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Is Being A Real Estate Agent Holding You Back From The Mac?

Back in August we dipped our toes into the waters of the mac world. We wanted to start out slow and easy so in case it was not going to be a good fit we could swing back over to the Windows PC world which we were in since we got out of DOS mode. diving into the mac world

Little did we know that the dip would turn into a major plunge, diving right in the deep end! Wow were the most often said words in our office and home! One of our daughters had a mac laptop and we got one of our sons who started college one in August. Little did we know how the mac was going to rock our world.

So the teachers and trainers at our local Apple store know us very well by now since the Apple store has become our new 'college'. The first thing we highly recommend for anyone moving into the mac world to make sure you buy your mac from the Apple store and pay the $99 for one year of unlimited one on one sessions with trainers and teachers. This also includes unlimited group classes on everything mac and then some and also the business seminars are great.

Many real estate agents hold back from embracing the power and ease of the mac world because you can't get on the mls with mac. But you can. The mls is run on Windows IE. ( Don't use IE for anything but mls even on a pc).

Let me first tell you that mac users are complaining to mls vendors that their antiquity online is just unacceptable. Our mls told us that making the mac work with Firefox or Safari is the most requested item. The mls vendors say that they are working on getting the mls to work with Firefox and that should be available by the end of 2010. In the meantime you have several options for living in the mac world and still being able to access the mls.

You can do any of the following:

Use Bootcamp on the Mac- This is done when you first buy your mac. You install a licensed version of Windows 7. You run two operating systems on the mac. When you want to use IE you just boot up your mac in Windows.

I don't like this way because you have to constantly reboot your mac to go between operating systems and you also would have to buy the windows license.

Use Parallels for Mac- This is software that is the most common among agents to use. This is software that cost $79.99 for one user and $199.99 for up to 3 users. We have not tried this software yet. We are going to try this on one of our macs and continue to use Crossover with the other macs and see which ones is better for us. You have to have a Windows OS license to add it to Parallels.

Use Crossover Software- We are using Crossover right now. You can buy a Pro License for $69 and use it on multiple macs. The developers of Crossover keep working out bugs and making it a better product all the time. I like their customer service also. They get back with help tickets within a day.You do not need to buy any Microsoft Windows products or licenses with Crossover. Thus, this is the reason I like it the best.

Crossover mimics Windows. So when you open up IE, Crossover opens it up and you will see a windows screen within Crossover. It is really very nice because I have a rule for our staff and family- go in and get on the mls with Crossover then close out as soon as you are finished. This will train you not to use IE for other purposes and it will keep your mac safe.

Make sure you follow the following tips when using mls on Crossover- when you add on the IE browser you have to choose IE6 not 7. Also, we had an issue with printing because mls wants us to install those unsafe active x controls that mac does not like. The way around that for us was to use the pdf print format. So that works fine. The one irritating thing Nestor does not like is that the mls will freeze up if you leave the computer and come back too much later.

Use Teamviewer, Yuuguu or CrossLoop to access a pc remotely. Some agents keep a pc running with mls and then use the screen sharing to maneuver and use the mls on the pc from their mac. I have tried this and it is too slow for us. There is a short delay but it gets kind of irritating.

The last option is to keep a pc around to get on the mls with. This is great for agents who are not having to use their laptops to get on the mls out in the field. This gets very irritating because once you get used to mac speed and simplicity you can really tell the difference. We kept our pcs because I have not had the time to move files to external hard drives and I chose not to do a file transfer as many of our files may no longer be needed. I will take my time sorting through the old files.

So you see, there are several ways to get into the mac world even as a real estate agent who has to rely on archaic mls systems.

FTC Disclosure: This is my own opinion. This is not meant to be professional advice. I am not getting paid by Apple to blog about my opinion nor do I derive any benefit from so doing that I know of. If I do ever get any gain in any way or fashion because of writing this post, that is not my intent.

Is Being A Real Estate Agent Holding You Back From The Mac? by Coach Katerina Gasset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License

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Posted by Nestor & Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes on 10/31/2009 01:20 AM

Comments (36)

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36 Comments on Is Being A Real Estate Agent Holding You Back From The Mac?

OCT

Katerina, I drool over Mac laptops and desktops with large monitors. They are the coolest machines. I just dont' have the courage to make the switch. I've got three networked computers and switching over would be cost prohibitive right now. I do wish this was a Mac world. Good for you for taking the plunge and making it work!

Katerina -

Boy are you convinced (and convincing) about MAC's.

I'm not heading that way. But I sure do agree that IE is just for the MLS window I have to have a good chunk of the time...and nothing else.

I often have a half dozen Firefox windows open...but only one IE on MLS.

