Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

willed · Jan 20, 2003, 04:33 PM

Recently pretty much everything I use in Office other than Word has been replaced by Apple, mainly for free (except KeyNote). I bought the academic edition, and I think Word on its own is worth what I paid. However, I was just wondering is anyone else pissed off with their purchase of Office?

cenutrio · Jan 20, 2003, 04:37 PM

I was pretty mad at the begining due to slow performance. Later OS X and office updates have reduced my complains. I thing Keynote is still too young. Powerpoint, word, excell and Entourage handles pretty well my daily tasks.

[APi]TheMan · Jan 20, 2003, 04:40 PM

I use Word X. Excel is good to have and PowerPoint comes in handy every once in a while for some course that requires me to give a presentation. But I think it's good to have both Apple and Microsoft as options in the Office suite area.

barbarian · Jan 20, 2003, 04:48 PM

I've been pretty annoyed lately at all the problems printing complex envelopes and things like that. Also the program is still prone to be crashy...actually the only OS X program that craps out on me regularly.

[APi]TheMan · Jan 20, 2003, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by barbarian:
I've been pretty annoyed lately at all the problems printing complex envelopes and things like that. Also the program is still prone to be crashy...actually the only OS X program that craps out on me regularly.

"the program" being Word X?

I use Word to type papers and speeches. Maybe 10 assignments in a semester... I, for the most part, keep Microsoft out of my dock at all times.

engaged · Jan 20, 2003, 04:59 PM

Reluctant as I am to admit it, Microsoft Office X is hard to beat for total and seamless integration between home, work and college or whatever. I even use Entourage X too.

I did try and persevere with AppleWorks for a while, but trying to import and export documents between it and Word/Excel was a nightmare.

I would be more than happy to use an Apple suite if and when one that I'd consider good enough has come out. Now I've changed from a Microsoft to a Logitech mouse, I'd then be Microsoft free...

voodoo · Jan 20, 2003, 05:25 PM

Office 98 is the best MS software I have bought. It is the only one I don't regret buying. I felt a bit miffed with O 2001 and downright angry at Office v.X it sucks to no end.

KaptainKaya · Jan 20, 2003, 05:48 PM

Originally posted by voodoo:
Office 98 is the best MS software I have bought. It is the only one I don't regret buying. I felt a bit miffed with O 2001 and downright angry at Office v.X it sucks to no end.

I kinda like Office:mac 2001!

sandsl · Jan 20, 2003, 05:51 PM

I just don't like it very much....I mean its ok...but nothing special.

skyman · Jan 20, 2003, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by engaged:
Reluctant as I am to admit it, Microsoft Office X is hard to beat for total and seamless integration between home, work and college or whatever. I even use Entourage X too.

I did try and persevere with AppleWorks for a while, but trying to import and export documents between it and Word/Excel was a nightmare.

I would be more than happy to use an Apple suite if and when one that I'd consider good enough has come out. Now I've changed from a Microsoft to a Logitech mouse, I'd then be Microsoft free...

My wife and I like Office X. Entourage is one of the best full featured contact managers available. We bought Office X with her new iBook for only $199. You can't beat the price. My wife uses Office everyday for her business. When have never had Office crash. Yes, it could use a little refinement here and there and yes performance could be better (hate the spinning beach ball). But all in all I would give Office an 8 out of 10.

I never thought I would say that about any MS product.

skyman · Jan 20, 2003, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by voodoo:
Office 98 is the best MS software I have bought. It is the only one I don't regret buying. I felt a bit miffed with O 2001 and downright angry at Office v.X it sucks to no end.

What sucks about Office X?

skyman · Jan 20, 2003, 06:01 PM

Originally posted by barbarian:
I've been pretty annoyed lately at all the problems printing complex envelopes and things like that. Also the program is still prone to be crashy...actually the only OS X program that craps out on me regularly.

You should take the time and report the "problems" you are having with Office X to MS. You can do this by going to:

http://microsoft.com/mac/support/mys...p;navindex=s12

as2 · Jan 20, 2003, 06:03 PM

I wouldn't say I like Office.X, but it is very helpful.

I use word and excel lots, and it's especially having the office versions, as I use windowze pc's at uni, and this meanst that I can transfer documents seamlessley.

I've only ever used Powerpoint once to make my own stuff, but use it quite a lot to view online lecture notes, but I never use Entourage. I find that the Apple applications do this much better (inclding syncing to my cli�.

Adam

mitchell_pgh · Jan 20, 2003, 06:13 PM

I still use it, but I don't have to like it.

I still think everyone needs to go against M$ (Apple, IBM, Sun, sgi, etc. etc. etc. and make a advanced standard open source document format)

Apple could just dump AppleWorks or offer it up at the foundation for the project)

1) Rename AppleWorks to OpenWorks

2) Release the Mac and Windows version for free.

3) Create a Linux version.

4) Release the source code.

5) Include a version with every promotional CD that is out there.

It's the only way M$ will see any competition.

winterlandia · Jan 20, 2003, 06:47 PM

I agree with Mitchell_pgh. They'd have to give it away everywhere and achieve critical mass. The feature set would also have to be identical (office programs are remarkably deep in features). I've never seen another office suite even come close to touching MS Office (yes, I've tried staroffice- yikes..) For the $199 I paid, I'd say I got a good deal. My computer didn't come with Appleworks so I had to buy something. I use all the programs quite regularly without trouble, no regrets here, MS really came through with Office X. Since that is the "standard" at work (which I have no control over) it makes a big difference to me people to have office as an option so I can go between work and home without evil conversion issues.

