HELP a new convert

[gloryofgreece]

Hi guys, I am a new switcher and I love my macbook SR. I couple questions for you guys,

1. How well does matlab run on the macbook? A friend of mine is too poor to purchase one, and he download a torrent for it, aside from being illegal , will it work?
2. Am i better off purchasing office for mac 08 than running neo office for some of spreadsheet stuff?

 

[aristobrat]

Don't know about Matlab, but I'd recommend you try NeoOffice for a few days and see how it meets your needs. If not, then consider Office.

I'm an occasional spreadsheet user, so NeoOffice works great for what I need.

 

[GfulDedFan]

Don't know about Matlab, but I'd recommend you try NeoOffice for a few days and see how it meets your needs. If not, then consider Office.

You might also consider iWork '08. It's an Apple suite that is compatible with office and it's a lot cheaper ($79 single - $99 family) They have a 30 day free trial available.

 

[xeux]

Don't forget you can pick up office 08 for $150 U.S student/educators

 

[hydrokayak]

I was in the same boat as you about a week ago. I'm a switcher -- and was looking for something to do work for college (Nursing major). I needed something with a decent spreadsheet application, and a text editor. I assessed my situation, and decided to try some products out.

I tried Office '08 and iWork '08. Office seemed sluggish -- and actually had me going up a wall with finiding things. I loved iWork -- as it just worked. It's easy to find things in the program, and it's not too expensive. I really like it. Quick, and efficient.

I recommend you try out some options -- it's really a personal preference. Make sure your institution doesn't require a certain program for you to use. Matlab? Not really sure how well it works -- only used it on a PC. I'm sure you'll find a solution that will work for you in no time -- it'll just take a little effort.

 

[jbg232]

I was in the same boat as you about a week ago. I'm a switcher -- and was looking for something to do work for college (Nursing major). I needed something with a decent spreadsheet application, and a text editor. I assessed my situation, and decided to try some products out.

I tried Office '08 and iWork '08. Office seemed sluggish -- and actually had me going up a wall with finiding things. I loved iWork -- as it just worked. It's easy to find things in the program, and it's not too expensive. I really like it. Quick, and efficient.

I recommend you try out some options -- it's really a personal preference. Make sure your institution doesn't require a certain program for you to use. Matlab? Not really sure how well it works -- only used it on a PC. I'm sure you'll find a solution that will work for you in no time -- it'll just take a little effort.

Hey hydrokayak - how do you find using the two computers in your signature together? Is it hard to keep them in sync? I ask because I'm considering a new MBP, but when I priced it out, the cost of an imac and a macbook together came to the same price.

 

[hydrokayak]

Hey hydrokayak - how do you find using the two computers in your signature together? Is it hard to keep them in sync? I ask because I'm considering a new MBP, but when I priced it out, the cost of an imac and a macbook together came to the same price.

I actually don't have the iMac yet. It's on order -- shipped today. I never really had an issue with the PC when I had a PC laptop and PC desktop. It's just keeping on top of the files that's the issue. I synced my music every week or so -- same with video content. I download a lot of video content -- that being podcasts --and I just needed to sync everything every week or so. I have a NAS for common files -- and I just run them from the NAS. It's a pretty slick setup.

I find myself using one computer more than the other -- usually the desktop. I love the protability of the desktop -- but the productiveness of a big desktop rig. I'd highly recommend this route. It's a great route if you ask me. Just keep on top of it -- I'm thinking of getting a .Mac account to sync files.

How IS .Mac? Worth the cash?

 

[aristobrat]

How IS .Mac? Worth the cash?

I think the value of .Mac is proportional to the number of its features that you use.

I use the email feature all of the time. the Sync feature (to keep the keychains, addr book, calendar and widgets of my Macs in sync) daily, iDisk a few times a week, the Web Gallery a few times a month, and occasionally iWeb.

For me, it's well worth it, esp. when you can buy it from Amazon or eBay for a lot less than $99.00