The Macintosh and Windows worlds are no longer separated by incompatible standards. Contrary to popular myth, Macs and PCs connect seamlessly to the same networks, share many common applications and can easily exchange data and files.
Read about the ways in which Macs and PCs can work together. If you'd like more information, you’ll find links to the complete guide to Macintosh/PC compatibility in the sidebar.
- Exchanging Files Between Platforms
Exchanging files between a Macintosh and a Windows PC is not only easy but extremely common. Nowadays, even highly targeted applications and scientific packages are available on multiple platforms — allowing for far easier file transfer. - Communicating over the Internet
The Internet has simplified communication between Macs and PCs. Macintosh and PC users can now transparently exchange files, talk and even play games over the Internet. - Sharing the Same Network Connection
Macs and PCs can co-exist harmoniously on the same network. They can exchange files and share printers or a connection to the Internet. - Media & Peripherals
The Mac works with just about all common storage media, including CD-R/CD-RW, DVD, floppies, Zip cartridges and many more. What’s more, the widespread adoption of FireWire and USB has made cross-platform plug-and-play a reality for most external devices — from hard disk drives to DV cameras and PDAs. - Using PC Applications on a Mac
Some Macintosh users occasionally need to run PC applications to exchange data with a client or simply because that particular application does not exist on the Mac. Several easy-to-use PC emulators for the Mac are now available.
