Word vs Pages

[ALW1026]

I have all Apple products. (Macbook, IPP, iPhone etc)
Ive never used Pages. Is there a big difference between the two.
Im about to start writing a book. For those that have used both, Is there a benefit switching to Pages? Or just stick with what I know

 

[jacobluecke]

I do a lot of writing and I really enjoy the simplicity of Pages. I've also been impressed by how well iCloud allows me to work on documents on many different machines. I can go between my iPad and Macbook editing the same document. No need to email it back and forth or even save it. I can also access the documents on a PC using the iCloud.com website. It's worked really well.

I prefer Pages over Word for what I do, which is writing journalistic articles with no need for fancy formatting, mail merging or other advanced features. It also can export documents into .docx format, which is handy when sharing with others.

That said, if you are writing a book, I think there are specific writing programs that help with that. I've never used any. Good luck!

 

[Shirasaki]

Comparing with Pages and Word, Word is generally more powerful, and Pages are being half deprecated by Apple. If I were you I would choose Word because of all features it has, and its functional auto save. I can also set up different page layouts easily.

But, as other posters say, you may need special software to actually write a professional-look book.

 

[tgara]

In my business, nobody uses Pages. Everyone uses Word. After MS upgraded their iOS versions of Word, I found it was very capable and miles ahead of the Apple app. Same goes for Powerpoint and Excel. I've since deleted the Apple apps (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) from my iPad.

 

[sracer]

I have all Apple products. (Macbook, IPP, iPhone etc)
Ive never used Pages. Is there a big difference between the two.
Im about to start writing a book. For those that have used both, Is there a benefit switching to Pages? Or just stick with what I know

There is indeed a large difference between Word and Pages. There's even a big difference between Pages 5.6 and Pages 4.3 (iWork '09).

The word that I would use to describe MS Word on Apple platforms... ponderous. It is large, nearly 2GB on OSX, and is extremely slow to load, even from an SSD, and performance is only adequate. The iOS version is adequate for what it does.

Although file compatibility between the OSX and iOS versions of Word is very high, there are still a few minor issues and a very significant difference in user interface options between OSX and iOS versions. That can be quite irritating when you're in iOS and want to do something that you've done on OSX (but not available in iOS).

Since you have a Macbook, iPP, and iPhone, it makes sense to use the latest version of Pages (5.6). Not only is file compatibility outstanding (IMO perfect even with documents that contain tricky formatting/layout), but the "feature gap" between the iOS and OSX versions are not as severe as they are with Word.

I heavily use Word, Pages, and LibreOffice. My preference, especially now that I have a 12.9 iPad Pro in the mix, is to use Pages w/iCloud. I've installed AnyFont and used it to install the regular array of fonts that I use so that documents appear identical whether I'm using the iPad, Macbook Air, or iMac.

For those times when I absolutely need to use a feature of Pages that is only in the OSX version (and I'm away from any OSX devices), I'll remotely connect to my iMac, fire up Pages, modify the document, close it out, and continue editing in my iPad Pro.

I've written a few books and I've used Pages and LibreOffice. I have found Word to have a lot of unnecessary and sometimes erroneous control codes within the document that causes issues when sending docs to the publisher... PDF or native Word format.

 

[Abazigal]

Word sucks on the Mac, but I use it to maintain compatibility with my peers.

I love pages more. It feels less bloated, and I don't feel like I am fighting the interface every time I use it.

 

[M. Gustave]

Is Pages even under active development anymore? Apple can and does drop applications at any time, even major ones like Aperture. Whereas Office is Microsoft's flagship product outside of Windows.

It's been a few years since I used the iOS version of Pages. Maybe it's improved.

 

[ALW1026]

Thanks for the info. One thing I had no clue about that someone pointed out is with Pages I have access to what I'm working on, on all my devices.That sweet so when a idea hits me I can add to what I'm writing at that moment.

Can Pages document be opened in Word. if I want to send it to a non Apple user

 

[bradl]

Thanks for the info. One thing I had no clue about that someone pointed out is with Pages I have access to what I'm working on, on all my devices.That sweet so when a idea hits me I can add to what I'm writing at that moment.

