Consider what occurs when you attempt a simple download of digital photographs from your camera onto your Mac computer. Also consider how your printer drivers must be coordinated with a Mac computer. In both of these cases there’s a patent incompatibility. Many large volume laser printers for example are unable to operate from a Mac computer unless it is done through postscript as a universal application. Twain software must be specifically designed for use with a Mac. Likewise programs to recover Mac files must be specially created.

A Mac data recovery program must be able to recognize unique Mac type/creator files as well as newer file types used with Mac OS X. When attempting to recover Mac files on a crashed hard drive another difficulty arises. The Mac operating system and HFS, its file storage system require access to be controlled through disk initialization and disk verification. Mac data recovery programs must be able to read all used file types and answer calls for disk verification.