Yes, it is possible to run Pro100 on the new M5 mac machines without any issues. We have tested it and everything runs perfectly with no errors. Download, install, and configure Pro100 on macOS. Compatible with Apple Silicon and Intel Macs with easy setup and troubleshooting.
What is Boot Camp?
Boot Camp allows users to partition their hard drive and install Windows alongside macOS. Once Windows is installed, Pro100 can be downloaded and run on the Windows side of the computer.
It is important to note that while using Boot Camp is a viable option for running Windows software on a Mac, it does require additional setup and potentially taking up a significant portion of the computer's hard drive space. Additionally, switching between operating systems may not be as seamless as running the software on a natively supported OS. Read more below.
Virtualization (The Best Way to Go)
Please be sure to assign at least 8GB of RAM for Pro100 to run smoothly, however, more is better just not more than the host computer. This is simply because you will be assigning resources. We can get into details once you are ready.
If you have an M5 Mac, the strongest choice for running Windows 11 for CAD is Parallels Desktop. It offers the best combination of performance, graphics support, and ease of use on Apple silicon.
Here's how the main options compare:
| Software | Best for | CAD Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parallels Desktop | Most users | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fastest graphics, easiest setup, officially works with Windows 11 ARM. |
| VMware Fusion Pro | Budget-conscious users | ⭐⭐⭐ | Free for personal use, but graphics performance generally trails Parallels. |
| UTM | Hobbyists | ⭐⭐ | Free and flexible, but too slow for most professional CAD work. |
| Cloud PC (Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop) | Heavy Windows workloads | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent if you have a fast internet connection, but requires a subscription. |
What is UTM?
This is a popular open-source virtualization app for mac that lets you run other operating systems like Windows, Linux, or older macOS versions on your Mac (Intel or Apple Silicon) by creating virtual machines (VMs), using QEMU for emulation and Apple's Hypervisor for faster virtualization on ARM Macs, offering a flexible way to test or use different OSes without rebooting.
I installed UTM on a MacBook Pro with the M5 Apple Silicon chip specifically to run Windows 11 Pro. The entire setup took less than 10 minutes, including allocating resources to the Windows virtual machine. After that, I installed Pro100 with no issues.
The only hurdle encountered was needing a USB hub adapter to connect the USB 3.0 license dongle. Again, please be sure to assign at least 8 GB of RAM, as Pro100 is graphics-intensive and rendering can be demanding especially if you will be running Kray. This was tested on the base M5 chip model with a 512 GB SSD, 16G RAM shared.
I recommend UTM over other virtualization software because it’s free and works flawlessly. Parallels has moved to an expensive annual subscription instead of their previous one-time purchase model. In short, Pro100 (any version) runs successfully on the new Mac machines. Let me know if you need help with the setup. We provide support at no cost.
Preparation - What do I need?
- Back up, back up, back up. We cannot stress this any better. Disasters are bound to happen with computers. Again, Apple has instructions on how to do this on their website.
- Download ISO image of Windows 11 for Arm-based PCs. Don't worry, you don't need to understand the jargon.
- Download a copy of UTM (cost you nothing). You will eventually need to purchase and activate Windows 11 on your new virtual machine using new product license key, not right away though.
USB-C hub adapter. - New Macs don't have the older rectangular USB-A ports; they use versatile, smaller USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, meaning you'll need a USB-C to USB-A adapter or a hub for older devices like standard flash drives in order to use Pro100 USB dongle key. You can buy the adapter for less than $15 from Amazon, Best Buy or similar stores.
- The whole process took me less than10 minutes using the new M5 macbook pro.
Call 800-608-0159 if you need help
How many customers running Pro100 on a mac?
This is one of the most frequently asked question. Based on our user data analysis, it has been observed that a significant number of our customers are die-hard mac users who swear by their Apple computers. In fact, it's not an exaggeration to say that a good number of them have been using macs for decades and wouldn't even consider switching to a PC.
The number of Pro100 customers running the software on a mac is relatively fewer compared to those using a Windows operating system. While we cannot precisely quantify how many customers are exclusively running Pro100 on a Mac, we can say with certainty that the number lies between a few hundreds to a thousand.
This is primarily due to the fact that Pro100 was initially created to run on a Windows environment. However, despite this limitation, some Mac users have still chosen to use Pro100 on their devices, most likely due to the software's unique features and functionalities that fill specific gaps in the industry.
Important To Know:
1.Keyboard.
One key difference between Mac and Windows shortcuts lies in the placement of keys. Mac shortcuts often rely heavily on the use of the Command key (⌘), located on the bottom left of the keyboard, which acts as a parallel to the Windows key or Control key (Ctrl) on Windows machines.
Additionally, Mac shortcuts frequently involve the use of multiple keys simultaneously, often in combination with the Command key. For example, Command + C is used for the copy function, while Command + V is used for paste. This design allows for faster and more efficient use of commonly used commands, improving overall productivity. So, you will need to discover the hot keys for Pro100 on a mac.
2. Chip Processor
Apple Silicon refers to the family of custom-designed chips (like M1, M2, M3, M4, etc.) that power modern Macs, iPads, and iPhones, replacing Intel processors, with the "M"
We have tested the new M5 processors and they run flawlessly. Please download and install Pro100 demo to get yourself started. Just remember you need Windows environment prepared before hand. We highly recommend downloading UTM which is free
Parallels Desktop//Apple's Boot Camp
To avoid any confusion here, virtualization is same thing as parallels. There is also a company called Parallels. Question here is; should you run Parallel a.k.a Virtualization or Apple's Boot Camp? Remember, when you use Windows in Boot Camp, you will be shutting down the Mac OS and rebooting your Mac into Windows.
This can be distruptive if you are a heavy Mac user. Apple's in-built Bootcamp installs Windows in dual-boot configuration. The entire process is no where close to rocket science. Basically Boot Camp makes it possible to run both operating systems, but you can only use one at a time. Obviously this can be frustrating if you are a heavy mac user.
Before we continue, try to understand how it works, because there are also some drawbacks to consider.
For instance, when using Boot Camp, you will need to re-partition your hard drive which will take up your available space. Also, in order to use Windows, you will need to reboot and if you need something on the Mac, you will reboot again. The main advantage is that you are running Windows directly on the hardware.
This is why we recommend Parallels Desktop. The integration with OS X runs well. Please note that if you are running an older Mac from 2009 or earlier, installation for Windows may fail due to Apple's hardware requirements. Otherwise, you can follow detailed instructions directly from the Apple's website on how to do this. Please feel free to contact Pro100usa support team for a walk through especially if you are new to all this. There is absolutely no reason to panic if you plan things.
Note: We are not responsible for the damage you cause to your computer if not done correctly.