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Tech Tips: Working With PCs
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How to get your Mac and PC to work side by side
Are Macs better than PCs?
How can I use Mac format floppy disks on a PC?
How can I emulate a Mac on a PC?
Is there a way that I can transfer data between my Mac and PC over a network?
How can I setup a Mac using only a PC?
[Q]: Are Macs better than PCs?
[A]: In a word 'yes'. And in another word 'no'. The Mac vs. PC debate has raged for many years and the 'best' answer is that both are the best at what they do. Novice users may find Macs easier but at the same time the PC has far more market penetration and far more outlets and resources for support and help. OS X is typically more stable than Windows but Microsoft are catching up. PCs have far more software available but Apple tends to lead from the front in terms of functionality, ease of use and style... At the end of the day you pays your money you takes your choice, and the smart user knows never to get drawn into this kind of small minded petty debate.
[Q]: How can I use Mac format floppy disks on a PC?
[A]: There are several applications that will allow Mac disks to be read on the PC but my personnal favourite is TransMac (although you could also try HFVExplorer). Not only can you read/write disks but you can also format them too!
[Q]: How can I emulate a Mac on a PC?
[A]: There are many apps out there that allow you to emulate a Mac on a PC but you have to be careful with your expectations. Up until the beginning of 2004 there were only emulators for the original 68K machines and nothing that could emulate the PowerPC. The release of PearPC changed all that and while it does work, it's not exactly going to break any speed records even with a powerful PC. For 68K emulation though a decent PC, a decent emulator and the correct ROM image can get OS 8 to run quite happily (and speedily). Popular emulators are vMac, SoftMac and Basilisk II. Personally I'm a Basilisk II user and find it to be the most stable and powerful 68K emulator currently available.
[Q]: Is there a way that I can transfer data between my Mac and PC over a network?
[A]: Yes, provided that both machines have a least an Ethernet card, an ethernet crossover cable and some FTP software! I've not come across a free FTP server for 68K Macs but if you run one on the PC side then you can use something like Anarchie on the Mac to blast data back and forth. There are 'better' ways to get PCs and Macs connected but this is the simplest and the cheapest.
[Q]: How can I setup a Mac using only a PC?
[A]: It's not easy but it can be done - visit this site www.macdrivermuseum.com/pc2mac.html to find out how!
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