The compatibility problems have a long, but consistent history. Basically the
Mac has always supported converting files from DOS. In the old days it was a
little piece of hardware added to the network cable. Nowadays it's all done
with software. The Mac now mounts, reads and writes to DOS files and disks
invisibly.

On the other hand, Microsoft never saw any need to add compatibility with Mac
files, and they still don't as a general rule ( Office 98 is an exception ).
For the Windows user to read a Mac file a 3rd party converter is required.

The Mac publisher can target Windows users by flattening the files before
exporting them. In this manner, the Windows user will not need to employ the
converter on Mac files. When a Mac user opens one of these flattened Windows
files everything proceeds normally and there is no problem.

When posting scene and animation files from a Mac to the POV-Ray group, Mac
publishers may wish to flatten the file before uploading. Windows users may
wish to install a Mac converter.

Ken wrote:

> Josh English wrote:
> >
> > Hey hey watch it now..... I'm a die hard Mac fan and I when
> > Windowsbecomes stable enough (hah) I'll look into that as a suitable
> > OS... I'm a bit afraid of Unix and it's offspring, tho. (So Unix lovers
> > will not flame me -- I beleive people who say it is a hell of a lot
> > better than Mac or Windows, but I'll stick with what I know as far as my
> > OS goes.
>
> > Josh
>
>   I was not really intending to bash Mac's as an operating system as much
> as I was pointing out that there have always been issues involved with
> compatability between the different OS's where files and type are concerned.
> You might for example have the latest compression codek for apples quick
> time movies that have not filtered down to the PC level yet. Perhaps
> there is a possible option usable on Mac's that might be affecting a PC
> users ability to view it properly. I am unfamiliar with MAc computers
> but the compatibility issue is one that is well doumented in the history
> of the home computer industry.
>   That is all I was really trying to imply. Ok I will admit I may have
> done so a little more diplomaticly as I may did, but it was definitely
> NOT a complete and total Mac attack on my part either. I suggest instead
> that you defensivly took it that way of you own accord and the blame for
> that cannot be transfered to me.
>
> --
> Ken Tyler
>
> mailto://tylereng@pacbell.net

Post a reply to this message