I just got a Macbook Pro. Well you guys know that the Co-Pilot software doesn’t run on Mac. I just upgraded to the new PDM a month ago and would like to use the software.
Has anyone tried using Co-Pilot using the Parallels software to run windows? I’m going to get Parallels today after I get off work, and I am hoping for success in being able to run the Co-Pilot software and upload the PDM’s info.
Erika
I have tried it. There is some USB compatibility problems with Parallels software running on Mac. The Copilot runs fine, but when you connect the USB (new PDM) it doesn’t recognize it. I made a search and this is a known problem.
Same here; I tried for a couple of hours but the USB layer in Parallels just isn’t good enough (or maybe CoPilot is doing something non-standard that it shouldn’t).
I’ve also tried to get in touch with an Insulet engineer to ask about the format of the data file that’s on the PDM; I’d like to write my own software but need to know how to read the data. So far, I’ve gotten nowhere with my requests.
Erika, Try VMWare’s fusion for MAC 2.0. I’ve run it for two years with my Cozmore pump software without any problems. I run a copy of Windows XP Home.
A strong warning: I have crashed the Omnipod PDM using Parallels VM software on my Macbook, such that I had to reenter all my parameters into the PDM and start a new Pod. I installed the Abbot Copilot software and the Omnipod extension on my Parallels virtual machine running Windows XP on my Macbook Pro. I have tried this with both Parallels Desktop v. 4 and the recent v. 5 update both times leading to the PDM crash and Pod loss.
The software appeared to run and connect OK with PDM, going thru the download process, but ended with an error that it failed at the end. Upon trying again is when the crash occured.
So try for yourself with other VMs only after carefully recording your PDM settings and choosing a time when you are changing a pod anyway.
It is interesting that Jeff reported getting the software to work properly running Virtualbox under Linux. Was that PC or Mac hardware? There may be subtle but dangerous hardware differences with regards to USB that might be causing this. Has anyone tried thee software using BootCamp on a Mac?
Also, the warning about “compatability” with Apple computers is too vague- I think they mean there is no Mac specific software, but does not address the possibility of running Windows on a Mac as a VM or natively with Bootcamp.
I’ve started a ticket at Insulet about this, so it would be good to update with others experiences so they can address the problem in the future.
Just got my pump on Monday. Am running Windoze XP home, Service Pack 2 on my iMac using Virtual Box. Software works but have not been able to get it to see the meter either. I have tickets into Insulet and Abbott and will update you all on anything I learn.
My Insulet rep told me to use Bootcamp. Checked with my ubergeek programmer and he says it’s difficult to get Windoze on Mac to see USB devices, he thinks Bootcamp may work.
Installing a 3rd version of Windoze on my mac tonight for Bootcamp to use. Will let you all know if it works.
BootCamp is a hassle because you have to shut down and restart in order to get to Windows. I installed it 6 months ago and have only used it once. Plus, it takes a big chunk of the hard drive because you have to allocate as much as you think you might ever need. Contrast with the virtual machine solutions (Parallels, VirtualBox, VMWare) where the virtual disk can start off small and then expand to accommodate how much space you need.
But for me, having to reboot just to run CoPilot - no thanks. I’m still hoping to get details on how to interpret the data file that I find on the PDM and write my own software.
Hi -
I use bootcamp & CoPilot. We use the software to see our CGM - Navigator - works great. I thought I would try to see if I could finally use the software for the OmniPod data. Yesterday, I installed the OmniPod Extension and it uploaded fine. I went to download the OmniPod with USB cable and gave me an error that said to call customer support. I then called Insulet and they said I should uninstall CoPilot and OmniPod Extension - and reinstall it - instead of using the RUN button, I should click on SAVE and run it that way. They said for some reason, that seems to work for most people. Only problem, if I uninstall CoPilot, I will loose all my CGM data and I have no idea how to save it into a file. I also find it hard to believe that this would fix the problem? You guys are more tech savvy than me but does this sound stupid to you guys? Do you think I should try it? How would I save my data for the CGM? Anyone know where that lives?
I know Bootcamp is going to suck and will probably mean that I will look at my data a lot less often.
I don’t think Insulet is going to be able to open up access to their data in the near fture. I do a lot of development that is "medically"related and the Institutional Review Boards that approve such things are usually ancient dinosaurs who have no understanding of software development. I’m betting the simple mention of “data sharing” would cause most of them to have seizure even if it’s read only. Probably also need to get the FDA approve it.
If you can wait a couple of days I’ll try the process they suggested to you and let you know if it works.
No idea how to back up coPilot since have not used it very much yet. Is there an Export data function? Maybe you could do that then reimport it.
Hi Rob -
I don’t know about the export function - I’ll check it out when I get a minute. Let me know what happens!!
Thanks.
Mark is correct with his warnings. I have crashed my PDM attempting to sync CoPilot under both VMware and Parallels on my Mac. A PDM reset is easy, but you will likely lose all your meter data and have to reload all the settings. Last attempt was two days ago. First time it happened was about a year ago. Thought a 2011 update was needed to warn folks.
I have an Imac running Mac OSX 10.6 and when trying to connect the pdm to the mac I have had it crash the pdm resulting in needing a new pod and reentering all the settings in the pdm. I gave up and just purchased a cheap windows laptop. I think it was about the same price as purchasing a copy of windows and parallels.