PCuser Moving to MAC Parallels - Hardware/driver questions

T

TammyM

Bit poster
I have a good collection of PC hardware. With a new MacMini and Parallels on the way, I started wondering how to handle the hardware side of the switch.

Can I only use devices that have drivers for both Mac and PC as I switch between the two OS's in coherance? For instance, if I have a Logitech keyboard or webcam that doesn't offer a MAC driver, will it not function when I get the new system and vice versa if I get a MAC keyboard or webcam that doesn't have a Windows driver?

Thanks for the heads up about what I do and do not need to consider with changing the hardware side of things over to MAC. :0)
 
Hello Tammy,

In the first example you would be able to connect mouse and keyboard directly to the Virtual Machine, but they would be functional only inside the VM - it is not very useful but some people do this (e.g. gamers with extra functional mouse). In case with Mac compatible Mouse keyboard and iSight camera - you will be able to share everything with VM and use both in Mac and Windows. There are not many only Mac compatible devices, but in most cases if device is compatible with Mac you most probably would be able to use it is Windows as well. To be more specific i need some examples
 
As stated, keyboards don't need drivers, Mac or Windows. The keyboard will work fine on your Mac and in the VM. To get extra features of the keyboard, you can install drivers and have the VM capture the device, as mentioned, but it's not really necessary unless there is some must-have feature on your keyboard.

As for the webcam, you can have the VM capture and use it and you can install the driver for it in Windows, if necessary. Chances are, there is some way to use it on the Mac side as well. This is the U in USB: Universal.

Steve
 
Hardware/driver questions - thanks

Thanks Yana and Steve. This is a big help. Next, all I will need to do is test to see if my Logitech Pro 9000 webcam's autofocus is a function of hardware or PC specif software to see if the MAC side can use it. I hope so, I really love this webcam, even if I would have to use the PC side when I want the funny faces and hats it adds to me. lol
 
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