Can Pages document be opened in Word. if I want to send it to a non Apple user

Yes they can. In fact, they should be able to be saved in a MS Word-compatible format, if not already in ODF (Open Document format), which Word can read.

BL.

 

[sracer]

Is Pages even under active development anymore? Apple can and does drop applications at any time, even major ones like Aperture. Whereas Office is Microsoft's flagship product outside of Windows.

It's been a few years since I used the iOS version of Pages. Maybe it's improved.

I would characterize iWork as being under inactive development.

No word or buzz about iWork to the point where one starts to assume it is dead, and then out-of-the-blue Apple releases an update with a few minor tweaks. It's sad. But I'm thankful that when I need to use some advanced features of the older version of Pages (iWork 09), it still works under OSX El Cap... at the expense of cross-platform support.

 

[Osty]

I have all Apple products. (Macbook, IPP, iPhone etc)
Ive never used Pages. Is there a big difference between the two.
Im about to start writing a book. For those that have used both, Is there a benefit switching to Pages? Or just stick with what I know

@ALW1026, if you want to write a book use Scrivener (or Ulysses) both have iOS apps. I can personally vouch for Scrivener for iOS, which was released a few days ago. It's so good, in fact, it's finally resolved the question of the iPad's readiness for me as a primary device.

FWIW, I'm a professional writer by trade.
[doublepost=1469147177][/doublepost]

I would characterize iWork as being under inactive development.

No word or buzz about iWork to the point where one starts to assume it is dead, and then out-of-the-blue Apple releases an update with a few minor tweaks. It's sad. But I'm thankful that when I need to use some advanced features of the older version of Pages (iWork 09), it still works under OSX El Cap... at the expense of cross-platform support.

Spot on, mate.

I love Pages 09. I still occasional use it as a DTP program for designing the guts of some of my older stuff. It had surprising good page layout and typography tools for the price. I'm glad it still works too.

 

[gaanee]

It's in Apple's interest to push users pay for 3rd party productivity apps..even better if it's a subscription based like Office 365...that way they get their 30% cut for doing nothing apart from hosting the app.
Apple already had iWork, so it's not like they had to start from scratch and they could have certainly invested more resources to compete with MS Office.
More recently it looks like Apple is happy to sell its hardware with basic apps to get started. Look at their Notes, Calendar, Reminders, Music apps. All very basic but are integrated into the system leaving it to the 3rd party developers to come up with new ideas for interface. As more and more users are locked in to its ecosystem, they have not much incentive developing 1st party apps. They would provide just enough functionality until the competition threatens a shift away from iOS to alternative Android and Windows platforms.

I would characterize iWork as being under inactive development.

No word or buzz about iWork to the point where one starts to assume it is dead, and then out-of-the-blue Apple releases an update with a few minor tweaks. It's sad. But I'm thankful that when I need to use some advanced features of the older version of Pages (iWork 09), it still works under OSX El Cap... at the expense of cross-platform support.

 

[orioncrystalice]

Pages on MacOS is, for me, far better than the bloated mess that is Word......attached is a recent job I did using only Pages in conjunction with Pixelmator. The recent updates to Word would have made the same project impossible or beyond the work it's worth. iOS, I like Pages on iOS a lot but the program feels too "heavy", and not sleek or fast enough at times. YMMV there.

 

[AlliFlowers]

When I bought my most recent Mac I decided to leave Office off. It's compatible with everything, right? So if I used Pages and needed to share with a Windows colleague it would be no problem.

But using Pages is a lot like like using the Notes app. It's really bare bones. You can do it, but in the end you won't be satisfied.

 

[cdcastillo]

Another shootout to Scrivener. If what you want is to write a book, forget about Pages versus Word, what you need is Scrivener!

From there you can export to eBook, PDF, rtf or doc.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

I think it is a question of personal preference. If you like Pages (UI, simplicity etc.) there is no need for a change.
Personally, I prefer MS Word, mainly because I got used to it over the decades. Tried Pages, but it was not my cup of tea.

 

[HungarianStan]

For me, Pages, without a doubt, beats Word. I used Pages (and Numbers) exclusively for four months after getting my Mac Mini, and it works really well. That said, the university where I work got us a Office 365 subscription, so I have Office 2016, and I use it very reluctantly. In fact, I only use it when I think formatting will be an issue when sharing a document (I do editing work sometimes, so I use it there, or when checking student papers electronically, just in case). Otherwise, it's Pages for me.

