General Mac software discussions: For an "Almost" MAC User
For an "Almost" MAC User
by Tosca - 9/1/07 3:28 PMHello --
I'm about to get my first MAC - how about some recommendations about books, magazines, internet sites and articles on the basic software that comes with a new MAC - and even if it's not basic, the wordprocessing (my biggest concern) that would come with it.
Thanks --
Tosca
For an "Almost" Mac User
by BobH - 9/1/07 4:12 PM In reply to: For an "Almost" MAC User by ToscaI highly recommend two books: Switching to the Mac, Tiger Addition by David Pogue & Adam Goldstein and Mac OS X by David Pogue. Both can be found locally or on Amazon or in an Apple Store. For forums, go to Apple.com and click on support and discussions and you can read about all current and past software and OS's and you also can go to forums.appleinsider.com and obtain information also. Hope this helps.
You might not want the "wordprocessing that
by boya84 - 9/1/07 4:18 PM In reply to: For an "Almost" MAC User by Toscacomes with" your Mac - though I guess I don't know what that is...
TextEdit *could* be considered a "word processor"... but it is more like NotePad or WordPad that comes with Windows. "Pages" is part of iWork08, but I *think* that is a demo version. There may also be a demo version od MS Word (part of MS Office for Mac).
Personally, I use NeoOffice... Open Source, free, cross platform, compatible with Microsoft Word (and Excel and PowerPoint... and there is no "maual", exactly, but the online help is really good... what do you need a manual for?
For Mac sites, apple.com is good - though it depends what you want from the sites... the discussions area at apple.com is helpful. http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa
Check if there is a Mac User Group in your area... http://www.apple.com/usergroups/
I guess it depends what you are looking for in the way of support. If you have used applications on a computer before, they are all pretty similar...
Word Processors
by mrmacfixit
- 9/2/07 6:10 AM
In reply to: For an "Almost" MAC User by Tosca
that "come with the Mac" and that are free, are none existent.
As the previous poster pointed out, "Text Edit" is the only application that might fall into that class but it is similar to NotePad or WordPad.
However, you do get a trial copy of MS Office 2004 for Mac which will be familiar to you if you have ever used Word, Excel, etc.
There is also a trial copy of iWorks which unlike MS Works, actual does. Work that is.
Included in iWorks is Pages, a fully functional word processor that is capable of opening, and saving, documents that were created/being read by, MS Word.
It also contains Apple's new spreadsheet program, Numbers, and their presentation application, Keynote.
All of the above cost money but, as boya84 pointed out, there are free alternatives out there to MS Office.
The books mentioned will also help but word processing on any platform and with any good WP, is basically the same. Once you are inside the program it behaves remarkably similar no matter what OS you are running.
Enjoy your new machine
P
?
by grimgraphix - 9/2/07 11:10 AM In reply to: Word Processors by mrmacfixit
Doesn't AppleWorks come with every apple?
Is that not a Word Processor?
? Word Processor
by BobH - 9/2/07 12:30 PM In reply to: ? by grimgraphixAppleworks is no longer included and has been discontinued. New machines only come with TextEdit and trial offers for iWorks and Office for Mac.
(NT) Oh... OK. Thanks for the info.
by grimgraphix - 9/2/07 9:05 PM In reply to: ? Word Processor by BobHLots of Decent Free Mac Word Processing
by chunkylimey - 9/21/07 11:06 PM In reply to: Word Processors by mrmacfixit
Key Points for FREE MAC WORD PROCESSING.
Firstly you can load OPEN OFFICE on a Mac. Open Office Aqua even loads easily as a Mac .App. I've loaded this and so far it's working great (and personally I prefer it to Apple's pages and MS Office).
Secondly you have access to Google Word Processing free so long as you are online.
Both of these are completely free.
IBM is also backing Lotus Symphony which is based on Open Office and will be coming out with a Mac version next year.
As for iWorks it isn't that expensive, when compared to Office and from what I've used of it it's been pretty good so far.
Office is not needed or necessary for a PC, and not for a Mac either.
Tips for Almost
by Kathleen Lawrence - 9/6/07 8:56 AM In reply to: For an "Almost" MAC User by ToscaWP: see openoffice.org, neooffice.org, bean,: check version tracker.com, too
How will you use your Mac? Make Movies, Music? Science? Graphics? Photography?
Your use & expectations will determine what to get.
* Suggest you take advantage of the Free Apple Personal Shopper:
http://www.apple.com/retail/personalshopping/ They are not on commission. Make an appointment, to talk about your needs & apps & peripherals.
