Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Who is using Microsoft software with the M series Macs?
- Thread starter The point and shoot pro
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
What do you mean that the Mac version does not allow for keyboard navigation? While there may be some differences between the Mac and Windows version, Excel on the Mac does support keyboard navigation both within spreadsheets and to invoke commands. Are you talking about the web version of Excel? That has more limited keyboard navigation.
You mentioned Visio but AFAIK Microsoft has never brought that to the Mac.
Just a point about buying a base model to try out. Be aware that RAM needs always increase during the life of the box. RAM is baked on to the chip into Apple's superb Unified Memory Architecture, so Mac RAM is not upgradeable. For most computer-active folks (as opposed to granny doing only email, or a K-12 classroom with tightly managed apps) base model RAM is inappropriately low. And deals from places like Costco are invariably base model boxes.
Note that Apple's OS memory management is excellent, so even base model boxes will usually just work, even with RAM demands exceeding what is available. However they will work substantially better with fully adequate RAM.
Last edited:
Yes, I agree. I have 64gb in my current notebook. Problem is, if I go to 64gb of ram and 2tb same as my current windows system, I am going north of 5g. My son, who is a light user would get by fine with 8gb.
Be aware that the Mac version of Office is lacking a lot of features. For example, there are no active x controls. So if you use buttons in word, they will show up but do nothing. There's no UI to add or modify content controls. I don't know what else is missing: those are what I've found so far
It seems to be about on par with the web version, which isn't enough for me. I ended up having to run office in a Windows 11 VM
It seems to be about on par with the web version, which isn't enough for me. I ended up having to run office in a Windows 11 VM
Outlook for Mac is absolutely horrible. It's the one part of Microsoft365 that is completely unusable if you're looking for Windows feature parity or even compatibility.
With the "New Outlook" turned on, you have no shared folders, issues with shared calendars, the list goes on. Switching to the "Old Outlook" brings back those features (mostly), but then you're stuck with a really cumbersome 15-year-old interface and some modern functionality.
I really wish MS would get their act together with Outlook. They've been saying they're overhauling the app on both platforms to be consistent in its features and functionality. But all they've done for the last few years is make Outlook less and less feature-rich or compatible.
I am with 'MacGizmo', I use Excel everyday for personal finances, Word once in a while because I have to, I hate Word but it has become the standard in government work. Our communications design group used WordPerfect for years, it was a great program with it's reveal codes and easy to use. Because the government required Word docs, we would convert our specs and documents at the last minute to submit.
I find Outlook for Mac to be very useful and don't miss any of those features. It is definitely "useable". Of course if you really depend those sharing features it would be a problem, otherwise, not so much.
Again I must disagree, Outlook on the Mac is totally different than PC version. I liked Outlook because I had my email servers and multiple email addresses. Each email address had it own set of folders, never co-mingled messages with other email addresses. (Like Mail on the Mac) When I tried the Mac version, it put put all messages in one set of folders, very frustrating. I tried every, no dice.
If that is what you need, it would be a problem. I use Outlook for work and it works quite well for that.
I keep my personal mail accounts in a separate email client that also commingles but keeps track of which account was the recipient so I don't worry about distinguishing them.
It really depends on your style of usage and whether Outlook can support that or whether you need that specific way of doing things. the OP was not specific about their needs so I assumed fairly generic needs which Outlook on the Mac would handle just fine.
I’ve got an M1 MacBook Pro & a 2018 Intel Mac mini, and I’m pretty locked into the entire Microsoft Office / Azure / Exchange environment because of work. I mainly use a Windows 11 (12?) Virtual Machine in Parallels with 16 GB of dedicated Memory. My Mac mini has 64 GB of Memory, so I’m able to just swipe over to a full screen Windows screen with all of my work stuff in Edge and Chrome and Firefox all signed in ready to go, along with my email and PowerShell and and and… it’s great for office stuff, but not for gaming. I’ve got a similar VM setup on my M1 MBP for work, too, and all is well. I mainly push out software with SCCM and remote into computers at work for HelpDesk type stuff. In fact, my actual work computer has been powered off for so long that it’s most certainly fallen off the network. Now my Boss says I get to put in for a replacement! That I’ll most likely also not use 😝
You get what you pay for with "free" software. Actual M365 apps and services are an integrated part of many businesses workflow. A graphics art business wouldn't use free image software instead of Adobe Photoshop/Designer/Illustrator because they don't want to pay the "extortion fee". It's the cost of legit software with support and upgrades, plus guaranteed compatibility with everyone else in the industry. I find the $11/year I pay per license of M365 totally affordable, and it includes 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage plus the best email client there is, Outlook. Windows/Mac/iPad/iPhone -- all supported by M365.
If you just need to write a letter every now and then or balance your checking account, I can see the value in free software.
Last edited:
Well, yes and no. I am a content creator/graphics and I do not use adobe. I paid once for the affinity suite, and for my photos I use a one time payment for Luminar Neo and Photor for fast edits. I pay yearly for my 365 suite because I get so much value from it. Like my storage in the cloud. We all have our own instead of sharing it with icloud.
Ironically, I just dumped Adobe once and for all in favor of the Affinity Suite and Final Cut Pro. While none of those are free, they do the job jut as well as Adobe, without the bloat induced by the Creative Cloud app Adobe requires you to run.
yep I recommend you look at for pictures (plus now colors video too) is PixelMator Pro! Here is video to show you:
I'm replying heavily on Office suite, Outlook, excel and one drive
Have M2Pro Mac mini, M1 Air, iPad Pro and iPhone
Outlook is the best if you have a ton of emails, I have old email providers in company where I work, so old Outlook works great, the new Outlook version only works with m365/gmail/ iCloud, its terrible with smaller providers
Excel is the best, works better on a Mac than on windows, has limitations but only for heavy users who uses scripts and macras
Onedrive after last updates works ok, it was better before but still works fine, don't use the office in the cloud, that makes some annoying syncing errors, but syncing local files works good
Files on demand is the best option of you want to buy the basic storage model, have access to 1tb of space and not using a lot of local storage, on 256 gb air, is best and cheapest option
Have M2Pro Mac mini, M1 Air, iPad Pro and iPhone
Outlook is the best if you have a ton of emails, I have old email providers in company where I work, so old Outlook works great, the new Outlook version only works with m365/gmail/ iCloud, its terrible with smaller providers
Excel is the best, works better on a Mac than on windows, has limitations but only for heavy users who uses scripts and macras
Onedrive after last updates works ok, it was better before but still works fine, don't use the office in the cloud, that makes some annoying syncing errors, but syncing local files works good
Files on demand is the best option of you want to buy the basic storage model, have access to 1tb of space and not using a lot of local storage, on 256 gb air, is best and cheapest option
It actually did - less bloat, no interruptions from the Creative Cloud app or forced updates that take three times longer to complete than they should, and more free space because of removing all of Adobe's junk from my systems.
I am heavy user of excel, word and ppt. The silicone version is much better (faster and much less lagging) than intel one.