I recently purchased a MacbookPro and want to run Band in a Box on it. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like both versions are available from the USB hard drive I have. I think around Christmas time last year I bought the EverythingPak for Windows (on the USB drive).

Is there any type of conversion program I can take advantage of to get the MAC version? I am really hoping that I don't have to pay anymore money for it as the original purchase was very expense.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like you may be better served to call the company and get an official answer, but my guess is "no". I know of no way to convert coding for Windows to coding for Mac.

You may be able to find someone to work a trade. If someone is looking to buy the program, they could buy the Mac version and trade you straight up for your Windows version.

Unless, of course, you are looking to keep both systems running.....

I really wasn't looking to convert. When I said convert, I really meant converting the licensing from the PC to the MAC. Most companies allow you to move from one platform to another without costs (with the promise that you won't use both). I am looking to move the license from my PC to my Mac...not use both.

Thanks for the comments Eddie...enjoy your 4th!

Oh.... I doubt there's an issue with that. Your license is mainly to prove you bought the product, though it'll still be a good idea to give them a call.

You enjoy the holiday as well!!

Well, I got my answer from PG Music Sales and I'm very disappointed. They want me to pay a crossgrade price of $399 to get the MAC version. Even though 6 months ago I bought the full Windows version of the Everything Pak there is nothing they will do for me to move over to the MAC.

This is the first time I have had any vendor tell me I have to repurchase the software because of the platform I am using. I own a lot of software and have converted everything else with no issue. I own the Adobe Master Collection suite...a $2500 software package. All I did was call them and they issued me a serial number for the MAC version. PG says they don't have serial numbers and that's why I have to pay so much...what

Anyway, it looks like I am a former Band-in-a-box user which is really unfortunate because I love the software. However, I am not going to pay over $800 to have a version of it working for me (the original one I purchased plus the crossgrade). I also am not going to do the Windows install on my MAC (Bootcamp) just to run BIAB.

In my opinion, it is a really sad response from PG Music!

I am with you on this - I also recently switched from PC to Macbook Pro with every other music software product I use having both PC & MAC versions.

I was equally surprised & disappointed with the response I got from PG Music to effectively have to pay for the same product twice. As a registered user I have been consistently upgrading my previous PC version as and when the new releases arrive and would have continued to do so going forward for the Mac version.

As it stands, I will no longer be upgrading my previous PC version, nor will I be paying the cross-grade price which effectively means, I am also a former BIAB user moreover, PG Music will lose a loyal customer and any future revenues they were bound to get from me as a consequence of a non-customer centric cross-grade policy between PC to Mac.

I just don't get it. I bought my version directly from PG Music so they can easily verify the purchase. I am actually shocked they are so willing to snub their nose at dedicated, loyal customers...especially in such a competitive field.

But honestly, this is really how and when you determine the character of a company. I mean, all companies are all willing to take your money. The real test is how will they respond in a particular situation when a customer needs their help.

It is just disappointing but again, I refuse to reward them for bad practices and trying to make me pay twice for the same product...I don't understand why they think we would be happy with this.

Thanks for the comments.

I think you're giving PG Music a bum rap here. I've been a user for 10 or 12 years and I've found their customer service to be second to none. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a company where the owner of the company, (in this case Peter Gannon), actually participates in the forums and helps users with problems personally.

It would be different if you were talking about a product that was sold as a cross platform program in one single unit, but in this case you are talking about a program that is sold seperately for each OS.

You made the decision to switch OS's, and that's not PG's fault. I can understand you being bummed, but I can't see running down the company because of your decision.

JMHO.

Well, I can appreciate your opinion Bob but they still have a chance to take care of their customers and they choose not to...that's the bottom line. If they don't support cross-platform then they should, IMHO. I just purchased Amplitude 3 from IK Multimedia. Pretty expensive program for sure. When I go to the downloads section to download my purchase, I have 2 choices...one for MAC and one for PC. This is pretty much the norm in the software industry nowadays. If they don't make it available in the download (as in my example), all you need to do is contact them and they'll get you access to the other version.

I don't think it should matter what OS or more simply what computer you are running it on. What matters is that you purchased a license to use the program. If they want to charge a small fee to take care of the processing fine. But to expecting me to repurchase it is absurd.

Anyway, I don't want to rant again...thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts.

To avoid this frustration in the future, perhaps it would make sense for BITB to make it CLEAR on their homepage (or on the purchase page) that a Licence purchased is SOLEY for one specific platform or the other and is NOT cross gradable for free? This doesn't excuse your argument that MANY software Licences offer dual platform support for free but it does put BITB's position on this matter clearly upfront .... which is not the case now.

I feel your pain Dave.

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To avoid this frustration in the future, perhaps it would make sense for BITB to make it CLEAR on their homepage

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It couldn't possibly be more clear than it is on the homepage. If you go there now, you'll see " NEW! Band-in-a-Box 2011.5 for Windows . If you look to the right, you'll see the MAC version is only available in the 2011 version at this time, not 2011.5. Two seperate products.

Back in the days when BIAB was listed by number, (8,9,10,11,12), instead of year, the MAC version was always at least one version behind. That clearly shows there is additional programing to be done for the MAC version. You can't blame PG for focusing on WIN since it accounts for about 90% or more of the market.

When I look at the programs on my shelf, all of it is Windows only, although you can buy MAC versions. If I switched to MAC, I wouldn't expect these companies to give or sell me a copy at a reduced price.

I feel your pain too, but PG isn't the one causing the pain. You aren't buying a software license, ... you're buying a program that is OS specific.

You've got a right to be frustrated, but your rant against PG is unwarranted, in my opinion.