Can I use this between my Mac and PC? Can I move this back and forth between my Mac and my PC, or does it need to stay with only one OS?
643769
If you format the drive for the Mac, it will NOT be recognized by the PC. This is a limitation of the Windows operating system. It does not recognize Mac formatting. If you format the drive for the PC, though, you will be able to use it on BOTH platforms. Mac OSX will recognize PC formatted drives. You will be able to read and write to the drive from either your Mac OR your PC and transfer files between them. [Note: You will NOT, however, be able to run the PC software that's included with this drive on your Mac, unless you are using a program like Bootcamp or Virtual PC. While OSX will read and write Windows-formatted files, it will NOT run Windows programs on its own without one or another third-party helper programs. Hope this helps - RJLaue
643770
Macs can read Windows formatted (NTFS) drives but they cannot write to them natively. But you can download a third party driver to do this. Just Google "Mac NTFS driver". If the drive is formatted as FAT32, both systems can read and write to it with no problems. However, FAT32 has a 4GB file size restriction. I am not sure what this drive comes formatted as. Probably NTFS. But you can easily change that.
297158
It worked for me. I transferred files from an old PC laptop to my MacBook but it took some effort to figure it out. I have since found an easier (and free) way to do this. Your Mac has a built in application called Migration Assistant. It can be found by clicking on the Finder icon, then click on Applications. You'll then go to Utilities and that's where you'll find Migration Assistant. Very easy to follow steps and it walks you right through them. You gotta love the Apple geniuses.
853764
Is it a surprise that they don't (and won't) support Macs. I have both Mac and PC computers, because there just are not Mac owners out there to justify a company doubling their software budget to support both platforms. I use this on my PC and it is worth its weight in gold
894294
I would think that it does not matter whether it is a Mac or PC at the client end. However, I never worked with Mac.
1621651
No unless you're PC has a thunderbolt port. If it doesn't, it won't work. And it's highly unlikely that your PC has it. At the moment just macs have thunderbolt
23240
Sounds like the PC doesn't have USB 2.0, so that would cripple USB speed.Most any "current" USB drive will work on both Mac and PC as the "standard" format is FAT -- and older Windows format that can be read and written "out of the box" by recent Mac OS X versions.
1627783
No this isn't a Mac one. I used it for a PC and I don't think they cross over.
1614388
I haven't personally used the passport on both mac/pc. But in the past I used a pc at work and was migrating to a mac (and used a mac at home), and it was because WD drives were dual compatible, that I chose this brand. In my current case, I no longer work on a pc, and when I purchased my WD Passport, I purchased the one pre-formatted for mac - so I don't know if it (being pre-formatted mac) would work on a PC. I'd google around for an answer. There is a format choice that allows both mac/pc compatibility.
1841455
I don't have a Mac but I have had no problem using it on my PC. I just plug it in and it does what I want it to do. Maybe it can't go between the two.
53732
I'm not tech savy at all. If you have used a PC I.e managed a PC cleaned it up, set it up maintained it. You will be just fine on a Mac. It's very straight forward in my opinion
322989
I upgraded from a PC to a Mac last weekend, and was able to copy my iTunes library, pics, videos, and miscellaneous spreadsheets/word files onto this drive. Plugged it into my iMac and am able to access everything perfectly.You will only be copying from your PC to the drive, so the files will still remain on the PC also.
1668238
I own a Mac & PC.Works like a charm on both these Operating Systems!Read my review in the 5 stars section for more details
545043
Thanks for the info. I have a mac I was going to use but now i'm just going to use my family's computer which is a pc.
816837
I have used it on both Mac and PC and have daisy chained it with other drives on FireWire. It will do everything you are asking about here.
1360488
Sorry but I've only used it with PCs so can't speak from experience but the manual does mention using it with a MAC
349514
Yes. That's exactly what I used it for. My OS is Windows 7 Ultimate. I did not try it on the Mac platform, but apparently there is no Data Migration tool for a Mac. I guess you're just supposed to clone your boot drive there. For Windows, it works great. You can use this for a variety of reasons besides SSD data migration, and even if your mobo doesn't support USB 3, it is backward compatible with USB 2.
1320027
I did not have to install any software on my computer to make this work, but we are sharing between 2 macs. It is a very quick and efficient USB Switch, where you push a button and it switches the printer from one computer to another. I don't see why it would matter what OS platform you had since it seems to be completely self contained, but I'm not really fluent in Linux hardware like that. I keep mine on top of my printer with a piece of velcro, and the two computers are on either side of it so my partner and I can easily push the button to direct it to our computers. I have not had a single problem with it and its been about 3 months now of full time daily use. I did not have to install any software on my computer to make this work, but we are sharing between 2 macs. It is a very quick and efficient USB Switch, where you push a button and it switches the printer from one computer to another. I don't see why it would matter what OS platform you had since it seems to be completely self contained, but I'm not really fluent in Linux hardware like that. I keep mine on top of my printer with a piece of velcro, and the two computers are on either side of it so my partner and I can easily push the button to direct it to our computers. I have not had a... » Read More I did not have to install any software on my computer to make this work, but we are sharing between 2 macs. It is a very quick and efficient USB Switch, where you push a button and it switches the printer from one computer to another. I don't see why it would matter what OS platform you had since it seems to be completely self contained, but I'm not really fluent in Linux hardware like that. I keep mine on top of my printer with a piece of velcro, and the two computers are on either side of it so my partner and I can easily push the button to direct it to our computers. I have not had a single problem with it and its been about 3 months now of full time daily use. « Show Less