I haven’t tested campusbackup.org, whose Student Backup service copies an unlimited quantity of word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation and PDF files, once nightly, to a remote server for $50 a year. But there are other, more versatile options I have tested that, unlike Student Backup, copy photos and music and other types of files. These include MozyHome ($4.95 a month for unlimited storage, at mozy.com) and Carbonite ($55 a year for unlimited storage at carbonite.com). All three work with either Windows or Mac computers.

I read that importing the newly remastered Beatles CDs into iTunes and listening to them on a computer or portable player is like buying a masterpiece and staring at a photocopy of it. Any truth to this? Does importing really lose that much quality?

It depends on how sensitive an ear you have. In most cases, when you import a CD into iTunes or any other software jukebox program, you are converting the songs into a compressed file, such as an MP3 or AAC file. This saves a ton of space on your hard disk, but at least subtly diminishes quality. To an audiophile, that can make a big, negative difference, especially when you add the insult of listening to the music through iPod headphones or small computer speakers. To most of the rest of us, though—especially with rock, pop, urban or country music—it’s no big deal.

However, there is a compromise. If you don’t care about the songs taking up lots more space on your hard disk, iTunes will allow you to import them in a much less compressed format called Apple Lossless or an uncompressed format called WAV. You can choose which format to use in the iTunes Preferences settings. In the latest version of iTunes, called iTunes 9, this particular option is found under the General tab in Preferences, by clicking on the button called “Import Settings.”

Previously I had a Dell and Windows and used Family Tree Maker for genealogy records. Now that I’m an Apple owner, I find that Family Tree Maker does not work on an Apple, only Windows. What can I do about this?

It seems to me that you have three obvious options. If you still have your old Dell, you could crank it up again just for the purpose of running Family Tree Maker. Or, you could buy a boxed copy of Windows and install it on your Mac, which is fully capable of running Windows and Windows programs (assuming it’s an Intel-based Mac). Finally, you could switch to one of the native Mac-based genealogy programs and import your data from Family Tree Maker via the standard GEDCOM file format used in genealogy. One such program, called Reunion, includes specific instructions on importing data from Family Tree Maker on its “Top 10 Questions” page, at leisterpro.com.

You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox, and my other columns, online for free at the new All Things Digital web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.

Here are a few questions about computers I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability.

I switched from PC to Mac a year ago, but now I am thinking of adding a Windows laptop. If I do, what kind of compatibility problem would I have? I would be using the laptop mostly to write, to send/receive email and to Web browse.

In the old days, there were compatibility problems, but most of those have gone away. Based on your simple predicted usage, I’d say that you should be fine. For instance, both Macs and PCs can interchangeably open and edit all of the major file types — JPG pictures, MP3 music, Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDF files, etc. Email and instant messages can, of course, be exchanged between the two platforms, even if you are using different programs. And Macs understand Windows file extensions. Also, you can use both platforms simultaneously on the same home network to access the Internet.

In some cases, you might need different programs to open the same files on the two platforms. But even that obstacle has greatly diminished. For instance, programs like the Firefox and Safari Web browsers, Adobe Reader, iTunes, Microsoft Office, Google Earth, Picasa, Photoshop and many others come in native versions for both platforms that can handle the same files. And, of course, Web-based programs like Gmail and Yahoo Mail work on both. Sometimes, the same programs have different features and user interfaces on Windows and Macs, but I haven’t found these differences hard to master.

The biggest problems for average users are Quicken, whose Mac version is inferior and incompatible; Internet Explorer, which is no longer made for the Mac; and Microsoft Outlook, which is replaced on the Mac by a program called Entourage that is similar but uses a different file format. And networking can be tricky. In general, the Mac does a better job of seeing Windows PCs on a network than Windows does of seeing Macs.

I use Outlook Express for my email, and I store a lot of mail in local folders. Is there a simple way to back these up? If I buy a new computer, can they be transferred?

