I was forced to use a Windows PC the other day. It was a shock, particularly because search engines generally generate tips for switching from Windows to Mac when queried on this. It made me suspect Mac users may sometimes need a little help when they use Windows because they can't get to a Mac. I assembled these short tips to help such temporary migrants:
For many years now I have been porting emulators by others to Mac OS. Mugrat marks my first attempt at writing one of my own, in this case to emulate the Colecovision. Nestopia is by far the most compatible of any NES emulator for Mac OS X. Using cycle-exact emulation, it is able to run titles that rely on precise timing, and which.
Right-click
Not so different, on your Mac you'll Control-click items to access commands or perform actions in the shortcut menu, on Windows you Right-click the mouse.
How to launch an app?
Use the Start menu and the taskbar to access programs (applications), folders and files.
Where's the Menu?
The application menu on OS X is in the same place as the Finder at the top of the display. On Windows the application menu sits at the top of the active application window -- flick through different windows and you'll see the contents of that menu change.
Where's my stuff
Mac users use Finder to track down their files and apps. On Windows Mac users should use Windows Explorer.
Where's my flash drive?
On a Mac you'll see external connected drives appear in a Finder window, on Windows you need to open File Explorer and use the My Computer (This PC on Windows 8) command to access various drives.
Quick launch
On Macs you can launch apps and return to active applications using the Dock. On Windows you need to use the Windows Quick Launch icons at the bottom of the screen in the Windows Task Bar.
How do I cycle through open apps?
Cycle through open apps: Alt-Tab
How do I quit?
You can quit Windows apps by clicking the red X at the upper right corner of the window you're in. You can quit unresponsive apps using Ctrl+Alt+Delete (but you probably knew that -- there's even songs about it).
Finder or File Manager
The My Computer dialog lets you access Windows File Manager which lets you access all the files on the drive, while Windows Control Panel is the equivalent of System Preferences.
How do I rename a file?
On Windows you Rename documents by clicking Rename this file in the File Tasks menu.
Keyboard confusion
Windows is the equivalent of Command on your Mac.
Alt is the equivalent of Option.
Backspace the equivalent of Delete.
Window control
Maximize windows using the button on the top right, but beware: unlike on a Mac the red button closes the application.
On a Mac you minimize a window using the yellow button in a window, it is very similar on Windows where you click the minimize box.
You can resize an application window by grabbing it at the side, rather than using the lower right corner (OS X).
Keyboard shortcuts
Show Desktop: Windows+M or Windows+D
Close current window; Ctrl+W
How do I cycle through open apps?
Cycle through open apps: Alt-Tab
How do I trash?
Pretty simple: just move unwanted files and folders to the Recycle Bin.
How do I quit?
You can quit Windows apps by clicking the red X at the upper right corner of the window you're in. Or get another Mac.
These short tips do not constitute a complete guide to help Mac users make temporary use of Windows. Some features may differ on some Windows installations. If you have additional helpful tips you'd like to add, please share them in comments below.
Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join AppleHolic's Kool Aid Corner community and join the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple?
Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when fresh items are published here first on Computerworld.