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
I still use it, but I don't have to like it.

I still think everyone needs to go against M$ (Apple, IBM, Sun, sgi, etc. etc. etc. and make a advanced standard open source document format)

Apple could just dump AppleWorks or offer it up at the foundation for the project)

1) Rename AppleWorks to OpenWorks

2) Release the Mac and Windows version for free.

3) Create a Linux version.

4) Release the source code.

5) Include a version with every promotional CD that is out there.

It's the only way M$ will see any competition.

drmcnutt · Jan 20, 2003, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
I still use it, but I don't have to like it.

I still think everyone needs to go against M$ (Apple, IBM, Sun, sgi, etc. etc. etc. and make a advanced standard open source document format)

Apple could just dump AppleWorks or offer it up at the foundation for the project)

1) Rename AppleWorks to OpenWorks

2) Release the Mac and Windows version for free.

3) Create a Linux version.

4) Release the source code.

5) Include a version with every promotional CD that is out there.

It's the only way M$ will see any competition.

Office is the app to beat in this arena. Whether Appleworks was open-source and free (Netscape and a dozen other browsers anyone?) or not it still offer professional results to the business world at large. Your "prescription" does nothing to improve the inferior product that Appleworks is in relation to Office.

There are already free office competitors like Sun's for example, but they aren't as seamless for users that are still willing to pay several hundred for the "real thing". Microsoft has done a couple things right(no flames please!) and Office is certainly one of them just ask Steve Jobs and his inspiration for ilife.

DRM

Eug · Jan 20, 2003, 07:07 PM

It is one of my best purchases.

AppleWorks (which I got for free with my iBook) just doesn't cut it. In fact, I simply erased it.

Keynote looks promising, but it needs work.

voodoo · Jan 20, 2003, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by skyman:
What sucks about Office X?

Speed, stability and Icelandic letter support.

xtal · Jan 21, 2003, 09:30 AM

I use Office products (mainly Word and PowerPoint) often, and find that, above all, they are very 'business-centric.' It often takes some work to configure the program to perform for my needs (mainly scientific writing and presentations). I guess MS is going after their biggest market, but it would be nice to see features developed for scientists, university students, people in the medical field, etc. Maybe it's too much work for a small market, but hey, I can hope.

edddeduck · Jan 21, 2003, 10:00 AM

I don't think my money was wasted on MS Office I write neary all my reports in Word and Excel.

Till there is a truly viable choice I will use Word and Excel because they are on the whole good applications.

Cheers Edwin

starman · Jan 21, 2003, 10:03 AM

It'll be a LOOOONG time before I get rid of Entourage.

Mike

as2 · Jan 21, 2003, 11:25 AM

Originally posted by xtal:
I use Office products (mainly Word and PowerPoint) often, and find that, above all, they are very 'business-centric.' It often takes some work to configure the program to perform for my needs (mainly scientific writing and presentations). I guess MS is going after their biggest market, but it would be nice to see features developed for scientists, university students, people in the medical field, etc. Maybe it's too much work for a small market, but hey, I can hope.

Tell me about it...

I'm doing a degree in Biochemistry with Medical Biosciences... Word has problems with the title of my degree, let alone the work I do.

It's getting better now, as most of the terms I use are already in my custom dictionary, but it's still quite annoying when it gives you loads of gramar errors and things.

Adam

Simon · 01:11 PM

Originally posted by as2:
Tell me about it...

I'm doing a degree in Biochemistry with Medical Biosciences... Word has problems with the title of my degree, let alone the work I do.

Have you thought about using LaTeX and TeXShop? It's really a great way for scientists to write their papers, notes, transparancies, talks, etc. on a Mac. It's free and it is available on all major platforms. If you're interested I've been doing a little pro-TeX propaganda in another thread.

as2 · Jan 21, 2003, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by Simon:
Have you thought about using LaTeX and TeXShop? It's really a great way for scientists to write their papers, notes, transparancies, talks, etc. on a Mac. It's free and it is available on all major platforms. If you're interested I've been doing a little pro-TeX propaganda in another thread.

Who.. thanks... Didn't know about that.

Adam

xtal · Jan 21, 2003, 01:19 PM

Have you thought about using LaTeX and TeXShop? It's really a great way for scientists to write their papers, notes, transparancies, talks, etc. on a Mac. It's free and it is available on all major platforms.

Thanks for the thread link. I'll take a look at it. I've used LaTeX on Linux before, but not very recently.

Tell me about it...

I'm doing a degree in Biochemistry with Medical Biosciences... Word has problems with the title of my degree, let alone the work I do.

It's getting better now, as most of the terms I use are already in my custom dictionary, but it's still quite annoying when it gives you loads of gramar errors and things.

I agree with the custom dictionary being a reasonable solution. It would be ideal if we could download a 'scientific' dictionary from somewhere to install it. I too am doing biochemistry/biophysics related work, and am very annoyed at Word's spell-checker. PM me (if you'd like) with the type of work you're doing. I'm quite curious.