Moving Files from Windows to Mac?

I want to copy files from a Windows computer to use on a Mac. The hard drive I will copy to is portable and will contain the files. In other words the files will not be transfered to the hard drive of the Mac. I'm concerned about compatibility between the two machines.
How do I do this?

 

Do you wish to edit the files on the Mac?

IIRC (and it's been a couple of years) your Mac will read NTFS filesystem but not write. The FAT32 filesystem should be no problem for reading/writing on both Mac and obviously windows though.

 

Not sure, it's for my son. I doubt it though. I think it's mostly music and video.
I'll ask him and let you know.

 

He plans on transfering some of the data (Again mostly music and video) to the Mac, and use the (portable) drive as an external on the Mac.

 

That didn't really answer your question, now did it?
No editing, far as I know.

 

Probably still best formating the external HD on a PC as FAT32, that way you'll have best of both worlds.

Test it first though Chas before you rely on it, I'm working from memory here and sometimes that's not as reliable as it used to be

 

I did a chat w/ a Hard Drive support person, and there's software they have for download that will enable the drive to work on both formats. That's new to me, but then I don't use a Mac.
Ooooops, sorry I didn't mean to swear!