Arnold 1.7.9Amstrad CPC/CPC+ Emulator
Arnold is an extremely precise Amstrad CPC/CPC+ emulator, which can runjust about all software available for what was without question the besthome computer available in Europe in the 1980s.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 726 Kb
Atari800MacX 5.0.1This is the the Macintosh OSX Port of David Firth'sFantastic Atari 800 Emulator. Ported is the SDL version of theAtrari800 emulator to Mac OSX, and added a full native Cocoa interface,including Preferences, Menus, File Associations, Help and more.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Mark Grebe
- Modification Date: January 19, 2019
- Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 21.8 MB
Basilisk II 1.0 (2019-05-04)Basilisk II is an open source emulator of 68xxx-based Macintoshcomputers for Windows, OS X and Linux. With Basilisk II, one can bootMac OS versions 7.x through 8.1. Ports of Basilisk II are available forMac OS X, Windows, Linux and a number of lesser known systems. Usersrequire a Macintosh ROM image and a copy of Mac OS to use with theemulator.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Christian Bauer et al
- Modification Date: May 4, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 5.7 MB
Boycott Advance 0.4.1Boycott Advance can run the majority of existing Gameboy Advancesoftware to some degree. High quality sound emulation is supported, withmany games sounding as good, if not better, than they do on the realhardware. Having said that, Boycott Advance is not a substitute for thereal hardware. If you want to play Gameboy Advance games, then buy areal Gameboy Advance. A number of hardware devices exist for backing uporiginal Gameboy Advance titles for use on Boycott Advance. Theseinclude the Flash Advance Linker and the XGFlash.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 465 Kb
BSNES 0.6.9BSNES has a somewhat different purpose to most emulators; it focuses onaccuracy over performance. To that end, it does not include any gamespecific hacks, or idle-loop skipping optimizations commonly found inother emulators. To add to the fun, it uses a cycle accurate hardwareemulation. The net result of all this is the highest system requirementsof any software I've released to date; those without a G5 class machineneed not apply. If you meet the requirements, however, this is the mostaccurate SNES emulation available on the Macintosh platform.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 9, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 1.6 MB
DeSmuME 0.9.11Nintendo DS Emulator.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: DeSmuME Team
- Modification Date: April 7, 2015
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 1.5 MB
Dolphin 5.0Dolphin is an emulator for two recent Nintendo video game consoles: theGameCube and the Wii. It allows PC gamers to enjoy games for these twoconsoles in full HD (1080p) with several enhancements: compatibilitywith all PC controllers, turbo speed, networked multiplayer, and evenmore!
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Dolphin Team
- Modification Date: Current
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit - The Development versions are the better choice with macOS 10.13 and higher
Download File Size: ~17 MB - Development versions are released every time a developer makes a change to Dolphin, several times every day!
DOSBox 0.74-3A port of DOSBox, an engine for playing classic and forgotten games for DOS on modern systems.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: DOSBox Team
- Modification Date: June 27, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 4.2 MB
Emulator Enhancer 3.0.1The Emulator Enhancer plugin adds a number of additional features tomany of the emulators available from this site (bannister.org). Theseinclude:
USB Gamepad and Joystick support
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Aspect ratio correction
Bilinear Filtering
Full screen mode
Network game play (preliminary)
Screen Curvature
VBL Synchronised Video
Full instructions on how to use the library can be found in the download package.
- License: Shareware, $30
- Developer/Publisher: Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 30, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 589 Kb
Erockus Arcade 6.6Erockus ARCADE is an interface app for SDLMAME.
Erockus ARCADE does not actually play games.
Erockus Arcade is designed to simplify the use of SDLMAME.
Erockus ARCADE is not supported nor endorsed by the people behind SDLMAME.
Erockus ARCADE may not work with all versions of SDLMAME.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Eric Richards
- Modification Date: August 3, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 1.4 MB
Frodo 4.4.1Frodo is a robust Commodore 64 Emulator for the Macintosh.
Frodo was developed to reproduce the graphics of games and demos withhigher precision than the existing C64 emulators. To that end, Frodo candisplay raster effects correctly that only result in a flickering messwith other emulators. In addition to the precise VIC emulation, Frodofeatures a processor-level 1541 emulation that is able to handle about50% of all fast loaders. There is also a faster 1541 emulation for fourdrives containing .D64, .X64, .T64, or .LYNX files. Sound (SID)emulation is also provided.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 1.4 MB
Genesis Plus 1.3.2Genesis Plus is a Sega Genesis/Megadrive emulator for Mac OS X.
Genesis Plus features very accurate emulation of the original SegaGenesis, even to the point that some software which has problems on thereal hardware exhibits the same behaviour under emulation. Thisemulation comes with accurate sound support, saved states, and savedgame support.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 517 Kb
Jum52 1.1.1Atari 5200 Emulator
Jum52 supports reasonable compatibility with Atari 5200 titles. At thepresent collision detection is a bit hit and miss (no pun intended) butotherwise the emulator is solid enough. High quality sound emulation isprovided.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 391 Kb
KiGB 2.0.6KiGB is a Nintendo Gameboy emulator for Mac OS X.
