Quick Scan
The majority of key programs and files transition seamlessly. See the first table.
Some Windows programs are replaced by Mac counterparts. See second table.
Remaining programs that don't have a counterpart can be run in Windows on your Mac as necessary.
Can I Do Everything on a Mac that I Do on My PC?
Worried about what you will have to give up if you switch to a Mac? We'll break down what you can and can't do on a Mac that you do right now on your PC.
Let's start with three categories of compatibility: Seamless, Same but Different, and Uh-oh. For the sake of brevity, I'll try to stick to the most commonly used programs that cover most consumer computer uses.
Seamless. This group of programs are more or less the same as what you used to on a PC. They might look a bit different, but the Mac version works just as you're used to. Other than email, these programs comprise the bulk of typical computer use and are written by the software companies for both Windows and Mac using the same file types.
Same but Different. In this group are programs that are written only for Windows but have a good or better match on the Mac. For these, you can get the same functions you are used to, but in a different software product. You shouldn't find much of a learning curve with this group since they are doing essentially the same thing.
Uh-oh. This last group encompasses the vast realm of niche Windows products too numerous to list here. If you discover that there are no adequate Mac software titles that can replace your vital Windows program, this is where Apple's shift to the Intel chips will really help you out. Your solution lies in running Windows on your new Mac.
Huh? That's right. Because Macs and PCs use the same Intel processors these days, you can buy a copy of Windows XP or Vista and install it on your new Mac. It may cost a few dollars to go out and buy Windows, but it will give the peace of mind that you can cover all your bases in a time of need.
Bonus Round. There are two benefits of switching to the Mac that are easily overlooked in this discussion. The first is you won't need to buy any anti-virus and anti-spyware programs for your new Mac. Not only do you get to save that money, but you also save yourself the headaches of installing them and keeping them up to date. The second benefit is the free group of iLife applications that come with your Mac. These iLife programs that help you manage, create and manipulate media are unmatched by anything available on the Windows platform.
So as it turns out, you can do everything on a Mac and more that you do on a PC right now. You might have to learn a few tricks, but My First Mac is right here to help you out, along with the rest of the Mac family.
Did I miss an important program that you use? Let us know in the Comments section below.
DIG DEEPER
Some of the programs mentioned above can be found here:
Elgato Systems EyeTV
FileMaker Pro
Omni Group's OmniGraffle
Flip4Mac Plug-in
I Use This ranking of top Mac software
Running Windows on a Mac
Boot Camp (Apple)
Parallels Desktop for Mac
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Your Comments:
Thanks for the great info. As a Mac based designer working on large real estate development projects, I interact with a lot of PC users running everything from Word to AutoCAD. Sometimes it takes some digging for the right plug-in, but in almost all cases we're able to easily pass files back and forth. The biggest problem we encounter is file naming. PCs are very sensitive to punctuation marks and always need to have a suffix after the filename; "filename.doc" for example. Without the ".doc", a PC won't know to open the file with Word. Sometimes we get sloppy and forget to check our files before we send them out.
That said, the one stumper I have is .mdi files. MDI is a Microsoft format that I just can't find a way to open. I've had to have PC users convert them to PDF.
Keep up the great work!
Ted
06/11/2007 at 04:10 PM
Jean
06/11/2007 at 04:25 PM
Chris K
06/11/2007 at 04:43 PM
Blair
06/11/2007 at 08:28 PM
Phil
06/11/2007 at 08:40 PM
leslie radakovich
06/11/2007 at 10:17 PM
Scott
06/20/2007 at 02:01 PM
Joe
06/20/2007 at 03:05 PM
It's my intention that if you already use a PC, this article will tell you what programs on the Mac will do what you are already doing on your PC. I tried to keep it the most mainstream programs that the computer novice might be familiar with. The main reason I included Firefox in the Mac column is because Mac users will need it from time to time to make up for not having IE. I realize Firefox, as well as many other programs, is a good alternative for web browsing in Windows.
Chris K
06/20/2007 at 04:21 PM
homer
07/12/2007 at 04:55 PM