Word vs Pages

[Howl's Castle]

How is Google Docs - could it be an alternative for replacing Word on iPhone and PC? Word on iPhone offers basic functionality unless you subscribe Office 365, so is Docs an alternative?

In my opinion, Google Docs is much better than Word and Pages and i say that as a die hard Microsoft fan. Google Docs extensions are way better than macros on Word. The apps doesn't look as nice as words, but doesn't have the subscription thing office has going on.

 

[Traverse]

@sracer
@IJ Reilly (because I know we've discussed pages before.)

I've been using the new Pages 5.6 (which I believe is just 6.0 without real-time collaboration) and I'm pleasantly surprised. iCloud has beens solid and a number of things have been improved.

• Can copy and paste styles between different documents! (Just not called importing. You copy and paste and then create a new style).
• Can create your own templates for use on iOS (mentioned earlier and big deal for me)
• Opens more advanced Pages '09 templates correctly - compatibility improved. Some of my old and more complex Pages '09 files also opened correctly.
• Can rearrange pages in the sidebar that are part of the same section! (Still can't copy/paste/delete though - feedback submitted)
• Word count is less intrusive and now more features rich - character count, Paragraph count, and several other options.
• More granular chapter, line, and paragraph spacing options.
• Decent support for pasting in Excel charts. They don't live update like in Word, but they paste cleanly as a good image file.

I haven't used Pages 5/6 since 5.1 back on Mavericks so I'm somewhat pleased with the advancements. I don't think it'll ever be on Pages '09 level (especially for publishing needs), but it's much better than it was. Some of my biggest complaints right now are cosmetic. When opening the sidebar, why does it now expand OUT and make the application window wider versus expanding INWARD and covering my document? It works properly when opening the page thumbnail view.

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I've customized my Word ribbon a bit and while I do like word (especially the ability to pull off the styles pane and keep it around - feedback for pages submitted), I still really *like* it. I just can' picture myself formatting a 100+ page document in Word. I do my serious writing in Scrivener -> export the raw text with notes about images and other formatting to add into Word (and update Endnote in Word if needed) -> Open in Pages for formatting and finalization. That's the workflow I've used for a while and it works for me. Word is great for opening and sending Word documents, but I just don't really like using it. Though I know I'll need to when working on collaborative research papers. *sigh*

 

[pdxphotoman]

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

I'm late to this conversation, but if you're writing a book, consider Scrivener. It's quite inexpensive and has a variety of tools important to writers that are not in any WP program. When you're manuscript is completed, you can output directly to print, PDF, various Ibook formats, or into any word processing program for tweaking.

I'm had it for a year and a half, always intending to get the Great American Novel started, but finally put it to work for a consulting project I'm doing in which a lengthy report is the chief deliverable. I wish I'd found it and used it years ago.

If I'm not mistaken, you can try before you buy, and there are several free -- or quite inexpensive -- Kindle books that take you through the process.

 

[Osty]

I'm late to this conversation, but if you're writing a book, consider Scrivener. It's quite inexpensive and has a variety of tools important to writers that are not in any WP program. When you're manuscript is completed, you can output directly to print, PDF, various Ibook formats, or into any word processing program for tweaking.

I'm had it for a year and a half, always intending to get the Great American Novel started, but finally put it to work for a consulting project I'm doing in which a lengthy report is the chief deliverable. I wish I'd found it and used it years ago.

If I'm not mistaken, you can try before you buy, and there are several free -- or quite inexpensive -- Kindle books that take you through the process.

Plus One for Scrivener. I'm a professional writer and it's the last thing that is keeping me tied to the Apple ecosystem.

 

[M. Gustave]

...it's the last thing that is keeping me tied to the Apple ecosystem.

Otherwise you would go... where, exactly?

 

[Cole Slaw]

Plus One for Scrivener. I'm a professional writer and it's the last thing that is keeping me tied to the Apple ecosystem.

Doesn't Scrivener have a Windows version?

 

[Osty]

Otherwise you would go... where, exactly?

Linux.

I already spend most of my day there for my day job...

...nah, if I really think about it, I'd be more inclined to give up the Mac and use iOS as my daily driver, since I love being productive on the iPad. On the rare occasions I need a traditional computer, Linux is more than adequate for my needs.

This is hypothetical of course because Scrivener is central to my writing workflow and I don't see that changing so please excuse the hyperbole of my initial post .

What I really meant to say is that if I'm honest I could replace a lot of what in Apple's ecosystem with other products and services but Scrivener is the one thing I cannot and would not, even if I wanted to.

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Doesn't Scrivener have a Windows version?

It's buggy and doesn't have feature parity with the Mac version. They are promising that will change though with the release of Scrivener 3.

 

[ptram]

There is also Scrivener for iPad!

 

[Osty]

There is also Scrivener for iPad!

got it the hour it came out!