new to CNCing, what bits are essential to get started . Only wood and MDF ,

[danwhite]

Also some software I have tried before that looks good on an app on a Mac is no good because the cnc only works off windows

[NikosR]

The CAD software is unrelated to Mach3; I use Mach3 to run the CNC.
However, that has nothing to do with whichever design software you choose to use.
To give you an idea, my CNC is in the warehouse running on Windows 7.
I create the design and generate the G-code at home on Windows 10 using Vectric Aspire.

Are you perhaps referring to the connection between Mach3 and the computer?