I use JMRI on a MacBook Air with a LocoBuffer USB to Digitrax Loconet interface. I have no issues when connecting and disconnecting the computer from the DCC. The DCC is run both with and without JMRI and the computer is used for many other purposes and for traveling. I use JMRI either to allow WiThrottle control from a smartphone or to program a decoder.
I do find it is best to connect the computer to the DCC system before starting JMRI as otherwise JMRI does not always reliably find the DCC system. Similarly, the smartphone app has better luck finding JMRI if JMRI is started before the app.
I use a MacBook Air and it works without trouble. Keep the instructions handy- it's a little more complicated than pointing to a virtual serial port in Windows.
my MacBook is always plugged into the railroad, but if plugged/unplugged caused an issue its a matter of looking up the correct port number if you have the instructions handy.
So far, all functions ok compared to Win7 except one: withrottle seems to often not auto pair and needs port number put in explicitly.
NP.
Steve, I am not a Mac user, but I do use JMRI with a PR3 and have never had a bit of trouble with either of them.
Having said that, I'm pretty sure that if you remember to always plug the PR3 into the same USB port on your Mac, you should be okay.
However, I'd strongly recommend that you post your questions on the JMRI Yahoo group. Many of the developers use Macs, and hang out on that list, so I'm sure you can get authoritative answers there:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/jmriusers/info
I have been finally looking into decoder pro for speed matching as well as the other things it does well. I have a Macbook air running OSX 10.9 5 that I could use but it is also use by other members of my family. How plug and play is the Digitrax Pr3 with the Mac. It seems easy to hook up and get the PR3 to talk to decoder pro but is it something one would want to unplug and plug often? It seems a lot of folks are using this set up out there but I am not sure if it is set up at a permanent station.
Any advice?
Thanks
Steve B