Yes. There are two methods. One is a manual method, which Microsoft explains in a detailed document at this Web site: support.microsoft.com/kb/270670.

The other, quicker, method is to obtain one of several utility programs that can back up your Outlook Express data and, in some cases, allow you to transfer it to another PC. I haven’t tested these in years, and thus can’t recommend one over another. But one example is a free program called Outlook Express Backup, which can be found at genie-soft.com/products/oeb. Another is a $40 program called Outlook Express Backup Wizard, which can be found at: outlook-express-backup.com.

Do you know of an iPhone GPS application that speaks directions? It would make the iPhone similar to a TomTom or Garvin GPS unit.

A: No, but Apple recently announced that, under its new 3.0 operating system for the iPhone, such programs will be possible. Several companies are believed to be working on them, and I expect them to be available later in the year. The reason none exist yet is partly legal, having to do with the licensing of the underlying maps.

• You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox, and my other columns, online free of charge at the new All Things Digital Web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.

Does the new Palm Pre smart phone use the traditional Palm operating system and the many programs that have been written for it?

Palm’s Pre, which is due out later this year to compete with the iPhone and the BlackBerry, doesn’t use this older software, which was once the best smart-phone operating system, but has grown stale. It uses an entirely new operating system called the Palm webOS, which will have to attract developers willing to write new programs for it. It is a clean break from Palm’s previous hardware and software.

How does the Clickfree computer backup system you covered last week compare with Apple’s Time Machine or online backup services like Mozy or Carbonite?

Clickfree simplifies the chore of backing up files to an external hard disk. However, as I noted in the review, it doesn’t back up your whole hard disk, it doesn’t work automatically in the background, and it doesn’t create a backup physically distant from your computer.

Time Machine, which is built into the Macintosh operating system, automatically backs up your entire computer in the background and includes a very easy method for recovering files. It works with external hard disks. But it doesn’t work on Windows PCs, and it doesn’t create a remote backup over the Internet.

Mozy and Carbonite are online backup solutions. Their advantages are that they work unattended and create offsite backups. But they aren’t intended to back up an entire computer, they don’t create a local backup, and they carry service fees.

Does my 13-inch MacBook come with the capability to view PowerPoint files?

No. While Macs come out of the box with the ability to view and create files in the Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF formats, they don’t come with a PowerPoint viewer. In order to view (and create) PowerPoint files on a Mac, your best bet is to buy the Macintosh version of Microsoft Office, which includes PowerPoint itself. There are other methods as well. For instance, Apple’s own lower-priced iWork suite can also open PowerPoint files and create files in the PowerPoint format. And some Web-based office programs, like Google Docs, allow you to view PowerPoint files on Macs.

You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox, and my other columns, online free of charge at the new All Things Digital Web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.

Here are a few questions about computers I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about using the Belkin Easy Transfer cable, moving files from a Mac to a PC and backing up a Mac with Parallels virtual machine software.

Last week, you advised using an Easy Transfer Cable to transfer files from a Windows XP computer to a new Windows Vista computer. But what about those of us still using Windows 98 who want to get a new Vista machine?

The Belkin Easy Transfer cable I discussed only works fully when the old PC is running the latest version of Windows XP, although it will work partially with Windows 2000. But there are other methods for people using older consumer versions of Windows, such as Windows 98 and Windows ME.

You can, of course, use a two-step process, copying your files to recordable CDs or to an external hard disk and then inserting the CDs into the Vista PC, or attaching the hard disk to it and moving the files over. You could also use a USB flash drive in the same manner. Or, if you are skilled at networking, you could move the files over a network.

However, there are also some cable solutions that will work with Windows 98 and Windows ME. For instance, the Tornado, the cable with the built-in manual file-copying software I discussed last week, works with versions of Windows back to the SE edition of Windows 98, though you need to install driver software for that version. More information is at www.thetornado.com.

