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MacGekko

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 6, 2009
761
277
Since I am only using Office for word processing and currently Pages allows you to export your documents to Word if the person you are sending the file to only has Word, I don't see the point in having Office on my Mac when it seems like there is a 300mb security update every month. If I uninstall it will my saved files be fully accessible via Pages? Any other major drawbacks in relying on Pages vs. Word?
 

chscag

macrumors 601
Feb 17, 2008
4,622
1,946
Fort Worth, Texas
If you need to maintain compatibility with other Office users (Mac or PC) then you should continue to use Mac Office 2011 rather than Pages or any other iWork app. Converting Office files to Pages, Keynote, or Numbers is possible but there may be formatting differences. Also... what's the problem with MS keeping Office secure by issuing updates?
 
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MacGekko

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 6, 2009
761
277
If you need to maintain compatibility with other Office users (Mac or PC) then you should continue to use Mac Office 2011 rather than Pages or any other iWork app. Converting Office files to Pages, Keynote, or Numbers is possible but there may be formatting differences. Also... what's the problem with MS keeping Office secure by issuing updates?

Formatting differences are not an issue, I just want to be certain that I can access those files through Pages, that is fully possible correct?

It is just one more weak link of security that I don't want if I don't need and every three months I am adding 1gb to my hard drive for this nonsense.
 

Command

macrumors regular
Jan 23, 2015
184
81
USA
Pages will be the default application for .doc / .docx files if Word is removed. Pages is fully capable of modifying existing and creating files as such. The biggest thing to remember, really, is that when you create / save a document, it's going to be a .pages document by default. So, you have to chose File, Export to... to get a document format you want- doc, pdf, etc. - these are also available quickly in the Share option.
 

chscag

macrumors 601
Feb 17, 2008
4,622
1,946
Fort Worth, Texas
Formatting differences are not an issue, I just want to be certain that I can access those files through Pages, that is fully possible correct?

It is just one more weak link of security that I don't want if I don't need and every three months I am adding 1gb to my hard drive for this nonsense.

There should be no problem accessing *.docx or *.doc files with Pages. However, for large documents that are created with MS Word, Pages will make them even larger when converted to the *.pages format.

And again with security... I would think that knowing MS is keeping Office secure is something you would want. What's the weak link? Besides, in my experience, the updates are rather small and install without any problem.
 

MacGekko

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 6, 2009
761
277
There should be no problem accessing *.docx or *.doc files with Pages. However, for large documents that are created with MS Word, Pages will make them even larger when converted to the *.pages format.

And again with security... I would think that knowing MS is keeping Office secure is something you would want. What's the weak link? Besides, in my experience, the updates are rather small and install without any problem.

The weak link is similar to Adobe's Flash, sure they keep it secure after a major threat is discovered, if you don't have it installed, there is no risk of having your computer taken over by visiting a malicious website or opening a word file. I only use flash in Chrome because certain music streaming sites require it but I configured it so that you have to right click on any plug in for it to work.

And the major threats to Flash and Office are happening more and more frequently
 
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