Does Microsoft Word exist for OS 8.5?

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sekiosekio
Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
My landlord can't open and .doc files on his old imac. he's never been able to and I told him i might be able to help. Was Word made for OS 8 and is it possible to bootleg it from anywhere? if not, how can .doc files be open with such an old OS (Apple Works won't open them).

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  • Reply 1 of 10
    keshkesh Posts: 621member
    Yes, versions of Word have been around for ages. However, it depends on which version of Word the .doc files were created with. I'm wanting to say that Office '98 was the last Classic version, but I could be wrong on that.
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  • Reply 2 of 10
    sekiosekio Posts: 150member
    The problem he's having is that people will send him emails with word documents attached. He only has apple Works so he can't open anything. i'm not very familiar with any Classic Operating Systems so I'm almost as stuck as him.
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  • Reply 3 of 10
    jwink3101jwink3101 Posts: 739member
    I know this really doesn;t even come close to answering the question but why not suggest a new computer. Say the Mac Mini. A Mac Mini with a screen (i got a 17" LCD (LG) from NewEgg for my brother that is really nice for 200) and a keyboard. He will not be spending that much and he will have a really nice compiyter to show for it
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  • Reply 4 of 10
    endymionendymion Posts: 375member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kesh

    I'm wanting to say that Office '98 was the last Classic version, but I could be wrong on that.



    Office 2001 was the last Classic version.
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  • Reply 5 of 10
    fahlmanfahlman Posts: 743member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Sekio

    My landlord can't open and .doc files on his old imac. he's never been able to and I told him i might be able to help. Was Word made for OS 8 and is it possible to bootleg it from anywhere? if not, how can .doc files be open with such an old OS (Apple Works won't open them).



    If he has an iMac it should be able to run Jaguar, which can be had for $45 dollars from your local Apple Specialist. Then he can download OpenOffice for free.



    Edit: Panther can be had for ~$45 on eBay which should run on any iMac because they all have built-in USB.
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  • Reply 6 of 10
    mr. memr. me Posts: 3,221member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Sekio

    My landlord can't open and .doc files on his old imac. he's never been able to and I told him i might be able to help. Was Word made for OS 8 and is it possible to bootleg it from anywhere? if not, how can .doc files be open with such an old OS (Apple Works won't open them).



    Endymion is correct that Office 2001 is the last Classic version of the suite. However, I don't know if it is compatible with MacOS 8. I can guarantee you that Office 98 will work. With the exception of some very, very minor issues, Office 98 will natively read just about any file that Office 2004 can produce. The upshot is that Word 98 will handle just about any Word file from Word 1.0 to Word 2004.



    Word to the Wise: If your computer can handle MacOS 9, I really recommend that you upgrade your OS from MacOS 8. I also recommend that you get Office 2001. With Office 2001, you will have to option of using the bundled Entourage 2001, or the most recent Mac version of the free Outlook Express mail client. [Outlook 2001 is also a free download, but is an Exchange-exclusive mail client.] I make this recommendation because Office 98 and more recent versions of OE use incompatible versions of M$ libraries.
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  • Reply 7 of 10
    sekiosekio Posts: 150member
    I've told him that he needs a new computer but he doesn't want to (maybe he just likes the nice orange colour, I don't know). I was wondering about upgrading his OS but was wondering if it would run on his computer where it only has 32 MB of RAM I believe.



    What would happen if I put the CD with Classic that I got with my mini into his computer? Would I be able to instal it or is it only made to work with OSX?
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  • Reply 8 of 10
    fahlmanfahlman Posts: 743member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Sekio

    I was wondering about upgrading his OS but was wondering if it would run on his computer where it only has 32 MB of RAM I believe.



    I've got a 64 MB SODIMM from my old iMac I'll give to you so I don't have to wonder what to do with it. It's just been sitting in a drawer for years. You just pay the shipping to Canada from Indiana.
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  • Reply 9 of 10
    jwink3101jwink3101 Posts: 739member
    thhat is actually probably very expesive
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  • Reply 10 of 10
    sekiosekio Posts: 150member
    I would take you up on it however it would probably cost more to ship it than it would cost to buy it second hand from someone here. Thanks anyway though.
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