Disklavier

Hi Carol

Just don't throw out the old PC. I have a number of "old" PCs just 
because the new one will not do what the old one did.  

I have an old laptop because the new one does not have a RS232 com 
port.  An old PC win 98 because I have a number of programs that 
don't like XP.  I know you can get USB drives but they do not alwasy 
work, my USB com port is com 40 but the software only goes upto com 
10.

Having played a little with Parallels for Mac, I found it to be, not 
only very slow, but locked up and crashed all the time.

Good luck
Midi Magic



--- In disklavier@yahoogroups.com, "Carol Beigel" <thecarolb@...> 
wrote:
>
> My R&D time at the moment is being filled with playing Camp 
Grandma. working, and setting up the new iMac, so I thought I would 
throw this out to the list in the event someone else might try this 
in a more timely fashion than myself.
> 
> My Windows 98 computer developed a problem with the motherboard 
and there does not seem to be a compatible replacement on the market 
today.  Bummer!  It is just a matter of time before my Windows XP 
computers suffer the same fate.
> 
> True, the new version of Mac OS10.5 (Leopard) has an included 
utility called Bootcamp that will let you install a Windows 
operating system.  However, it is sort of clunky because you need to 
reboot each time you want to swith operating systems.
> 
> I believe there is a better alternative called Parallels for Mac 
Desktop.  You can download a free 2-week trial or pay $79 to keep 
it.  This software allows one to run virtual operating systems from 
the Mac Desktop without rebooting.  They talk about Windows XP and 
Windows Vista, but it will also run Windows 95 down through DOS6.2. 
Lynux, and some other operating systems.  You can install as many 
virtual operating systems as you want.  If you choose setting up a 
virtual drive to less than 32G it will format it using the FAT32 - 
which is compatible with those dkvutilities.  You can also connect a 
USB Floppy drive to copy or read Pianosoft disks.
> 
> It is my thought that this virtual drive will run the Giebler 
utilities and gnmidi programs.  Remember to to also load some virus 
protection software on your virtual drives if you use Windows!
> 
> For those still running Windows XP, there is a free (?) program 
called DOSBOX that will run older DOS utilities - probably the 
Giebler.  Most people use this software to run their favorite older 
versions of games that are no longer available.  I suspect it works 
on Windows Vista as well.
> 
> I must admit the new 24-inch iMac is the most elegant computer I 
have ever owned.  I will probably buy a Mac laptop as well next 
year.  By then the  MarkIV Disklaviers will be able to record 
audio.  Eventually I will figure out the web software to update my 
website and would like to include using Macs with Disklaviers.
> 
> Let me know if anyone gets these things to work!
> 
> Carol Beigel
>