MS Office for OS X

[darraghsmyth]

Hi,

I'm looking in to getting a 12" Powerbook asap. Due to work constraints, I will probably need to get MS Office for OS X so that I can transfer Word, Excel and Powerpoint between the Apple and other PC/Win users.

Has anyone had any trouble with MS Office for OS X? Are the files truly interchangeable or does that only apply if you're using the tools in their most basic form?

Thanks in advance for all your tips.

darragh

 

[PlaceofDis]

i have never had problems transerfing files, but thats only Word and Excel i am not sure about Powerpoint

 

[BornAgainMac]

Powerpoint

Powerpoint works but some of the fancier transitions from Powerpoint 2002 weren't available on the Mac version so they didn't translate over.

I understand more transitions will be available on the Powerpoint 2004 for the Mac.

 

[wordmunger]

There are definitely problems transferring powerpoint files, but only if you use all the latest whiz-bang goodies. I know my wife has had occasional troubles with movies and other graphics files within powerpoint--you have to be careful about which file formats you use. These problems are definitely possible to overcome--she is a professor who lectures every day using powerpoints created on a Mac and running on a PC.

 

[About2SwitchOvr]

Similar concerns...

There are definitely problems transferring powerpoint files, but only if you use all the latest whiz-bang goodies. I know my wife has had occasional troubles with movies and other graphics files within powerpoint--you have to be careful about which file formats you use. These problems are definitely possible to overcome--she is a professor who lectures every day using powerpoints created on a Mac and running on a PC.

I too had the same worries, as I work heavily on Excel/Word/PPT

Word had no problems what so ever.. Even with the password protection
Same goes with Excel...
As for the fancier PPTs.. I got KEYNOTE, which can EXPORT as PPT files, which works fluidly... No regrets, no problems.. I definitely recommend it..

 

[denm316]

I have not really experienced any problems with Word or Excel, however when there are fancy PowerPoint Presentations I run into the occasional issue.

I began using keynote for fancier presentations. This may all be resolved however with the release of Office 2004 in the near future...not sure though.

 

[yamabushi]

In the past I noticed some slight differences in formatting including line spacing when reading some older Word files created on a computer running Windows. However I have noticed similar problems transferring between Windows based computers with different versions of Word so this isn't anything unique to file transfers between Mac and Windows. I prefer to use plain text or pdf files whenever possible.

 

[dswoodley]

In the past I noticed some slight differences in formatting including line spacing when reading some older Word files created on a computer running Windows. However I have noticed similar problems transferring between Windows based computers with different versions of Word so this isn't anything unique to file transfers between Mac and Windows. I prefer to use plain text or pdf files whenever possible.

I think the new version checker tool in the new Office will be a big help

 

[varmit]

Problems due occur

Because they are not made by the same people, they just try to keep compatability, some things don't work right. Like pictures inside powerpoint, make sure they are jpg files, other wise when transfering them from mac to pc, the pc can't see the pictures so a "can't render picture" will happen if you are showing it to people. very imbarassing. Pictures are the only problems that I know of, so just watch for it. PC to Mac is fine, just the metadata can get messed up and slides can be off set and stuff.

If you do transfer, just do a quick look though.

 

[MisterMe]

Because they are not made by the same people, they just try to keep compatability, some things don't work right. Like pictures inside powerpoint, make sure they are jpg files, other wise when transfering them from mac to pc, the pc can't see the pictures so a "can't render picture" will happen if you are showing it to people. very imbarassing. Pictures are the only problems that I know of, so just watch for it. PC to Mac is fine, just the metadata can get messed up and slides can be off set and stuff.

If you do transfer, just do a quick look though.

What is more vexing than image files are dingbat characters used as bullets. They will usually get changed when a Mac-created PowerPoint file is presented on a Windows machine.

 

[twohard2think]

What about Office Student and Teacher

Does anyone know if the Microsoft Office Student and Teacher for Mac is compatable with Pc's. It doesn't say anything about it being compatable?

 

[aswitcher]

Does anyone know if the Microsoft Office Student and Teacher for Mac is compatable with Pc's. It doesn't say anything about it being compatable?

I am pretty sure thats a big no... tehre is a windows version and a mac version of office...although you could run the windows on a mac using virtual pc

 

[varmit]

don't get me wrong

its not a complete incompatablility. Its just small stuff, like a picture wont show up on a PC when you do a slide show on a Mac and you don't make sure that all the files are jpgs. Word, excel seem to work flawlessly back an forth in my opinion.

 

[DCKiwi]

Generally I'd agree with what everyone here has said regarding cross-platform compatibility Office docs. In fact I'd suggest that often Mac <--> PC works at least as well as PC <--> PC if the two PCs are using different versions of Office.

Its definitely correct that powerpoint is the most problematic of the programs. Although you can make a PDF of the presentation and use that as a last resort. All the fancy transitions and build effects are gone but it will work.

 

[Westside guy]

Does anyone know if the Microsoft Office Student and Teacher for Mac is compatable with Pc's. It doesn't say anything about it being compatable?

Do you mean is it somehow different than the "regular" Microsoft Office.X? They're the same programs.

I get Office stuff sent to me from PC users all the bloody time. Love it when someone says "put this on the Web", and the attached Word doc is 2 paragraphs of plain text.