ITRocks

we are able to download certain software for macs or pc. Firefox, Norton Antivirus, Microsoft Office, et al are a few of the standards that are provided. If I am running a new Macbook will there be a conflict between the emulated version of Microsoft Office and my Intel processor ?

I havent tried it (my macbook is still on its way...) or experienced any problems, I am just trying to determine how I will be getting all the essential programs and tools for anything I will need at school.

Cyborg

Office may run a bit slower, but I have not noticed a difference on my wifes Intel iMac. Max out the RAM in your Mac, if you have not already, and you should be ok.

ITRocks

I got 1gb of ram installed, hopefully that will be enough. Otherwise probably around x-mas time i will up the ram once more.

TechBoy

Yeah even typing in Office is slow, but what can you do. You might want to take a look at the free open-source equivalent called OpenOffice (I think the OS X version is called NeoOffice). One alternative is to run Parallels or Boot Camp. For basic school stuff, I'd recommend using Parallels. It lets you run Windows within a Window in OS X, so you can have fast and easy access to your windows apps. That's what I'm currently doing for my college programs that require XP.

Cyborg

See, my wife has been using Word and Excel extensively on her new iMac and they have not been anywhere near what I would call slow. They are at least as fast as on my Quad...

TechBoy

i'm actually loving open office right now, fantastic!

Cyborg

Office 2004 runs really well on my new iMac but I have 2GB of RAM. I usually have multiple Excel and Word files open as well as Entourage and I flip through files, cut and paste, and edit just as fast as my Windows PC. I've looked at Open Office and it is fast, but I think I am too used to MS Office to make the switch (plus I received MS Office 2004 for free).

ITRocks

Are we talking about Office:Mac?? I need something to type in for college but don't want to install Boot Camp.

Cyborg

Yep. Office for Mac. Version 2004.

Nice and cheap for students, though Open Office is cheaper.

Any comment from anyone on compatibility between Open Office and Word and Excel? Though I am happy with MS Office for Mac, I'd like to know that I could work just as well in an alternate. I've tested the beta for the new Office 2007 for Windows and it uses an XML file format that produces a much smaller file size. If I could retain compatibility with MS Office by using Open Office when my work eventually switches to Mac Office 2007, I would be very happy.

TechBoy

I have tried the Office for Mac on the iMac at a retailer (standard 512mb) and it was great, just as fast as on my Pentium 3ghz, 1gb RAM system if not a bit faster at some tasks.

I cannot see a problem with it, I also prefer it to Open Office, just feels more complete and probably because it has not caused me headaches over reliability, though that is Open Office on windows not mac.