There is a common misconception that there are no options for Apple Macintosh or IOS users who want to use GIS. There are several choices available for Apple Macintosh and iOS users:
Un-retouched screenshot of Intel-based Macintosh running AEJEE-Mac (lower left) and Web browser with ArcGIS Explorer Online (upper left) in background, and, at the same time, Parallels running Windows XP, with ArcView (lower right) and ArcGlobe (upper right).
I. Web-based GIS
Online mapping is the way that many students and educators are now getting engaged with GIS. It is a powerful option, totally appropriate and satisfactory for many. Using Web-based interactive mapping tools, students and teachers can learn that they get to control the map, and begin to understand some important principles of cartography (scale, projection, symbolization, etc) simply by seeing lots of maps. Examples here include:
The Esri EdCommunity Web Maps http://edcommunity.esri.com/software/webmapping National Geographic MapMaker Interactive
http://education.nationalgeographic.com The National Atlas http://nationalatlas.gov Geospatial Onestop http://geodata.gov
II. ArcGIS.com Viewer
http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html
ArcGIS is a complete system, of which ArcGIS Online is a part. There is a simple Javascript-based viewer (and thus usable on any Web browser, on PC or Mac) which allows users to being making maps instantly, using content from ArcGIS Online. Users can build maps with varied content, integrate focused layers on top of varied basemaps, save maps in an ArcGIS Online account, and share them with others. This is an excellent way to begin exploring data from the world down to neighborhood level.
III. ArcGIS Explorer Online
http://explorer.arcgis.com
This browser-based app engages the
Microsoft Silverlight plugin. Any browser (PC or Mac) with a recent Silverlight plugin installed can access ArcGIS Explorer Online. This interface adds more power to the ArcGIS.com Viewer by providing customizable notes to present geographic data, query capacity, and presentations. Users can construct a map, add titles, add web-based graphics, turn layers on and off, and save individual frames, then string these frames into a sequence to build a presentation, and save the entire package online in their ArcGIS Online account. These projects can be accessed and shown across platform.
IV. ArcExplorer-Java Edition for Education (AEJEE)
http://www.esri.com/aejee
This cross-platform tool designed expressly for educators was last updated in late 2007. Built in Java, AEJEE runs under MacOS 10.4 and above, as well as Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. This free, downloadable, lightweight tool allows users to view modest volumes of GIS data from local sources (hard drive or LAN) or ArcIMS servers over the Internet. It can save and open projects, and users can share these even across platforms. AEJEE has simple layout and catalog similar to ArcGIS Desktop. It has several classification options, flexible symbology, and can do complex queries, buffers, and geographic selection. It can create point shapefiles from XY tables (like GPS data files) and handle hotlinks (using absolute paths) to web addresses or any registered file type. A tutorial is built into the installation, in the \ESRI\AEJEE\DATA\LESSONS folder, and can be accessed from the Help menu.
Find more information about AEJEE.
V. Windows-based tools under BootCamp
http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp
Apple has released a product called BootCamp, available for MacOS 10.4 and higher, which allows the Intel-based Macs to load a full version of WinXP or above, and run Windows applications at "full speed." Upon boot-up, the user chooses to boot into MacOS or into Windows. Testing done by Esri staff and others seems to confirm that such a setup is indeed able to run Windows and applications at "full speed", and that ArcGIS applications are able to run even heavy-duty analytical operations very swiftly. The user must have a properly licensed copy of WinXP or above and must be facile with running Windows.
VI. Windows-based tools under Parallels
http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/
Parallels has a "virtual machine" product called Parallels Desktop for Mac which allows the Intel-based Macs to load a full version of Windows (many versions) and run applications at "high speed." The user can move back and forth between Windows and MacOS applications. Testing done by Esri staff and others seem to confirm that such a setup works quite well, and current versions of ArcGIS applications (including 3D applications) run swiftly even for analytical operations, though perhaps not quite as fast as on a native PC or under BootCamp (since memory is split between the two operating systems). Here again, the user must have a properly licensed copy of Windows and must be facile with running Windows-based applications.
VII. Windows-based tools under VMware Fusion
http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/
VMware has released a "virtual machine" product called Fusion which allows the Intel-based Macs to load a full version of Windows (XP and above) and run applications at "high speed." The user can move back and forth between Windows and MacOS applications. Esri staff has not tested Fusion but reports from others indicate that such a setup works well, and current versions of ArcGIS applications run swiftly even for analytical operations, though perhaps not quite as fast as on a native PC or under BootCamp (since memory is split between the two operating systems). Here again, the user must have a properly licensed copy of Windows and must be facile with running Windows-based applications.
VIII. My World
http://www.myworldgis.org
My World is distributed by Pasco Scientific (http://www.pasco.com/myworld/). Built in Java, My World runs on Macintosh OSX and Windows environments. It provides a subset of capacities from a professional GIS environment, including multiple projections, table and map view, hyperlinks, and a common language approach to conducting analyses. It provides a powerful alternative for schools seeking tools that do not require Windows.
IX. iOS Applications (iPhone , iPad)
Apple�s iOS, the operating system, behind the iPone, iPad and other devices can also run mobile flavors of GIS and �GIS-powered� applications. Esri has released two free applications which can be downloaded from iTunes on your desktop or mobile device.
- ArcGIS: ArcGIS is a great way to discover and use maps. Maps come to life in ArcGIS. Tap on the map or use your current location and discover information about what you see. You can query the map, search and find interesting information, measure distances and areas of interest and share maps with others.
- BAO (Business Analyst Online): With BAO, you can quickly and easily get key demographic facts about any location in the U.S. It�s an invaluable tool for anyone in commercial real estate, as well as a fun way to check out an area when you�re on the go.
Recommendation:
For educators just getting started with GIS on Macintosh OSX, ArcGIS.com Viewer and ArcGIS Explorer Online are top choices, as free, lightweight, introductory, browser-based tools. Anyone needing full capacity GIS on Macintosh hardware should consider BootCamp or Parallels, which can run ArcGIS under Windows at or near full speed.
