MS Office Stutters
Hey everyone. When I use Microsoft Office on my new 1ghz powerbook, very frequently when I am typing, most often when I make a mistake, and continue to type, the program hangs up momentarily and the cursor turns to the colorful spinning one and the program does not respond. A few seconds later it catches up and the words that I continued to type while the program was "thinking" appear. This is an extremely annoying problem and was wondering if anybody has seen this before or knew how to fix it. Thanks alot.
Comments
[ 01-30-2003: Message edited by: RodUK ]</p>
I, frankly, disable that entire bottom status bar. Much nicer interface, IMO.
Anyway, I'll try the suggestions here and keep hoping for a better word processor sometime soon.
[ 01-30-2003: Message edited by: torifile ]</p>
The problem must be the Word software. I really don't think that MSoft have bothered to optimize it for OSX. #@$%**! MSoft I have never liked their software. I only bought Word for OSX because I need something that is completely compatible with the files I create with my Windoze software at work. I will grant that at least the compatibility does seem to work as advertised.
[ 01-30-2003: Message edited by: Chinney ]</p>
Another option is AppleWorks which is Word and OS X compatible, although it is pretty sucky.
You can always use a word processor in Classic mode. I keep Word 5.1a around just in case... it's super fast (fast even on an SE) and runs like a dream. It was so popular compared to Word 6 that Microsoft had to keep supporting it... version 6 sucked so bad.
This is UNACCEPTABLE in EXPENSIVE NEW software.
[ 01-30-2003: Message edited by: Chinney ]</p>
<strong>One more thing my MSWord for X does: Regularly as I am typing the screen goes blank, pauses, and then rewrites itself.
This is UNACCEPTABLE in EXPENSIVE NEW software.
[ 01-30-2003: Message edited by: Chinney ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
So, I hope folks are this "charitable" with the crap Apple is putting out: IPhoto 2 is as slow as its predecessor, iCal is absolutely useless if you need to manage more than a few events and to-dos . . . Safari doesn't handle CSS. I suppose we could continue . . .
The Mac BU has for the past few years put out decent, and sometimes excellent Mac software (outside of IE for OS X and there's probably a story that we aren't privy to). Office X was one of the first major OS X apps, and admittedly it felt rushed, but if you're big enough to admit this, it was one of the first signs that Apple was not doomed by the massive change from 9 to X, and that developers would follow. It might have been a good thing that a company forced a product out, especially in light of the difficulty Apple had in actually creating a modern OS.
Applications from Apple still suffer from all the problems you're describing (Hello, Keynote...don't Apple's own developers have access to older iBooks?) Seriously. Be honest. Office X is fine, and in many ways superior to it's Windows brethren. Of course it can be improved. So can just about everything related to this new OS. And i';m not excusing lazy or poor development. But singling Office out for the sins of a developing platform are ridiculous (but if you feel it necessary to continue, just be sure to add Macromedia, Adobe, and anyone with major apps to the list).
[ 01-30-2003: Message edited by: jaske ]</p>
[ 01-30-2003: Message edited by: jaske ]</p>
But all this doesn't excuse the fact that all machines seem to run Word in about the same way: very slowly. Something's wrong with that program. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" />
<strong>jaske, there is a problem with MS word. It's run the same shitty way on my ibook 500, imac 400, tibook 667 and now my minipb 867. It's poorly written. That's all there is to it. iCal hasn't had a speed problem since it was updated and iphoto has to do a hell of a lot more than most programs. keynote? Well, that's a different story, but it too does more than a simple word processor does.
But all this doesn't excuse the fact that all machines seem to run Word in about the same way: very slowly. Something's wrong with that program. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[oyvey]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, we can cite dueling experiences with Word I guess. Since the 10.1.2 upgrade I have had one problem, on Macs ranging from an iMac 350 to an iBook 800. And my usage is pretty intense, as I've edited 80 page, 500 footnote articles for major legal publications.
And look, I recognize that some folks have had legitimate problems with Word, but I think I can make a compelling argument that most people do not have the continual problems your citing. Certainly the posts at appleinsider, etc., do not in any way represent the type of unbiased, random sample necessary for apprasing Word's relative merits. And I think Word is more than a simple word processor. I've certainly used its advanced features when preparing articles for publication.
That being said, my point was that singling out the MacBU is rather pointless. Apple's own software betrays many of the problems you speak of. You may find iCal snappy, but I think it's still too slow, and the fact that you cannot "go to date" renders the program useless for folks with more than rudimentary calendaring needs. It's interface for to-dos is poor as well. And, sure iPhoto does alot....what's that got to do with its anemic scrolling, it's terrible file management with ridiculous alias to files bloating iPhoto's footprint, etc.
My point is that most developers, unfortunately, including Apple, are still struggling with OS X development. Things aren't there yet, across the board, and it probably will not be for a while. Look this debate is kind of like the OS 9 vs. X debate. There is merit to both sides of the argument. I recognize that some folks are having problems with Word, But I believe most are not, and that this situation is not unique to the Mac BU. I'd suggest that folks look at OS X development on a larger scale. And I'm not saying anyone should jump ship...I'm OS X only. I think we need to recognize, and be somewhat patient with the shift in development environments, the related costs in a terrible economy, etc.