Thanks for educating me on the difference between a mac and pc.....i've debating on switching, but have to admit--it's scary!

Thank you but I like my PC. As far as I am concerned there is more computer power here, between my hardware and software than I will ever be able to master 100% of...so why leave it to learn something completely new...and what makes sence about buying a mac to run windows compatibility software - my windows works just fine.

YOu Mac people are like EX-SMOKERS or anything else - EX-PC users want to convert the world, one PC at a time.

Bah, Humbug

Welcome to the Mac world! I've been using a Mac since they first came out. The latest Macs are definitely the coolest ever. If there's anything you need help with, feel free to contact me. Mac fanatics love helping and supporting each other!

i've got a MAC laptop & it's great. EXCEPT for mls.

however, for the costs I'll stay where i am for nowl. Your expertise, knowlege & sharing is something that I treasure. And I hope that our local TRIANGLE MLS will move toward MAC's very soon

Katerina, I live in a remote beach area with no Apple store around. One of our agents had a Mac and we couldn't get on our contract software, NAR sites, and other issues after 2 months they bought a PC. My biggest hurdle is all new software and no training or service anywhere in my area.

I've heard a lot about the MAC and having been toying with the idea for sometime now. As others have said, I'm more than a little apprehensive! Very informative, thank you.

Very good post. If I had some disposable money I would get one, and probably leave it at home and use it for my photos. But, with the MLS not jumping on the bandwagon, those fixes seem a bit cumbersome to me at this juncture. I am afraid I can only handle one thing at a time, LOL. Good luck!

Katerina, you make a compelling reason for getting a MAC. I will have to look into it for my next upgrade. Thanks.

I have been hearing a lot of good news about Mac and I may have to look into it a little deeper when the time comes for a new laptop. Thank you for the helpful information.

If I went to a Mac, I would still need to use certain highly specialized non-real estate software that only runs on Windows. In such a case, I would use both Mac and PC rather than using only one.

This is very interesting information. My daughter has a Mac and I love going to her house and using it. I have wondered if when I need to replace my laptop about getting a Mac. Thanks for your insights!

My daughter has a mac laptop and I have been amazed what a great machine it is. I think during my next technology upgrade the family will be converting.

Hi Katerina.

I actually started with a Mac in 1989 then switched to MS' operating system. I have built a network with PCs with Windows XP. I have three desktops and two laptops all with Windows XP and to replace them would be fiscally irresponsible of me :-) Hmm I also have an IBM running Linux and Windows parallel much like the Mac can do but I would rather donate to help some less fortunate people than upgrade to Macs. However I am so jealous that you have a NEW Mac though in a good way LOL

Macs are better especially when it comes to viruses... which is stating the obvious but it's great that you are now a Mac convert. It really is MUCH better.

~ Lana

As Darwin once said, loosely quoted, "It's not the ones with the most strength or the most intelligence that survive but those who are most able to adapt."

One of your commenters, John?, compared "Mac converts" to ex-smokers but I'm pragmatic in my approach to computers- what works is what works. I have several things that I do on Windows, especially in the hosting of MS SQL databases & MS SQL programming. That said, I do my day to day work on my Mac. That includes web development, and even some of the SQL stuff. Further, there are some things I will never do on the PC again.

Why? Workflow and stability. Why deal with, for example, producing a video montage on the PC when the Mac is twice as easy and nearly twice as fast just by virtue of not crashing in a render or transition? Besides that, often the basic tools of a Mac produce more visually pleasing products right out of the box, but then that's always been the focus of Apple, you know, design and innovation.

My Mac gets the job done faster with less stress- that's an observation with 20 years and counting on PCs of all flavors.

The time I save from those inevitable freeze-ups in IE, especially on database-driven, application type sites (like the MLS or Amazon, etc.) Safari, Google Chrome and Firefox are all better alternatives and, in my experience, are even better and more stable on OSX.

Yes, I'm still using my PC, actually 3 of them including the virtual one that runs on my Mac, and I'm also using a Linux machine for a phone system because that's what works best for that application.

The fact that the Mac works better than its competition for many and even most tasks seems to irritate a lot of people. This isn't an election, it's just what's working out. As Darwin once said, loosely quoted, "It's not the ones with the most strength or the most intelligence that survive but those who are most able to adapt."

Geez I just blew a whole blog entry here!

I know macs are supposed to be incredible. I've been having my own computer nightmares recently having flooded my Toshiba. I thought about getting a mac but there is so much else to learn right now, I couldn't face having to hunker down and learn the mac. i am glad you did it thoug. It must be fun.

Jane - My Toshiba died last year and I made the move to Mac ..... and I don't regret it for a minute.

I seriously recommend you rethink the switch!

