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Netbooks: netbook interfacing with Macbook

by labrams - 10/30/09 5:13 PM
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Post 1 of 10

netbook interfacing with Macbook

by labrams - 10/30/09 5:13 PM

My petite college student needed a macbook pro for college and it adds alot of weight to her backpack. I am considering getting her a PC netbook to take to classes for notetaking from which to download to her macbook in her dorm room. Also it would be good if she can upload presentations to the netbook from the Mac for class presentation. Does anyone know if these two will interface easily or am I in for the old PC to Mac interface problems? If I get her microsoft office for the netbook will it interface with her office programs on her macbook pro?

Post 2 of 10

You need Office 2008 for mac and...

by d_adams - 10/30/09 7:33 PM In reply to: netbook interfacing with Macbook by labrams

What you'll need is microsoft office '08 for the Mac, and Microsoft office '07 for the netbook. All files made within MS Office will work on any other version of MS Office, even the Mac version. To get them from one computer to the other, you'll need a flash drive (a 2GB one will do).

There are really no compatibility problems between Mac and PC anymore, as long as you know what to do.

Post 3 of 10

You need Neo Office for the Mac.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 10/31/09 6:22 AM In reply to: netbook interfacing with Macbook by labrams

It's very compatible with Office for Windows. It's free too.

Look at this at Apple at this link -> http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/productivity_tools/neooffice.html

Bob

Post 4 of 10

For the NetBook, try Open Office.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 10/31/09 6:23 AM In reply to: You need Neo Office for the Mac. by R. Proffitt Moderator

Then you are getting the full effect for free. Yes, it is Power Point compatible.

Post 5 of 10

netbook compatibility

by labrams - 10/31/09 8:47 AM In reply to: For the NetBook, try Open Office. by R. Proffitt Moderator

We already have office '08 loaded on the mac.I might be able to get microsoft products at a discount. Should I get the most recent office for the netbook or download the "open office"? thank you

Post 6 of 10

Your choice here.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 10/31/09 9:13 AM In reply to: netbook compatibility by labrams

Since you can try Open Office for free and save your power point on the Apple as Office 2003 compatible you might get done for no money. But in the end, your choice.

Post 7 of 10

flaws of Open Office...

by d_adams - 11/1/09 6:05 AM In reply to: netbook compatibility by labrams

The reason I didn't mention OpenOffice in my previous post, is that it isn't as seamless and easy to use as MS office. Also, since your getting it for college, you should be able to buy MS office for $70 or something like that.

Main flaws of OpenOffice:

1. You have to tell it to save in a MS Office format (.docx, .dox, .xls, etc...). It doesn't automatically do it, so you might have to re-save a file a few times before you get the hang of this.
2. The interface is a tiny bit clunky/old fashioned. It's not as modern and easy to use as MS Office.
3. On my computer, it screwed up my Default Programs list, making files open in it, rather than in other programs. I had to manually set it back...
Anyway, it's free, so you essentially get what you pay for, or don't pay for!

I'm not a fan of Microsoft, but they really have done a good job on their office programs. However, as the guy above/below says, you can always just try Open Office, and if you don't like it, dump it.

Post 8 of 10

flawsof open office-netbook recommendations

by labrams - 11/1/09 7:39 AM In reply to: flaws of Open Office... by d_adams

thank you for your comments. My daughter is an inpatient computer user and since she has only used macs, this might be a deal killer. So I will probably get her the "real office" which we get dicounted. thank you- you saved me some heartache. On another front any netbook recommendations that interface well with the mac (or ones to avoid?)thanks

Post 9 of 10

I own the older 8 inch Acer netbook.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 11/1/09 8:03 AM In reply to: flawsof open office-netbook recommendations by labrams

And would swap it for the newer 11 inch Ao751h if I could. Works super for presentations. I did get the bigger battery (7 or more hours.)
Bob

Post 10 of 10

glad to help

by d_adams - 11/17/09 1:40 PM In reply to: flawsof open office-netbook recommendations by labrams

As for which one to get, well, I've only ever used the Asus IEEE PCs, so I can't really say how they compare to one another. It would probably be best to just go somewhere and try out a few display machines with office installed on them to see how you, or rather your daughter, like's them. I don't know if you've spotted it, but there are some good netbook reviews here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-netbooks/?tag=resourceLeftContainer.0

Anyway, I'm glad I could help.

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