MS Office vs. Appleworks
I need some buying advice with respect to software for a future computer purchase. My beloved Performa 6400 -- though it still works perfectly (certainly it's aged better than more recent Gateway and Compaq computers that I've had the misfortune to work with) -- is no longer practical for everyday use (nor portable), so I'm going to need to buy a new laptop sometime within the next few months to a year. I would like to get an iBook and I'm wondering if I can shave a few dollars off the price by using Appleworks instead of buying MS Office, though I suspect that I'll have to bite the bullet and buy the latter. I use Excel a lot for data analysis and schoolwork, and so I would need perfect (not mostly-perfect) compatibility with Excel and Office for Windows, so here is my long list of questions. I'll appreciate as many answers as you folks have the time to give me:
-Does the Appleworks spreadsheet have capabilities comparable to Excel?
-Most importantly, in what areas is it weaker than Excel? Less importantly, does it have any strengths in comparison? I know that past graphing capabilities of Appleworks as provided with a System 8 Macintosh were much weaker than Excel's, for example. Enough so that after one try, I abandoned any further consideration of the program until now.
-The latest version of Excel on XP is ridiculously easy to use. Is Appleworks' spreadsheet as easy?
-Are the interfaces and basic keyboard operation of Excel and the Appleworks spreadsheet similar enough that constantly switching between the two won't leave me with a headache and impede productivity (e.g., does hitting Return when in an active cell do the same thing in either program)?
-Much of Excel's strength in Windows comes from the contextual menus accessible by right clicking. How does the efficiency provided by Appleworks' contextual menus compare to those of MS Office?
-I'm assuming that Apple portables don't have multiple buttons and a scroll wheel/rocker button. Are there any clever third-party options for providing two buttons and a scroll wheel to an Apple portable besides plugging a conventional corded mouse into the side: some sort of multi-button trackpad that hooks onto the side, for example?
-Besides word-processing and spreadsheets, what other applications does Appleworks come with anyway?
-Finally, I recall reading that there were some minor aesthetic changes to the latest version of the iBook: changes in transparency of the plastic shell, I think? Doesn't sound pretty to me. Anyone actually seen it?
-Does the Appleworks spreadsheet have capabilities comparable to Excel?
-Most importantly, in what areas is it weaker than Excel? Less importantly, does it have any strengths in comparison? I know that past graphing capabilities of Appleworks as provided with a System 8 Macintosh were much weaker than Excel's, for example. Enough so that after one try, I abandoned any further consideration of the program until now.
-The latest version of Excel on XP is ridiculously easy to use. Is Appleworks' spreadsheet as easy?
-Are the interfaces and basic keyboard operation of Excel and the Appleworks spreadsheet similar enough that constantly switching between the two won't leave me with a headache and impede productivity (e.g., does hitting Return when in an active cell do the same thing in either program)?
-Much of Excel's strength in Windows comes from the contextual menus accessible by right clicking. How does the efficiency provided by Appleworks' contextual menus compare to those of MS Office?
-I'm assuming that Apple portables don't have multiple buttons and a scroll wheel/rocker button. Are there any clever third-party options for providing two buttons and a scroll wheel to an Apple portable besides plugging a conventional corded mouse into the side: some sort of multi-button trackpad that hooks onto the side, for example?
-Besides word-processing and spreadsheets, what other applications does Appleworks come with anyway?
-Finally, I recall reading that there were some minor aesthetic changes to the latest version of the iBook: changes in transparency of the plastic shell, I think? Doesn't sound pretty to me. Anyone actually seen it?
Comments
First, support/security. It took them a year to get Office 2001 SR1 out the door. It took them a while for SR1 on X too. And guess what? Word still doesn't know how to save files with Long File Names (longer than 32 characters.) Plus we all know about M$ security...and their response times.
Second, Office uses lots of resources and is considered bloatware. This is because one app tries to do so many things, and there are more features than most people will use. Office X has done a good job organizing this bewildering array of features in my opinion and I thought Entourage X was the shizit and had all my contacts in there. I even started using its calendar. Then I saw iCal/iChat/Mail/Address Book's integration in Jaguar and was blown away. This is the way to go IMHO. If you haven't you should check this out: the way small apps for a specific purpose, tightly integrated, can do the job better.
However, AppleWorks is retarded. No question. It can use Office files now, but AppleWorks makes me want to barf in my mouth and swallow it. It came with my iBook 500 so I thought I'd check it out. upgraded to 6.2.4, verified that it could read .docs, and then I promptly trashed it. It is more like Office than Office is, in a way. One big application that is mediocre at everything. I didn't even bother checking anything out really, the interface was just so disgusting. Unless AppleWorks 7 is different, get Office. BUT!!! BUT, AppleWorks 7 just might be very awesome...I'd pirate Office for the short term and wait to see waht to buy
[ 12-05-2002: Message edited by: Aquatic ]</p>
If you're using it for schoolwork, maybe you can get an educational discount like I did? It was definitely worth it for $67... but I would never pay more than $150 for it, it's not that great.
<strong>I have Office and it is a very good program. I got it for super cheap through my school's educational discount - only $67. In addition to being much more powerful than AW, it also looks much better and is compatible with pretty much everyone (Windows-esqe, but that's a good thing).
If you're using it for schoolwork, maybe you can get an educational discount like I did? It was definitely worth it for $67... but I would never pay more than $150 for it, it's not that great.</strong><hr></blockquote>
where did you get an EDU price so low?
Can you buy another copy?
what if i paid you $100 for the $67? (that includes shipping...heh im not rich over here...)
P.S. I already have office, but I want to be able to use it on 2 computers, so all i would really need is the CD key...
<a href="https://academic.umn.edu/eula.pl"; target="_blank">https://academic.umn.edu/eula.pl</a>;
That's the specific EULA for this program. Also, on the ordering page (which requires a U of MN login to enter) it says you have to go to a certain building and sign an agreement before you can obtain the software. The EULA is confusing, I don't know if it prohibits me from selling it or what.
<strong>However, AppleWorks is retarded. No question. It can use Office files now, but AppleWorks makes me want to barf in my mouth and swallow it.</strong><hr></blockquote>
LOL <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> Must be the funniest phrasing I've ran across in weeks. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
If you look around I'm sure someone can advise you on the best VPC/Windows version combinations to yeild respectable performance. You don't have to use it all the time, just in case you encounter some mac-PC funkiness.