[JHromadka]

After supporting PCs everyday as one of my jobs, I'm having a computer-life crisis. As such, I'm changing platforms at home and going with the TiBook. I will be getting OS X so I can learn some UNIX and hopefully broaden my computer knowledge.

Anyway, I'll still have a mixed home Ethernet network thanks to my Linksys router, so I want to get a printer and CD/RW drive that can be used by both the PC and the Mac. I currently have an HP DeskJet 722c, but that doesn't work on the Mac. Any suggestions? I've heard about an Epson printer that is <$100, how good is that printer? Can it be networked so that I can use it from either a PC or Mac?

What about the CD/RW drive? I know that Firewire is best, but I also want to burn PC CDs as well. Pardon my ignorance, but if I burn a CD with MP3s from the Mac can my PC read it (or vice versa)? Do Macs use the same CDRs as the PC?

One last question. My home Dell computer has an internal zip 100 drive. Can I share that so that I can copy files to it from the Mac?

Thanks,


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James Hromadka
VisorCentral.com

[Paul S]

James,

You may find this transition easier than you expected. Epson makes the Stylus Color 777 which has USB (Mac and PC) and Parallel ports (PC only). They also offer the Axis 1440 ethernet print server option that will also be cross-platform. This is an additional $160 or so. It's a very good printer for the price. I have owned only Epson's over the years and have been very impressed with their Mac support.

CD-RW drives are also cross-platform (I have a "PC only" HP burner with my Mac). It's only the software that matters. Most ship with Toast for Mac and EZ CD for PCs. Toast allows you to burn Mac CDs, PC CDs, or Hybrid Mac/Win CDs, as well as audio and VCD formats. I don't know for sure all the formats supported by the PC version. If you burn as a PC format, the Mac will read anything on it (anything that a Mac can understand at least). The media is also interchangeable. FireWire drives are hot-swappable and would be your best bet.

Since the Mac can read PC formatted disks, use PC formatted Zips and transfer back and forth with no problems at all.

Welcome to the Mac world. I hope your experience is as good as mine has been since I switched.

Paul

[JHromadka]

Thanks for the tips! I'm writing this on my new TiBook that I bought today at CompUSA (the last one they had!). The MacOS will take some getting used to but I'll be alright.

Here's another question. How can I import a bookmark file in IE Mac? I saved it to the Mac but IE has Import Favorites greyed out. Also, I use Outlook 2000 on the PC. Can I export my current mail that's in a PST file to OE or Eudora?

[Paul S]

James,

I don't think I can help you with those questions. I've always been a Netscape user and never use IE. I also don't use Outlook (can't stand Microsoft if you can't tell). My only suggestion would be to place the bookmarks folder inside the IE preferences folder. You will find it in the Preferences Folder inside the System Folder. You may need to quit and restart IE, if not the system as a whole, to have the change take effect. I don't have any suggestions for Outlook.

If you have more questions, this is a great board. Myself and many others are always happy to lend a helping hand where possible.

Paul

[Cipher13]

Originally posted by JHromadka:
Thanks for the tips! I'm writing this on my new TiBook that I bought today at CompUSA (the last one they had!). The MacOS will take some getting used to but I'll be alright.

Here's another question. How can I import a bookmark file in IE Mac? I saved it to the Mac but IE has Import Favorites greyed out. Also, I use Outlook 2000 on the PC. Can I export my current mail that's in a PST file to OE or Eudora?

To import the favourites, navigate to HD -> System Folder -> Preferences -> Explorer and open the "favourites.html" file in a text editor like SimpleText.
Leave the headers alone and paste in your links.
I'm not sure, you may be able to move the files straight across if you're lucky...
Or just book mark your bookmarks file and use it as a webpage...

Cipher13

[dllevy]

Originally posted by Paul S:
James,

I don't think I can help you with those questions. I've always been a Netscape user and never use IE. I also don't use Outlook (can't stand Microsoft if you can't tell). My only suggestion would be to place the bookmarks folder inside the IE preferences folder. You will find it in the Preferences Folder inside the System Folder. You may need to quit and restart IE, if not the system as a whole, to have the change take effect. I don't have any suggestions for Outlook.

If you have more questions, this is a great board. Myself and many others are always happy to lend a helping hand where possible.

Paul

You may be able to help me too...dumping all Windows machines. 1) My Epson 2000P software crashes with Archival Matte paper choses; 2) Can't access my DirecPC line (no broadband), and 3) Need to communicate with my office Exchange server with VPN...Thanks...sorry for my ignorance, but changing is a little hard to do.