Hi,
You should be able to run DSS in Parallels or other VM software on a Mac, although it would be slower than a native Mac app.
In terms of processing or calibrating widefields, I think flats would make a significant difference in removing gradients.
Darks help with reducing noise, but you'd need to dither to be sufficiently effective. all depends on your exposure length and the operating temperature as that governs the amount of noise present.
you could take flats at twilight or dawn or even using an LCD monitor.
I think Al has written a software that's available here in the Projects section.
There's also this article
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-211-0-0-1-0.html
Cheers