Question on Notebooks:

I have an Apple MacBook but it does not come preinstalled with Microsoft Office for Mac nor Apple iWork '08. I need a document/spreadsheet/presentation software for school use, like the usual typing of homework, making charts, etc. I'm planning to buy the license but found out they're quite pricey. Which one do you recommend? Should I get the MS Office, or the iWork, or both? Aren't they quite similar?

Submitted by CNET Asia reader, via email

Answer:

iWork and Microsoft Office for Mac are two separate programs. For your needs, we recommend using NeoOffice. This is a freeware productivity suite which is also compatible with Microsoft Office documents. If your MacBook is set up to boot into Windows, another alternative is OpenOffice (also a freeware).

However, do note that certain advanced features or formatting in Microsoft Office documents may not show up in NeoOffice or OpenOffice. But if you are planning to use only the basic features, both software apps should be sufficient. Besides they are free, so there is no harm trying.

badanswers

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badanswers says...
Uhm, the reader asked which was better, MS Office or iWork '08, NOT What application suite do you think is best for school use? If you were going to do your job right, you would have given reasons why one is better than another by pointing out pros and cons, etc. Then you would have proceeded to suggest one which is better in your opinion. At most, you then suggest your Neoffice choice as an alternative. See, the problem is that this stuff gets posted to MacSurfer, I end up clicking on it thinking I'm going to get a review on these applciations and I end up wasting my time having to read this sort of stuff. Then I waste more time trying to get you to do your job right/well. It would be nice to see some good reporting.

May 12, 2008 11:55

zahadum

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zahadum says...
right on, dude!

it is so annoying to see how much incompetent journalism there is in the trade press when it comes to covering the mac (ie the inability even to list simple facts!)

every new hire in tech press should have to take a test & have their score posted along side their by-line! ...

along with an index of how many mistakes by the author that readers have identified so far!

adding some accountability might actually make the tech media do their job properly (yes, i know that the windows/IT culture is to accept "good enough" as opposed to the standard that mac community has (for both products & journalism)- which is it must be the best (eg ARS TECHNICA)- but still it is not unreasonable to expect that the drones actually be punished for FUD and/or mediocrity!

May 12, 2008 13:53