Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

1. VS Code runs better on Mac than on Windows
2. IBM ACS (Access Client Solutions) runs without any problems (at least the same) when you use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17
3. RDi has some issues like the cursor problem I mentioned which should be fixed now. Another thing is that some Plug Ins like for example X-Analyze are only running on Windows. So if you use that, you should use Windows

So no – not everything is better on Windows.

Therefore Microsoft created the Windows Subsystem for Linux which runs Linux on Windows because also Microsoft knows that a lot of things run better on Unix based systems like Mac Os, Linux, etc..

So if you use IBM i a lot with PASE Products like Node.js, Python, git, bob, Postgre or other stuff, you run better with a Mac.

I hope that makes everything clear. If not you are very welcome to ask.

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

1. VS Code runs better on Mac than on Windows
2. IBM ACS (Access Client Solutions) runs without any problems (at least the same) when you use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17
3. RDi has some issues like the cursor problem I mentioned which should be fixed now. Another thing is that some Plug Ins like for example X-Analyze are only running on Windows. So if you use that, you should use Windows

So no – not everything is better on Windows.

Therefore Microsoft created the Windows Subsystem for Linux which runs Linux on Windows because also Microsoft knows that a lot of things run better on Unix based systems like Mac Os, Linux, etc..

So if you use IBM i a lot with PASE Products like Node.js, Python, git, bob, Postgre or other stuff, you run better with a Mac.

I hope that makes everything clear. If not you are very welcome to ask.

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

here is the answer very clear:

Mac is better for the mentioned topics – from my perspective and the perspective of my Development Team which is exactly doing what you listed.

If you use Windows for that you should use Windows Subsystem for Linux – Microsoft invented it (something like PASE within IBM i) to run real Linux "inside" of Windows and mix both.

BUT

If you use x86 / x64 Hardware, then you will have much more power consumption which leads to a much more working fan because of the head and your battery will not last as long as with ARM Hardware.

If you use ARM Hardware with Windows (Windows 11 for ARM like on the Snapdragon Copilot+ PC's) you will have much better performance and less power consumption but more problems with things like IBM ACS and RDi (as mentioned in the other responses).

Also x86 / x64 Windows Software (which is still the most used) will run not as fast because it will be emulated or it doesn't work at all on these Windows PC's.

So from my perspective if you are working in a "mixed scenario" with classical IBM i stuff and the actual things like AI related topics (Python, Node.js, Langchain and so on) you run best on Mac.

My MacBook Air has no fan at all.

My MacBook Pro has one but I heard it only 3 times in the past 3 years and that was not very long and not really loud.

On my Windows Notebook with Intel core i7 12^th generation the fan is starting very loud when I boot the Notebook... .

My Tinnitus is really "happy" with that noise.

One of the most important arguments to me to use a Mac.

Hi Jerry,

1. VS Code runs better on Mac than on Windows
2. IBM ACS (Access Client Solutions) runs without any problems (at least the same) when you use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17
3. RDi has some issues like the cursor problem I mentioned which should be fixed now. Another thing is that some Plug Ins like for example X-Analyze are only running on Windows. So if you use that, you should use Windows

So no – not everything is better on Windows.

Therefore Microsoft created the Windows Subsystem for Linux which runs Linux on Windows because also Microsoft knows that a lot of things run better on Unix based systems like Mac Os, Linux, etc..

So if you use IBM i a lot with PASE Products like Node.js, Python, git, bob, Postgre or other stuff, you run better with a Mac.

I hope that makes everything clear. If not you are very welcome to ask.

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

here is the answer very clear:

Mac is better for the mentioned topics – from my perspective and the perspective of my Development Team which is exactly doing what you listed.

If you use Windows for that you should use Windows Subsystem for Linux – Microsoft invented it (something like PASE within IBM i) to run real Linux "inside" of Windows and mix both.

BUT

If you use x86 / x64 Hardware, then you will have much more power consumption which leads to a much more working fan because of the head and your battery will not last as long as with ARM Hardware.

