Information for Mac users:

At this time there is no native Mac version of Case It version 6, due to changes in Mac support for the software authoring system. We are still exploring options for developing a Mac version, but in the meantime here are some suggestions for running the Windows version on your Mac.  There are many YouTube videos that describe these various options, as well as how to install them.  Links to example videos are included at the bottom of this page.  Your institution’s instructional technology staff may be able to install these programs for you.  In addition, check out the Case It Mobile prototypes, which include mobile-adapted web pages that will work on any computer, tablet, or smart phone.  This will allow users to view videos of the simulations and analyze case results.

Boot Camp – Boot Camp is included with Mac OSX, and will enable you to run Windows software (including Case It) at native speed, provided you have a valid version of the Windows operating system. Information on Boot Camp is available at http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/.  Boot Camp allows you to boot up your computer as if it were a Windows machine, running the native Windows operating system.  The disadvantage is that you will not have access to any of your Mac programs while running Windows, but the advantage is that programs will run as fast as they would on a Windows computer.

Cost:  There is no cost for Boot Camp since it comes installed on your Mac, but you will have to purchase a copy of Windows.  Windows 7, home premium edition, can be downloaded from the Microsoft site for $199 (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/shop).  Check with your instructional technology department to see if your institution has a site license that would be less expensive.  Windows XP is no longer available from the Microsoft site, and will not be supported as of 2014, but it can still be purchased from third party sites for less than $100.  While Windows 7 has many improvements compared to XP, Windows XP takes up less space and resources on your computer and may be a good option for running just one or two programs, i.e. if it is not your primary operating system.

Emulation programs (Parallels, VMware Fusion, Virtual Box) – These programs create a “virtual machine” into which you can install the Windows operating system.  The virtual machine will be in a separate window, so you can still access all of your Mac files and programs.  The disadvantage is that some programs may run more slowly.  We are in the process of testing these different emulation systems with Case It v6.06 and will post the results here.

Cost: Virtual Box is free to download (www.virtualbox.org), but Parallels costs $79.99 (www.parallels.com) and VMware Fusion is $49.99 (www.vmware.com).  In addition, you will need to purchase a copy of Windows (see above). Again, check with your instructional technology department to see if your institution has a site license that would be less expensive.

YouTube videos that describe options for running Windows on a Mac, and installation procedures. These are not produced by the Case It team, but are samples of the many videos available online.  New videos are made available frequently, so use a keyword search to get the latest videos.

http://youtu.be/QFIWtXTl4d0  – How to install Windows 7 on a Mac, includes a comparison of Boot Camp, Parallels, and VMware Fusion, and detailed installation instructions for Boot Camp.

http://youtu.be/-HjHMSwm8gY – Installing Windows 7 on Parallels desktop for Mac