Even on the iPad. For example, stupid Word and Excel don't let you create in-app folders; this is just stupid. I have upwards sometimes of 8-10 class attendance sheets and syllabuses to keep straight, plus other documents for lectures and the like; folders are an organizational must. I know I can us Drive for it, but the interface is clunky, and getting files that are "offline" in Drive to sync correctly with the online versions is a goddamned chore. This is important for me since I usually copy notes and the like from the versions I made at work on the iPad.

Compare that to iOS Pages and Numbers; I can make folders easily, and the versions sync nicely over iCloud. And best of all, when I'm not able to be online (my university wi-fi is spotty at the best of times) it's just a matter of getting home and waiting a few minutes as iCloud syncs things up once my iPad detects my home network.

Also, as others have said, I find Pages just less bloated. There's so much stuff going on up in the menu bars for Word that it gets a bit too much at times. Nevermind the "important stuff buried in menus" thing that seems to be going on in Office.

 

[M. Gustave]

...For example, stupid Word and Excel don't let you create in-app folders; this is just stupid... I know I can us Drive for it, but the interface is clunky...

'Clunky'? LOL, the "+" button is right at the top of the screen! How much more obvious and easy could they make it?

Also, as others have said, I find Pages just less bloated. There's so much stuff going on up in the menu bars for Word that it gets a bit too much at times. Nevermind the "important stuff buried in menus" thing that seems to be going on in Office.

Pages has just as many things "buried" as Word does, it's part of being a touchscreen "mobile" app, you can't have desktop style list menus. I think Word for iOS does a great job balancing usability with feature set.

I've also never had a problem syncing any docs since I stopped using Windows, which gave me major syncing problems with Office.

 

[HungarianStan]

Granted. Still find it odd to have to go to Drive to access the folders when they should be in the apps themselves, in my thinking, for the iPad. And as I said, the way for setting them up to work offiline in the app isn't clear if you want those files to also update as you use them.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

@Mencelus
Do you use a Hungarian Spellchecker in Pages?
(Ha igen, mi a tapasztalatod?)

 

[Osty]

Hungarian

What a magnificent language! I travelled throughout Hungary in 2008, beautiful country. I'm pretty good with Germanic, Celtic and Romance languages, but Hungarian utterly defeated me!

 

[Ulenspiegel]

I am not surprised , it is a small, rare and in many ways unique language.

 

[Analog Kid]

Nisus Writer Pro

Word is horrid. I have it installed because the rest of the world uses it, but I never author documents with it anymore. I loved Pages in its heyday, but I feel when they re-architected it to be compatible across Mac, iOS and Web they lost the balance that was so critical in the earlier versions.

Nisus Writer is more complex that I'd like for most of what I do, but it's friendlier to work with than Word and it saves everything to RTF which is nice.

Most of my writing is technical and rarely goes much longer than a few tens of pages-- 100 on a really ambitious project so my experience may not translate to something as sophisticated as a book.

I believe Nisus would handle it without issue and seems to have the tools in place to organize chapters and such. That's part of the complexity I wish weren't there but that you may find useful. As others have said, there are specialized tools for long form writing like that as well.

 

[HungarianStan]

@Mencelus
Do you use a Hungarian Spellchecker in Pages?
(Ha igen, mi a tapasztalatod?)

Nope. I've been trying to figure out how to add the Hungarian spell check lists to the Mac in general, but I'm not savvy enough to manage it. I don't do a lot in Hungarian, but occasionally, it's necessary, and a real pain in the ass.

On a side note, the Hungarian spell checker for iPad works wonderfully, in Pages as well if I remember. Why this is, I don't know.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Nope. I've been trying to figure out how to add the Hungarian spell check lists to the Mac in general, but I'm not savvy enough to manage it. I don't do a lot in Hungarian, but occasionally, it's necessary, and a real pain in the ass.

On a side note, the Hungarian spell checker for iPad works wonderfully, in Pages as well if I remember. Why this is, I don't know.

When I get home, I'll walk you through the process. It is easy and you'll have a Hungarian Spellchecker (just in case).