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skids929

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 24, 2011
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I am going to be getting a new MBP soon, dedicated to adult use and I want to turn my 11 year old white MB (running 10.6.8) into a kids homework computer but need to add MS Office to it for writing papers etc. Any suggestions? I think this MB still has a little life in it and works ok for basic internet surfing and I am hoping would work with old office applications. We're just trying to buy about 12 months or so when we will replace with a iMAC dedicated to the kids. Just can't swing a new MBP and an iMAC this year and the holidays just around the corner.

Just want to make sure there isn't something I need to consider before buying a new copy of office 2011 for this current white MB.


Thanks for the help
 
You can try using Pages. Since it comes free with your MacBook you can install it on the white MacBook due to the family sharing option. No cost option if you just need a word processor and not Word.

You can also try OpenOffice, a free office app. Or you can use Google Docs, which is free and accessible anywhere you have internet.

Only buy Office 2011 if you really need it.
 
Agree with above open office and libre office is great replacements in PC so mac should be just as good a replacement.

Dont buy it if only for your kids to do homework etc as I'd say not worth the cost unless find cheap copy on ebay etc.
 
thanks, Ill look into openoffice. I completely forgot about it quite honestly and just associated it with a windows app.


I suppose an investment in pages and numbers is a waste as well..Not sure the cost. Google docs is presenting an issue where I can't save anything other than a PDF to desktop since I don't have pages etc. So I guess my only option is to save to the google drive. Not loving these work arounds but they are cheaper.
 
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[...] openoffice. [...]

I would personaly say that Libreoffice is more polished and better. The interface is in my opinion easier to use. Except for the fact that Libreoffice on macOs Sierra is broken :/ Not sure if Open Office is broken too. They are both based on the same code base. Libreoffice is a fork of Open Office. Libreoffice is also the default program on most Linux distros.
 
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I am going to be getting a new MBP soon, dedicated to adult use and I want to turn my 11 year old white MB (running 10.6.8) into a kids homework computer but need to add MS Office to it for writing papers etc. Any suggestions? I think this MB still has a little life in it and works ok for basic internet surfing and I am hoping would work with old office applications. We're just trying to buy about 12 months or so when we will replace with a iMAC dedicated to the kids. Just can't swing a new MBP and an iMAC this year and the holidays just around the corner.

Just want to make sure there isn't something I need to consider before buying a new copy of office 2011 for this current white MB.


Thanks for the help

I am still running Office 11 on El Cap. My guess is should run even better on 10.6.8
 
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I suppose an investment in pages and numbers is a waste as well..Not sure the cost.
Pages, Numbers, Keynote are free with new Macs bought after 2013 (or so). So if you get a new MacBook, you can try it out for free. Due to the way Family sharing works, you can put those apps on the white MacBook at no additional cost. Then you can compare them all to see which one you like more.
 
As far as homework for the kids, the school may set your direction. Around here, the schools are big on Google Docs and even providing ChromeBooks to qualifying low income students. You might also think about Office Online since the interface is so close to Office 365, which many universities are giving to students for as little as $10.
 
Pages, Numbers, Keynote are free with new Macs bought after 2013 (or so). So if you get a new MacBook, you can try it out for free. Due to the way Family sharing works, you can put those apps on the white MacBook at no additional cost. Then you can compare them all to see which one you like more.

I thought apple blocked you from installing on non current OS?
 
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