On the question of AW 5 v AW6: the one thing that I find disappointing is there a lot less format options for saving word processing documents with 6 than there were with 5. My impression is that that functionality was supposed to transfer over to MacLink, but it has not on my G3's (iMac333, and iMacDV400--I do not have OS X in any version).
Several people have told me that, for receiving .docs into AW 5/6, I should use icWord; has anyone used this and can offer an opinion? Thank you-- Richard DeLaurell on 10/20/04 8:19 AM, Paul Tansom at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 01:53:55 -0500 > Tim & Alethea Larson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >>> At 12:39 PM -0500 10/16/2004, >>> In "running old software on OS X", Tim Larson wrote: >>>> >>>> I can't justify spending more of my hard-earned $$$ for another >>>> version of MS Office to run on OS X when I already have Word >>>> 5.1a/Excel 4 and Office 98. AppleWorks isn't quite "there" yet and >>>> none of the free alternatives I've seen (like AbiWord, >>>> OpenOffice.org) are very polished (i.e. I'm not comfortable letting >>>> my wife use them). >>> >>> We just got a new PB/Panther but have been using AppleWorks (6) for >>> years. And I guess I'm asking myself if we really need "more"? >>> >>> IOW, AppleWorks vs MS Office vs OpenOffice vs ? >> >> I've got Abiword too, which is my leading contender right at the >> moment. >> >>> What specific features do you need that makes you say "AppleWorks >>> isn't quite 'there' yet"? etc... >> >> Good .doc compatibility. Reality is, most ppl use Word, and save in >> that format. Plus, I've got over 10 years experience with those apps >> - using something I know is always easier than learning something new. >> >> I know I've heard that people are running older versions of the MS >> apps in Classic. I just wish I could figure out how. > > I've not got my Mac systems (ageing and scrounged so far) to a point > where I'd sit and use them for much more than browser compatibility > testing yet - still keeping my eye out for a well priced (dirt cheap?!) > B&W G3 - but I've used a fair variety of applications on everything from > 8 bit Amstrads through Amiga, Windows, OS/2 and now primarily Linux. I > pretty much stick with OpenOffice these days as it suits my needs > nicely. I guess I have been using it on and off since it was still owned > by Star Division (as in the base product, StarOffice, at around version > 4 or 5 I think) so I should be fairly comfortable with it. I'm not a big > receiver of Word .doc format documents, but I've not yet had any > problems reading those that I've come across. > > If you just want to read the document and possibly print it then it > should be fine. If, on the other hand, you are regularly updating and > returning Word files to other people then I don't see any choice other > than to have a copy of Word and make sure it is at the same level as the > other person - unless you can arrange an exchange of documents in > another mutually readable format like RTF (although this is still open > to interpretation). Since Microsoft have control of the .doc format and > are continually tweaking it to give them the edge nothing will ever be > fully compatible. > > I remember the same problems when Lotus Smartsuite was the default > package at work (version 3.1 for Windows 3.1). If somebody exchanged > documents with a MS Office user then there was an immediate request to > purchase MS Office, and as soon as the incoming format moved up to a > newer version of Office then next request came through. Back then it > included a request for Windows 95, which cause all manner of problems > because we were OS/2 based and you then had to follow up with pushing > back a purchase order for Windows 95, Office 95, a Windows based 3270 > package and usually one or two others - finding a better file exchange > format would have been a much cheaper option, but who listens to the IT > department?! The other issue we had when we finally went for Windows 95 > clients was sticking with Smartsuite 3.1 because nobody was willing to > spend money on the newer Smartsuite as everyone wanted Office, but at > the same time the cost of Office was way too high due to the fact that > server based Smartsuite was concurrently licensed, whereas Office would > have to have had a license for every single potential user - but I'm > digressing!. -- MaX-list is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... / Buy books, CDs, videos, and more from Amazon.com \ / <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/lowendmac> \ Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> MaX-list info: <http://lowendmac.com/linux/max.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/max-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