Another product I reviewed last week, PCMover from LapLink, also works with older versions of Windows, albeit with different cables that LapLink sells, not the Easy Transfer cable. Information is at laplink.com. Another similar product that has worked for me in past tests is IntelliMover by Detto, at detto.com, which also comes with cables.

I am a Macintosh user and plan to buy a new Dell with Windows Vista. How can I move my programs and files from the old Mac to the new Dell?

Well, first of all, you can’t switch your Mac programs to the Dell. They won’t run on Windows. But nearly all of the common files used on a Mac, such as Microsoft Office documents, text files, pictures, songs and Adobe PDF files, will work fine on your Dell.

I don’t know of a simple, integrated cable-and-software solution for such a Mac-to-Windows migration. So you’ll likely have to use recordable CDs, or an external hard disk or USB flash drive. Just make sure to use drives that are formatted for Windows. Macs can read, and write to, such Windows drives, but Windows PCs can’t natively read, or write to, Mac-formatted drives.

I have a Mac running Windows via the Parallels virtual machine software. I am also running an older Windows PC, which I back up to an external disk drive. Can I plug the external drive into the Mac and copy the files into the Parallels environment?

Yes. A virtual Windows computer running on a Mac behaves just like a regular Windows computer, so you can indeed plug in an external hard disk and copy the files over. In addition, as I mentioned last week, the forthcoming new version of Parallels includes a utility called Transporter that will move the entire contents of a Windows PC into a virtual Windows machine running on a Mac. See parallels.com for details.

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Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, I can’t routinely answer individual questions by e-mail, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.

• Write to Walter S. Mossberg at mossberg@wsj.com

Here are a few questions about computers I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about switching to a Web-based email service, viewing PDF files on Macs and antivirus programs that support Windows ME.

Q: I use an email address provided by my Internet service provider and access my email using Microsoft Outlook. I would like a more portable email address that isn’t tied to any one ISP, and an email program that is independent of any particular computer. What can you suggest?

The obvious answer is a Web-based email service that has a decent Web-based interface that can be accessed from any computer. There are lots of these, including Yahoo Mail, Microsoft’s Windows Live Mail (formerly Hotmail) and Google’s Gmail. I am not a fan of Gmail, which I believe has too many quirks and too few options for users to avoid them. Windows Live Mail is promising, but my favorite among these leading services is Yahoo Mail.

Q: I am thinking of switching to Apple, but I am wondering if Macs come with free Adobe Reader software, like some Windows computers do.

No, Macs don’t include Adobe Reader, which allows the viewing of PDF documents — but they don’t need it. The Mac operating system allows you to open and create PDF documents, right out of the box, without any additional software. If you get a PDF file as an email attachment, you can just double-click it and it opens. Even better, any program running on the Mac can save almost anything as a PDF file. For instance, you can save a Web page as a PDF file that can be opened in Adobe Reader on Windows. Adobe charges money for software that does that.

However, if you prefer Adobe Reader, there is a free Mac version, very similar to the Windows version, that you can download at www.adobe.com.

Q: Do you know of any antivirus programs that are continuing to support Windows ME in their newest versions?

The latest version of Grisoft’s very good AVG Anti-Virus program still works with the ancient Windows ME operating system, according to the company’s Web site, at www.grisoft.com.

Q: Last week, in answering a question about the speakerphone function on another Windows Mobile phone, you claimed that, on the Motorola Q, a multistep software process is needed to turn on the speakerphone. But isn’t that wrong? Isn’t there a hardware button that does that?

Yes, I erred when I wrote that. I just blanked on the hardware button, which I certainly knew about, having carried a Q for a couple of weeks while testing it. We have already run a formal correction, and I hereby apologize to Motorola for implying that the process was clumsy, when it’s simple.

* * *

Because of the volume of email I receive, I can’t routinely answer individual questions by email, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.

