Using Office for Windows vs. Office for Mac

[archdelux]

I am going to be running parallels a lot due to my need for Onenote. I am wondering if there is and advantage/disadvantage to running all of my office programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) via Windows XP as opposed to using Office 2008 for Mac OS....any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Hellhammer]

Running two OSs at the same time is heavier than just one, so it'll cause shorter battery life. Any reason why you need Windows? Any alternatives for OneNote?

 

[archdelux]

Running two OSs at the same time is heavier than just one, so it'll cause shorter battery life. Any reason why you need Windows? Any alternatives for OneNote?

THanks for the response. The main (only) reason to run windows via parallels is to use Onenote, which I use constantly. I have looked briefly at forums/etc and there doesn't seem to be a quality replacement app in the mac os, but please let me know if you (or others) know of something.

Regarding my use: since I will be running windows anyway for onenote, will it slow down my computer to be running MS Office on windows as opposed to the Mac version?

 

[Hellhammer]

THanks for the response. The main (only) reason to run windows via parallels is to use Onenote, which I use constantly. I have looked briefly at forums/etc and there doesn't seem to be a quality replacement app in the mac os, but please let me know if you (or others) know of something.

Regarding my use: since I will be running windows anyway for onenote, will it slow down my computer to be running MS Office on windows as opposed to the Mac version?

With little googling, EverNote should be worth trying. There is also CrossOver which lets you run Windows software on OS X

Shouldn't slow down much, depends on how much RAM you have

 

[mslide]

Regarding my use: since I will be running windows anyway for onenote, will it slow down my computer to be running MS Office on windows as opposed to the Mac version?

That depends on what Mac you have. When I run a Windows Office program, under Parallels, my 2.0GHz 3GB ram macbook comes to a crawl. It's slow enough where I definitely wouldn't want to use it often. However, Mac Office is not 100% compatible. It's "pretty good" but it has its flaws. For example, excel VBA macros don't work. Word is pretty good but I still occasionally run into problems. It's bad enough where I don't use mac office for work (I use my work issued windows pc for that).

 

[PandaOnslaught]

THanks for the response. The main (only) reason to run windows via parallels is to use Onenote, which I use constantly. I have looked briefly at forums/etc and there doesn't seem to be a quality replacement app in the mac os, but please let me know if you (or others) know of something.

Regarding my use: since I will be running windows anyway for onenote, will it slow down my computer to be running MS Office on windows as opposed to the Mac version?

this thread has a bunch of programs that are equivalent to onenote, try them and see if one can substitute:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/426460/
good luck

 

[archdelux]

With little googling, EverNote should be worth trying. There is also CrossOver which lets you run Windows software on OS X

Shouldn't slow down much, depends on how much RAM you have

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I did look at various options - and still might end up going with Ponies, or Evernote, etc, but would REALLY like to keep Onenote due to all the stuff I already have in that file format etc.

BUT - I had never heard about CrossOver - that sounds perfect! I assume it will 'cost' much less RAM/etc to run than parallels, correct? Will it bog down my computer at all?

So given my need for Onenote, is there any disadvantage to going with CrossOvers?

Thanks!

 

[Hellhammer]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I did look at various options - and still might end up going with Ponies, or Evernote, etc, but would REALLY like to keep Onenote due to all the stuff I already have in that file format etc.

I would try the others too, they may use the same file format.

BUT - I had never heard about CrossOver - that sounds perfect! I assume it will 'cost' much less RAM/etc to run than parallels, correct? Will it bog down my computer at all?

So given my need for Onenote, is there any disadvantage to going with CrossOvers?

Yeah, it's like running "OneNote for Mac". There may be some minor bugs etc but try the trial of CrossOver before buying, if it'd good, then buy it.

 

[bob5820]

I am going to be running parallels a lot due to my need for Onenote. I am wondering if there is and advantage/disadvantage to running all of my office programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) via Windows XP as opposed to using Office 2008 for Mac OS....any thoughts?

Thanks!

I have both Office2007(Win) and Office2008(Mac) and generally prefer running 2007 in parallels. Here are the leading reasons it works for me.

1. I actually like the 2007 interface. Once I got my head around how it works it made more sense then the old menu heavy interface. Though the 2008 interface is better then the 2004 interface it still seems clunky compared to the windows versions.
2. Macro/VB support
3. Access data base

I'm running the Office2010 beta right now, and MS seems to have made some nice improvements to the 2007 interface. From what I've read Office 2011 (Mac) will be much closer to Office 2010 the 2008 was to 2007. Office2011 will also mark the return of VB to the Mac. While 2011 may knock out 2 of the reasons I prefer the Win version of Office its not going to include a Mac version of Access so I'll likely be sticking with the windows version.

 

[Pine Pienaar]

That depends on what Mac you have. When I run a Windows Office program, under Parallels, my 2.0GHz 3GB ram macbook comes to a crawl. It's slow enough where I definitely wouldn't want to use it often. However, Mac Office is not 100% compatible. It's "pretty good" but it has its flaws. For example, excel VBA macros don't work. Word is pretty good but I still occasionally run into problems. It's bad enough where I don't use mac office for work (I use my work issued windows pc for that).

Even with the new MacBook running Excel for Mac comes to craw!
Regards

 

[thejadedmonkey]

That depends on what Mac you have. When I run a Windows Office program, under Parallels, my 2.0GHz 3GB ram macbook comes to a crawl. It's slow enough where I definitely wouldn't want to use it often. However, Mac Office is not 100% compatible. It's "pretty good" but it has its flaws. For example, excel VBA macros don't work. Word is pretty good but I still occasionally run into problems. It's bad enough where I don't use mac office for work (I use my work issued windows pc for that).

It shouldn't. I have a 2.16ghz Macbook Pro, with 3gb of ram, and while trying to get a nursing video to play, I had OS X and XP running, and was booting 7 when I finally got the stupid video to play.

Do you have enough HDD space, or have you tried using VMWare instead?

 

[balamw]

Do you have enough HDD space, or have you tried using VMWare instead?

Starving the VM for RAM is also a common cause for slow performance. On a 3GB machine I'd try to give 1.5GB to the VM.

B