Using a macbook for uni work?

Larnica · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:17

Hi.

Getting a mac in a few days over a studio one from that "D" company. Only problem is I dont want to splash out on another £200+ for vista/microsoft office so will the office software u can buy for Mac convert to microsoft office latest version without any probs?

ta

Sarduk · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:19

You still need to pay for iWork, and support for MS Office format is limited at best.

If you need to use MS Office, why not (1) Get a PC and (2) Get Office for Windows for £30: www.theultimatesteal.co.uk

Combat squirrel · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:19

By that do you mean does the mac office save docx files ? then yes

Larnica · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:20

Why would I get a PC? i obviously want a laptop.

Tute · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:22

JimpsEd said:
You still need to pay for iWork, and support for MS Office format is limited at best.

If you need to use MS Office, why not (1) Get a PC and (2) Get Office for Windows for £30: www.theultimatesteal.co.uk

Or get Office for Mac for £35.40?

http://www.software4students.co.uk/Microsoft_Office_2008_for_Mac-details.aspx

fishfishfish · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:23

Or, get the MacBook and use NeoOffice or OpenOffice, both of which do virtually all of the common stuff most people need in Microsoft Office.

Sarduk · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:29

Tute said:
Or get Office for Mac for £35.40?

http://www.software4students.co.uk/Microsoft_Office_2008_for_Mac-details.aspx

Bargain, do this if it is legit

Ross1234 · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:30

Just use open office if you insist on using a mac.

Tute · 21 Nov 2008 at 20:38

JimpsEd said:
Bargain, do this if it is legit

It's legit - the university i'm at gives it out, and i've ordered it myself.

Draeconis · 22 Nov 2008 at 15:13

Ross1234 said:
Just use open office if you insist on using a mac.

I prefer NeoOffice, runs quite a bit better than OpenOffice does on OS X, though arguably NeoOffice is OpenOffice just developed by a different branch of people.

But I agree with you wholeheartedly, why buy Office when you can get it legally, for free?

iSam · 22 Nov 2008 at 16:41

DON'T BUY OFFICE FOR MAC!

Get OpenOffice, is quicker, more straightforward and free.

Hutch · 22 Nov 2008 at 16:49

Office for mac loads really slow on my macbook pro I have to say. It seems much quicker in windows..

iSam · 22 Nov 2008 at 16:51

Hutch said:
Office for mac loads really slow on my macbook pro I have to say. It seems much quicker in windows..

It's just a terrible program full stop. It save's in .docx which is annoying for users with earlier versions.

Hutch · 22 Nov 2008 at 16:57

iSam said:
It's just a terrible program full stop. It save's in .docx which is annoying for users with earlier versions.

Im pretty sure you can do save as and save in .doc as i have to hand in work as .doc format... Either that or i imagined it

iSam · 22 Nov 2008 at 17:00

Hutch said:
Im pretty sure you can do save as and save in .doc as i have to hand in work as .doc format... Either that or i imagined it

Na, I'm sure you can, but there is no need for .docx and that is the default. What did Microsoft hope to achieve by bringing that new format in? Really really strange in all honesty.

manic_man · 22 Nov 2008 at 17:22

iSam said:
Na, I'm sure you can, but there is no need for .docx and that is the default. What did Microsoft hope to achieve by bringing that new format in? Really really strange in all honesty.

The docx format was brought in by Microsoft in order to change their document formatting from non standard propriatry binary to standard XML.

See here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa338205.aspx

For a Mac that isnt running windows, dont both with Office for Mac, just use OpenOffice or NeoOffice as has been said.

Or buy a very cheap PC if you want, can easily buy an office running PC for under £100...

FreeStream · 22 Nov 2008 at 18:24

openoffice ***