Impact on Windows-created Microsoft Word docs in switching to Pages and MBP Retina?

[Republius]

I just purchased a 13" MacBook Pro Retina and am still waiting on peripherals to connect it to the Internet.

I do not have Microsoft Office for Mac on the new MacBook Pro Retina. So I will be exclusively using Pages, as provided by Apple, if possible in order to reduce additional expense.

I understand that documents created with Pages can be exported to Microsoft Word format.

What happens to documents in Microsoft Word format that I receive by e-mail? Can Pages read them on the MacBook Pro Retina?

What happens to documents in Microsoft Word format on my current flash drives that were created on a Dell laptop when they are plugged into the MacBook Pro Retina? Can Pages read them?

What about documents in Microsoft Word format on the hard drive of my old Dell laptop? I was told, at some point by the Apple Store specialist, that they can transfer them (into a readable format, I am assuming, using Pages) onto the MacBook Pro Retina? Does this make sense?

Thanks for the help.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

I just purchased a 13" MacBook Pro Retina and am still waiting on peripherals to connect it to the Internet.

I do not have Microsoft Office for Mac on the new MacBook Pro Retina. So I will be exclusively using Pages, as provided by Apple, if possible in order to reduce additional expense.

I understand that documents created with Pages can be exported to Microsoft Word format.

What happens to documents in Microsoft Word format that I receive by e-mail? Can Pages read them on the MacBook Pro Retina?

What happens to documents in Microsoft Word format on my current flash drives that were created on a Dell laptop when they are plugged into the MacBook Pro Retina? Can Pages read them?

What about documents in Microsoft Word format on the hard drive of my old Dell laptop? I was told, at some point by the Apple Store specialist, that they can transfer them (into a readable format, I am assuming, using Pages) onto the MacBook Pro Retina? Does this make sense?

Thanks for the help.

Yes, for the most part, Pages will be able to open them just fine. (Disclosure, I'm still using iWork '09, not the newest version of Pages which I've found lacking.) I also use the free Libré Office suite and that has been very useful because it seems to be able to open nearly anything, including ha!, old WordPerfect & Lotus 123 documents. With iWorks & LibreOffice, I'm covered.

 

[Republius]

Yes, for the most part, Pages will be able to open them just fine. (Disclosure, I'm still using iWork '09, not the newest version of Pages which I've found lacking.) I also use the free Libré Office suite and that has been very useful because it seems to be able to open nearly anything, including ha!, old WordPerfect & Lotus 123 documents. With iWorks & LibreOffice, I'm covered.

My new MacBook Pro Retina is still boxed up until the peripherals arrive I will need to connect it to the Internet, so thank you for the indulgence.

If Pages "for the most part...will be able to open [Microsoft Word documents generated by Windows] just fine," what kind of MS Word documents will be in the minority that Pages struggles to open?

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

My new MacBook Pro Retina is still boxed up until the peripherals arrive I will need to connect it to the Internet, so thank you for the indulgence.

If Pages "for the most part...will be able to open [Microsoft Word documents generated by Windows] just fine," what kind of MS Word documents will be in the minority that Pages struggles to open?

I will occasionally have problems opening a .docx file in Pages. --And documents may open but sometimes the formatting isn't exactly as created in Word. Apparently this can also happen when opening docs in different versions of Word too. I know this can happen when opening an older Pages doc in the newest Pages version.

 

[SusanK]

Republius,

I'm using old Pages (iWork09) too. The only thing I noticed with Word docs is an font change. I get a dialogue box advising that a certain font does not exist in Pages and suggests a similar font. Nothing other than that.

Community members using the current version of Pages can advise on your situation.

 

[Republius]

Republius,

I'm using old Pages (iWork09) too. The only thing I noticed with Word docs is an font change. I get a dialogue box advising that a certain font does not exist in Pages and suggests a similar font. Nothing other than that.

Community members using the current version of Pages can advise on your situation.

That is encouraging, Susan. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I am a bit miffed that the laptops I perused in making my purchase decision at the Apple Store were deceptively loaded with Microsoft Office, which we all know does not come with any Apple device, such that there was no problem when I tested my Windows generated documents from flash drives on them.

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I will occasionally have problems opening a .docx file in Pages. --And documents may open but sometimes the formatting isn't exactly as created in Word. Apparently this can also happen when opening docs in different versions of Word too. I know this can happen when opening an older Pages doc in the newest Pages version.

Appreciate the feedback, CG.

 

[glenthompson]

That is encouraging, Susan. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I am a bit miffed that the laptops I perused in making my purchase decision at the Apple Store were deceptively loaded with Microsoft Office, which we all know does not come with any Apple device, such that there was no problem when I tested my Windows generated documents from flash drives on them.

Lots of computers on display have software that isn't included. Since a lot of PC users have MS Office, it's important to show that it runs fine on a Mac. Did you notice that the store machines also had Aperture loaded? It's not included either.

 

[Republius]

Lots of computers on display have software that isn't included. Since a lot of PC users have MS Office, it's important to show that it runs fine on a Mac. Did you notice that the store machines also had Aperture loaded? It's not included either.

And it is wrong.

The devices are on display in a store for sale, with a price listed next to them. If the devices as displayed contain items not covered by the listed price next to them then this is a problem and misleading.

Automobiles on display for sale list the price of the additional features contained on what is being shown. So should computers.

If patrons need to see how another program works with a device then they ought to request such be shown to them with devices other than those being displayed on the floor as base models.

 

[26139]

Pages

Pages works fine with MS Word. Like other people have mentioned, sometimes there are small formatting changes or font substitutions, but it's rarely an issue.

I work almost exclusively on Pages, but I tend to export my documents to Word as most people like them that way.

 

[grandM]

I just purchased a 13" MacBook Pro Retina and am still waiting on peripherals to connect it to the Internet.

I do not have Microsoft Office for Mac on the new MacBook Pro Retina. So I will be exclusively using Pages, as provided by Apple, if possible in order to reduce additional expense.

I understand that documents created with Pages can be exported to Microsoft Word format.

What happens to documents in Microsoft Word format that I receive by e-mail? Can Pages read them on the MacBook Pro Retina?

What happens to documents in Microsoft Word format on my current flash drives that were created on a Dell laptop when they are plugged into the MacBook Pro Retina? Can Pages read them?

What about documents in Microsoft Word format on the hard drive of my old Dell laptop? I was told, at some point by the Apple Store specialist, that they can transfer them (into a readable format, I am assuming, using Pages) onto the MacBook Pro Retina? Does this make sense?

Thanks for the help.

Save yourself money and agony and ditch Word
Pages converts pretty fine