If you use ARM Hardware with Windows (Windows 11 for ARM like on the Snapdragon Copilot+ PC's) you will have much better performance and less power consumption but more problems with things like IBM ACS and RDi (as mentioned in the other responses).

Also x86 / x64 Windows Software (which is still the most used) will run not as fast because it will be emulated or it doesn't work at all on these Windows PC's.

So from my perspective if you are working in a "mixed scenario" with classical IBM i stuff and the actual things like AI related topics (Python, Node.js, Langchain and so on) you run best on Mac.

My MacBook Air has no fan at all.

My MacBook Pro has one but I heard it only 3 times in the past 3 years and that was not very long and not really loud.

On my Windows Notebook with Intel core i7 12^th generation the fan is starting very loud when I boot the Notebook... .

My Tinnitus is really "happy" with that noise.

One of the most important arguments to me to use a Mac.

Hi Jerry,

1. VS Code runs better on Mac than on Windows
2. IBM ACS (Access Client Solutions) runs without any problems (at least the same) when you use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17
3. RDi has some issues like the cursor problem I mentioned which should be fixed now. Another thing is that some Plug Ins like for example X-Analyze are only running on Windows. So if you use that, you should use Windows

So no – not everything is better on Windows.

Therefore Microsoft created the Windows Subsystem for Linux which runs Linux on Windows because also Microsoft knows that a lot of things run better on Unix based systems like Mac Os, Linux, etc..

So if you use IBM i a lot with PASE Products like Node.js, Python, git, bob, Postgre or other stuff, you run better with a Mac.

I hope that makes everything clear. If not you are very welcome to ask.

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

no – not at all.

You should use at absolute Minimum a Macbook with 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

Better is 32GB or 38GB (M3 Macbooks can have that amount) or more of course....

The Harddisk depends on what you want to save locally of course...

The processor can be a M1. M2 or M3 are faster of course but M1 is already very fast.

Next week everyone expects that Apple will announce the M4 Macbooks so you should wait a few days. Normally the older devices getting cheaper then.

If you want to run LLM Models locally you need at least 64GB RAM for the smaller Models. Normally you should use a Server for that.

For using IBM i classical  stuff (ACS, RDi, VS Code with Code4i) a 16GB RAM System with 256GB Harddisk is quite good.

Hope that helps

Markus

Hi Jerry,

here is the answer very clear:

Mac is better for the mentioned topics – from my perspective and the perspective of my Development Team which is exactly doing what you listed.

If you use Windows for that you should use Windows Subsystem for Linux – Microsoft invented it (something like PASE within IBM i) to run real Linux "inside" of Windows and mix both.

BUT

If you use x86 / x64 Hardware, then you will have much more power consumption which leads to a much more working fan because of the head and your battery will not last as long as with ARM Hardware.

If you use ARM Hardware with Windows (Windows 11 for ARM like on the Snapdragon Copilot+ PC's) you will have much better performance and less power consumption but more problems with things like IBM ACS and RDi (as mentioned in the other responses).

Also x86 / x64 Windows Software (which is still the most used) will run not as fast because it will be emulated or it doesn't work at all on these Windows PC's.

So from my perspective if you are working in a "mixed scenario" with classical IBM i stuff and the actual things like AI related topics (Python, Node.js, Langchain and so on) you run best on Mac.

My MacBook Air has no fan at all.

My MacBook Pro has one but I heard it only 3 times in the past 3 years and that was not very long and not really loud.

On my Windows Notebook with Intel core i7 12^th generation the fan is starting very loud when I boot the Notebook... .

My Tinnitus is really "happy" with that noise.

One of the most important arguments to me to use a Mac.

Hi Jerry,

1. VS Code runs better on Mac than on Windows
2. IBM ACS (Access Client Solutions) runs without any problems (at least the same) when you use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17
3. RDi has some issues like the cursor problem I mentioned which should be fixed now. Another thing is that some Plug Ins like for example X-Analyze are only running on Windows. So if you use that, you should use Windows

So no – not everything is better on Windows.

