IMac DVD Compatibility With Dell Computers
While there are others, the majority of personal computers run on one of two operating systems: Microsoft's Windows and Apple's OS X for Macintosh computers. Since their origins, the companies have been direct competitors and strong rivals yet both have shaped the computing world in various ways. Dell makes computers for use with Windows while iMac computers are built for use with Mac OS.
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Mac and Windows Operating System Compatibility
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Operating systems affect how everything on a computer functions. Windows and Mac computers have had fundamentally different approaches to how a computer's software should function. Historically, the Apple and Microsoft have put more focus on dominating the market rather than enabling cross-platform compatibility. In recent years, compatibility issues between Windows and Mac have lessened to allow users of both platforms the ability to collaborate better.
Application Compatibility
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User applications like Microsoft Word, Apple's iMovie and Firefox are the primary way in that users interact with their computer. They handle specific tasks like Web browsing or word processing. They are also written for specific operating systems. Typically, DVD creation software for Mac will not work on Windows and produce files readable on the other platform. However, when software creators make applications for both Mac and Windows, it's common practice to allow application files to run on either OS. For instance, ".doc", the application file for MS Word can be read on Windows and Macs.
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iMac Computers
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Apple iMac computer combines a display monitors and the computer into an "all-in-one" device. Ports embedded in the flat panel computer screen house several USB ports, audio in, audio out, network connection, a video port and FireWire. Beyond their space-saving design, iMacs function like any other desktop computer and have identical software to other Mac computers sold by Apple.
DVD Formatting and Known Mac/Windows Compatibility Issues
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Generally speaking, DVDs burned on an iMac are compatible with a Dell computer though there are a few areas where you may run into trouble. If you are using a computer with hardware/software that is outdated, chances are slim that there will be cross compatibility. Another area where you may experience issues are with DVD encoding, which is the way an application writes data to a DVD. Most applications let you choose how to encode a disc so be sure to choose the format with the widest compatibility. A final area you may experience incompatible DVD's is with the type of disc media being used (DVD -R, +R, RW, etc.). If you are using a disc that is not supported by your DVD drive on either an iMac or a Dell, it will fail to work.
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- Photo Credit a dvd-r disc image by wayne ruston from Fotolia.com
