Windows to Mac

I have a Western Digital external harddrive for my Windows Vista desktop PC currently set to NTFS with all my media files on it. I'm planning on getting a Macbook but I'm worried the two won't be fully compatible. So if I want to transfer my media/mp3's from my external onto the mac, and be able to download on the mac and put it back on my windows desktop through the external harddrive. Basically have a external drive to use back and forth with my windows desktop and apple laptop. Is this possible?

 

It won't be compatible out of the box, but if you're wiling to fiddle a bit, you can download this:
http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/

It will allow you to read from and write to an NTFS-drive in OS X.

Just keep in mind, that you won't be able to use the NTFS-drive on any mac that doesn't have the thingy installed. The only other way, though, is copy the contents to, say, a fat32-formatted drive. That way it will be able to be read by almost any and all computers and OS's.

P.S. Having to do these sorts of workarounds are one of the heavier reasons I'm in the middle of switching to windows and buy a neat Thinkpad X200s. I'm done.

 

Another option is Paragon NTFS. Easy install and works flawlessly. Reads and writes any windows formatted volume. Not free, but completely worth it. http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

 

So using macntfs-3g, I'll be able to put the files I get from my OS-X back on to my Windows desktop?

EDIT
If I bought a new external drive, and format it to FAT-32 so it's compatible fully with windows and os-x, is there any downfalls to this? I'm aware there is a file size limit of 4gb?

 

Don't have much with macntfs-3g myself, but with Paragon NTFS, definitely. I've tried and it and it works like a dream. Simple install and you're all set, just plug and play you're external.

 

macntfs-3g is similar to paragon ntfs except the latter isn't free?

 

Yes, you'll be able to use it as any other external diskdrive. But as it's installed on the Mac, the drive won't mount on any other macs (except those with similar workarounds).

Well, that and the defragmentation and what have you (i.e.the normal downfalls of fat32). However, you will be able to connect it just about any and all os and computer out there.

And you're right, they both (macntfs and paragon) do the same in the end.

 

If I use macntfs-3g, I'll lose compatibility with other macs? I think I'm misreading what you said. I just won't be able to write to my external using other macs right? But I'll still have read capabilities.

 

Haha, yeah – I didn't explain that too well, didn't I?

You're right: Yes, the drive will be the same as it is now, read-only for Macs, but will only be writeable by macs which has Macntfs or similar installed.
I mentioned it, because when going about daily workflows, one might forget that it won't be able to be read by "normal" Macs without Macntfs.