Virtual PC for Poker

Playing Online Poker? Deal Mac In

In the world of online poker, the Apple MacIntosh has always played second fiddle to the PC. Most poker rooms were built to appeal to the Microsoft Windows operating system, which made sense since PCs outnumber Mac by far in the marketplace.

During the early days of the personal computer boom, Apple and IBM came to a crossroads, where IBM allowed other companies to clone its PCs, while Apple insulated itself, keeping everything in-house. Apple went after the education market, while PCs infiltrated the business arena, backed up by Microsoft’s operating system.  As high-tech began to expand in the late 1980s and early 90s, basic computer skills were required to do just about every job, making PCs the dominate player in the computer world.

It would have been understandable if Apple went on full tilt, betting wildly and losing all its chips. However, the company has continued to thrive in an ultra-competitive environment with strong leadership and ingenuity.  A sort of, “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em,” ingenuity that created software like the Virtual PC. 

In what has become a multi-platform computer environment, the Virtual PC allows Mac users to apply many programs designed for Windows, including the software at some poker sites like PokerStars and Party Poker. Virtual PC, which ranges in price from $210 to $260, is in its fastest and most powerful seventh version. The software is an emulator application that expands the Mac’s power and makes it possible to work with PC-only software, networks, devices and files.

Party Poker – the largest online poker site in the world with approximately 40,000 players online at any given time – works best with dual processor Macs when running Virtual PC, but has reported problems of slowing and interface delays when playing more than one table using mid-speed Macs.

When using Virtual PC, Windows 2000/XP is recommended since older versions of the software reportedly have problems at various poker sites. Installation of Virtual PC is as simple as turning on a light switch. The CD automatically configures Internet Explorer, which is the main browser for Windows, with your existing Internet connection. To make cross-platform tasks even easier, Virtual PC lets you run multiple versions of Windows at once.

It’s a forgone conclusion that the overwhelming majority of online poker will continue to be played through the Windows platform. But there are many poker rooms that are beginning to cater to Mac users, who understandably prefer the option of using their own native platform over the Virtual PC.

One of the latest poker sites Mac users will be cheering is Full Tilt Poker. A site that has landed the endorsements of poker’s biggest name, Full Tilt Poker boasts that it has “the only software designed specifically for the Mac by some of the world’s best poker pros.” Full Tilt Poker’s Mac Beta mode is a 10MB program that quickly installs with a cable or DSL connection and supports Mac OS 10.3.9 or later. PokerRoom and EuroPoker also offer Mac-friendly rooms.

Mac users are passionate about their machines and aren’t likely to give them up anytime soon. The Virtual PC provides an excellent option for those devoted to Mac and to online poker.