Mac Integration Basics v10.7 - Apple

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Cross-platform Compatibility
You can work with Windows files within OS X using applications that have versions
available for both operating systems. Alternatively, many Mac-only applications can
import files formatted with Windows file formats.
Cross-platform Applications
Software developers offer versions of their applications for both Windows and OS X, in
consideration of the mixed operating system environments deployed by many
organizations.
Available cross-platform productivity applications include:
• Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Entourage, Messenger, and PowerPoint
• Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Premiere Pro
• QuickBooks from Intuit
• FileMaker
Cross-platform File Types
Many native Mac applications can import files created in Windows. They also let you
view the most common file types, including Office documents, PDFs, images, text files,
MP3s, videos, ZIP files, and more.
Mac applications with support for Windows files include:
• Pages can import Microsoft Word and most other Windows text formats.
• Numbers can import Excel as well as Open Financial Exchange files from Quicken,
comma-separated-value and tab-delimited files.
• Keynote can import PowerPoint presentations.
• Any QuickTime-compatible application can import .AVI video and .WAV audio files.
Running Windows on a Mac
An Intel-based Mac uses the same processor as computers running Windows, enabling
it to directly run Windows software in a variety of ways. You can boot Windows
operating systems natively on a Mac by using the Boot Camp software, which is
included with OS X. You can also run Windows directly in OS X with virtualization
applications such as VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop, which create virtual
Windows machines running on your Mac desktop. In this chapter you’ll learn how to
configure Boot Camp and then learn about virtualization.