Therefore Microsoft created the Windows Subsystem for Linux which runs Linux on Windows because also Microsoft knows that a lot of things run better on Unix based systems like Mac Os, Linux, etc..

So if you use IBM i a lot with PASE Products like Node.js, Python, git, bob, Postgre or other stuff, you run better with a Mac.

I hope that makes everything clear. If not you are very welcome to ask.

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

no – not at all.

You should use at absolute Minimum a Macbook with 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

Better is 32GB or 38GB (M3 Macbooks can have that amount) or more of course....

The Harddisk depends on what you want to save locally of course...

The processor can be a M1. M2 or M3 are faster of course but M1 is already very fast.

Next week everyone expects that Apple will announce the M4 Macbooks so you should wait a few days. Normally the older devices getting cheaper then.

If you want to run LLM Models locally you need at least 64GB RAM for the smaller Models. Normally you should use a Server for that.

For using IBM i classical  stuff (ACS, RDi, VS Code with Code4i) a 16GB RAM System with 256GB Harddisk is quite good.

Hope that helps

Markus

Hi Jerry,

here is the answer very clear:

Mac is better for the mentioned topics – from my perspective and the perspective of my Development Team which is exactly doing what you listed.

If you use Windows for that you should use Windows Subsystem for Linux – Microsoft invented it (something like PASE within IBM i) to run real Linux "inside" of Windows and mix both.

BUT

If you use x86 / x64 Hardware, then you will have much more power consumption which leads to a much more working fan because of the head and your battery will not last as long as with ARM Hardware.

If you use ARM Hardware with Windows (Windows 11 for ARM like on the Snapdragon Copilot+ PC's) you will have much better performance and less power consumption but more problems with things like IBM ACS and RDi (as mentioned in the other responses).

Also x86 / x64 Windows Software (which is still the most used) will run not as fast because it will be emulated or it doesn't work at all on these Windows PC's.

So from my perspective if you are working in a "mixed scenario" with classical IBM i stuff and the actual things like AI related topics (Python, Node.js, Langchain and so on) you run best on Mac.

My MacBook Air has no fan at all.

My MacBook Pro has one but I heard it only 3 times in the past 3 years and that was not very long and not really loud.

On my Windows Notebook with Intel core i7 12^th generation the fan is starting very loud when I boot the Notebook... .

My Tinnitus is really "happy" with that noise.

One of the most important arguments to me to use a Mac.

Hi Jerry,

1. VS Code runs better on Mac than on Windows
2. IBM ACS (Access Client Solutions) runs without any problems (at least the same) when you use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17
3. RDi has some issues like the cursor problem I mentioned which should be fixed now. Another thing is that some Plug Ins like for example X-Analyze are only running on Windows. So if you use that, you should use Windows

So no – not everything is better on Windows.

Therefore Microsoft created the Windows Subsystem for Linux which runs Linux on Windows because also Microsoft knows that a lot of things run better on Unix based systems like Mac Os, Linux, etc..

So if you use IBM i a lot with PASE Products like Node.js, Python, git, bob, Postgre or other stuff, you run better with a Mac.

I hope that makes everything clear. If not you are very welcome to ask.

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

I am not sure if these are some follow up questions or the old – so to be sure everything is clear:

2 contradictory points here :

1) Windows is Microsoft's product

2) VS  Code cannot be supported on apple's laptop compared to Windows laptop? 

3) What about DB2 for i?

Hi Jerry,

as one of the others already said with IBM ACS you need to use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17 and it works fine on Mac.

With RDi there are some issues which are really strange and known. We hope they will be fixed soon.

For example the cursor sometimes will be shown one column to the right of it's real position.

This is sometimes frustrating.

With VS Code you won't have any issues because VS Code is not a Windows product as one mentioned.

It is an Electron App. That means it is written in Javascript and published with the Electron Framework which runs on Linux, Mac and Windows.

Windows is the worst platform for this so with VS Code you will be better on Mac and Linux 😉

We are just working on several add ons for Code4i so VS Code and Code4i will be better than RDi...

