Hi My alter ego is absolutely correct of course but could I also urge you not to take it too fast, time taken just using the apps that come built in will be time very well spent and don't try and add new stuff before you have mastered the basics.
It took me about a month to get comfortable with the switch, that was three years ago and while I would never go back to the dark side I am still learning - yeah I know it could just be me being thick! Enjoy the mac when it arrives I'm sure you will love it. G >From Bridgerule in glorious Devon, England. On 4 Aug 2011, at 10:52, Gordon Smith wrote: > Right, now that's out of the way, let me try to address your genuine > questions. First of all you talk about Office. There are two options as I > see it, both of which have advantages. Apple iWork, now available > individually as apps from the App Store, has its advantages. Pages, in > particular, as a word processor, is excellent in my view. As is Nisus Writer > Pro, available from <http://nisis.ccom> is an excellent word processor in its > own right and there's no doubt that it has its advantages over Pages. > Conversely, it also has disadvantages, in my view. But that's a debatable > point. > > For Excel spreadsheets, you have two choices as I see it. Again you could > use Numbers, available from the App Store, and I am sure you can get a lot of > advice on its use in this group. Alternatively, there is a much more > accessible programme, in my opinion, called "Tabled" Tables is a shareware > product if I remember rightly. I am just starting out in its use, but I > prefer it, I think, over Numbers because you always have clear indication > from VoiceOver as to where you are going. > > The most recent version of Tables is v1..5.7 and this version addresses > previous issues with Excel import. It works fine under Lion, so no problems > there. I'm sorry, I cannot recall the URL but if you google it, do a search > for "Tables for Mac" I'm sure you'll find it. > > I strongly suggest that you don't go too far before you get your Mac. I have > found, and those whom I have helped first hand seemed to find that hands-on > is the best way to learn. It often seems to be the case that just listening > to Podcasts leaves the learner with a very false impression and they usually > find they have to start learning all over again when they get their machine. > > Just my comments for whatever they're worth; take them or leave them. > > Gordon > > > On 4 Aug 2011, at 09:17, David Griffith wrote: > > Dear list > > Whilst I am waiting for my I-Mac to be built and delivered I am trying to > start on the learning curve of getting to grips with the new system. I am > working my way through the podcast on blind Cool tech. I may be looking for > support from this group in the next few weeks so I really hope that things > do not implode with the list. It has already been a useful resource for me. > > As a starter question what is the recommended replacement for Microsoft > office on the Mac? As I understand it the current Mac office is not > accessible with the Mac. My requirements is mainly for using a word > Processer and a Spreadsheet, hopefully doc and xls compatible. I use > Microsoft Outlook in the current office suite for mail calendar etc but it > looks like most are using the native Mac applications here. > I think I read on a apple Accessibility page that Open Office is a good free > accessible alternative. Do people agree? I see that I-Works is a fairly > inexpensive option but it seems that the interface is very different from > Office. Given the learning curve I need to undertake with learning about a > new operating systems I may delay learning about I-Works if Open Office > would be a more familiar interface. Do people think this is a sensible > strategy or should I bite the bullet and go for I-Works immediately. > I have also read in the last few days people referring to Scrivener. > Presumably this is accessible and a Word Processing alternative? Why do > people go the scrivener route? > > Probably enough for now. > Sorry for so many questions. > > > David Griffith > > > __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature > database 6348 (20110803) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. > > http://www.eset.com > > > <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> > > To reply to this post, please address your message to > mac-access@mac-access.net > > You can find a monthly formatted archive of all messages posted to the > Mac-Access forum at the following URL: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> > > The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and > worm-free! > > Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting > the list website at: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/> > > <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> > > To reply to this post, please address your message to > mac-access@mac-access.net > > You can find a monthly formatted archive of all messages posted to the > Mac-Access forum at the following URL: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> > > The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and > worm-free! > > Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting > the list website at: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/> <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> To reply to this post, please address your message to mac-access@mac-access.net You can find a monthly formatted archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at the following URL: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and worm-free! 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