Non Vendor Locked Active Whiteboard software for Mac?

[SYNACK]

In the ongoing saga of the Windows only IWBs that were purchased for a Mac only school I have been asked to investigate IWB software that will run independantly of hardware. Apparently the vendors have got the manufactureres to program Mac drivers but it would take extencive time to convert their IWB software to the OSX platform.

 

Does anyone know of any IWB software that will run on a Mac that will not gripe about not being connected to a specific vendors hardware?

[Michael]

I believe the latest version of ActivPrimary 3 (both Windows and Mac) supports any whiteboard hardware. I would double check this however.

 

Smart also support Windows and Mac, but I think you do need a Smartboard for this.

[HodgeHi]

Apparently Promethean software is now board independent. It does moan when starting up in OS X about not being connected to a board but still runs fine. Ink does not work (writing recognition) but other than that fully functional.

 

Promethean are in the process of removing all restrictions and limitations from their software now as you can purchase licenses for their software instead of hardware.

 

If you have the cash though the Activote systems are down to around £750 now and if you own 1 piece of Promethean hardware you have the potential to run it on all systems in School.

 

The software i am referring to is Activ primary 3 but the Active studio is also mac compatible. The only downside though is that the Activ Primary Software does not like network-based home dirs. The software crashes. If running local based profiles then it should be fine.

 

I think the smart software is now also independent but i am not too sure of how it is licensed.

 

HTH

 

PS. This is what i have been told by 2 promethean resellers in the last 2 weeks.

[Ric_]

The GTCO Calcomp Interwrite software is available for Windows, Mac and Linux. I'm not sure about the licensing if you don't have any Interwrite equipment but there stuff is good (we use their boards and pads).

 

Anyway, check it out at Interwrite Learning – Products – Interwrite™ Workspace

[dhicks]

Does anyone know of any IWB software that will run on a Mac

 

PowerPoint. Haven't used the Mac version, don't know if it does the snazzy annotating stuff, but certainly for the PC version I can't see why you'd need anything else.

 

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David Hicks

[Michael]

Alternatively at one site I have used ActivPrimary Viewer 3.6 (which is free) on a Smartboard for months and months.