Posted on 10/10/2010 1:44:42 PM PDT by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton
You could probably get by with using the free program OpenOffice. It reads MS Word files and can also write them.
Nothing wrong with Mac but you are wasting money, imho.
He drove his computer guy up the wall every time he got a new, that is, lighter/smaller/faster laptop.
He had his own keyboard macros that he knew and loved, and wasn't about to give up.
Tools of the trade for such a prolific writer that probably had 20 works in progress at any given time, I guess.
What size screen are you looking for? Is this a desktop replacement or will it be your sole machine? What do you do with your laptop? Do you exchange files with other people? Do you use technical software?
We are forced to have a windows machine for the business because BofA uses Cypersource for Merchant services. Hate windows! Macs are so easy and I have never had a virus.
I prefer the Big Mac to the Mafia Burger.
I have MS Office for Mac. It is different from the on for PCs.
I have MS Office for Mac. It is different from the one for PCs.
My son just got a Mac. It runs Windows 7 quite well.
I am sitting here on my new Macbook, in a serious stage of Macbliss, wondering exactly that. A month ago I thought all the Mac users were cultish and crazy (even my son who kept telling me I should switch). Then, within a week both my laptop and my desktop were infested with viruses and while my laptop is now clear and usable altho it had to be reformatted my desktop was trashed. I finally had had it, and bought a Mac. I don’t know why I didn’t do it before. It’s hard to believe I could be in love with a computer, but I am.
Even the case I bought for my Mac is so cool. :)
If you want a computer that has the least problems and you do not ever want to open the case, get the Mac.
But you will be very limited in what it will run or do. For example almost no CCTV software will run on a mac, nor will it do active X. And the windows emulation software is a joke.
It will run office, internet, cad, & graphics wonderfully, but only on its own software.
You’ll be amazed that MS Word for Mac (if the newer versions are similar to all the older versions I’ve used) is a much better program on the Mac.
It was really amazing that the people at the Apple Store did not try to pressure sell at all. They told us what they had and when we said no, we didn’t need the Mac book Pro, they were like, ok, yes, you probably don’t need that. When they told us about the extra coverage and we said, no, we didn’t need that, they were like, cool. I was very amazed. No pressure selling, period. And everyone we talked to was knowledgeable. What a switch from our recent experiences in other places.
And, Go-oo is another version of OpenOffice.org that includes some additional goodies, in particular VBA support (or so they claim; I haven't needed that feature).
Adium is a wonderful (free!) program for chat and replaces Instant messenger and other chat programs.
I use CyberDuck (FREE!) for ftp.
I use FireFox for web surfing. I haven’t really liked Safari so much, but other folks do. It’s all what you are used to.
There is a new Microsoft Office (2011) coming out for the Mac October 26th. I’d wait for it - Office 2008 isn’t that great. I didn’t upgrade from Office 2004. I didn’t find iWork to be worth it - not so compatible when you go between Windows and Mac a lot. Some people like Keynote better than PowerPoint. I didn’t like Entourage - found my Outlook file exports didn’t convert well. I use the Mail program that comes with the Mac instead. Some folks seem to like Thunderbird for email, but it had problems with the setup of one of my email accounts.
I’d also say to get as much RAM as you can with it. The operating systems with Mac are trim and snappy, and you will be able to keep the machine longer than you would for a comparable Windows laptop, so you will want to have the RAM for the future.
I have a Mac Mini and love it. Have fun with your Macbook!
Once you go Mac, you’ll never go back.
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