Forums

I am certainly interested. Apple now has a Power Book with a 13" screen and I want one.

I was in a Pilot class a few weeks ago and the tech folks could not load Xact in the Mac that someone brought in. This anecdote is the only information I have about feasibility.

Running a Google search on the compatibility of Xactimate 25 and a MAC, there are many results all of which state the same thing.

IT WILL NOT RUN ON A MAC............................................................

I'm by no stretch of the imagination an expert, but my first guess would be a conflict between your test platforms and the SQL database engine that XM8 requires (and loads upon installation).

We tried to load Exactimate on Janice's XP laptop and it would not install. Something about SQL not available. I thought this loaded automatically when you installed. She must have it installed for the week conference with Cunningham Lindsey. Does anyone have a clue as to what might be wrong. It is version 24.

Both MSDE (Which is SQL Server 2000 desktop) and SQL Server 2005 Express are free downloads from Microsoft. These install SQL Server on the standalone desktop. Try downloading and installing the appropriate one. I believe X-mate used MSDE which is why it was not initially compatible with Vista, since MSDE is not Vista compatible. But I have never used X-mate so I do not know which version you need.

Jeff Goodman
www.jeffthecomputerguyva.com
www.goodmanadjusting.com

Kurt,

On June 6, a member (iCAT) started a topic entitled "Computers and Software". They claim to be running Xactimate, Simsol, etc on a Mac. They could be a salesman rah-rahing Macs or have your solution. Check out the topic & PM them.

Tom, when you load XM8 on a computer that has had XM8 loaded on it before, you have to uninstall the SQL program (and a couple of other things) from the previous install before installing XM8 again, not just XM8 itself. These files can be uninstalled from the "Add or Remove Programs" list in Control Panel. I've had to do this several times in the past; it almost always works (if it doesn't the fix is a little more involved and I'm not sure that I can remember all the steps..).

I've run vmware and parallels on my mac, but have decided to go with Parallels since I use several different estimating platforms. I've had little or no problems with this set up.

However, I've had to use the 'coherence' mode from Parallels so that my start button will show up with XP- it will not show up in 'full screen' mode. I don't recommend VM Ware since it consistently erases the software registration for MSB IntegriClaim when you restart windows.

Posted By TravisG on 20 Jun 2009 09:42 PM
Kurt,

On June 6, a member (iCAT) started a topic entitled "Computers and Software". They claim to be running Xactimate, Simsol, etc on a Mac. They could be a salesman rah-rahing Macs or have your solution. Check out the topic & PM them.

Posted By CATdawg on 24 Jun 2009 01:45 AM
Tom, when you load XM8 on a computer that has had XM8 loaded on it before, you have to uninstall the SQL program (and a couple of other things) from the previous install before installing XM8 again, not just XM8 itself. These files can be uninstalled from the "Add or Remove Programs" list in Control Panel. I've had to do this several times in the past; it almost always works (if it doesn't the fix is a little more involved and I'm not sure that I can remember all the steps..).

If the cat. adjusting world needs new adjusters and schools to train them I think most will spend about  9 days going to school and still not have the ability to work a simple wind/hail claim. Since the need is so acute, lets use good ole yankee ingenuity like we do war time. All 50 states allow trainees to work under a licensed adjuster.Ask 2,000 of the best catastrophe adjusters in the US to agree to supervise 10 new or newer people. This would now be a work force of 22,000 people. The event is one million roof claims spred out with all the carriers in the area.

20,000 would have to be trained on the job. The license school of 3 days is over. The estimatic school of 3 days is over. Now we have 3 days of scoping reduced to 2,5 days; because the simple programs are used that can be learned in 1/2 Day. Now the carriers would want production to start on the 4th day and expectations is 5 closed losses per day which is 5x20,000=100,000 and this million loss storm is 90% closed in 2 weeks.

Why would the carriers want to change the system. Its always about the money. The fee bill is the NFIP bill on ever loss from now to .......... Why will it work the 2,000 best catastrophe adjusters will do a much better job then all the good and bad vendors,  better work in record time. The new people will get the best training and direct supervision of 10 people will take all the slime out of this business.

I do not want the good vendors to go, just all the rest. This year remember pay on time, no hold harmless and indemnity agreement. And the old english common law of master and servant is still law in the US. Lets stave them out. The insurance carriers are the only one's who can clean up this cess pool.

New to the forum, I am actually not even certified yet. However I will be in my classes this coming weekend.

 

Reguardless, been doing estimates for the roofing industry for 2 years now with Xactimate. I have 2 laptops, a Macbook and a Toshiba.

The Toshiba has a dual partition for Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux. Linux is the main operating system, XP is the backup. I got Xactimate to work on my XP part of my hard drive with some fun tweaks. I ended up Installing Xactimate on a ghost drive I made and had it mirrored back to my "F" drive which was the XP partition part of my hard drive. Works perfect, theres no reason its any different than your macbook if you it right.

 

I will be putting tiny XP on my macbook here quite soon, Ill be using that to adjust with and I guarentee it will work. As much as people say Macbook wont work for Xactimate, its no different than Linux, just have to set it up right. Ill throw a write up on it as soon as I do it in the next month or two.

 

 

I attended the xactimate conference this year in salt lake city. I was suppressed because all of there speakers were running a Macbook Pro and when i went to sign up to see the new 27 with one of there tech's they were all running on a macbook pro. I would think that you could call up there support crew and find out more information.

As a general contractor of 16 years (and insurance agent), I'm testing in TX in about a week, and I also work on a mac. Someone from the school recommended that I might want to just get a PC laptop (easy when you're not the one writing the check huh?) :D

As a macbook pro user, I need to download the Xactimate 27 demo for the class. I see references to X25 above, but can anyone confirm X27 will run on a Mac w/Parallels, and if so, is there any tips/suggestions on getting it set up?

Thanks in advance for any help. 

Posted By Mark on 13 Jan 2011 04:45 PM

As a general contractor of 16 years (and insurance agent), I'm testing in TX in about a week, and I also work on a mac. Someone from the school recommended that I might want to just get a PC laptop (easy when you're not the one writing the check huh?) :D

As a macbook pro user, I need to download the Xactimate 27 demo for the class. I see references to X25 above, but can anyone confirm X27 will run on a Mac w/Parallels, and if so, is there any tips/suggestions on getting it set up?

Thanks in advance for any help. 

 

Yes, it will. 

 

Ignore the second hand "knowledge" posted above.

I use it every day - 27 on a Mac, running parallels and Windows 7. 

Yes, just understand that if you run Xactimate on your Mac, you will effectively be running a Windows OS inside your mac and it will behave like a Windows machine.  Thus, you will need to purchase XP or Windows 7 in addition to getting Parallels.

Stay away from VM Ware which is what Apple recommended at the time I purchased it 3+ years ago since if you are running MSB, it will reset your registration.  I had zero problems with Parallels, so I'd stick with it.