*Apple has private tutoring for after you buy, too: http://www.apple.com/retail/onetoone/
and, see:
- http://www.apple.com/getamac/movetomac/
- http://www.apple.com/support/mac101
- http://www.apple.com/tiger
- http://www.apple.com/business/
- http://www.apple.com/pro/
*Switch from PCs? - http://www.apple.com/support/switch101 - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/cdb_whatcalled.html *Check out: http://www.myfirstmac.com and http://www.macinstruct.com/node/124> http://macinuser.atspace.com/index.html
*Keep Your Mac Happy: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/iMacChat/files/ and go to Tips folder (may have to copy & paste links but well worth it)
-Online resources: http://MacOSG.com, and http://www.apple.com/usergroups
*David Pogue's, The Missing Manual Series of books. There is an edition just for Switchers, too.
Almost MAC cont.
by Tosca - 9/6/07 8:16 PM In reply to: Tips for Almost by Kathleen LawrenceWonderful Kathleen - Thanks so much -- Tosca
Yes, those are great links!
by Josh K - 9/23/07 7:41 AM In reply to: Almost MAC cont. by ToscaI've bookmarked all of them. Thanks very much. I haven't made the move yet but expect to in the next month or two (after Leopard has been released).
TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO THE LIGHT!!
by fedupwithmac - 9/21/07 6:44 PM In reply to: For an "Almost" MAC User by ToscaDon't do it if you plan to use any real business apps. Nothing works well. It will freeze on a regular basis so Mac users say it doesn't crash. Everything is a multi-step process instead of one click. I told the support folks that I was not able to sync my Blackberry (for the Mac users, that is a very popular business tool) they told me to get an iphone. You can always just buy one more program to make the one you used easily with Windows function sometimes. Simply playing a short video is an ordeal. It actually speeds up and slows down; the sound spits and sputters. The answer for all problems is to fall for more closed architecture. The attitude is...sorry your inferior device or software or anything else will not work properly with a Mac. Again, the answer for all your problems is to buy more Mac this or that.
I now have $2300 paid for a very poor excuse for a computer. I guess I will find some children to play with this toy and I will bite the bullet and buy another Vaio.
Don't drink the KoolAid...stay away from the dark side...come back to the light.
Do you need some advice or help?
by grimgraphix - 9/22/07 5:59 AM In reply to: TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO THE LIGHT!! by fedupwithmacThese forums are generally here for folks to seek help with computer questions. Looking through the 3 posts you have made after joining yesterday, all I see you doing is venting your frustration. I get that way too, when some piece of technology is giving me the fits, I like to vent and yell and go chop wood. After I get the frustration out, I sit down and ask some of the fine people here about how I can get my computer to do what I originally wanted it to do.
It sounds like your biggest frustration is getting a Blackberry to work with your mac. I can't help you here because I don't use a blackberry, but, if you were to start a new thread with "Blackberry headaches" as the subject line, then maybe, just maybe, someone who has had a similar frustration may be able to help you out.
BTW, you are absolutely right when you said... "Mac is a cult toy for people only interested in doing things the Mac way" We are only interested in doing things a mac way here. That is why this is a mac help forum. If you want to learn how to do things in a "mac way" as well... all you have to do is ask. 
grim
I did
by fedupwithmac - 9/22/07 7:43 AM In reply to: Do you need some advice or help? by grimgraphixYou may be interested in why I joined yesterday. I was looking for answers to all the problems I have had with the MacBook not living up to the promises made in the Apple store at Lenox Square in Atlanta. To your point, I have spent many hours looking for answers on blogs AND with Apple support AND with Parallels support. All I have found is other postings from other people fed up with silence from Parallels and the buy more Mac solutions from Apple. I am serious when I tell you that Apple support said that they know that there are problems with Blackberry (note the problem is Blackberry or Microsoft not Apple); the solution suggested was to buy an Iphone. I guess the solution for any problem could be to deny that it exist or just ignore it and it will go away.
I found this forum looking for answers and wished that someone had warned me with facts about non-compatibility.
I see.
by R. Proffitt - 9/22/07 7:57 AM
In reply to: I did by fedupwithmac
And I'm seeing similar compatibility issues with Windows Vista. There is no panacea out there but many issues can be solved if you find the right people to talk to.
Here I'm seeing solutions to the points you raised earlier so it's sad that your Apple support failed you.
Bob
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