11-05-2008, 04:36 AM

Hi...I just purchased a refurbished

White Macbook 2.4GHz...2GB Mem and 160GB Hard Drive

i switched it on yesterday and realised i dont have much software on it at all aside from notepad....so i was if you could tell me what I need to get/download to get my macbook up and running...

i mainly need to use microsoft Word but not sure how to go about with it and i saw the apple website has a load of stuff that you can download but i dont know what i need...


thanks for your help

11-05-2008, 04:56 AM

Your Macbook should have come with a ton of software, but I think you're looking for word processing software specifically?

You can either buy Office 2008, iWork 08 or just download Openoffice for Mac.

11-05-2008, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by kipo

Hi...I just purchased a refurbished

White Macbook 2.4GHz...2GB Mem and 160GB Hard Drive

i switched it on yesterday and realised i dont have much software on it at all aside from notepad....so i was if you could tell me what I need to get/download to get my macbook up and running...

i mainly need to use microsoft Word but not sure how to go about with it and i saw the apple website has a load of stuff that you can download but i dont know what i need...


thanks for your help

You can purhcase Microsoft Office for Mac - Open Office is also a good free office suite.

Have a look at this link, it might help: What Software Do I Need? :: My First Mac - Help Buying and Getting Started with Your New Mac

11-05-2008, 09:05 AM

MS Office for mac is good Congrats

11-05-2008, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by Aptmunich

Your Macbook should have come with a ton of software, but I think you're looking for word processing software specifically?

You can either buy Office 2008, iWork 08 or just download Openoffice for Mac.

Hi, buy a ton of software what do you mean? All i know is that it came with 2 discs and that is about it. and when i was playing around with it i realised i dont really have any word processing softwares aside from notepad..>_<"..

I looked at iWork but i'm not sure about it...is that software to run apple's version of MS Word? coz i was thinking if i buy iWork then i'll be able to run ms office coz my university uses MS Word

Originally Posted by bad.heron

You can purhcase Microsoft Office for Mac - Open Office is also a good free office suite.

Have a look at this link, it might help: What Software Do I Need? :: My First Mac - Help Buying and Getting Started with Your New Mac

thanks for the link! but i think im a bit confused.. ..so iWorks is apple's version of ms office..yes..?.does open office compatible with ms word..?

Originally Posted by AirAddict

MS Office for mac is good Congrats

hehe thanks for the comments so far! sorry if im kinda slow with all this...

so in what i really need is to be able to run MS Word...what exactly do i need.?

11-05-2008, 02:52 PM

To run the Mac version of MS word, you'll need to buy MS office 2008 for mac, which includes Word.

To run the windows version of word, you'll need windows, parallels or vmware and office for windows.

iWork is an entirely different program that can also create and edit office compatible documents. Same goes for Openoffice.


All new Macs come with iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, iTunes, iCal... etc.
There should also be demos of iWork and Office.

11-05-2008, 09:38 PM

You should check with your school and see if they offer student discounts on software. At the university I attend, iWork is $45 and MS Office '08 is $64.

11-06-2008, 03:49 PM

^ ok thanks for the tip...can i ask another question

to go online i connect via ethernet and was wondering how do you disconnect from the internet because the macbook automatically detected the connection (impressed) but couldnt find where to disconnect...


and how long did it take you guys to adjust from windows to mac? im finding it really difficult adjusting i dont know how and what to do with my macbook

11-06-2008, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by kipo

to go online i connect via ethernet and was wondering how do you disconnect from the internet because the macbook automatically detected the connection (impressed) but couldnt find where to disconnect...

Unplug the ethernet cable?

11-06-2008, 03:56 PM

^ but dont you need to "disable" the connection like you do on windows? also is there any virus scans you need to do to check after you surf the internet...perhaps my mind is too much windows and its kind of thrown me off a little trying to adjust to mac

11-06-2008, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by kipo

^ but dont you need to "disable" the connection like you do on windows? also is there any virus scans you need to do to check after you surf the internet...perhaps my mind is too much windows and its kind of thrown me off a little trying to adjust to mac

Yes your mind is. Forget about Windows because most of it doesn't apply to OS X or the method is completely differenet.

About virus scan and firewalls look here:
The Official Mac AntiVirus and Firewall FAQ

Don't forget to vote too.

11-06-2008, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by kipo

thanks for the link! but i think im a bit confused.. ..so iWorks is apple's version of ms office..yes..?.does open office compatible with ms word..?

Yes. iwork is Apples Official Office Package.

Open office can open/save microsoft office formats apart from the new x extentions introduced in Microsoft Office 2007 i.e docx and pptx

11-06-2008, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Eric559

Yes your mind is. Forget about Windows because most of it doesn't apply to OS X or the method is completely differenet.

About virus scan and firewalls look here:
The Official Mac AntiVirus and Firewall FAQ

Oh thanks for the tip! do you have a virus scan and firewall on your mac?

Originally Posted by bad.heron

Yes. iwork is Apples Official Office Package.

Open office can open/save microsoft office formats apart from the new x extentions introduced in Microsoft Office 2007 i.e docx and pptx

So all word documents for example saved on mac will be something.docx..? and will these files be able to open on a windows pc? or will it be restricted to mac's only bacause of the "x"..?

11-06-2008, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by kipo

Oh thanks for the tip! do you have a virus scan and firewall on your mac?

I do not run anti-virus software on my mac. I do however run the built in firewall. A firewall is needed no matter what OS your running.

11-07-2008, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by kipo

Oh thanks for the tip! do you have a virus scan and firewall on your mac?


So all word documents for example saved on mac will be something.docx..? and will these files be able to open on a windows pc? or will it be restricted to mac's only bacause of the "x"..?

".docx" is the new xml-based word format that both Office 08 for OS X and Office 97 for Windows use.

But Office 08 can also save files in the older ".doc" format. Just select "Save as..." and choose a different format.