In the early days there was little compatibility between Apple applications and Microsoft Windows applications. However, much has changed over the years, and many applications can be seamlessly shared between the two operating systems. This is especially true of the Max OS X Tiger which enables not only the sharing of files, but can co-exist peacefully on the same network. Sharing printers, scanners and other peripheral devices between Macs and PCs is now almost a non-issue, while there are still the occasional user who has problems sharing files between PCs and Macs, the difficulties have mostly be resolved. It is expected that within the next few years, there should be problems at all.

Best of all, in today's highly wired world, where electronic mail is a way of life, now even email can be shared across Mac and PC platforms with minimal fuss. Apple started on the road to compatibility in 2003 when they resumed installing PC Compatible Cards into their systems. This was done in partnership with Dell Computers.

With so many businesses using Microsoft Windows, it was only natural that Apple made their systems compatible so that users could work across platforms. Nowhere is this compatibility more appreciated than in the freelancing world where clients and freelancers need to quickly and efficiently exchange files. The introduction of Intel processors in the current lines of Apple Computers has cemented this compatibility relationship across multiple-platforms.

Prior to this, users of Mac applications had to use third party software, like Stuffit Expander and Conversion Plus, to be able to access and work on files created with Microsoft applications. Also, the current generation of Macs now has Mac compatible Windows application suites which include everyday Windows applications, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Microsoft Office for Mac can be used between Macs and PCs with no problem.