 |
 |
Powerbook with Windows desktop?
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Sep 2004
Status:
Offline
|
|
Hi, I'm new to the forum, so bear with me. I'm a longtime Mac lover from way back. Well, since a few years ago, through no real choice of my own, I've been stuck with a windows-based desktop PC. Now I'm in the market for a laptop, and I'd absolutely love to take this opportunity to get back with Macs. My question is, what would be the complications with owning a powerbook with a windows-based desktop PC? I'm really not a computer whiz, and have been out of the Macintosh loop for so long, I don't know if there would be problems with printing, file transfer, etc. Thanks for help you all can give me!
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2001
Status:
Offline
|
|
I connect my PowerBook to my Athlon all the time for file transfer.
Mac OS X has "Samba" built in...it's the Windows SMB file sharing protocol for UNIX systems. I just connect to my PC's file sharing by hitting Command-K in the Finder and entering smb://ipaddress (substitute the PC's IP address for "ipaddress"). Macs can also share with PCs easily (see Sharing in System Preferences).
As for printing...I don't do it that often. I have one of those cheapie (but nice) USB HP LaserJet 1012s and just unplug it from the PC and hook it up the PowerBook when I need it.
You might want to check out MacWindows. Lots of Windows and Mac integration tips. Some of the stuff in MacWindows may be the older stuff (Mac OS 9 and earlier).
As for files: Office for Mac plays nicely with Office for PC. A jpeg is a jpeg no matter what platform it's on. I use a nice cross-platform video player called VLC on both my Mac and my PC for playing movie files and such.
(
Last edited by Voch; Sep 24, 2004 at 04:06 PM.
)
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Sep 2004
Status:
Offline
|
|
I have a windows xp pro desktop machine and before buying my Powerbook 17" I visited about fifty sites that were giving me step-by-step instructions on how to connect your Mac to Windows.
After I bought my Powerbook I did not need ONE of them.
I connected the powerbook with my Win desktop machine (via a crosscable), which was logged in to the internet. I opened Safari on my Mac, typed www.apple.com and the site was there!!!!
I could not believe my eyes when the internet page loaded. Thinking that this luck would in no way be repeated, I tried to access my windows network files. I went to the finder, clicked on network and to my surprise the neighbourhood MSHOME was listed, in which I could access my winxp machine. Being carried away by the fact that this whole process took less than two minutes, I went ahead to see if I could use my shared printers that were plugged to my winxp machiine.
Went to System preferences -> Print & Fax -> Printer List -> Add
It found both of my installed printers (Canon & Lexmark) instantly. I printed a test page and it came out fine. No drivers installed, no hassles.
I think Apple just cannot afford to make these processes troublesome and quirky because of their switch campaign, therefore they FULLY live up to their philosophy: Apple. It just works.
just my 0.02 $
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Edmonton, AB
Status:
Offline
|
|
I had a problem with smb filesharing turns out it was on the windows side.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 
|
|
|
Forum Rules
|
|
|
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top