Considering a Mac, but have two easy questions:

I've read over the "Switcher's Guide" and have looked at the Apple site for a while, but I'm still not sure about two things:

1. I have a big need to send Word documents to people using PCs. I need them to be able to open documents from me created on a Mac just as they would one created on a PC. So my question is: If I create a document using Mac's word-processing program, will it be readable by the PC? (I know that the reverse is true.)

2. Is it true that in order to read or edit Word files on a Mac, I'll have to buy additional software? Or use a Windows OS on the Mac (which sounds like a big hassle)? I know I can move them to the Mac free of charge. But I'd really like to be able to just open them and edit them using the Mac program, and then save them back to Word or an exact copy within Word, meant for a PC recipient.

Thanks a bunch!

--John

 

If you want to open Word documents as in Windows you need Office as in Windows.

Mac OS X is an Operating System and you need the applications that you use as in Windows, this is nothing different, nothing is GRATIS.

Office 2008 ( OS X ) is compatible with Office 2007 ( Windows ) as much as I can tell you. Office is not free and you have to pay on both platforms

 

1. Which Mac's word processing program? If you use Office:Mac to create your word programs, then they will be compatible with the equivalent PC version. If you use another application, such as iWorks suite or something, you will have to export it as a doc or docx file.

2. On a PC, you cannot edit Microsoft Word document files (.doc or .docx) without additional software, such as Microsoft Office or OpenOffice. The same is true on a Mac. If you want to edit Microsoft Word documents, you will have to install Microsoft Office:Mac or OpenOffice or NeoOffice etc.

Note that the PC version of Microsoft Office will not install on a Mac. If you want to use Microsoft's Office suite legally and natively on your Mac, you will have to purchase a license of Office:Mac. There are free alternatives however.

 

Ah! I think I get it now. Thanks, Cryptonome and Budding.

I have to admit I didn't realize there was even an OS X version of the Office suite. (In configuring a "maybe" purchase on the Mac site, I think only the iWork suite came up as an add-on. But I could be wrong.) I was thinking I'd have to use iWork and then convert it somehow.

So it sounds like if I just buy the Office:Mac suite, then creating, reading, and sending Word files will be no different from doing so from a PC.

Thanks again for the replies.

--John

 

iWork is a very good office suite & you can export to word format. Its much cheaper than ms office.
try a demo version and then make a decision.

 

Kaushal--Thanks for the reply. When you say I could export to Word format, would that mean I'd have to buy the Office suite as well? Or is some kind of conversion-only capability built into the iWork suite?

 

there is a conversion utility built in iWork. So try a demo version & see if u are comfortable. If u don't like, u can always get office 08 for mac.

 

Pages, the word processing application in iWork, can save your documents as .doc without you having to get any additional add-ons. It's built in (same with OpenOffice). You just have to click the correct buttons from the menu.