I also got a MAC a few months ago. I could get into the MLS but I couldn't pull up the reports like CMA's. Someone told me to use Firefox. I did and that works. I can pull everything up including reports and print them. Maybe give that a try.

NOV

Jane- It really is so easy. You may have an idea that it will be a lot to learn because your point of reference is from Windows and PC world. That is a complicated world. Mac is easy, fun, and you will never go back! We just love to learn so we take all the classes, etc, but you can do it a little on your own. To get started and for real estate it really is not that much to learn. I am learning how to make movies on the mac, I never learned how on a pc because the idea was too daunting but now I want to learn how to make movies. But you don't have to learn that.

Stewart- Isn't it the best move?! The drag and drop feature and screen shots in one click are such time savers too! Katerina

Tammie- This is how stupid our mls vendor is- it only runs on IE. That is the problem. It is not windows, it is IE! I never use IE for any application except for mls. That is why we don't want to buy the windows Operating system just to use IE. Crossover works great for using IE on a mac. That is where we are until the mls gets with the rest of the world and lets Firefox work on mls. We use Firefox for most everything. We use Safari to go to the Apple store, support and all the Apple goodies online since it is set right there. :) Katerina

Toooo late. I got an HP. Oh well.

Katerina - I'm convinced, we're struggling with some of the same issues as others have listed - no Apple stores near us (do they have good phone support?) and cost for so many computers in our office. We may have to get one at least and give it a try.

My PC was crashing about once a month, my husband decided I was going to switch to Mac. He dragged me, kicking and screaming about having to re-learn everything. I've had it a year now, and not one crash. Sometimes, I have 10 or 12 things open at once, and never a problem. BTW - when I first got it, my MLS told me it wouldn't work with Mac, and I had to use Virtual Office, but then one day it just started working on both Firefox and Safari, and now I don't even think about it.

Both are good. I was an IT Manager for Allstate. We used both and had good results from both if you buy good equipment.

I use a PC with Windows XP Pro and have never had a "Crash" or any kind of problem. A lot is just what you are use to and also buy proerly.

We were always MAC users from the beginning until we couldn't find programs for it and then we switched. Wish we could go back... they were/are definitely cutting edge!

Katerina,

I am hoping we make a switch to these with our next personal computer upgrades! Great and helpful info!

Katerina - I think next computer I purchase will be an apple product. I think I would really be interested if they came out with a tablet. They do have some amazing products.

Nope,

Staying with PC. Wold be too expensive to switch the network, do not want to start learning again, and I do not have any problem with my Vista and IE. So why switch?

NOV

Wow! How did I miss this post!

One of the beauties of a Mac is that you really don't have the kinds of issues that you have on a PC with viruses or anti-virus software, unless you install one of the virtual windows programs.

And in almost all jurisdictions, new programs are coming out Mac friendly. Still, I have a little Viao that I keep just in case, but the only thing I really do with it is to play computer cames that are not installed on new Macs.

Our local Board came out with a lockbox entry system that wasn't Mac friendly, and it took them about a nanosecond to realize that was a huge mistake. That was the only thing I needed the Viao to do, and in pretty short order they figured out how to make it Mac friendly.

Switching to Mac was the most liberating thing I've ever done. And both of my Macs are so freakin' fast they could win a Marine Corpes Marathon.

I'm excited to see this post (patricia kennedy sent me over)... I have been using a Mac since 1984... and am one of the few Macs on the Coldwell Banker chicago region system.

I have very few problems interacting with any real estate software... and can access our MLS using Firefox. No worried mate.

I've had an i-mac on my desk for years... and people stills stop and say "nice monitor" and their jaws drop when I show them that it's not just a monitor, but the entire computer.

Robert- Steve Jobs is working on the tablet. It is a small tablet and because the IPhone is such a great product, Nestor decided to get his macbookpro when he just made the switch from blackberry to Iphone. They sync so great together. And the Daylite for Mac is a fanastic data base management program that he replaces his ACT with. Katerina

Kevin and Monica- The phone support is amazing! And they speak English:) also, the video tutorials are really great. We go to the Apple store because we also network there. We have been invited to be speakers in their B2B networking events our Apple store is starting in January. We have 3 buyers from just going to the store, so we do this for more than one reason:) I don't do anything unless I can multi-task:)

Just get one product to start with, like the mini mac if you have good monitors at home already. The new Imac is a powerhouse and starts as low as $1,200 and that is one heck of a machine. No large ugly towers! No cords all over the place! It is like a piece of art on your desk. They think of everything.

DEC

Just did a market report post with a bunch of pie charts I made with Numbers. The tables and charts were sooooo easy, but took me forever to figure out how to get it into a post and I'm not completely happy with it. Will keep tinkering.

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