PC Exchange

PC Exchange, sometimes called File Exchange, was a utility program for Macintosh computers that allowed classic Mac OS to read floppy disks and other storage media with FAT formatting.

History

The PC Exchange was made around 1992 and was shipped with System 7. It originally costed around $79, but was later made free.^[1] It was not carried over to OS X, as it has native support for reading and writing FAT-formatted files.^[2]

Functions

The PC Exchange was a control panel that matched a DOS file type to a corresponding Mac program that was defined in the control panel.^[3] It required the Macintosh have a 1.4MB SuperDrive.^[1] The type of application that opened specific files could be changed in the control panel. It originally only supported floppy disks, but support was added for other storage types such as CD-ROM and removable hard drives.^[1] Floppy disks could also be formatted for DOS from the Macintosh system.^[4]

External links

• PC Exchange on Macintosh Repository
• The PC Exchange manual on Archive.org

References

1. Information Technology Digest. The Division. 1992.
2. Ogasawara, Todd (2006-07-20). Windows for Intel Macs. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". ISBN 978-0-596-52840-9.
3. Landau, Ted (2000). Sad Macs, Bombs, and Other Disasters: And what to Do about Them. Peachpit Press. ISBN 978-0-201-69963-0.
4. Engst, Adam; Pogue, David (1999-11-23). Crossing Platforms A Macintosh/Windows Phrasebook: A Dictionary for Strangers in a Strange Land. "O'Reilly Media, Inc.". ISBN 978-1-4919-1680-3.