Write to Walter S. Mossberg at mossberg@wsj.com

If you have a question, send it to me at mossberg@wsj.com, and I may select it to be answered here in Mossberg’s Mailbox.

I am thinking of switching from my Windows notebook to an Apple PowerBook. My question is whether my years of Word, PowerPoint and PDF files really will work seamlessly on the Mac. Apple says they will, but I wonder if you have any experience in this matter.

In my experience, your Word and PowerPoint files (as well as Excel files) will work fine on a Mac, if you buy the Macintosh version of Microsoft Office. The Mac version uses the exact same file formats as the Windows version, and it can read files created in the Windows version without requiring any conversion or translation. Files you create in the Mac version can be read by the Windows version just as well.

Some complex Word and PowerPoint files don’t carry over perfectly. Depending on how the file was created, graphics may not be aligned correctly and some fonts may not be the same. But, in my experience, these issues are rare for typical documents created most of the time by most users.

As for Adobe’s PDF files, they are truly cross-platform. There are Mac versions of Adobe’s free Reader program and its full Acrobat program, for creating and handling PDF files, and they are essentially identical to the Windows versions. But you don’t even need Adobe software to handle PDF files on a Mac. Out of the box, every Mac can read — and even create — PDF files, using built-in software provided by Apple.

I switch between Windows PCs and Macs all day, every day, and find these file-compatibility problems to be nonexistent. Sometimes, I start a column on a Windows PC using Word for Windows, then email the partial draft to myself, and open it on a Mac and finish it in Word for the Mac. It’s just no problem. I get Word, PowerPoint, PDF and Excel files as email attachments all the time, and they open equally well on PCs and Macs.

By the way, in addition to Microsoft Office files, and Adobe PDF files, many other common file types carry over perfectly from the Windows platform to the Mac, and vice versa. These include JPG picture files, MP3 music files, and HTML files created for the Web. None need conversion or translation.

I have a digital camera and a camcorder, but hate to carry both on business trips, vacations or family visits, since they require different chargers, extra batteries, different types of memory cards, etc. I wondered if there was a combo digital camera that could take both decent still pictures and long videos.

Actually, in the digital era, the consumer still camera and video camera are slowly merging. Most digital still cameras can take short movies, and some can take movies that last as long as the capacity of their memory cards will allow. Also, a new class of “tapeless” video cameras has emerged. These small models save their videos to memory cards instead of tapes, and also function as digital still cameras.

The best-known camera in this new combo category is the Panasonic D-Snap. Sony makes one called the DSC-M1. But the category isn’t mature yet, and doesn’t offer a complete balance between the two modes. For instance, the Sony is really a still camera with video capability, and lacks the complete set of features you might want in a video camera. (Sony sells it as a still camera.) The Panasonic is more of a video camera with still capability. Its still pictures are only two megapixels in resolution.

So, you may still be stuck carrying two cameras, unless you can content yourself with the simple videos available on still cameras, or the limited still pictures available on video cameras.

Is there a small device that I can use to download Web pages from my home computer to read on my commute? I am thinking of an e-book type device that I can use to read the Web version of the paper.

I know of nothing that works in that way. However, you could buy a Palm or Pocket PC-based PDA, with Wi-Fi or another wireless capability, and download the Web pages directly to the device, using its built-in Web browser.

Or, even with a PDA that lacks wireless capability, you could subscribe to a service called AvantGo, which allows you to download news and other content from a PC to the PDA for later reading. AvantGo doesn’t place actual Web sites on the PDA. Instead, it loads the device with “channels” containing news, weather, sports, stock quotes, maps, movie listings, and more. These channels come from name-brand sources such as MarketWatch, Rolling Stone, Reuters, Wired and USA Today. MarketWatch is owned by Dow Jones & Co., publisher of this newspaper.

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Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, I can’t routinely answer individual questions by e-mail, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.

Write to Walter S. Mossberg at mossberg@wsj.com