If I'm paying $500 for a FRIGGING WORD PROCESSOR, I want it to be a REALLY FRIGGING GOOD WORD PROCESSOR!!! Don't tell me that Apple is just as bad as MS for making slow programs. Oh, and one other thing. Many of these programs have been around for two years or less, leaving plenty of time for Apple to improve them. However, MS has been making Word for over a decade, and they've been making hundreds of dollars for each of the millions of copies they've sold. They should maybe throw at least a small portion of that money into making their overpriced product worth it.
Well, we can cite dueling experiences with Word I guess. Since the 10.1.2 upgrade I have had one problem, on Macs ranging from an iMac 350 to an iBook 800. [...]
...I recognize that some folks have had legitimate problems with Word, but I think I can make a compelling argument that most people do not have the continual problems your citing. Certainly the posts at appleinsider, etc., do not in any way represent the type of unbiased, random sample necessary for apprasing Word's relative merits. [...]
That being said, my point was that singling out the MacBU is rather pointless. Apple's own software betrays many of the problems you speak of.
My point is that most developers, unfortunately, including Apple, are still struggling with OS X development. Things aren't there yet, across the board, and it probably will not be for a while. [...] I recognize that some folks are having problems with Word, But I believe most are not, and that this situation is not unique to the Mac BU.<hr></blockquote>
Jaske has an interesting point, that boils down to, in part, a dispute over the facts. Are people or are they not having the generalized problems with MSWord for OSX that have been referred to in these posts?
If not, then it must be a problem with the particular machines or software of the few people who are having the problems. In this case, perhaps those of us with the difficulties can make some effort to resolve the individual problems and post our solutions here for others to benefit.
If the problems, however, are generalized, then I think that we have a legitimate beef against MSoft. I must say that, despite what Jaske is saying, I, personally, have not had similar problems with any other of my OSX programs. Some programs have their quirks, and design features that I would disagree with, but no real problems of the nature that annoy me on my expensive MSOffice software.
In any case, we need to hear a bit more from other users to better inform ourselves.
<strong>Go ahead and compare Apple's free software to Microsoft's $500+ confabulation of poor coding. I don't give a rat's ass if there are programs that are slow, at least they're free. That's the price you pay if you don't want to spend money.
If I'm paying $500 for a FRIGGING WORD PROCESSOR, I want it to be a REALLY FRIGGING GOOD WORD PROCESSOR!!! Don't tell me that Apple is just as bad as MS for making slow programs. Oh, and one other thing. Many of these programs have been around for two years or less, leaving plenty of time for Apple to improve them. However, MS has been making Word for over a decade, and they've been making hundreds of dollars for each of the millions of copies they've sold. They should maybe throw at least a small portion of that money into making their overpriced product worth it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Why the yelling?
First, I don't think Apple's software is free. It's cost has always been incorporated in hardware prices, and Apple has clearly been moving to a new model: software and services as a revenue stream. I mean, weren't we all going to pay for iMovies 3, etc. We certainly pay for .Mac, .iLife, Keynote, etc. Look for this to be standard practice, soon.
Second, MS Word on X is not the same product as Word 2001, just like Dreamweaver, Photoshop, etc. are different products. I know Carbon, but it's still a massive undertaking moving to X. Look at how miserable Illustrator can be for some folks. And, consider that Adobe is reportedly dropping OS 9 support due to the difficulties of coding for both platforms.
Finally, you're right to criticize MS's prices: they're ridiculous, and encourage piracy. And, as I've stated, I have had one problem with Office, and a clean install of X took care of that. Otherwise my experience has been great. If others are having problems, which I am not denying, they need to adopt a wider view: I am certain that some of the complaints I've heard are common across many OS X applications. Consider the problems with scrolling, spinning beach balls, etc. You will find anecdotal evidence of these problems for most OS X apps that have been ported. And maybe that's the place to begin looking for answers.
For me, Apple's software is free... I've been using Macs all my life so it's not like I just switched to a Mac recently to get the iApps. But I do understand your point... many people could just buy Windows boxen and spend far less money for equal or better raw performance, but they pay the Apple Tax to use the software. In my case, I semi-avoided the Apple Tax because I got an iBook, which is a better value than any PC notebook I've seen, iApps or not.
Also, I personally didn't spend $500 to get Office... first I pirated them from LimeWire, then I got burned (illegal) copies from the person I bought my PowerMac from. The PowerMac has gone, but the CDs are still mine <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" />
I suppose pirating software is not cool, but I can't justify spending any amount of money to make MS richer.
<strong>I suppose pirating software is not cool, but I can't justify spending any amount of money to make MS richer.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah, I know. My experience with MS mac products has been great (except for IE for X) and I don't mind supporting the MacBU. But I despise MS (and the Bush administration more for letting them off the hook). I would love to use only Apple products, not out of spite for the MacBu, but because I don't want its success to line MS's overall pockets. But I need Word, Excel, etc., and maybe Mail.app is good enough, but iCal does not compare to Entourage in many aspects (and its own flaws aside). I'll keep waiting, and if iCal ever approximates Entourage's utility (or bloat to some, choose your poison) then maybe I'll make the switch.
Of course I like that "scrapbook-esque" program ThinkSecret sez' will be included with Office's next iteration.
[ 01-31-2003: Message edited by: Chinney ]</p>