BleepingComputer.com: Can Mac and PC share disks / Compatible?

Hi All,

I have two PCs and Vista is a problem workhorse. XP is very stable for me. I need a new computer solely for graphics work. A friend who owns a MAC says for graphics it is better and they have never had any problems with freezing up/blue screens/programs locking and shutting down unexpectedly. But am wondering are all the software compatible and likewise for discs and USB drives? Or do I need all new software and new DVD/CD for writing specifically for MAC? I'm hoping that it doesn't matter and I can use software interchangeably and open and save files on one disk from both computers. Maybe a fantasy but it would be nice.

Have latest CorelDraw, and haven't looked to see if it is compatible with a MAC yet.

Random questions, if there is anyone with advice thanks so much in advance.

Mac & PC's can share data CD/DVD's. And you can download programs, burn them to CD/DVD on the Mac and transfer it to the PC, and visa versa.
AFAIK most Windows programs won't work on a Mac. (unless you run Windows on the Mac) If the program is on a disc, look on the label, it should tell you what operating system the program will work on.
Sometimes there will be a Windows version, and a Mac version on the disc.
Most Windows programs that you can download, have a Mac version, but not all.

Download only from a reputable site, of course.

I'm not an expert with any OS, but there is a difference the way Mac views graphics.
For example, I made an animated giff on the Windows PC using PS Elements 2.0 and unfreeze.
The background was black. But when I transfered the gif to the Mac and opened it in firefox, Neo Office, Safari, etc. the background color changed dramatically. The gif color also distorted.


My USB external hard drives work on both with no problems (format fat32)
The Mac comes with iTunes for burning CD's, "Disc Utility" for DVD's & disc images, and the burn folder for data, either CD/DVD.
I bought Toast Titanium for the Mac. But I needed something that would overburn a Cd, in DAO, (no gaps), and would be accepted in trading circles.


Here are some (small) problems I encountered as a Mac newbe. (still am)

The Macs Grab feature won't take a screenshot from a DVD played in Macs "DVD Player". (Not copy protected) But you can download "VLC Player" for the Mac and the Grab feature will work just fine.

Macs will freeze just like Windows. I've been using my Mac for over a year and in that time it froze on me at least 6 times leaving me no choice but to do a force quit.
Paintbrush is a free DL that is very unstable and shuts down every time I use it.

You will have to update the Mac just like Windows, and sometimes the updates cause problems. Just like Windows.

If you want to open MPEG 2 videos in iDVD or iMovie for editing you'll have to pay Apple for the MPEG 2 codec. The last time I checked it was $20
AFAIK Mac won't recognize most Windows video formats. including AVI.
But it will play DVD movies & audio CD's.

Lately, (after an upgrade) I noticed that the CD/DVD tray would spit out the disc without reading it. After many times re-inserting the disc, it would finally read it.
So Macs are not bullet proof, I suggest getting the extended warrenty.


Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here. As there is a lot to learn when switching to a Mac.

I really like the Mac because I can surf the web without all the drama with malware.
IMO For that reason alone it's worth the extra cost.

Macs use a format type called HSF+. Windows cant read or write to HSF+ partitions without the help of a program such as MacDrive.

Windows on the other hand, uses FAT32 or NTFS. Macs can read and write FAT32 without a problem, so USB drives which are FAT32 by default can be read/written fine. NTFS is a bit different. Macs can read NTFS, but cant write to them without help. You need to get a program like "NTFS for Mac OS X"

Thanks everyone, just what I wanted to know....12x48y thanks for all the detail.