Lionel . . . Keep the orange !!

I use a Mac also, and do not want to buy/ use Windows emulation software.  So here is another vote for keeping the current setup.

I agree with scrap keep them coming!!!

Well he said he doesn't want to buy Windows.

Trouble is, there are lots of things that don't run on OS. I have Ham Radio friends who run Windows exclusively on a Mac Mini for that very reason.

BUT, I also have radio equipment from a company that makes it a point to support Windows, and OS. Lionel must be stretched to thin for that.

Me to. Either offer a solution for Mac users other than emulation or keep the orange module. I do not want to buy/use windows emulation software.

+1. Please keep them as long as is possible. They are an excellent feature, especially for those who do not have easy access to a computer. Computer connection as an enhancement is great, and should be encouraged. But at the present time, I feel that making it a requirement would be a grave mistake. Especially if it is Windows only. (Yes, I'm a Mac user too. )

Mac user too - "I don't do Windows."

 

If I'm paying for a Legacy engine, I expect the module to come with the locomotive I've purchased. To me, that was the whole point of Legacy - drop the module in and off you go.  I know you can enter the info manually, but the module was a time save which eliminated potential errors that could occur when manually entering info.

Ditto!

Manual enter a thousand dollar engine? Not here!

 

Gunny

I agree W/ John & Marty!!  It's no big deal to enter the info. with the CAB2. Only takes less than a Minute!!!

 

Hey Marty, maybe with the Money they save they can put the Steam/Whistle in your "J"!

 

FREDSTRAINS

I'm also a Mac user and find it strange that Lionel want to make an iphone app to control Legacy locos but don't offer Mac compatibility to download engine info.

I don't want Windows on my Macs either.

why cant lionel send all new train info via software then people can download them to the black module

What's the IR track device?

Thanks for the reply -- sounds very cool. 

I'm with the majority here - keep the dedicated modules. When I get a locomotive I want it to run out of the box - without having to download the software, let alone get a Windows machine or an emulator to do it. My old Motorola Mac runs just fine, no reason to replace it, and the Motorolas won't run the emulator; you need an Intel Mac to run the dual system. And, have you seen Windows 8? It's a tablet OS crudely adapted to run on a PC. Default mode is tiles instead of a desktop. It has a desktop mode but you can't reset it to stay in desktop mode; it boots into the tablet mode. The information has been all over the NYT and WSJ for the last couple of days. If I do ever get another PC, it will be in the next couple of months as they blow out the Windows 7 machines. 

Some of us do not have a computer or lab top at this very moment and may not have on soon. I myself do not and use my I phone currently for my internet stuff. So the orange modules were and still are a nice thing to go with the engines at purchase. Easy to load the info. Plus some lighting features are obtained when using the specified engine module. Just adding the info via the remote They don't show up. Maybe that has changed since version1.5 I don't know?

The modules add very little to the set up, all they add is a name to the screen and they preselect the soundest and controller, three very easy steps. I usually change the name anyway

 

I like the idea of the IR set up and think once that is available they modules will be next to worthless

As for the LSU on Mac, I wish it would work, but they tried and couldn't do it.

1.5 changes that

Marty,

 

It's not a case of Mac users not wanting to use the LSU software. It's a case of the LSU software ONLY working under Windows.  This means that Mac users may have to buy an emulation program such as Parallels, and then a copy of Windows too. Besides being a right royal pain in the posterior, this is also quite a significant extra unwanted expense. I happen to have Parallels and Windows, and I have used the LSU to backup my base. But many do not. If Lionel are considering forcing people to use the LSU, then it should be a multi-platform application. I understand that there are some technical problems in doing this, but these should be addressed before any talk of scrapping the various modules. The very fact that the LSU can control the serial data when using an emulator proves that a Mac can be used to do this. It's just a question of investing what may be a significant amount of money, time and effort into the software development. 

Ah, yeh, um, I was going to say that. Geez Nicole, you know a lot for a girl.

Another feature that legacy buyers have grown to expect going by the wayside!  What next, selling engines and cars without couplers or trucks.  I truely understand trying to save money but constantly adding new features and then taking them away is not a path to repeat customers.