KiGB features detailed and accurate emulation, which brings with itexcellent compatibility. Support for both Game Genie and Game Sharkcodes is included, as well as extremely high fidelity sound support.KiGB can even emulate the Super Gameboy.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 668 Kb
Mini vMac 36.04Mini vMac is an open source emulator of 68000 based Macintosh computers.The project's main goal being an accurate emulation of the MacintoshPlus computer. In addition to the Macintosh Plus, variations of MinivMac can emulation the Macintosh 128K, 512K, 512Ke, SE and Classicmodels.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Paul C. Pratt
- Modification Date: October 7, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 59emu Kb
Mugrat 0.4.5For many years now I have been porting emulators by others to MacOS. Mugrat marks my first attempt at writing one of my own, in this caseto emulate the Colecovision.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 30, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 409 Kb
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Mupen64Plus 2.5.9Mupen64Plus is a cross-platform plugin-based N64 emulator which iscapable of accurately playing many games. N64 emulator and plugins forLinux, Mac OSX, FreeBSD, and Windows
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Mupen64Plus Team
- Modification Date: February 10, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 2.7 MB
Nestopia 1.4.2Nestopia is a Nintendo NES emulator for Mac OS X.
Nestopia is by far the most compatible of any NES emulator for Mac OS X.Using cycle-exact emulation, it is able to run titles that rely onprecise timing, and which therefore break under other emulators. Itsupports five extra sound chips and an astonishing 143 mappers. Thisaccurate emulation comes at a cost; Nestopia requires an 800MHz machinefor full speed; but if you have one, this is the best available NESemulation for Mac.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 1.1 MB
OpenEmu 2.0.9.1Retro video game emulation for macOS.
For the first time, the 'It just works' philosophy now extends to opensource video game emulation on the Mac. With OpenEmu, it is extremelyeasy to add, browse, organize and with a compatible gamepad, play thosefavorite games (ROMs) you already own.
This one does it all and in a well done interface. Nintendo, SuperNintendo, Nintendo 64, PlayStaion, Sega Genesis, Atari 2600, Game Boy, PSP etc.and more.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: OpenEmu Team
- Modification Date: June 22, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 44 MB - The experimental version supports MAME
Rainbow 1.5.8
Atari 800 Series EmulatorRainbow was one of the first emulators available for Macintosh. Despitethis, it has fairly good compatibility with original software. The MacOS X version adds an improved GUI and significantly improved sound tothe original version.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 469 Kb
ScummVM 2.0.0.1ScummVM is not an emulator.
ScummVM is a program which allows you to run certain classic graphicalpoint-and-click adventure games, provided you already have their datafiles. The clever part about this: ScummVM just replaces the executablesshipped with the game, allowing you to play them on systems for whichthey were never designed!
ScummVM lets you run these adventures: Adventure Soft's Simon theSorcerer 1 and 2; Revolution's Beneath A Steel Sky, Broken Sword 1 andBroken Sword 2; Flight of the Amazon Queen; Wyrmkeep's Inherit theEarth; Coktel Vision's Gobliiins and games based on LucasArts' SCUMM(Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion) system. SCUMM is used formany games, including Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, Sam and Maxand more. Compatibility with supported games is continually improving,so check back often.
Among the systems on which you can play those games are Windows, Linux,Mac OS X, Dreamcast, PocketPC, PalmOS, AmigaOS, BeOS, OS/2, PSP, PS2,SymbianOS/EPOC and many more...
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: The ScummVM Team
- Modification Date: January 15, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 19.7 MB
SDLMAME 0.212Command line Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: @roni
- Modification Date: August 3, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 100.5 MB - SDL Mame 0.212
Download File Size: 5.6 Kb - SDL Runtime Library 2.0.10
Download File Size: 542 Kb - M64 - Application to run SDL MAME without launching the terminal
SheepShaver 2.5 (2019-05-04)SheepShaver is an Open Source PowerPC MacOS run-time environment. Thatis, it enables you to run PowerPC Classic MacOS software on yourcomputer, even if you are using a different operating system. However,you still need a copy of MacOS and a PowerMacintosh ROM image to usethis program. SheepShaver is distributed under the terms of the GNUGeneral Public License (GPL). If you are using a PowerPC-based system,applications will run at native speeds (i.e. without any emulationinvolved). On other systems, SheepShaver provides the first PowerPC G4emulator, though without MMU, to enable the execution of MacOS Classic.Performance with the current CPU emulator using basic just-in-time (JIT)translation techniques is roughly 1/8-th of native speeds.
