Comments on: My Ultimate eLearning Development Machine http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/ A starry-eyed quest for beautiful eLearning and presentations. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:26:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: VMware Fusion 3: October 27 | eQuixotic http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-1203 VMware Fusion 3: October 27 | eQuixotic Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:29:55 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-1203 [...] For us Mac-based eLearning developers, Windows virtualization can be, sadly, a necessity. Though some must-have tools are starting to arrive on the Mac platform (Camtasia, Captivate, SnagIt), others remain Windows-only for the foreseeable future (Articulate). And often your projects require capturing screenshots natively in Windows-based applications. The ability to run apps from all major OSes in a single environment on a single machine is an advantage that can’t be underestimated, and that ability is what makes the Mac my Ultimate eLearning Development Machine. [...] [...] For us Mac-based eLearning developers, Windows virtualization can be, sadly, a necessity. Though some must-have tools are starting to arrive on the Mac platform (Camtasia, Captivate, SnagIt), others remain Windows-only for the foreseeable future (Articulate). And often your projects require capturing screenshots natively in Windows-based applications. The ability to run apps from all major OSes in a single environment on a single machine is an advantage that can’t be underestimated, and that ability is what makes the Mac my Ultimate eLearning Development Machine. [...]

]]> By: Chris http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-516 Chris Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:13:55 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-516 Mark, I'm revising my previous comment (which is being replaced with this comment) because I wasn't thinking straight. I believe you *can* run a dual-display setup using the iMac. There is a video out on the iMac (just not a video in), and I believe it supports video mirroring as well as an extended desktop. Your local Apple Store folks should be able to confirm this. Mark, I’m revising my previous comment (which is being replaced with this comment) because I wasn’t thinking straight. I believe you *can* run a dual-display setup using the iMac. There is a video out on the iMac (just not a video in), and I believe it supports video mirroring as well as an extended desktop. Your local Apple Store folks should be able to confirm this.

]]> By: Mark http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-515 Mark Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:00:13 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-515 I'd love to switch back to the Mac (I had a Mac Mini for a while, but it was painfully slow for the money, even after I had upgraded the RAM and added an external firewire boot drive...should have just bought an iMac...). But the one thing holding me back from getting a new iMac is that you can't run a dual-monitor setup. I can't live without 2 big displays anymore. I have a 22" and a 19" right now, side-by-side. An ideal solution would be a nicely equipped (ie, not the low-spec model) MacBook Pro, but then we're in the ~$2500 range which is just ridiculous. I agree with what I think is one of your main points - the *quality* of the Mac software, even the freeware, is so much higher than most paid Windows apps it's ridiculous. And with the Fusion solution there really isn't any limitation anymore. Windows 7 (I'm running the beta in a dual-boot with Windows XP) is basically just Windows Vista with a slight makeover and slight speed increase, but it's still woefully slower and just less 'snappy' than XP on equivalent hardware. I have a pretty high-end PC built part-by-part and the benefits of a really lightning fast OS (ie, XP) vs the glossy Vista/Win 7 make me think I'll eventually, maybe later this year, jump to the Mac and just suffer with a single display : ( I’d love to switch back to the Mac (I had a Mac Mini for a while, but it was painfully slow for the money, even after I had upgraded the RAM and added an external firewire boot drive…should have just bought an iMac…). But the one thing holding me back from getting a new iMac is that you can’t run a dual-monitor setup. I can’t live without 2 big displays anymore. I have a 22″ and a 19″ right now, side-by-side.

An ideal solution would be a nicely equipped (ie, not the low-spec model) MacBook Pro, but then we’re in the ~$2500 range which is just ridiculous.

I agree with what I think is one of your main points – the *quality* of the Mac software, even the freeware, is so much higher than most paid Windows apps it’s ridiculous. And with the Fusion solution there really isn’t any limitation anymore.

Windows 7 (I’m running the beta in a dual-boot with Windows XP) is basically just Windows Vista with a slight makeover and slight speed increase, but it’s still woefully slower and just less ’snappy’ than XP on equivalent hardware. I have a pretty high-end PC built part-by-part and the benefits of a really lightning fast OS (ie, XP) vs the glossy Vista/Win 7 make me think I’ll eventually, maybe later this year, jump to the Mac and just suffer with a single display : (

