Issues when sharing InDesign files across Mac and PC?

Question

I'm looking for advise regarding cross platform use of the same InDesign files. We'll be working on 1000+ files with high resolution images. One designer works on a Mac and the other on a PC. We run the same version of InDesign. So far we are finding some (not all) fonts have issues where a PC font has to be replaced by the Mac equivalent and this often means the text box size has to change. When finished the files will be handed over to a fabricator.
Should we be getting a 2nd Mac to replace the PC or is this cross platform sharing going to work without long term issues down the road?
Thank you.

Answer 1

Please, let's not let this get into a platform war.
There's no reason to buy another computer to collaborate unless one of your users is unhappy with the platform they use now, and then the deciding factor should be personal choice. One is decidedly not better than the other from any technical standpoint as far as working in Adobe applications. If you want to cooperate with other users it's best that everyone have the same version of ID, which you've already said is the case, so the only point of conflict is cross-platform sharing, and the only hangups there are fonts and a few third party plugins that might be available only on one platform. If you stick to OpenType fonts, fonts be come a non-issue, and if you don't have OpenType, Stick withthe PD fonts for what becomes a minor nuisance on the Mac side. As far as plugins, nothing you can do if you need a one-platform release to do the work on both sides, but most third-pary plugins are friendly enough that you can stillopen the file with missing plugins on the other end if necessary and don't need the functionality to do your work.