perl 5 (the most common implementation of the Perl language) was made very
portable and can run on almost any platform imaginable. (here's
an exhaustive list). Perl, however, started on UNIX platforms and still
reflects the UNIX culture to a large extent.
Mac OS X, being mostly compatible with UNIX can, easily run Perl 5, as
compiled and installed from the source. Mac OS Classic requires MacPerl,
which I never worked with. Mac OS X is still much more preferable
from the aspect of running Perl or otherwise.
Perl can easily run on Windows and makes for a very powerful and free
scripting language there. Complete Beginners should probably start
by downloading an ActiveState's ActivePerl build and experimenting with it.
Perl for Windows 32, is mostly compatible with Perl for UNIX, so scripts
and modules written on one platform will run on the other.
Perl originated from UNIX, runs on most UNIX flavours and UNIX-clones (both
open-source and non-open-source ones). A port or package of the Perl 5
implementation is normally available from the distributor of the operating
system or the distribution.