 

Happy railroading,

Don

Just to consider, thru first hand knowledge and if you read the media APPLE is very uncooperative to development and or even use that inegrates into their proprietary ways/hardware/software. To create anything unauthorized or sanctioned by them is not only frowned upon they are very proactively hostile towards it. I also am a Mac junkie but will not switch from droid phone because of the freedom I have w/it from Mac constraints. I have just acquired a commercial pc/windows machine from a company that has hundreds of them that are a couple years old and for that reason are antiquated. A Dell that has been refreshed and like new to use dedicated for my trains... under $90. plus shipping

( just got second one for a train friend) I also don't want windows on my mac.... this is another solution plus I have a computer right down at my platform, music ,reference point etc

Actually, Dave, I have found that Nicole knows more than many folks of either gender and, best of all, knows how to express her information and thoughts succinctly, clearly, and with civility.

I have a friend Mac addicted,  6 or 7 years ago who ask me if I have a use PC with Windows for his train room, I build him a new one instead and I even put a NCE sticker on front as he is also NCE addicted . No emulation and dedicated computer for the trains. Personally, Windows, Linux, Mac, I love all them 

 

 

So let's see....

 

Cut out a few things that we're all used to seeing and receiving with our Lionel locos, i.e., nice features, bottle of smoke (not that I use Lionel's anyway), orange module, etc.., keep manufacturing in China where things are supposed to be cheaper for all while keeping the prices where they are (if that ever happens) or even raised a bit higher when the latest catalog rolls around.  Go figure. 

 

 

Now we know why they never made the module holder!

 

Gunny

Marty,

 

Presently, I don't have any Lionel locomotives; but, that doesn't mean I'll never buy a Lionel product, in the future.

 

My curiosity is... are you and Chris, official/unofficial, spokespersons for Lionel... are you guys(in any way) on their payroll?

 

I've wondered about this for years.

 

 

Rick

 

 

That's for sure. You know I did have my tongue firmly in cheek.

Window or Mac

Legacy or DCS

Chevy or Ford

iphone or Android

HMMM, I do feel bad for you Apple folks, but Apple is a closed system that Apple is in charge of, Windows is open source.

 How many of you have both train operating systems?

Did my upgrades on a PC. It finally died and was replaced with a Mac. I will have to get another old PC to do this in future. I have a nice Macbook Air and a 27" iMac. I will never go back to PC for every day use.

Since when Windows is an open source ? Last time I look at it Microsoft was still in charge of Windows. 

"Windows is open source"

NOT!  show me the source for windows 8 or RT or metro (oops, whatever they call that now). open source means you could modify it. show me a mod you have made to ANY version of windows.  

the point is, if Lionel wants to make computer based updates to legacy data the ONLY way, then they have to provide a mac native way to do it.

i do not believe the post that said they tried and couldn't do it.  that is absurd.

Programming on a Mac is not that different from a PC, especially with the OS X,  I like Objective-C, all true I use it only to make very simple apps.

 

On PC ( x86 and x64) it's call Windows 8, Windows RT is the one port for the ARM processor ( tablets   phones ) Metro Apps are the applications design especially for Windows 8, and we use title not icon to start them, I call them Metro crap......

Other than the three free vision line locos a year we get, no compensation 

 

 

No neither of us work for Lionel, we just were early adopters of Legacy and want to help. Marty and Will Allen started the Legacy Users group meetings at York each year. I go once a year to help out

Jon reasserted at the LUG meeting last week, the tried to create a Mac version, they even held back the Windows version in an effort to release them at the same time. However due to a problem with the serial flow control it would not work.

Perhaps if anyone knows a **** hot Mac programmer they could tell them to get a hold of Lionel and find a solution, but at this time its a no go.

 

Trust me, I am a Mac zealot, and would love this not to be an issue. But if Jon Z says they couldn't find a way to do it, I believe him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s

Chris,

 

After awhile, you get to know who's who in the O gauge world; but, you guys have always puzzled me... This is the first time I've seen individuals, not officially associated with a company, routinely speak on the company's behalf. Especially, when the company's newest/most expensive product line is concerned.

 

I find that odd... two private fans take up the reins and the company sits back and seems to approve?

 

BTW, this is not intended as a dig, because I think Marty is a good guy.

 

 

Rick

 

 

We try not to say anything on Lionel behalf, and we sure get nothing inside from Lionel. example, the iPad app was a huge surprise when I saw it. Heck unlike Barry we don't even have a book to sell.

 

Most of what we do (and we being mostly Marty) is remember what has worked in the past or try to look at things people encounter

I'll go back to my trains now.  I'll let Lionel answer for themselves.  I only am repeating answers we got visiting Lionel's booth and info provided to us for the LUG meeting. 

 

Feel free to email them direct @ talktous@lionel.com.

Well, Mac's have not had serial ports for years, so...maybe. Such an old technology. Kinda surprised Lionel used in the first place.