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:

Hi everybody. I just bought a new iMac (LOVE IT!), leaving the PC world, and am busy transferring files and all.

I just had an "OH NO!" moment when I remembered my website(s) are all set up on Microsoft Front Page. I have three myself (for three small businesses) but I also take care of a couple more for customers.

What program on the Mac can I use to read them and still run my website without having to recreate them in another program from scratch? Thank you so much for any help you an send my way!

 Luanne
 03/05/2009  at  02:05 PM

Luanne,

You might be in a bit of a pickle here. Unfortunately, both iWeb and FrontPage try to make it easier on the user by not using web standards. Normally the pages they create are not easily editable in regular html apps. I'd suggest you have a friend who knows html take a quick look at your files to see if they are salvageable. Maybe they are, but you might have to start over.

One thing to note, some edits of web pages can be done easily by swapping a line or 2 of code. Your edits may be in that group.

 Chris Kerins
 03/06/2009  at  10:17 AM

I would like to purchase a Mac PC. I plan to install either a Linux or Unix OS. Ultimately I will start a consulting business using either Intergraph or ArcView GIS software. Is this feasible with a Mac? If so, what model(?) of Mac is best? I wish to also start with a color printer, a laser printer and later I would install a plotter. I took some GIS Classes, in the late 80's in Germany, with the Corps of Engineers and they had a great set-up, (Intergraph), but it was all PC's, no Macs/Apples. I am not going to try to run the Corps out of business, I just want to start a consulting business for GID services. Thank you for any information or suggestions.
Rosszt Csont

 Rosszt Csont
 03/23/2009  at  10:39 AM

I'm a proud owner of a new Mac Pro but just wanted to point out that macros on MS Excel are not available/usable on Mac Excel. That is a major distinction. Keep up the good work....great site!

 amit
 04/08/2009  at  09:16 AM

This website is severly bias, and suprisingly incorrect. I was actually led here by google looking for real reasons to buy a mac with the loose change i have, but not only have you not given me an actual good reason, but you've lied in several points.
1. Firefox is made for windows too...
2. Manage media in a whole new way? WHAT?! theres like....100000000000000 Windows programs for media to do just about anything
3.ILIFE - An exclusive set of programs made specifically to mac, however...ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE is everything iLife is and more, which was made for windows, and now ...mac.
4.Security Alot of mac users like to use bad word choices like ***proof. example, VIRUSproof. Not true, in fact, the macbook air was the FIRST to fall to hackers in this years exploit contest. Macs are just as weak as PCs, however, macs arent popular. thats the advantage, nobody builds viruses for 1% of the PC world.
5. SPEED do i even need to say how incorrect this is? the speed is based on hardware, not really software. the more complex, the slower the software runs, but improving hardware will increase the speed.

Theres several other reasons which are completly incorrect, but im going to look for a site that DOES give reasons to buy a mac. Stop advertising for apple unless your getting paid for it. it just looks bad

 Cameron J
 06/06/2009  at  06:03 PM

OH and by the way people, BOOTCAMP ...windows on a mac! OSx86 ...osx in a pc! ...see, the same in reverse, so just the same as you can install windows on a mac to run windows apps, you can run osx on a PC and get osx apps.

 Cameron J
 06/06/2009  at  06:06 PM

Cameron, even though you are just trolling, I should respond for those that can't tell.

Apparently you missed the point of the article which is to guide people to Mac apps that do what they used to do on a PC. try reading the article before trolling. As far as ilife vs. adobe creative suite, ummm… Adobe CS4 starts at $1400 and goes to $2500. iLife is free. I think you must be thinking of Adobe Elements which is in the under $100 category for each piece. Which is still more than free. Oh, and check the comparison reviews. It's not close.

As to #4, there STILL aren't people getting their Mac compromised by viruses. Sure it happens in a lab setting, but it doesn't happen to regular users.

And Speed? What are you even responding to? Macs and PCs use the same chips these days.

BTW, tell how us how it goes with your mom installing and maintaining OS X on a PC. I'm sure it's easy and legal. Oh, I forgot. It's neither. Anyway, tell us how it goes.

 Chris Kerins
 06/07/2009  at  11:55 AM

Cameron, it's a shame that you're so misinformed... if you're looking for reasons to buy a Mac, how is it that you're suddenly an expert on the Mac? I won't spend a lot of time here, but I feel that I need to rebut your points so others don't think you have the facts right.

1) Yes it is, as is Safari. Doesn't make a difference, because this article is about what you can use on the Mac to replace Windows programs.

2 and 3) There is no suite of programs for Windows that comes close to iLife in terms of a) price b) quality and c) integration. Adobe's creative suite is a) ridiculously expensive, b) really pretty crappy in terms of interface and c) does not integrate with other Mac or Windows apps as well as iLife does. And by the way, Photoshop 1.0 was made for Mac and not for Windows until MUCH later.

4) I'm not even going to get into how meaningless those "hacking contests" are, but the fact is that there are no viruses in the wild for OS X. For nearly 10 years now. There's been the time, and there's been the resources, but it hasn't happened or been successful.

5) Speed is based as much on software as it is on hardware, and Mac OS X and most programs for the Mac are built more intelligently than Windows. You can have the fastest computer you want but a bloated OS and programs will still be slow.

6) Boot Camp: Legal. OSx86: violates Apple's terms of service and may be illegal.

In conclusion, trolling is stupid, especially when your facts are BS

 Adam Fisher-Cox
 06/07/2009  at  12:00 PM

In spite of recent service which bordered on satisfactory, I still spend a significant amount of time perusing "How To Do Everything Mac" by Dwight Spivey. I would he helpful if Apple had a collection of Spivey's tips and clues, so that we could ask an informed technician about problems. For instance: 1) How is the time set on Time Machine so that backups only occur at the end (or before the beginning) of a business day? 2) What is the optimum method/procedure to follow to avoid the creation of excessive numbers of duplicates?
Thank you.

 Brian Bradley
 07/18/2009  at  05:13 PM

I just got a Mac and am trying to switch over. The last glitch is that I am using MS Access to build the data base for my web site. Now I've learned that for Mac there is a program called FileMaker Pro. Will file maker Pro import my MS Access data base file?

 Kurma
 07/18/2009  at  08:49 PM

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