Mochasoft I didn't use yet so I can't tell you if it works and if yes how.

If you use the IBM I PASE environment you are much better on the Road with a Mac than with Windows because Mac OS is also Unix based so you can directly connect via ssh, sftp and so on and have some kind of "native" feeling.

With Windows you should use the Windows Subsystem for Linux and a installed Linux distribution like Ubuntu to have the same effect.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Jerry,

no – not at all.

You should use at absolute Minimum a Macbook with 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

Better is 32GB or 38GB (M3 Macbooks can have that amount) or more of course....

The Harddisk depends on what you want to save locally of course...

The processor can be a M1. M2 or M3 are faster of course but M1 is already very fast.

Next week everyone expects that Apple will announce the M4 Macbooks so you should wait a few days. Normally the older devices getting cheaper then.

If you want to run LLM Models locally you need at least 64GB RAM for the smaller Models. Normally you should use a Server for that.

For using IBM i classical  stuff (ACS, RDi, VS Code with Code4i) a 16GB RAM System with 256GB Harddisk is quite good.

Hope that helps

Markus

Hi Jerry,

here is the answer very clear:

Mac is better for the mentioned topics – from my perspective and the perspective of my Development Team which is exactly doing what you listed.

If you use Windows for that you should use Windows Subsystem for Linux – Microsoft invented it (something like PASE within IBM i) to run real Linux "inside" of Windows and mix both.

BUT

If you use x86 / x64 Hardware, then you will have much more power consumption which leads to a much more working fan because of the head and your battery will not last as long as with ARM Hardware.

If you use ARM Hardware with Windows (Windows 11 for ARM like on the Snapdragon Copilot+ PC's) you will have much better performance and less power consumption but more problems with things like IBM ACS and RDi (as mentioned in the other responses).

Also x86 / x64 Windows Software (which is still the most used) will run not as fast because it will be emulated or it doesn't work at all on these Windows PC's.

So from my perspective if you are working in a "mixed scenario" with classical IBM i stuff and the actual things like AI related topics (Python, Node.js, Langchain and so on) you run best on Mac.

My MacBook Air has no fan at all.

My MacBook Pro has one but I heard it only 3 times in the past 3 years and that was not very long and not really loud.

On my Windows Notebook with Intel core i7 12^th generation the fan is starting very loud when I boot the Notebook... .

My Tinnitus is really "happy" with that noise.

One of the most important arguments to me to use a Mac.

Hi Jerry,

1. VS Code runs better on Mac than on Windows
2. IBM ACS (Access Client Solutions) runs without any problems (at least the same) when you use OpenJDK 11 or OpenJDK 17
3. RDi has some issues like the cursor problem I mentioned which should be fixed now. Another thing is that some Plug Ins like for example X-Analyze are only running on Windows. So if you use that, you should use Windows

So no – not everything is better on Windows.

Therefore Microsoft created the Windows Subsystem for Linux which runs Linux on Windows because also Microsoft knows that a lot of things run better on Unix based systems like Mac Os, Linux, etc..

So if you use IBM i a lot with PASE Products like Node.js, Python, git, bob, Postgre or other stuff, you run better with a Mac.

I hope that makes everything clear. If not you are very welcome to ask.

Hi Richard,

as already mentioned RDi works with the mentioned issues on Mac.

9.8 can be installed without any problems.

9.6 need to be installed with special instructions that can be found on the IBM pages (need to look for them if you need them).

Windows 11 for ARM works also with Parallels and with IBM ACS but the used Java version is very important 😃

You need to use the OpenJdk Java 11 or 17. These work. Others won't.

Same on the Mac.

I tested Oracle Java 17 – had a lot of problems (keyboard won't work for example – not good in 5250 😉 ).

With OpenJDK 17 everything works fine with ACS.

Because RDi has it's own Java included it doesn't matter which version you install but it also works on Windows for ARM (no Matter on which machine – native or Parallels). BUT – RDi 9.8.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards

Markus