Microsoft Office 2008

fvsurfer · Apr 27, 2009

I have a question on Microsoft Office 2008 for Macs. Is this software only loadable for one user or multiple users? I'm asking this because I can have access to Microsoft Office 2008 for my Macbook but I always thought software could only be loaded once and for one user only.

BC-Bruce · Apr 27, 2009

I bought the Home edition, and it came with three different install codes.

vansmith · Apr 27, 2009

You can, by rule of thumb, only install the application on as many computers as you have serial keys. While this may be so, some EULAs allow for multiple installations if you are the only one who uses those computers.

leopard-user1 · Apr 27, 2009

You can give every user permission to use the apps, if they don't already have it....

fvsurfer · Apr 28, 2009

BC-Bruce said:
I bought the Home edition, and it came with three different install codes.

Nice.

fvsurfer · Apr 28, 2009

vansmith said:
You can, by rule of thumb, only install the application on as many computers as you have serial keys. While this may be so, some EULAs allow for multiple installations if you are the only one who uses those computers.

Thank you.

fvsurfer · Apr 28, 2009

leopard-user1 said:
You can give every user permission to use the apps, if they don't already have it....

Oh...ok. Thanks.

fvsurfer · Apr 30, 2009

iWorks 09, Microsoft Office 2004, & Microsoft Office 2008

Which one is a better software? I've read good comments on iWorks 09 and could get a hold of it for free. But I'm debating on it because I'm so accustomed to Microsoft Office. Which Microsoft Office is recommendable? I've read good comments on 2004 but the copies that I have found are a little bit more than 2008 since I can get a brand new one at my college for $89, although I've read that 2008 isn't as good as 2004. If I get 2004, can I still use the files on a PC? Would it be a waste of hard drive to get iWorks 09 and Microsoft Office?

Kash · Apr 30, 2009

It ultimately depends on your usage needs. If you are a college student or work at a place that you transport Office documents from work to home, then perhaps you'll want to stick with Office simply to offset any compatibility issues that might crop up were you to use iWork or something else.

As for choosing between Office 2004 and Office 2008, the only reason to go with the former is VB macros. If you have no need for that feature, then I would highly suggest Office 2008. It will run faster on a new Mac and is simply easier to use, especially if you're used to Office 2007 on Windows.

cwa107 · Apr 30, 2009

Have you tried OpenOffice.org or NeoOffice? In my opinion, both are equal to or better than MS Office and iWork (depending on your needs) - and you can't beat the price (i.e. free).

Also, please don't take this as an accusation, but more of an FYI... pirated copies of iWork '09 are circulating with a trojan in tow. So, if that's what you mean by having a free copy available, you'd be well advised to avoid it.

fvsurfer · May 1, 2009

Kash said:
It ultimately depends on your usage needs. If you are a college student or work at a place that you transport Office documents from work to home, then perhaps you'll want to stick with Office simply to offset any compatibility issues that might crop up were you to use iWork or something else.

As for choosing between Office 2004 and Office 2008, the only reason to go with the former is VB macros. If you have no need for that feature, then I would highly suggest Office 2008. It will run faster on a new Mac and is simply easier to use, especially if you're used to Office 2007 on Windows.

What if I'm used to Windows 2003, is Office 2008 still suggestible?

fvsurfer · May 1, 2009

cwa107 said:
Have you tried OpenOffice.org or NeoOffice? In my opinion, both are equal to or better than MS Office and iWork (depending on your needs) - and you can't beat the price (i.e. free).

Also, please don't take this as an accusation, but more of an FYI... pirated copies of iWork '09 are circulating with a trojan in tow. So, if that's what you mean by having a free copy available, you'd be well advised to avoid it.

I've heard of Open Office but am hesitant on it.

The iWorks 09 I will be receiving isn't a pirated copy.

I thought there weren't any viruses in the Apple realm...(trojan)?

miles01110 · May 1, 2009

A trojan isn't the same as a virus. There aren't viruses that affect Macs, there are trojans that affect Macs.

I would avoid Office 2004 if you possibly can- it's terrible. I remember having to work with large Excel sheets and trying to scroll down... it was painful.

JuanGuapo · May 1, 2009

Office '08 has a lot of nice features, but iWork '09 is a lot 'leaner'. You'll notice a big difference between the two suites.

Personally, I like iWork '09 a lot better than Office '08 (own both). Word '08 has crashed a few times on my wife and I, but Pages has crashed maybe once that I can remember.

However, my wife uses iWork exclusively now that iWork supports Mathtype (math professor), and hates Office '08. Sometimes students will send her assignments in .DOCX format (Word '07) that will take upwards of 2min to open in Office '08 (on iMac 2.6Ghz 4GB RAM); however, if the document is sent in .DOC format, it opens fine. I contacted Micro$oft about it and they said it is a 'known issue' because of the font-checking that goes on w/ .DOCX format (that's what they said). Also, if a student enters an equation in Equation Editor (Word '03 or '07), they will not show up in Word '08--only placeholders--another 'known issue'. However, Pages opens .DOCX files just fine (very fast), but the equations have a 50/50 chance of showing.

cwa107 · May 1, 2009

fvsurfer said:
I've heard of Open Office but am hesitant on it.

