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Can a Mac Laptop Share a Windows Network and Internet Access?

by AnniePot
12 replies
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Can anyone advise me? I plan to invest in a new laptop this year and I'm seriously thinking of buying a MacBook.

We have always been a Windows household and at the moment we have 2 desktop computers and 3 laptops all linked into a network and accessing the internet via a TP-LINK 8992 5G router.

My question is, can a MacBook join a Windows network and through it, the Internet?

Your knowledge/advice would be greatly experienced.

Thanks - Anne
  • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
    It's just a wireless router and a Mac Laptop can access wireless internet, so yes in my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author BwanaMkubwa
    You connect to the internet through your router, it doesn't matter whether other computers run Windows or not.
    You Can connect to Windows machines on your network, to share files and whatnot. Not a problem.
    Two separate issues. The answer to both is Yes.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    I agree with the router. It is a standard that ALL must comply with. IMAGINE if apple didn't. They could lose a network in an entire county, and that wouldn't be smart.

    Windows network is ANOTHER deal entirely. There IS an SMB "SAMBA" standard, and many companies HAVE used it successfully. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samba_(software) I'm sure Apple must have SOME implementation. It looks like they DO!

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204445

    Hopefully suzanne doesn't have an apple or a friend that uses one.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author RJKushner
    If you just have a standard wifi network set up in your house then yes, a macbook will work without a problem. You'll just need to know the name and password to access the wireless router for the first time and then you can save the network information.

    If you have file sharing enabled between all of the windows computers you currently have I don't believe you will be able to access the files on a macbook but I'm not 100 percent sure on that.
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  • Profile picture of the author perryny
    Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

    My question is, can a MacBook join a Windows network and through it, the Internet?
    Yes, definitely.

    I bought my kid a macbook pro for xmas. I just had him go to:

    Finder > Go > Network

    The PC I'm on now has several folders shared with the other PCs in my house. When my kid clicked "Network", all of my shared computers showed up. He logged in using the shared Windows credentials and has full access to all of my shared files.

    He also has no problem connecting to my networked printers (networked via IP address, not shared through the Windows pc.)

    He gains Internet by connecting directly to the router.

    Hope this helps.
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    • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
      Thanks for the encouraging advice everyone. I really appreciate your taking the trouble. Very much appreciated.

      Thank you

      Anne
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  • Profile picture of the author xianherrera07
    Banned
    Yes, most wireless internet router is flexible on any devices.
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  • Profile picture of the author Regional Warrior
    Annie
    One thing you won't be able to do that you may be doing now is Home sharing files , as they will not be compatible with the Mac
    Jason
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Regional Warrior View Post

      Annie
      One thing you won't be able to do that you may be doing now is Home sharing files , as they will not be compatible with the Mac
      Jason
      Really? So - a document created in Word or Excel or many other formats can't be shared?

      That will come as news to a lot of people doing that now on a daily basis. You can share any file, but you may need a different app to open some of them. Additionally, you can run your Mac as a PC, whenever the mood strikes, including running both operating systems at the same time.

      Cheers. - Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author Regional Warrior
        Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

        Really? So - a document created in Word or Excel or many other formats can't be shared?

        That will come as news to a lot of people doing that now on a daily basis. You can share any file, but you may need a different app to open some of them. Additionally, you can run your Mac as a PC, whenever the mood strikes, including running both operating systems at the same time.

        Cheers. - Frank
        Err Bugger didn't know Frank cheers and I stand corrected >>>quietly goes back to his box to ponder his navel
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  • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
    Banned
    Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

    My question is, can a MacBook join a Windows network and through it, the Internet?
    Not if your MacBook is choosy about the company it keeps. :-)

    Cheers. - Frank
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    • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
      Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

      Not if your MacBook is choosy about the company it keeps. :-)

      Cheers. - Frank
      Good point Mike - that's a factor I'd never considered.

      Cheers
      Anne
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