Mac User


All latest versions of QSR software are specifically designed to work on the Microsoft Windows platform. While NVivo can operate on a Mac under the conditions outlined below, the Mac platform is not supported by the developer. However, the developer will apply their best efforts when troubleshooting technical issues that may arise.

NVivo 9 Mac user information has not been formally released.

NVivo 8 will operate on an Intel-based Macintosh (Mac) computer using the following software products:

  1. Apple Boot Camp (Boot Camp is included in the latest Mac OS X version 10.6, Snow Leopard)
  2. Parallels Desktop for Mac
  3. VMware Fusion

These software products allow users to install Windows on a Mac and switch between both Mac and Windows operating systems. 

When utilizing Boot Camp, the system requirements specified for NVivo 8 should be met. When using Parallels Desktop for Mac or similar products that emulate the operating system, you may require system specifications set higher than those detailed by QSR. This is because these emulation programs require resources for the Mac operating system plus additionally assigned resources for Windows. Please refer to your emulation software vendor for further information on operational specifications.

Please note that NVivo 8 will not operate on Mac computers that use Microsoft Virtual PC. This is due to the latest version of Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac 7.0 emulating a Pentium II processor. NVivo 8 requires a Pentium III-compatible processor (or later) due to the Microsoft SQL Server 2005 component utilized.

XSight can be operated on a Mac using the ‘Parallels’ emulation software. It will also run when Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac is used to host a Microsoft Windows XP or Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional operating system. XSight software has undergone basic testing under Mac Environments with the following configurations:l Windows XP on a Mac and switch between both Mac and Windows operating systems.

Mac G4 1GHz, 640MB SDRAM, OsX V10.3.7, Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac v7.0.2, Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2000 SP4, Virtual PC Allocated Memory of 256MB Mac

Mac G5 1.8GHz dual core, 768 MB DDR, OsX 10.4.1, Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac v7.0.2, Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2000 SP4, Virtual PC Allocated Memory of 256MB

XSight has also had basic testing performed under ‘Parallels’. Please note that while using ‘Parallels’ or similar products that emulate the operating system, you may require system specifications set higher than those detailed by QSR. This is because these emulation programs require resources for the Mac operating system plus additionally assigned resources for Windows. Please refer to your emulation software vendor for further information on operational specifications.

These are not the only Mac configurations that can run XSight. Indeed, it should operate on any Mac that runs the latest Microsoft Virtual PC on the above configurations or higher.