Best word processor?

[fos]

I have MS Office for the Mac. It is satisfactory and I'm familiar with it due to work and the university.

However, is it the best word processing option for the Mac?

How does it compare to iWorks, for example.

Jeff

[danieldk]

I tend to like the iWork applications more. They are more lightweight, and are more competitive on the features that I need. For instance, Pages uses DTP-like features (e.g. easy use of text frames), and Keynote allows for transitions within tables, and has better PDF export (especially if you want to include transitions). Oh, and you can use your iPhone or Apple remote with Keynote ;).

But why not find out yourself? :) iWork can be downloaded from the Apple website, and you can try it for a certain period.

I learn to avoid NeoOffice, it inherits most of the characteristics of OpenOffice.org: slow, bad compatibility, clumsy user interface.

[fos]

Thanks for the advice on iWorks. I'll try to find the download link. I looked at the Apple website and the only thing I found was the purchase link that mailed the boxed copy.

Jeff

PS. I found the download link via Google. I'm in my thirty day trial now.

[RedAlpha3]

I'm going to download the trial version too. Finding a good word processor is not straightforward on the Mac. I hate MS Office. I think I've disliked it since the bloody paperclip made its appearance. I used Abiword in Linux. Basically, I just want a simple package as I don't have to use it for work anymore. Only pre-requisite is an ability to save to an open format.

[fos]

So far, I'm pleased with iWork and the Pages word processor. Its interface is much better than the MS Word interface implementation on the Mac.

Jeff

[jml]

I like iWork as well. The DTP features of the word processor are quite good. I also like the fact that if you have to, you can save in MS format. So I can create my documents on my Mac with iWorks, and still use them at work (an MS shop.)

I also share Daniel's experience with Neo-office. I had high hopes for this since I really like the concept of open source software. Unfortunately, it continues to be seriously flawed. And I do need to get work done on the Mac.

Joe

[lurch]

Only pre-requisite is an ability to save to an open format.

Does iWorks save in ODF?

Phillip

[RedAlpha3]

Does iWorks save in ODF?

Phillip

Not to my knowledge. It will "save as" .doc or .pages. I can also export a document as a .pdf file, rich text format document or plain text document. There may be other alternatives but I haven't found them yet!

[RedAlpha3]

Tried to use Abiword and though it works, it is rather erratic and not as reliable as the linux counterpart. I have seen a word processor called Write from Mariner software and will give that a trial. Does not save to an open format either.

[danieldk]

Does the OpenDocument format support all the DTP features that Pages supports? And how about PDF embedding?

Not that this helps if you have hundreds of ODFs around ;).

[bluesdog]

The latest version of OO isn't all that slow, particularly after tweaking a few settings.

OpenOffice.org > Tools > Options > Memory

Change undo to a more reasonable number, like 20 or 30; graphics to 128; memory per object to 20; number of objects to 20.
You can even try deactivating java, under the java settings, but I didn't notice much difference there.

On my notebook it launches in 3 -5 seconds, opens a 10 page text document in about 1/2 a second, and a 1.5Mb excel spreadsheet from cold launch in @ 10 seconds.

I don't know how it compares othewise, since I don't have a copy of MS Office, but I'll happily wait a second or two rather than inflict microcrap on any of my boxes :tongue:

Neo Office for OS X is a bit slower on my mbp, but not excrutiatingly so. I usually work end up in textedit on the macbook..

[danieldk]

The latest version of OO isn't all that slow, particularly after tweaking a few settings.

OpenOffice.org > Tools > Options > Memory

Change undo to a more reasonable number, like 20 or 30; graphics to 128; memory per object to 20; number of objects to 20.

Still not nearly as fast as iWorks. And why do I have to tune memory settings to get a fast office suite?

[bluesdog]

Hey, if you have the need, and the $$, go right ahead.

I have little cash, and don't require blazingly speedy office applications.

I can only type so fast anyway!

:tongue: