Hi,
I recently had a career change and started working in real estate. In my new office everyone works on PC's so I'm obviously the odd one with my Macintosh Ibook. The number one problem I have is accessing the MLS (Multiple Listing Service ) . The MLS is the backbone to all Real Estate offices and without being able to access it from my lap top I'm at a distinct disadvantage, and must rely on the office's communal PC to do searches. Here are the particulars and some of my ideas about solving the problem. The MLS is a totally web based service which boggles the mind that I cant perform any searches on it. This is the log on to the site http://www.priv.wpmls.xmlsweb.com/login.asp for obvious reasons I can't give you my log in or password. But you can see its has a XML architecture. My Ibook is running OS 9.2 with IE 5 for Mac, one of my questions is if I switch to OS X with the MLS XML work, initially speaking with the tech rep at the MLS they said they don't think so ??? MY other idea would be to get the Windoz emulator do you think that would work? I'm counting on you guru's to help me figure out this dilemma before I have to go out and buy a cheep Wintel laptop eeeeek.

Maybe I'm missing something here (and I've never been a Mac person), but I don't understand why you can't get on the MLS with your Mac. The MLS is just another web-based app, and it shouldn't matter your client OS. All modern OS can get on the web.

Good luck to you!

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Ruperto Elpusan Jr.
Bankers Realty
e-mail: Ruperto@FineHomesInLA.com
Beverly Hills-Malibu-Palos Verdes Real Estate
Torrance/South Bay Real Estate

Hello! I am a fellow mac techie user and have been using Panther (MacOS 10.3). My MLS uses IE. It actually won't work in Safari and only works ok in Internet Explorer for Mac. You remember that Microsoft stopped updating IE for Mac years ago. It's just getting outdated. I actually have to buy a PC now. Virtual PC 7 is supposed to have too many problems, but I have heard rumors of an emulator on the new versions of OS X. It may even been in Tiger, which would mean you'd have to upgrade soon.

So basically, you're going to need to wait until an emulator actually works or...buy a PC, like I did. MLS programs still have to be programmed to work in browsers, but some MLS groups are mainly programming for IE and not Avante Browser, Mozilla, Netscape, or other folks...especially us Mac users. :-)

It's unfortunate, but there are some websites, like this MLS for example that actually REQUIRE that you use Internet Explorer. So while this is a web based application, the people who programmed it were either lazy or ignorant and you're suffering. Sorry!

As a former web coder, I'd have to say that the last thing we generally code for, when creating commercial web sites is the Mac. Sad but true. The days of overloading every web page with browser and OS detection code is pretty much gone.

Many popular web sites will code for the majority and forget the minority.

I've never used it but you may want to see if the Mozilla guys have created a Firefox port for the Mac. It may cross some basic object model boundaries that Apple isn't willing to cross themselves.

Mozilla isn't the end all answer, but for a stable browser, it's probably as close to IE you're goingto get...

Brett

I do not believe there is any FireFox support for OS9, you could try iCab, but you'll probably run into the same problem.

Only IE works. My board uses an MLS coded strictly for IE, which seems silly since IE has so many security issues. I even tried using alternate browsers on a PC and they wouldn't work.

PCs are cheap, even laptops. Time to get something that will work because Virtual PC is not useful.

Ya a lot of things of this nature are programmed to work only in IE, which is too bad since with a little effort and know-how these applications could be created to work with anything.

Just as an aside....

Perhaps you could get a handheld of some kind that would sync with your Mac? I know zippo about Macs, but did just buy my hubby a new HP 4705 Ipac and it can do some amazing things! You'd be able to access (I hope) your MLS on the road, check email, browse, create word docs...pretty neat toy.

This may be of no help, but just thought I'd suggest looking into it.

I fully share your concern!!! Please email me, I may be able to help. In the mean time please help! Something important is happening.... read my article at http://homepage.mac.com/marconey/macrealtors/tomacrealtors.html

It concerns your issue but at a larger scale. Please help spread the word about the issue (feel free to send the link and direct every mac realtor you know to the site)!

Do email me with your particular issue for advice. And after reading the above article, please respond to me!

Thanks!
Kenneth.

Brett,
No one (atleast not me) is asking "coders" to code for the Mac. How about coding for the "Web" There is the W3C (and other great bodies) which has a visionary role of establishing web standars so that the web is made as accessible as possible to all so long as the access mediums (browsers) are standards compliant. Why can't people in the PC world get this? that "standards" are good and that following them benefits everyone? Firefox for example is a model citizen when it comes to following standars. MS/IE finds itself best not to follow standards so they can control the market. Let's not forget that the web is supposed to be platform neutral and browser independent. So the issue is much more than coding for the minority or majority, it's about following standards that have been established precisely with the goal of making the web truly platform neutral and browser independent. Why should anyone be forced to use one browser? shouldn't that choice be with the users?