Mac and PC File Compatibility

[marcuspeddle]

My home computer is getting old and perhaps by the end of the year or early next year I will have to replace it. My office mate swears by Mac computers and I am interested. My new laptop computer, however, is a PC and I regularly transfer files from one computer to the other.
My question is about that. If I write an .rtf (for example) document on my Windows laptop, would a Mac computer be able to open it with no problems?

[Koyaanisqatsi]

It's not much of an issue at this point, unless you're using a program on Windows that doesn't exist on OS X (and even then there's bootcamp.) .rtf is universal enough that it definitely wouldn't be a problem.

[Bkeela]

Are not Macs and even Linux based systems PERSONAL ****ING COMPUTERS?

[Tim_Augustus]

NO THEY ARE NOT

[marcuspeddle]

Pardon my ignorance. What should I call a non-Mac computer that runs Windows?

[Bkeela]

A Windows based computer, or an XP computer/Vista Computer, etc. Use your imagination instead of adopting corporate slogans and nerd slang.

God I hate those Apple Mac commercials with a nerdy, Bill Gates like person representing 'PCs' and some trendy ****er representing Macs. Sometimes there is an equally trendy tart representing Linux.

This irritation reminds me of Protestants who refer to themselves as 'Christians' and who refer to those of other denominations as being somehow non-Christian. They will say something like: 'Catholics and Christians differ in their practices...' Well guess what idiot...? Catholics ARE Christians and they were Christians way before Martin Luther was a twinkle in his father's eye.

In short, I hate the binary vision that most people have. Either something is black, or white. Fat, or thin. Capitalist or Communist. Etc, etc. No!! - there is a whole spectrum of shades in between the mental constructs popular opinion holds dear.

[Tim_Augustus]

It probably all stems from the concept of the "IBM-Compatible PC" (the largely open, standards-based x86 architecture that both Windows and Linux run natively on) versus the proprietary locked-in (and non-intel) standards that Apple used up until the last couple of years (the IBM PowerPC-based architecture). Indeed, Mac OS is still locked to Apple-built computers despite the move to Intel and x86 computing.

For me, brand names are ok, as is "[name of operating system] Computer". As noted above personal computer refers to basically every computer that sits on a desk or lap and is directly used by a single person at a time (be it running OS/X, Vista, or anything along that line) as opposed to a 'server' that 'serves' other computers

[Asmodean]

Bkeela...you need to get laid buddy

[-Jrabbit]

Generally speaking, Office-type documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) transport seamlessly between systems (assuming you have MS Office/Mac). I've encountered a few translation/layout bugs - but no data loss - with Excel and PPT, but these are easily fixed.

RTF and Text docs are no problem.

Windows Media files require a free shareware translation tool like Flip4Mac to be playable in iTunes or Quicktime. Same type thing for zipped files.

If you buy at an Apple store, they will import your Windows files onto your new Mac at the time of purchase. But even if you buy an Intel Mac, they will continue to run the "I'm a Mac" commercials...