I'd recommend you install it and try it out. If you don't like it, worst case scenario is you'll just drag and drop it in the trash.

The iWorks 09 I will be receiving isn't a pirated copy.

I thought there weren't any viruses in the Apple realm...(trojan)?

There are trojans on every platform. Trojans are simply an unwanted program that is disguised as or that accompany a desirable program. Someone who creates a trojan is simply relying on the ignorance of the user to install the software willfully. They do not self-replicate, nor are they contracted without the user's direct intervention.

One can avoid trojans simply by being judicious of the software they install, making sure it's from a trusted source, and by never, ever entering their admin password when prompted unless they know for sure that the program is legit.

vansmith · May 1, 2009

JuanGuapo said:
Office '08 has a lot of nice features, but iWork '09 is a lot 'leaner'. You'll notice a big difference between the two suites.

I tried iWork 08 and 09 and Numbers was horribly slow. Even entering numbers into cells made me wonder what was taking so long and it is by no means because of low specs on my Mac.

cwa107 said:
There are trojans on every platform. Trojans are simply an unwanted program that is disguised as or that accompany a desirable program. Someone who creates a trojan is simply relying on the ignorance of the user to install the software willfully. They do not self-replicate, nor are they contracted without the user's direct intervention.

One can avoid trojans simply by being judicious of the software they install, making sure it's from a trusted source, and by never, ever entering their admin password when prompted unless they know for sure that the program is legit.

Well said. The "security through obscurity" saying, while having some element of truth (obscurity does help), is overemphasized as a means to justify Macs as impenetrable. Ignorance is usually accompanied by an unjustifiable sense of security. It is never inappropriate to be vigilant.

fvsurfer · May 1, 2009

miles01110 said:
A trojan isn't the same as a virus. There aren't viruses that affect Macs, there are trojans that affect Macs.

I would avoid Office 2004 if you possibly can- it's terrible. I remember having to work with large Excel sheets and trying to scroll down... it was painful.

Thank you for the clarification.

fvsurfer · May 1, 2009

JuanGuapo said:
Office '08 has a lot of nice features, but iWork '09 is a lot 'leaner'. You'll notice a big difference between the two suites.

Personally, I like iWork '09 a lot better than Office '08 (own both). Word '08 has crashed a few times on my wife and I, but Pages has crashed maybe once that I can remember.

However, my wife uses iWork exclusively now that iWork supports Mathtype (math professor), and hates Office '08. Sometimes students will send her assignments in .DOCX format (Word '07) that will take upwards of 2min to open in Office '08 (on iMac 2.6Ghz 4GB RAM); however, if the document is sent in .DOC format, it opens fine. I contacted Micro$oft about it and they said it is a 'known issue' because of the font-checking that goes on w/ .DOCX format (that's what they said). Also, if a student enters an equation in Equation Editor (Word '03 or '07), they will not show up in Word '08--only placeholders--another 'known issue'. However, Pages opens .DOCX files just fine (very fast), but the equations have a 50/50 chance of showing.

Geez...a lot of small technical issues.

fvsurfer · May 1, 2009

cwa107 said:
I'd recommend you install it and try it out. If you don't like it, worst case scenario is you'll just drag and drop it in the trash.

There are trojans on every platform. Trojans are simply an unwanted program that is disguised as or that accompany a desirable program. Someone who creates a trojan is simply relying on the ignorance of the user to install the software willfully. They do not self-replicate, nor are they contracted without the user's direct intervention.

One can avoid trojans simply by being judicious of the software they install, making sure it's from a trusted source, and by never, ever entering their admin password when prompted unless they know for sure that the program is legit.

Thank you.

harryb2448 · May 1, 2009

As posted earlier depends what you want to use it for. If you are going to college on uni, suggest Office 2008 to be readily recognised by lecturers who may only accept work submitted in MS Word.

As a suggestion go over the the Mactopia web site and download a trial version of Office 2008 for Mac which was made available in the last week or so and see what you think of it:-

Try Office 2008 for Mac from Microsoft for Free | Mactopia

If your demands are not great, also try downloading the free versions mentioned here.

Microsoft Office 2008

fvsurfer

BC-Bruce

vansmith

Senior Member

leopard-user1

fvsurfer

fvsurfer

fvsurfer

fvsurfer

Kash

cwa107

fvsurfer

fvsurfer

miles01110

JuanGuapo

cwa107

vansmith

Senior Member

fvsurfer

fvsurfer

fvsurfer

harryb2448

Shop Amazon