[NewtoMacMaybe]

Okay, I'm almost convinced I should leave the MS world and enter the Mac zone. One hill left to climb. I do need use of business type tools like Excel, Access and Quicken. I know there are Mac versions but I understand they are typically a few years behind the MS versions as far as features and functionality. I also know I can run XP on the Mac but what's the point of having 2 operating systems.

Does anyone have any comments or any suggestions of substitute software? Thanks.

[besson3c]

It depends on what features you need. You can get Excel and Quicken for the Mac, and while they might not have all the bells and whistles of their Windows equivalents, perhaps you could cope? You could check out Google Spreadsheets, an open source office replacement such as Open/NeoOffice, Gnumeric. Gnucash is a Quicken replacement (don't know if there is a Mac version of it available).

[Big Mac]

The point of having two operating systems is to use the main OS (OS X) most of the time and use the secondary OS (Windows) when you need to run specific programs that you prefer or need to run there. I don't love the fact that Apple sells PC clones now, but since they do it makes sense to take advantage of the functionality. You could get Office for the Mac, but if you already have it on Windows it may make more sense to use NeoOffice on the Mac and Office in Windows when it's necessary to do so. And if Access is important to you, you'll want Windows installed.

[Chuckit]

The Mac versions of Microsoft's programs generally have a much cleaner interface (still messy, but better), in my opinion. And I mean, it has all the features anyone I know has ever needed. Geez, it has way more features than anyone I know has ever needed.