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Write NTFS partitions
- Thread starter dcaccount
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NTFS (Windows NT File System)
- Read/Write NTFS from native Windows.
- Read only NTFS from native Mac OS X [*]To Read/Write/Format NTFS from Mac OS X, here are some alternatives:
- For Mac OS X 10.4 or later (32 or 64-bit), install Paragon (approx $20) (Best Choice for Lion and later)
- For 32-bit Mac OS X, install NTFS-3G for Mac OS X (free) (does not work in 64-bit mode)
- For 64-bit Snow Leopard, read this: MacFUSE for 64-bit Snow Leopard
- Some have reported problems using Tuxera (approx $36).
- Native NTFS support can be enabled in Snow Leopard and Lion, but is not advisable, due to instability.
- AirPort Extreme (802.11n) and Time Capsule do not support NTFS
- Maximum file size: 16 TB
- Maximum volume size: 256TB
- You can use this format if you routinely share a drive with multiple Windows systems.
Why should it be embarrassing that Apple doesn't natively fully support a Windows format? It's 2014 and Windows still can't read or write to HFS+ filesystems.
Because they fully support other Microsoft filesystems like FAT32 and ExFAT. Might as well go all the way.
Almost all large external hard drives are formatted NTFS, and that leads to issues when people want to share data.
With alternatives that are fully supported by native reading and writing in OS X, such as FAT32 and exFAT, and with 3rd party solutions for NTFS, there is no need for embarrassment on Apple's part for not supporting a Windows proprietary file system. At least they can read it, which facilitates migrating from Windows to OS X. Apple has no motivation to make the reverse easier. At least you can read NTFS natively in OS X. Windows doesn't even do that much with HFS+. Apple has no obligation to march to Microsoft's beat.
Microsoft has a pretty solid record of assuming they're the only operating system in the universe, and not supporting anything else. We've come to expect this from Microsoft.
What sets Apple, many Linux distributions and so on apart is they try to support as many different platforms and standards as possible. Apple can read and write ExFat an FAT32, so there's no reason why they can't do NTFS. There are several solutions out there already for writing to NTFS under OS X, so there's no reason Apple can't implement their own. It would take a tiny, tiny fraction of their development effort, and only really has to be done once. (NTFS doesn't change much lately).
Why should Apple not do something just because Microsoft doesn't do it? Apple should do things to set itself apart. We already know Microsoft doesn't play well with others.
I'm sure you can post your recommendation on Apple's feedback site, but I wouldn't hold my breath, waiting for anything to change in this regard. It's obviously not a big enough issue for a majority of OS X users, or Apple would have addressed it years ago.Why should Apple not do something just because Microsoft doesn't do it? Apple should do things to set itself apart. We already know Microsoft doesn't play well with others.