Can I download PC programs now, use them later?

[jcarter]

A friend mentioned that I could purchase and download Windows only software onto my present Mac, and save them to use later when I get a MacTell.

The 2 I am interested in first are XenoDream and UltraFractal.  
 I am hoping I can put them on a CD, take them into my Mac store, and try them out on their new MacTells. He said I can use whatever I want. Theyve got Parallels and PC versions of Photoshop Elements and other stuff.

Do you think this can be done?
Thanks,
Jane

[kelly]

If the mac Store will let you. Yes.

[jcarter]

Hi Kelly,  Thats great news!   I will do this soon.
I was just on the phone with them, and he said its fine to do that.  But right now they are out of MacTells, waiting for the delivery truck,,,,,
Jane

[gunug]

I don't know why you couldn't download them and burn them to a ISO type CD in the archive format (zip or whatever).  I've done this upon occasion when circumstances dictated; it actually works better than saving onto a PC and running on a MAC (imagine that)!  

[jcarter]

So if I just burned them onto a CD, they would be stored there till I got my MacTell?
Or take them to the store and play with them.
I was just burning some CDs(wedding pictures, .jpgs) and they should work on both PC and Mac from what the instruction dialog box said.
Sure sounds like everything will work just fine.
This will be fun, thanks,
Jane

[gunug]

I think you might want to make sure you store them in their original archive form (don't let UnStuffit or anything open them) and burn them onto a ISO or PC CDROM format disk (XP can't work very well with native MAC CD's).

[jcarter]

I think on my new Mac, Stuffit leaves the downloads alone, on this Mac, they start to open right away.
I am glad you mentioned that.

Im not sure if my blank CDs are ISO, they are just generic Maxells.
I better try this on some unimportant things first.  It works with .jpgs, as our kids and I swap CDs, they have Dells.
But for data and programs, I just dont know about this at all.
Jane

[bil207]

Jane,

   ISO is the cd format that can be read by both Windows and Mac OS.

From OS 10.4 Mac Help:

  "Creating a CD formatted for MS-DOS (Windows)
When you burn a CD in the Finder, Mac OS X creates a disc in "hybrid" format that can be read by most computers, including Windows computers.


Insert a blank CD or DVD disc into the optical drive of your computer.
If a dialog appears, choose Open Finder from the Action pop-up menu and type a name for the disc. Then click OK.
If no dialog appears, click the title of the disc icon when it appears in your Finder window, and type a new name for the disc.

Drag files and folders to the CD (double-click the CD icon to open its window and arrange the files exactly as you want them before burning the disc). The names of files, folders, and the disc can't be changed after the CD is burned.
Choose File > Burn Disc.
Choose the burn speed and click Burn.

You can also drag the disc icon to the Trash instead of choosing Burn Disc from the menu. The Trash icon changes to a burn icon and you see the same dialog to choose the disc speed.

The disc contains these filesystems: HFS+, ISO-9660 with Rock Ridge, and Joliet with Rock Ridge."

[jcarter]

Thank you!   Ive been burning disks all day for the wedding photos, everybody has PCs but me who I am sending them to.
That makes me feel better, as the dialog box did say both PC and Mac.

Now I can go right ahead and get XenoDream and UltraFractal.
And try this all out on a MacTell at the store.
Jane

[gunug]

I'm glad Bil207 was around because I don't do much burning with OS X itself; usually I have Toast installed or DiscBlaze.

[krissel]

QUOTE(jcarter @ Aug 28 2006, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think on my new Mac, Stuffit leaves the downloads alone, on this Mac, they start to open right away.

You can change that if you want.  Depending on the browser you are using, go into their prefs and find the download section where you can tell the browser whether to open or save the type of files you download. Each kind of file (jpg, sit, etc.) can have differing instructions.
 
It's actually safer to do the opening of files yourself later as it prevents anything from possibly opening and depositing a virus in the future. Granted there is little worry of that now but it's an extra security step to consider.

[jcarter]

Hi Krissel,  I certainly will do that, I think its a much better way.  Just wasnt sure of how to go about it.  You all sure are great!  I can get everything ready, and then get my MacTell this fall or early winter.

Thank you.
Jane