Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

White Macbook 2.4GHz needs Microsoft office.

W

WindowsTraitor

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 31, 2008
251
41
Hi,

My girlfriend has a white mb and I have a dilema. She needs to have MS words, because she cannot use Neo Office (compatibility issues with other colleagues).

The options are:

Install Windows Vista home premium 64 bit for 95$ and then instal MS office 2007(we have a copy already)

Instal MS office for mac at a cost of 107$

I think her HD is 160GB. I have the first set up on my MBP with 60gb dedicated to Windows, and I prefer it. Would it run smooth on an MB?

Which configuration do you recommend. The most important thing to consider is that she does not know much about computers, and I am not there to do the boot camp set up and windows installation. So I already imagine how pissed I will get trying to explain her what to do.( I will do this over the phone)

Thanks
 
I was going to suggest going the boot camp route, but I think if she doesn't know much about computers, and you can't do it for her, definitely go for the Mac version of Office. It's become a lot better since it's release. I don't use it regularly - mostly use iWork here, but Office is still good!
 
Third option

You can install Crossover Mac for $40 and install the Windows version of Office right on OS X. 2007 is supported
 
doctoree said:
Maybe there is another, cheaper more elegant option:
Apple iWork, with Pages. It can read and write Word Documents.
And you don't have to touch a MS product.
Click to expand...
That or OpenOffice for free.

By the time we get done with this guy he'll have checks showing up in his mail box. :D
 
doctoree said:
Maybe there is another, cheaper more elegant option:
Apple iWork, with Pages. It can read and write Word Documents.
And you don't have to touch a MS product.
Click to expand...

I'd imagine the "Compatibility problems with other colleagues" is the issue.

iWork doesn't read/write Office Documents natively, it converts to/from them (which is not a good idea for compatibility and really shouldn't be used in a work situation IMO).

OpenOffice is better, but still might not work (especially if NeoOffice didn't).

I'd say the choice is really between:

- Simplicity of just using Mac OS X but paying a bit more
- The possibilities that are opened up by having Windows installed (not just Office)
 
Thanks for all your replies,

I am tempted to try the crossover mac, but I am afraid that she will then get a crossover blue screen of death. Is anyone using this option? Can you give user experience.

As I said, for me it is very important to adopt the least tech-solution, because I will have to install whatever I choose in remote, and although, I can make the initial set up using Ichat desktop sharing, the difficult parts comes later when you install windows....

Regarding the 64 bit, I purchased that one for my MPB so I used that as a reference. Vista runs great on my MBP, but I've decided not to use it during the summer....too hot:)

I will not consider NEO office, open office etc, because this will create me problems (she will be asking me why this does not work etc etc how you convert files etc etc)

So in conclusion, if the crossover can simulate the same windows experience ( same layout, functions etc,) I will probably go for this as I can install all using Ichat, and I can troubleshoot as well.

there is an additional cost with installing windows which is the Antivirus software.

crossover mac?
 
Read info on Crossover Mac here http://www.codeweavers.com/
It doesn't actually boot windows so there is no blue screens. Its a paid for version of whats called WINE that comes with support. Take a read at the site it may do what you want with the cheapest cost. I have used it in the past for office and I use it daily to run Quicken 2009 and some Windows games without having to leave Mac OS. You can download a demo for 30 days first to see if it does what you want before you buy.
 
a8ball said:
Read info on Crossover Mac here http://www.codeweavers.com/
It doesn't actually boot windows so there is no blue screens. Its a paid for version of whats called WINE that comes with support. Take a read at the site it may do what you want with the cheapest cost. I have used it in the past for office and I use it daily to run Quicken 2009 and some Windows games without having to leave Mac OS. You can download a demo for 30 days first to see if it does what you want before you buy.
Click to expand...

Yes, thanks, I think I will do that. She is sending her laptop to apple ( hairline cracks ) and as soon as she gets it back I will download the free trial. I will also download it on mine to try it out.

thanks
 
When I first got my mbp, I got the iWork suite for my wife, thinking that it should work just fine. She had lots of problems trying to get docs created in pages to retain formatting when saved as .doc files and other little stuff and became very frustrated with the program.

I have since gotten her the Office for Mac and she is a happy camper.

so my advice, particularly if she needs office for work, would be to skip all of the intermediate steps and go straight to Office for Mac. you wont have to worry about installing windows or bothering with other solutions that might not work right all the time.

good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back