What Word Processor for Mac Should I Use?

Nikovegna on 09/02/2018 - 09:56
Last edited 11/02/2018 - 16:43 by 1 other user

I just bought a MacBook Air from this deal (can't seem to find it, a recent eBay HK deal). It's just arrived and I am currently setting it up and I was wondering what word processor to use.

I don't feel like shelling out $$$ for a licence and I was wondering what the community might recommend. It needs to be compatible with MS Word though. I have an old version of word but it runs super slowly on past laptops so I'm less inclined to use it again.

Any suggestions? Or is there a cheap option of getting MS Office these days? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Computing

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 09/02/2018 - 10:00
    +7

    Open office

    • ESEMCE on 09/02/2018 - 10:56
      +3

      Or LibreOffice

      • o53djz7qTPY4der on 09/02/2018 - 11:40
        +1

        aOO runs MUCH MUCH faster on Mac than Libre. I'm not sure why, but I have tried various things… I am convinced it has to do with the way they use Java.. Who knows?

        aOO is a staple on all my machines. I would use LO if it were faster though.

        • scotty on 09/02/2018 - 15:09

          You'll find LibreOffice has a more active community and more frequent releases. When Oracle mis-managed OpenOffice after they acquired Sun, many core developers forked the source and jumped ship to LibreOffice. Even though Oracle passed OO.o to Apache it's a bit too late now as the momentum is behind LibreOffice.

  • Halo375 on 09/02/2018 - 10:10
    +1

    Really depends if you're going to be sharing files with anybody - Open Office is great (never used on a Mac), but if you're sharing with anyone else, then you should be using Word.

  • coco1458 on 09/02/2018 - 10:11

    Worst comes to worst you'll use Pages, it's not great but it'll be fine + if you're sharing documents you can export as .doc

  • chickenchipsgravy on 09/02/2018 - 10:20
    +1

    MS Office - just keep an eye out for one of those corporate or education promos where you can get it for $10.. at least you know it'll just "work" whether opened on PC, Mac or otherwise.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/02/2018 - 10:30
    +2

    If you have a Gmail address just use Google tools. Just like ms office and every thing is backed up.

  • KaTst3R on 09/02/2018 - 10:46
    +1

    Libre Office/ Open Office/ Google Docs

    But end of the day, you may still go back to MS Office cause that is the one that you are most used to.

    • Davros on 09/02/2018 - 11:38

      5 years using linux and libre and haven't thought of going back

      • o53djz7qTPY4der on 09/02/2018 - 11:52

        Same, I have no need/use for MS Office. If you can't open my documents due to incompatibility I'll send you a PDF and you can make do.

  • Randxyz123 on 09/02/2018 - 11:24
    +2

    Just get word

    I’ve used the above ones and especially for collaboration work, the formatting is always a pain.

    Are you a student ? You can get it for free… If you aren’t a student and use it for work , it’s a tax deduction or ask your employer to pay.

  • Davros on 09/02/2018 - 11:36
    +2

    Op says "I don't feel like shelling out $$$ for a licence" yet buys the most expensive and licenced computer available

    • scrimshaw on 09/02/2018 - 11:47
      +1

      Macbook Airs aren't that expensive. They still cost around the same as Lenovo E series, although it's specced with weaker CPU and no dedicated GPU.

      • steff on 09/02/2018 - 12:32
        +2

        which makes it expensive for what it is

  • techboy on 09/02/2018 - 12:08

    Use the free online versions of Word, Excel etc.
    I have created shortcut icons that sit on my dock.

  • Geryatric on 09/02/2018 - 12:11

    https://www.mwave.com.au/product/microsoft-office-365-person…
    $5.60/month
    Latest Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access
    1TB One Drive Storage
    Email

  • StickMan on 09/02/2018 - 13:05
    +1

    I dunno, what SHOULD you use?

    Apple Pages app is free and can export in .doc and can read Word formats. If you use heavy formatting it'll likely get messed up along the way slightly.

    You can also export to PDF, which is consistent formatting.

    MS Word is the king of word processors, so if you use its features or formatting heavily you need to purchase it.

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