Word Processing for Mac? Forum

[wallawhite1987]

What do you use for word processing (to write papers, memos, etc.) for your Mac? Do you just use the "TextEdit" program that came with it? Please and thanks.

[kjadkins]

I use Pages, it's part of iWork (Mac's office suite) but I think you can purchase it separately too. I absolutely love iWork in general, and Pages is great for word-processing (a lot more user-friendly than TextEdit), and it's way cheaper than Microsoft Office.

[mrloblaw]

For course notes, pages. Microsoft Word it isn't, but it's also only $20 on the app store.

Note that I haven't had to do anything that involves extensive footnoting, etc., so I can't verify that it's great for memos and briefs.

[wallawhite1987]

I use Pages, it's part of iWork (Mac's office suite) but I think you can purchase it separately too. I absolutely love iWork in general, and Pages is great for word-processing (a lot more user-friendly than TextEdit), and it's way cheaper than Microsoft Office.

Thanks, kjadkins. I was thinking about getting Pages, and I was also thinking about just getting iWork. I just don't know if I would use all that extra stuff in it. Do you get much use out of the other programs? What do you use them for?

[wallawhite1987]

For course notes, pages. Microsoft Word it isn't, but it's also only $20 on the app store.

Note that I haven't had to do anything that involves extensive footnoting, etc., so I can't verify that it's great for memos and briefs.

I got my midterms coming up, so my main concern was having a word processing program that I could take them on. You think it would do the job just fine?

[nshapkar]

I use microsoft office for mac.

[rinkrat19]

The student price for Office for Windows is like $50 or something. I would assume you can get it cheap (and legal) for Macs as well.

[mrloblaw]

For course notes, pages. Microsoft Word it isn't, but it's also only $20 on the app store.

Note that I haven't had to do anything that involves extensive footnoting, etc., so I can't verify that it's great for memos and briefs.

I got my midterms coming up, so my main concern was having a word processing program that I could take them on. You think it would do the job just fine?

I've never had a midterm in a law school course before, so I don't know what that consists of. I've figured out how to do everything on it that I've tried so far, although there's a learning curve if you're coming from Word for Windows (I had to teach myself a dozen or so keyboard shortcuts). I think you'd be fine, but if you're doing this under any sort of timed conditions, make sure you get used to the program beforehand.

If you're running Lion, Pages has also been updated to work in full screen mode, which really helps me get the most out of my 11" Air's screen. I doubt Word has been updated.

Anyone want to chime in that's used Pages for more heavy-duty stuff?

[wallawhite1987]

I use microsoft office for mac, it's free.

Oh, that's a super idea.

The student price for Office for Windows is like $50 or something. I would assume you can get it cheap (and legal) for Macs as well.

Only $50? How does the word processing on Microsoft Office compare with pages?

[nshapkar]

I use microsoft office for mac, it's free.

Oh, that's a super idea.

The student price for Office for Windows is like $50 or something. I would assume you can get it cheap (and legal) for Macs as well.

well you have to try it before you buy it.

[wallawhite1987]

I use microsoft office for mac, it's free.


thepiratebay.org

Oh, that's a super idea.

The student price for Office for Windows is like $50 or something. I would assume you can get it cheap (and legal) for Macs as well.

Only $50? How does the word processing on Microsoft Office compare with pages?

The student price for Microsoft Office is actually $150 per the app store. Is there anyway you can just get Microsoft Word by itself? I don't need the other stuff

[wallawhite1987]

For course notes, pages. Microsoft Word it isn't, but it's also only $20 on the app store.

Note that I haven't had to do anything that involves extensive footnoting, etc., so I can't verify that it's great for memos and briefs.

I got my midterms coming up, so my main concern was having a word processing program that I could take them on. You think it would do the job just fine?

I've never had a midterm in a law school course before, so I don't know what that consists of. I've figured out how to do everything on it that I've tried so far, although there's a learning curve if you're coming from Word for Windows (I had to teach myself a dozen or so keyboard shortcuts). I think you'd be fine, but if you're doing this under any sort of timed conditions, make sure you get used to the program beforehand.

If you're running Lion, Pages has also been updated to work in full screen mode, which really helps me get the most out of my 11" Air's screen. I doubt Word has been updated.

Anyone want to chime in that's used Pages for more heavy-duty stuff?

As much as I like my Mac (it's fast and reliable), it's turning into a real pain in the ass. From having to worry about whether the exam software will be updated to accommodate Lion to having to find alternatives to Onenote and Word. Kind of wish I would have just saved a couple hundred bucks and the aggravation. Rant/

[wallawhite1987]

Does anyone know if you can send documents directly from pages to professors that own PCs or do you Mac Office for that?

[mrloblaw]

Does anyone know if you can send documents directly from pages to professors that own PCs or do you Mac Office for that?

When you try to save a document there's a "Save as Microsoft Office" button. You can also go to Export and create a version of your document in word, pdf, etc.

[lzyovrachievr]

The student price for Microsoft Office is actually $150 per the app store. Is there anyway you can just get Microsoft Word by itself? I don't need the other stuff

Your school should have a special limited release version of this at the computer store that's cheaper. It was only about $50-60 for me for Office for Mac 2011 that can only be used while you're a student and that you have to sign a special license for. (It also just comes in a sleeve instead of the normal Office case.)

I used Pages for a couple years, but I was still using Word at work, and I just really prefer Word. Pages will do what you want for the most part, but Word still seems like the standard, IMO.

[mrloblaw]

Isn't the mac version of word sort of crappy by comparison anyway, or is that a holdover from the dark ages? For that reason, I've always thought that if I ever absolutely needed word, I'd just use an XP vm.

[bendtheslurry]

Isn't the mac version of word sort of crappy by comparison anyway, or is that a holdover from the dark ages? For that reason, I've always thought that if I ever absolutely needed word, I'd just use an XP vm.

i think it used to be that way, but the newest word for mac is great

[rinkrat19]

I use microsoft office for mac, it's free.


thepiratebay.org

Oh, that's a super idea.

The student price for Office for Windows is like $50 or something. I would assume you can get it cheap (and legal) for Macs as well.

Only $50? How does the word processing on Microsoft Office compare with pages?

The student price for Microsoft Office is actually $150 per the app store. Is there anyway you can just get Microsoft Word by itself? I don't need the other stuff

It must vary by school, because I know it's way cheaper than that for Northwestern students.

Only $50? How does the word processing on Microsoft Office compare with pages?

I've never used Pages, whatever that is, but MS Office is the industry standard and the program by which all others are measured. Pretty sure it compares favorably to whatever.

[99.9luft]

I use microsoft office for mac, it's free.


XXXXXorg

you can get iWorks there too (why pay?). Btw, edit the link, you will get banned for posting torrents sites

[haus]

I am a fan of Pages, but if it is not your cup of tea, you may want to take a look at Bean (lightweight word processor, free), or the Writer program that comes as part of LibreOffice (free).

If none of the above feel like a good fit, wikipedia's list of word processors might be a reasonable place to start looking for other options.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_word_processors

[5ky]

Isn't the mac version of word sort of crappy by comparison anyway, or is that a holdover from the dark ages? For that reason, I've always thought that if I ever absolutely needed word, I'd just use an XP vm.

MS Office 2011 is very good, and your school should have a cheap(er) version for you. It cost me 15 dollars through my school.