MAC Computers for trading

I've got 4 Windows based P.C's and I'm getting tired of constant updates, minor repairs etc.

Does anyone trade the Forex using a MAC Computer? If so let me know please your experience...

Thanks ... Big E

I have MacBook 13" laptop. I use it for trading, i like it didnt have problems with it. I also use Parallels and run Windows XP on it for MT4.

Check this thread out.
http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=224101

Google

I use a 15" Macbook Pro running Parallels and MT4 in Windows XP with no problems. I have used Parallels/XP for over 3 years for several applications that don't have Mac versions, and am generally very happy with the setup.

Regards
Graham

Thanks guys. I'm not understanding what "running Parallels and MT4 in Windows XP" means... please advise... thanks....

Big E

There is no version of Metatrader 4 for the Mac operating system, you can only run it in the Windows operating system.
There a several ways to run the Windows OS on a Mac; one of these is to install software called Parallels for Mac.
You then install Windows (I am still on Windows XP) within Parallels to create a 'virtual PC' on your Mac screen - then you can install Metatrader 4 on your 'virtual PC' and away you go.
I have also used a product called VMWare Fusion in the past, in place of Parallels. It was quite similar then, although I haven't checked lately.

Graham

I'm using Virtual Machine

I went by Best Buy yesterday and looked at the MAC Desktop with 21.5" screen. They have the parallels too. They don't sell the XP anymore but it's on eBay. Any particular version of XP ?

So... do you trade on the windows side and do your email on the MAC side to avoid viruses? Thanks...

Big E

You don't need XP; Vista and Windows 7 will run MT4 and anything else.

Steve... All I've heard about was XP with the MAC... so any windows version will work? Thanks

Yes any version of windows can work. I use Xp because it doesnt uses a lot of ram. But windows 7 will work too.

Sorry if what I said before was confusing, but as mentioned above Windows 7 is fine. I have just never seen a need to upgrade from Windows XP for my purposes. As you have been using Windows, you might already have a disc for a version of Windows that you can use in Parallels.

As you suggest, yes I run email and internet on the Mac side. I run as little as possible in Windows but as well as MT4 I run anti-virus software.
Parallels comes with Kaspersky anti-virus software for Windows (with a trial period before you have to subscribe). But if you already own another Windows anti-virus software you can install that in Windows on the Mac and you won't have to pay for Kaspersky.

Graham

I've got a Mac running Parallels and Windows 7 - works well. Haven't had it long so I'm still developing my Mac skills. One question - what is the equivalent of the Windows CTRL/PrtScrn?
John

let me get this straight you hate all the windows updates and related crap so you go out and buy a mac (which has all the same hardware as a windows laptop/pc just a lot more expense) and run windows inside a vm or through parallels, but your still stuck with windows and the associated things you hate about it. So how did you solve your problem exactly?

If you really want to get away from windows find a broker with a java based trading platform, or trying setting up metatrader in wine http://www.winehq.org this allows you to run windows on a unix based os. You can also try a version of wine that is supported and the installation is discussed here http://forum.mql4.com/11239

I agree with endroute.
I use Crossover for MT4. I think it's the best way to use MT4.

OK... My head is spinnin' about now...

Can I use a MAC to trade forex on another platform other than MT4 without using paralels... no windows... or is it impossible to trade the forex without windows?

Sorry... I'm not a teckie....

Eric

Only if you restrict yourself to Metatrader (or brokers who offer only Metatrader and nothing else).

These brokers are targeting the average Joe-Sixpack-Windows user who does not know (and does not want to know) anything else.

There are also brokers who are targeting serious traders who do not see trading as a video game and would rather not use a gaming console [windows] for trading their hard earned money. All serious and mission critical trading and computing is not done on windows.

Well you learn stuff all the time don't you. Thanks endroute for pointing this out and for the link to the mql4 forum.

I have followed through on that link and installed my broker's Metatrader 4 platform in Crossover, and so far I like what I see in terms of performance compared to running in Parallels.

Graham

Depends what you want to do - whole screen, part screen or a window. Then do you want to capture to a file or to the clipboard - http://osxdaily.com/2010/05/13/print-screen-mac/

many thanks for the reply - sorted all my issues
Thanks, John

It is a real shame that metatrader doesn't port mt4 to mac version. Wine or virtual machine is not a solution. I want native mac version. Some people don't see how many macs are being sold in the world now a days....