Windows users will require a special utility such as MacWin before they can open a binary file. Gifs and JPEGs have a low resolution that reduces file size and speeds up Internet download. The low image quality makes them suitable for viewing on the computer but they will not result in a good printout. If you are viewing these files from a web page, your browser reads them for you. However, if someone sends you a gif or a jpeg as an email attachment, you will need a graphic software application installed on your computer before you can open them.
Text files are basic, plain files that contain no special formatting.
Therefore, expect no color, no fancy fonts, no bullets, no pictures and no tables. On the other hand, text files are small, cross platform and can be read by any computer and any operating system. If someone sends you a file ending in .txt, you can open it in NotePad, WordPad, SimpleText, or any word processor. . RTF files are sophisticated versions of Text Files. Rich Text files may contain fonts, color and added effects, but they do not contain the more sophisticated style effects that you can get with a word processor.