For the record, I recently installed Kodak SoftDent dental
administration software on a MacBook laptop running
Parallels/WinXP SP3.
Softdent themselves say their software "can't" run on a Mac.
So I had occasion to call up the Softdent support line because
they're all secure about registering since its $200+/month software.
He required me to use "Bomgar" remote administration web applet
that essentially gave them full mouse/keyboard control over the
machine. In short, it was a kind of thing that you would need
full OS compatibility. And, with Parallels Desktop it worked without
a hitch. The helpdesk guy was remotely administering the software
and had no idea he was on a Mac.
I said, Would it surprise you to know, would you be interested
to know, that your software, in fact, does run on a Mac?
He replies "Oh, Softdent can't run on a Mac". Me: "You mean,
it shouldnt? or it cant? huh?" He seemed to mean that from their
support point of view, they just won't even consider Mac-related
problems, so they make no effort at all to ascertain Mac-compatibility.
Well, luckily with this emulation, they didnt have to. Anyway, this
is a win for the good guys. My client gets to use SoftDent on a
Mac, her platform of choice, instead of a PC. (John Hodgeman
grimaces.)
Last edited: Jun 22, 2008