QUESTION:
Can I use any of the Square One software programs on a Mac -- in particular ECOTECT ?
ANSWER:
ECOTECT is a Windows application so it is only compatible on a Mac if you are using a Windows emulator such as Parallels, Virtual PC, BootCamp or similar. We have a good collection of customers using ECOTECT that way and our main programmer even uses a MacBook Pro, although this tends to be through BootCamp.
Mac users do advise the use of a 2 or 3 button USB mouse though, in order to do a right mouse click which is what ECOTECT uses to move around the model in perspective view. Also, the lack of an Insert Key on the keyboard can be an issue, however ECOTECT responds to fn + Enter (the enter key immediately alongside the left Apple key).
If you like there is a section about using ECOTECT on a Mac (and all our other software) as well as other relevant details on our System Requirements web page.
Of course you can always download and try the software on your computer before you consider purchasing a licence -- that way you will know for certain if it will work okay. You can download ECOTECT from ecotect.com, the ECOTECT page at Square One or from the Square One downloads page.
ECOTECT on a Mac
I came across ECOTECT in the forum pages of the mac CAD web site http://www.architosh.com/
ECOTECT interests me in my efforts in passive housing, however I do use a mac and wonder if you are considering porting it to macOSX in the future (a very good platform by the way
ps. virtual PC is ssllooww...zzzzzzzz
Mac Version
Our Company is currently assessing various environmental modeling packages for general design and analysis use for multi-family residential projects in our architectural practice. Ecotect looks quite interesting to us, but only if it ran natively on the Mac OS.
As newer Mac workstations use Intel processors, we would be interested in knowing when if ever, we were going to see a Mac Native version release?
Sincerely,
Andrew Bobyn M.Arch, MAIBC
Cornerstone Architecture
Vancouver, BC
Mac version
Our company would also be interested in this product if were to run natively on Mac OS X.