of my frustration with my PC. Ultimately I would like to use it as my primary work station to replace my desktop PC in the office. Do the applications used for Contact Mangers, websites, and domain names work equally well with this format as they do with the traditional PC's? I don't want to embark on a frustrating journey of trying to install all this great technology only to find that it is not compatible. I understand that Outlook has a program that will run on the MAC along with Windows. Has anyone encountered any fatal flaws with it yet?

I am a novice but very eager to learn so if you can offer any advice I would be most grateful.

Elaine Santovenia

Advanced Realty

advancedrealty@boone.net

yvetter39@aol.com

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Todd Pearl Licensed Real Estate Broker, Redondo Beach, CA

Date: Jul 30

Hi Elaine,

I purchased a Macbook a little over a year ago and love it. However, the RE industry is still PC oriented and some websites and virtual offices will not work with the Safari or Firefox browsers. Also, my research found that most of the good contact management software did not have a Mac version. Therefore, I have found it necessary to buy Parallels for Mac so I could run a Windows environment whenever necessary (although I try to stay on the Mac side of my laptop as much as possible). The contact management software I use that is compatible with Mac is REST. It manages contacts well, but is not calendar based, so using it for reminders or for appointments is not as effective as say, MS Outlook.

I think you will really enjoy your Mac and good luck with it.

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Don Nelson Licensed Real Estate Broker, San Diego, CA

Date: Jul 30

I don't want to embark on a frustrating journey of trying to install all this great technology only to find that it is not compatible.

I'm a Mac user & run my Real Estate business on the windows side of the Mac using Boot Camp. Unfortunately Most MLS are not Mac compatible & the Mac version of Microsoft offer a weak contact manager (Entourage) that is a poor step sister to Outlook.

No need to re invent the wheel……. Just use the Windows based Real Estate programs on your Mac using wither Boot Camp or Parallels.

By the way, Macs new "Mobile Me" service flawlessly syncs my I-Mac, & I-Phone with Outlook on my Windows machines.

Kind regards,

Don

Don N. Nelson

Broker-Owner

ABR, e-PRO, Notary Public
Don Nelson Real Estate.com
San Diego Direct 619-446-6978

Palm Springs Direct 760-320-8627

Fax 866-675-3876

Mailto:Don@DonNelsonRealEstate.com

Free MLS Access For

San Diego County & The Desert Cities Visit

www.DonNelsonRealEstate.com

Don't keep me a secret! If you have a friend, family member, or colleague looking to buy or sell real estate I can help.

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Jacques Albrecht Licensed Real Estate Agent, Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Date: Jul 31

Elaine Santovenia wrote: "I've purchased a MAC laptop because of my frustration with my PC. Ultimately I would like to use it as my primary work station to replace my desktop PC in the office."

Yes, Macs can be easier and more fun to use but I've found that here in San Diego county the real estate business is best handled with a PC machine. So with my iMac desk-top computer I just loaded and configured an application called "Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac" this now allows me to run both Mac and PC operating systems and software on the same machine (my iMac Intel Core-duo). So when I need to do RE business stuff I just click the Windows icon on my desktop and start using my installed PC software applications like Outlook, for contact database (I use Google for eMail and Calendar), or Internet Explorer to access those web sites which are tuned for PC browsers and for WinForms that works on PC's only...

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Howard Silverman Licensed Real Estate Broker, Clayton, GA

Date: Aug 1

I'm using a Mac at home, but not at the office. I have too much invested in PC technology. I love my Mac, but rarely use it for real estate. My mls program is not Mac compatible. I run Parallel, but didn't allocate enough disc space to do too much. My printer runs very slow under Parallel, though the programs run fine.

I'm running Microsoft Word and Photo Shop Elements without any trouble on my Mac under OS 10.x. Under Parallel I use OpenOffice, which is available free through Sun Systems.

If and when Parallel gets their printer drivers working more effieiently, the Mac should supply the best of both worlds for real estate use. It certainly is a sturdy machine. The Parallel software is definitely needed for real estate usage, if only to run the necessary programs that aren't supported directly on the Mac.

Good luck!

Howard L Silverman

Coldwell Banker Mountain Brokers

Clayton, Georgis

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Linda O'neill Licensed Real Estate Broker, Hilton Head, SC

Date: Sep 18

Hi Elaine,

When Mac came out with the Intel Dual Processor, I became a Mac user. After using a PC for so many years, there was a minor learning curve. Using a Mac is actually more logical. I love my Mac Pro laptop but it is not compatible with our MLS here in Hilton Head, so it was necessary for me to switch to the PC side whenever doing a home search. You will find you will have to make some adjustments if you decide on a Mac. Real Estate is definitely PC based. I now have 2 laptops on my desk. I have a PC which is designated for MLS use and may be used for contact management in the future. I'm typing on my Mac right now. It is used for everything else. I love my Mac and my iphone. Even with the challenges, I glad I made the switch.

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