Features
- SheepShaver runs MacOS 7.5.2 thru MacOS 9.0.4
- PowerPC G4 emulation on non-PowerPC platforms, direct execution otherwise
- Basic but portable JIT engine (x86, x86_64, mips)
- Copy and paste of text between MacOS and the host OS
- File exchange with the host OS via a Unix icon on the Mac desktop
- Color video display with support for run-time resolution switching
- Run-time depth switching from 1 bpp to current host depth settings
- Native QuickDraw 2D acceleration for BitBlt and FillRect operations
- CD-quality stereo sound output
- Networking: SheepShaver supports Internet and LAN networking via Ethernet and PPP with all Open Transport compatible MacOS applications
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Gwenole Beauchesne
- Modification Date: May 5, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit - If you have an existing SheepShaver setup, you can simply replace the application with the new application
Download File Size: 1.1 MB
SMS Plus 1.3.4SMS Plus is a Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear emulator for Mac OSX.
The hardware for the Sega Master System and Game Gear consoles is almostidentical from a technical standpoint, which means that when you emulateone, it is trivial to emulate the other. SMS Plus features accurateemulation of both systems, with full sound support. Just like most ofthe other emulators on this site, it can use GZ compressed ROMstransparently.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Ported by Richard Bannister
- Modification Date: March 10, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 551 Kb
sixtyforce 1.0.4sixtyforce is an emulator that runs Nintendo 64 games. It does this bydynamically translating the code that a Nintendo 64 uses into somethingyour Mac understands. Nearly every part of a Nintendo 64 has beenpainstakingly recreated entirely out of software to pull off such anamazing feat. Download sixtyforce and try it yourself!
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Gerrit Goossen
- Modification Date: June 12, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 3.9 MB
Stella 6.0.1The Atari 2600 Video Computer System (VCS), introduced in 1977, was themost popular home video game system of the early 1980's. Now you canenjoy all of your favorite Atari 2600 games on your PC thanks to Stella!
Stella is a multi-platform Atari 2600 VCS emulator released under theGNU General Public License (GPL). Stella was originally developed forLinux by Bradford W. Mott, however, since its original release severalpeople have joined the development team to port Stella to otheroperating systems such as AcornOS, AmigaOS, DOS, FreeBSD, IRIX, Linux,OS/2, MacOS, Unix, and Windows. The development team is working hard toperfect the emulator and we hope you enjoy our effort.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Stella Team
- Modification Date: June 6, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 3.6 MB
VICE 3.1VICE is a program that runs on a Unix, MS-DOS, Win32, OS/2, BeOS, QNX4.x, QNX 6.x, Amiga, Syllable or Mac OS X machine and executes programsintended for the old 8-bit computers. The current version emulates theC64, the C64DTV, the C128, the VIC20, practically all PET models, thePLUS4 and the CBM-II (aka C610/C510). An extra emulator is provided forC64 expanded with the CMD SuperCPU.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: The VICE Team
- Modification Date: March 30, 2017
- Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 86.5 MB
VirtualC64 3.3.2VirtualC64 emulates a Commodore 64 personal computer on your Macintosh.I started the project in 2006 to create a virtual CPU environment thatcan be used as a demonstrator program in a first or second year ofcomputer technology. Over the years I have added more and more featuresand the accuracy of the emulation has steadily increased. Despite one ortwo compatibility gaps, VirtualC64 is now able to run a large number ofC64 programs without errors.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Dirk Hoffmann
- Modification Date: May 25, 2019
- Requirements: macOS 10.13 or higher - 64-bit
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Download File Size: 12.5
Virtual ][ 9.1.4Cac Card Reader Software Download For Mac
Virtual ][ is a program that emulates the vintage Apple ][ computer onyour Macintosh.
Key features:
Emulates the Apple ][, ][+ and //e
Supports USB game pad or joystick
Save a machine and resume later on
Full-screen mode
Epson FX-80 emulation
Realistic soundeffects
Virtual ][ lets you play all the old Apple games, because it supportsall graphics modes, lets you control the game paddles with a USB gamepad or mouse and emulates the internal speaker. When you want totemporarily interrupt gameplay, Virtual ][ allows you to save theentire virtual machine, and continue later on from where you left off.
But Virtual ][ also supports more 'serious' software, because itemulates many peripheral devices: floppy disk, hard disk, mouse, matrixprinter, even cassette tape! It is also able to emulate the Z80Aprocessor, allowing you to run the CP/M operatng system.
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- License: Shareware, $44
- Developer/Publisher: Gerard Putter
- Modification Date: July 29, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
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Download File Size: 38.4 MB