This article gives an overview of PC compatibility for Macintosh users. It was written in September, 1998.

Occasionally, Macintosh users might need to work with Windows documents, run Windows applications and print or share files over a network. If you find yourself in that situation, you'll be pleased to know that there are time-tested solutions that enable Macs to easily integrate with PCs. You'll find an overview of the wide range of PC compatibility solutions below.

ACCESSING WINDOWS DATA

There are hundreds of leading applications that have native versions for both Macintosh and Windows. Microsoft Office is an excellent example of an application with full file format compatibility between the two versions. For a comprehensive list of cross platform and Mac only applications, visit http://www.macsoftware.apple.com .

Apple's SuperDrive provides Macintosh systems (that have floppy drives) the ability to access and understand PC content. The SuperDrive can format, read, and write to 3.5-inch disks in the following formats:

• Macintosh: single-sided (400K), double-sided (800K), high-density (1.4MB)
• Apple II ProDOS: 800K
• MS-DOS: 720K, 1.44MB.

Easy Open and PC Exchange are Mac OS features that work in tandem to enable a Mac to open and edit ProDOS, MS-DOS, Windows and OS/2 files with compatible Macintosh applications. PC Exchange lets you insert a DOS-formatted floppy disk into a SuperDrive and view the disk's contents from the Macintosh desktop just as if the floppy came from another Macintosh. When you double-click on a DOS or Windows file to open it, Easy Open automatically searches for applications and file translators that are capable of opening it and lists the applications for you. Once an application is selected, Easy Open manages the translation and opening of the file.

When no application is available for directly opening a PC file, an extensive suite of translators from Data Viz, called MacLink Plus, can be used to convert the file to a format compatible with a corresponding Macintosh application.

RUNNING WINDOWS APPLICATIONS

There are three ways to run Windows applications on a Macintosh - via software emulation, PC compatibility cards and thin-client/server computing.

Today, the most common method of running a DOS or Windows application on a Macintosh is software emulation. The speed of the Power Macintosh systems makes emulation viable and affordable. There are several software emulation products to choose from. For example, Insignia's RealPC, SoftWindows 95 and SoftWindows 98 products allow you to run DOS, Windows 95 and Windows 98 applications. Connectix's Virtual PC allows you to run DOS, Windows 95/98, or Windows NT applications.

When you need a higher level of performance from a Windows application, consider adding a PC compatibility card. Orange Micro's OrangePC Windows Compatibility Card is a PC computer on a card that allows users to run Windows 95/98 and Windows NT.

The latest strategy is thin-client/server computing where an NT Server runs Windows applications over a network. The clients (personal computers) don't need to have these applications on their hard drive nor do they need to have much more than a fast LAN network connection. Client/server solutions work equally on Windows systems, Macintosh systems, UNIX workstations, and in some cases, PDAs. Citrix System's WinFrame and Microsoft's Windows Terminal Server are key solutions in this area.

USING NETWORK RESOURCES

Many companies with a mixed environment of Macs and PCs use Novell's NetWare or Microsoft's NT Server for access to files and printers over a network. Macintosh users enjoy robust access to both server environments.

Macintosh clients for Novell networks are currently available for both intraNetware and NetWare version 4.11. In 1999, a new Macintosh client will be available for NetWare 5.

There are three ways to connect a Macintosh to a Windows network. The most common way is for the network adminstrator to turn on AppleTalk Services ... then, it just works! There are also solutions that let the Macintosh share files and printers on a PC network without any involvement from the network administrator. You can extend the Windows server to support the Macintosh protocol or extend the Mac OS to support the Windows protocols. On the personal computer side, Thursby Software's DAVE product adds full SMB support to the Mac OS. For NT Servers, you can investigate Microsoft's Services For Macintosh and Miramar Software's MacLan Connect.

A Macintosh server installed with AppleShare IP 6.0, Apple's award-winning Mac OS server software, provides cross-platform support for use in mixed computing environments. New file sharing support for Windows clients allows Windows 95/98 and Windows NT clients to natively access AppleShare IP 6.0 servers. AppleShare IP 6.0 can also register with a WINS server for inclusion on a Windows NT Intranet.

SUMMARY

We encourage you to learn more by visiting the Web sites of the vendors mentioned above and find out more about the PC compatibility solutions.

SoftWindows: http://www.fwb.com/

Virtual PC: http://www.connectix.com/

OrangePC card: http://www.orangemicro.com/

MacLink Plu: http://www.dataviz.com/

Citrix: http://www.citrix.com/

Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/

Novell: http://www.novell.com/

DAVE: http://www.thursby.com/

MacLan Connect: http://www.miramarsys.com/