Question about MacBook
I am considering purchasing a MacBook but need to know what software to get for typing up papers. I would use this laptop for school work and web browsing. I have heard Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac - Home and Student Edition is not very good and buggy. Is there a different version that is better or what should I get cause my classes use Microsoft word for papers. Thx
Comments
Can you submit your work as a PDF file? If so that will open up a whole wide world of apps you can use. Mellel, Nisus Pro, Pages. All have their strengths and weaknesses. I've heard many like Mellel for such work but personally I've never used it. P'm sure someone here has and can comment on it.
Other alternatives are to use Apple's Pages, which is a part of the iWork Suite or to use TextExit. TextEdit can save and open .doc files, btw.
I say go for Office. People tell me the iPhone is buggy and crashes...but I have yet to see it.
Galley pretty much said it, iWork is much much more simpler than MS OFfice, just remember if you do go with iWork to export your papers into .doc - I didn't one time, holy cow that costed me big time
How do you export your papers into .doc and does that allow them to view them using Microsoft word?
Also your question is about software... shouldn't this be moved to that forum? Or did you have a question about the macbook?
and yea it can be viewed in Microsoft Word
Who told you MS Office 08 is buggy? Some people just like to talk
Yes, but in this case it is not just talk. I cannot say anything from my part since I dont' have it, but people out there tried Excel 08 and have huge performance issues.
How do you export your papers into .doc and does that allow them to view them using Microsoft word?
Pages can export as PDF, Word, RTF and Plain Text.
Numbers can export as PDF, Excel and CSV.
Keynote can export as a QuickTime movie, PowerPoint, PDF, JPG, Flash, HTML and iPod. Each of them has numerous options. For instance, the .mov option will allow you to play the movie on any PC, but it will still pause between slides and transitions.
Being a student, I type a lot of papers. I have found that I almost never use Office 2008. Pages is quicker, easier, and more to the point. It does basic papers well and in my opinion handles typography better -- especially if using Apple's AAT fonts or OpenType Pro fonts. Most of the time in college, you simply print your reports and hand them in, so it doesn't really matter about formats. Occasionally, a professor will allow you to send them files, but in my case, they have almost always preferred PDF files (which Pages handles brilliantly). Pages can also export to .doc and it does a pretty good job of this. Just be careful of what fonts you use to avoid cross-platform issues (since OS X can use windows truetype fonts, this makes it easier).
I only use Word 2008 once in a while. I really only use it when I need a feature of Word that Pages doesn't do or doesn't do well -- I am more accustomed to Word's Styles/Table of Contents functions. But even this is changing. Also, Word and Office in general feels slower, bloated, less intuitive, takes up much more screen space, doesn't look quite as good at on-screen rendering, and generally takes more hunting and trial & error than Pages. I also use Word (rarely) when I receive a large .doc file that I know is complex (and typically from Windows users).
As for Numbers -- it suits my purposes... I use a spreadsheet once in a while to make graphs or charts and this is where Numbers excels. It is easy, quick, and looks great. Excel 2008 for mac is almost unusable it is so slow. And for Keynote vs. Powerpoint: I personally prefer Keynote. I get things done faster and like the look and feel of it better. Powerpoint is fine, but for some reason it is a bit confusing and I have trouble making it do what I want.
I say go with iWork 08. You will love it. If you find you need Office, then go ahead and get it later.