]]> By: trondk http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-438 trondk Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:18:39 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-438 I have been using a mac (15" MBP 4GB/200GB) as my main development machine for almost a year now. Its great I too use Articulate Studio, Captivate, SnagIt, VMware Fusion 2 and XP. I had to give up Vista, but XP is snappy. On the Mac side i use iLife, iWork, Handbrake, VisualHub, Pixelmator, MindManager, ScreenFlow, Jing, and QuartzComposer (part of XCode). I fin myslef using Keynote a lot. You can set the canvas in Keynote to match the Canvas in Articulate Presener and make som really nice animations keynote style export to Flash og mov and then convert to flash with Visualhub og Articulate Encoder. Also you can make some really cool background animations with QuartzComopser drop it in Keynote and export from there. Using the Alpha channel tool in Keynote it is a breeze removing backgrounds in photos. I mostly use the shared folder in XP to access the files on the macside, but when I am in a hurry or in flow I just drag and drop files between desktops. I have an extra 22" samsung connected to my Macbook Pro. I will never go back using just a windows machine again. I have been using a mac (15″ MBP 4GB/200GB) as my main development machine for almost a year now. Its great I too use Articulate Studio, Captivate, SnagIt, VMware Fusion 2 and XP. I had to give up Vista, but XP is snappy. On the Mac side i use iLife, iWork, Handbrake, VisualHub, Pixelmator, MindManager, ScreenFlow, Jing, and QuartzComposer (part of XCode). I fin myslef using Keynote a lot. You can set the canvas in Keynote to match the Canvas in Articulate Presener and make som really nice animations keynote style export to Flash og mov and then convert to flash with Visualhub og Articulate Encoder. Also you can make some really cool background animations with QuartzComopser drop it in Keynote and export from there.
Using the Alpha channel tool in Keynote it is a breeze removing backgrounds in photos. I mostly use the shared folder in XP to access the files on the macside, but when I am in a hurry or in flow I just drag and drop files between desktops. I have an extra 22″ samsung connected to my Macbook Pro. I will never go back using just a windows machine again.

]]> By: Chris http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-437 Chris Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:43:33 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-437 @ Paul, I'd recommend you give the iMac a shot. Worst case scenario you hate it, sell it, and lose a couple hundred bucks. Me, I'd be willing to wager that will not happen and a year from now your Windows-only world will be but a painful memory. :) @ Paul, I’d recommend you give the iMac a shot. Worst case scenario you hate it, sell it, and lose a couple hundred bucks.

Me, I’d be willing to wager that will not happen and a year from now your Windows-only world will be but a painful memory. :)

]]> By: Chris http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-436 Chris Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:35:21 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-436 Travis, I'm not aware of any Timelines equivalent for Windows, though I assume there has to be *something* out there. Adobe's Soundbooth ($99) is probably a pretty good equivalent for GarageBand. I put in a request with my employer for Captivate many, many months ago, I've yet to see it installed on my machine. So I can't compare it to Camtasia. I don't have the latest version of Camtasia (6) either, but regarding v.5, I can say that the program has a lot of functionality but I think the interface is horribly outdated and not very user-friendly. I'll talk about this more when I post my review on ScreenFlow. Travis, I’m not aware of any Timelines equivalent for Windows, though I assume there has to be *something* out there. Adobe’s Soundbooth ($99) is probably a pretty good equivalent for GarageBand.

I put in a request with my employer for Captivate many, many months ago, I’ve yet to see it installed on my machine. So I can’t compare it to Camtasia. I don’t have the latest version of Camtasia (6) either, but regarding v.5, I can say that the program has a lot of functionality but I think the interface is horribly outdated and not very user-friendly. I’ll talk about this more when I post my review on ScreenFlow.

]]> By: Travis Smith http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-435 Travis Smith Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:13:52 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-435 Hello, What Windows programs would you use instead of Timelines and GarageBand? Also how would you compare Camtasia to Adobe Captivate? Thanks! TS < Hello,

What Windows programs would you use instead of Timelines and GarageBand? Also how would you compare Camtasia to Adobe Captivate?

Thanks! TS <

]]> By: Paul http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-434 Paul Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:56:53 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-434 I definitely agree with this for a sweet development machine, although if I am spending all day in development software, a nicely outfiftted PC would not (for me) be a bad option either (bugs and viruses notwithstanding). I am looking to get a new machine with the next 12 months, and I'm honestly torn between a PC (which I am more used to but am rather sick of) and getting an iMac with the works. I like the hardware options available for PCs, but the completeness of functionality in the Mac is the counterpoint. Here's to training departments the world over "getting" the Mac and making the switch. I definitely agree with this for a sweet development machine, although if I am spending all day in development software, a nicely outfiftted PC would not (for me) be a bad option either (bugs and viruses notwithstanding).

I am looking to get a new machine with the next 12 months, and I’m honestly torn between a PC (which I am more used to but am rather sick of) and getting an iMac with the works. I like the hardware options available for PCs, but the completeness of functionality in the Mac is the counterpoint.

Here’s to training departments the world over “getting” the Mac and making the switch.

]]> By: Chris http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-433 Chris Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:49:52 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-433 Hey John, try dragging the song file directly to the slide in your presentation. In iTunes, right-click the song and choose Show In Finder. Then drag that file and drop it on the slide in PowerPoint where you want the audio to play. Hey John, try dragging the song file directly to the slide in your presentation. In iTunes, right-click the song and choose Show In Finder. Then drag that file and drop it on the slide in PowerPoint where you want the audio to play.

]]> By: John http://www.equixotic.com/2008/11/09/my-ultimate-elearning-development-machine/comment-page-1/#comment-432 John Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:32:33 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/?p=232#comment-432 Hi, Not a comment but a plea for help. I am an experienced e-learning educator but still a novice on the product development side. I am now retired and have no technical backup. How can I add a brief sound clip from my itunes matrial to play over a particular PPT slide in an otherwise silent presentation? I use Mac 10.4.11. John Hi,
Not a comment but a plea for help.

I am an experienced e-learning educator but still a novice on the product development side. I am now retired and have no technical backup.

How can I add a brief sound clip from my itunes matrial to play over a particular PPT slide in an otherwise silent presentation? I use Mac 10.4.11.

John

]]>