BAULK no more, PC users: be unfaithful and switch to the other side.

Why is that? The Mac is hot and migrating to the Apple machine today involves few compatibility issues because the robust Unix-based operating system that it uses has powerful work-on-both-platforms skills. Plus, Apple has loads of lifestyle apps that people love.

To assuage all doubt, we address the big questions and tell you how to migrate from PC to Mac.

Is the Mac compatible with the PC?

Yes. Files created on Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac can be read by users of Office 2007 for the PC. In the same vein, most other applications have Mac versions and the data files created by these apps are interchangeable.

In other words, files with extensions like .avi, .mp3, .jpg, .pdf and .docx work on Mac as well.

However, there may not be professional versions of software for the office - like auditing or inventory tracking - for the Mac.

Can I use the Mac on the office network?

Yes, you should be able to use the Mac on your office network as the Mac can handle Wi-Fi, the latest 802.11n and Fast Ethernet standards.

(Fast Ethernet smarts can transfer data at speeds of up to 100Mbps - up to 10 times faster than the original Ethernet).

Does it work similar to the PC or will getting around be a pain?

It operates somewhat like a PC so there is not a lot of groping in the dark. Most people who switch to the Mac report that its interface is actually easier to use.

How to migrate

Video tutorials: These abound and teach you everything from navigating the Mac OS to synching an iPhone to iTunes.

The Mac beginner should catch the video tutorial entitled Move To Mac on the Mac homepage at: www.apple.com/mac

Installing programs: Installing (and uninstalling) software is simple - just double-click the desktop icon. Most Mac newbies get it wrong because they do not expect it to be so simple.

Instead of the tedium of searching for wizards and drivers, you simply drag and drop the application icon into the applications folder. To uninstall, drag the icon from the folder and drop it into the Trash.

The dock: Unlike Windows, which has a taskbar at the bottom of the screen, the Mac has a dock that holds short-cuts to applications and even folders. Drag an application to the dock and it can easily be started with a single mouse click. Drag a folder to the dock and it becomes a short-cut to access files.

Right click: The rumours that all Macs lack a right-click are false. All Macs are compatible with any standard two-button USB mouse. In addition, Macbooks have a trackpad that allow iPhone-type actions like two-finger stretches to expand a photo.

There are no separate buttons for left and right click on the mouse but the Mac mouse still functions in the same way that a PC mouse does.

Dual OS: Intel-based Macs can boot up in the Mac's own OSX or Microsoft XP. So you are never far away from your comfort zone.

By Jeffrey Tsang, a freelance writer

This story was first published in The Straits Times Digital Life.

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