external drives

[reteP llewoN]

I just wrote a similar post but of slightly different content.
How would I go about "sending" the many windows files as a backup to my external drives. They are currently formatted NTFS and I think they should be exfat but am not sure. I could format them as exfat with my pc.
Any advise in this process of mac backup would help. I have watched videos about time machine but need a bit of help if I buy the ac Book Air M2. I know Mac does not have the "send to" feature.
P.S. Would Intel or Apple be a better choice for a chip?

 

[orl2222]

exfat can be read by both Mac and Windows. If they are Documents, Pics they can be transferred directly. If they are windows program files cannot be used on a Mac. iCloud on a Mac will backup/sync your photos, documents . Mac can network with a windows as well to transfer files. No send to on a Mac, simple drag and drop or copy paste. Also Microsoft OneDrive is available on the Mac as well. Time machine works a lil like windows restore, but takes snapshots of your system. You’ll need to have enough space internally, or external drive. I would get the silicon Mac, intel is not gonna be used on new macs. Hope this helps.

 

[reteP llewoN]

Your information has been extremely valuable. Thank you for taking the time.
I know it's a preference, but I will use my external drives rather than iCloud. I like to keep my data stored in my external drives and offline in case of a ransomware attack so infection will not spread.
One can voice to type(dictate) in Windows; is this the same with Mac?
Would you opt for the Air M2 or MacBook if you were not in business.
Magic keyboard or not?
Flash drive formatted as Fat32 will transfer my Word files to Pages. If I have Word installed it would be Word to Word.
If I buy Word for Mac after the sale all would be Word, right? Do you prefer Pages or Word.
If I don't have Word, can I still export a file as Word or do I need it installed?
Thank you for your continued help

 

[orl2222]

Yes you can dictate to Mac under accessibility in system preferences. Word is word, interchangeable between the two. Pages can export documents to word format. You can install Microsoft Office on a Mac and is interchangeable to windows . you can open word , powerpoint, and excel files with Apple pages, keynote, numbers, all will export to Microsoft Office format. Also office libre is free is apple silicone compatible. A lot of Mac users install Microsoft Office as well, its up to you and your comfort level. As far as ransomware I wouldn't be too concerned. MacBook Air M2 is fine for 95 percent of users, unless you some kind of crazy creator trying to do heavy editing in Final Cut Pro like 8K HDR streams. Here is a link to Apple's built in protection: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec469d47bd8/web You can of course use you own Virus protection if you prefer for Mac. Magic Keyboard works great for me, but Mac has the best laptop keyboard and trackpads in the business. I have used both operating systems for years. Don't believe the old saying that Mac is only for creators, a lot of companies have started using Mac for years as Microsoft license fees are very expensive. Hope this helps again.

 

[reteP llewoN]

All of your information has been a great help to me. One thing I hope I can do is not have any Microsoft product installed in my mac book air and still be able to export a document as Word. I have Pages my iPhone 13 and pages is fine for the light work I do. Don't I have to save a PDF before or, so it is editable on the recipients end. if I just export it, I read it may not be editable. TY

 

[orl2222]

All of your information has been a great help to me. One thing I hope I can do is not have any Microsoft product installed in my mac book air and still be able to export a document as Word. I have Pages my iPhone 13 and pages is fine for the light work I do. Don't I have to save a PDF before or, so it is editable on the recipients end. if I just export it, I read it may not be editable. TY

Yes if exported from Pages to Microsoft word document, it can be edited by recipients end.

 

[reteP llewoN]

Yes if exported from Pages to Microsoft word document, it can be edited by recipients end.

>>Thanks again. Good forum!