Is it possible to have an external USB 2.0 hard drive, that can be used on both mac and IBM systems. Would need to access the files from either OS. I have no idea about Mac at all, and don't know if Mac can read FAT or NTFS.
Any help is appreciated.
Many thanks :)

Mac will easily read a FAT32 partition if the external USB drive is a compatible piece of hardware. Just plug it in and it should automatically mount. I use a flash drive (1Gig) for the very thing you describe all the time.

I personally am not sure about NTFS - that is an experiment waiting to happen in my office cubicle :)

Carvel