Advice on a new computer

[Fordman1981]

That's an excellent point right there!

Here is one thing that most PC people won't tell you though. Yes you can buy cheap laptops and desktops but if you built a PC equivalent to a Mac the price is as high or higher. I've yet to see a PC laptop with a trackpad as advanced as a MacBook trackpad. If you want a cheaper Mac laptop go with an air but I would wait until they release the next one. That may be in March with the apple watch. Watch last Septembers keynote if you want to see some of the new features that the Mac lineup has that work hand in hand with you iPhone and iPad. Handoff, continuity, being able to hotspot from your phone without having to turn in the hotspot is a neat feature as well. I know I've left some stuff out but like I said watch the keynote. Having your documents in the cloud so you can see them and edit them in your phone is really handy too. Like I said in an earlier post I like the apple version of office better for the most part and they come with any new Apple device. I update spread sheets often in the field on my phone as long as it's not a lot of changes.

 

[CurlyDave]

...Is there software that a Mac can run so that it will run PC software?

There are to ways to do this.

First every Mac comes with software called "Boot Camp" which allows you to load windows and re-boot the computer into Windows. Since Mac and Windows both use Intel chips these days, it boots into Windows perfectly and runs it just like a Windows box. In fact, because to the quality of the hardware in Macs, many people feel that the best available Windows computer is a Mac. The disadvantage is that you you have to buy a copy of Windows, which can cost quite a bit (~$200 a few years ago).

The second is to get a program called Parallels, which runs as an application in the Mac OS, and allows you to run Windows inside this application. I have Parallels and it is not perfect, but it is OK. You will still need a copy of Windows.

As someone has mentioned, you can get a home use subscription to MS Office for about $100 per year for five computers. The downside is that they hit you for $100 every year, the upside is that you always have the latest version.

 

[MoKelly]

My ONLY REGRET with Apple. I sold 1000 shares of their stock at $24.00 a share, and it went to $650.00 a share. I've been spending that 650K in my mind ever since.

Well, after Apple's record breaking earnings released today, the stock is $826 per share pre-split.

But, on the bright side, look at all the taxes you don't have to pay.

MoKelly

 

[ultrarunner]

Off topic... about making an older computer up to date.

What is the least expensive way to get the code key for Word for a win 7 student computer?

My niece has it on her computer and after 25 times using it asks for a code to be entered... all I see are subscriptions when I click on the MS tab that pops up... $6.95 per month or $69.95 for a year.

Or $89 for Win 7 pro upgrade...

 

[troutsqueezer]

What version of Office? The least expensive way is to search Google for Office license keys, at least for Office 10 and below. If it has Office 360, get rid of it and buy an older version.

 

[MossRoad]

Are you advocating illegal office keys or purchasing them legally? :confused3:

 

[MikePA]

Hello,

Good Morning, PapaPerk

I'm considering purchasing a new computer to edit gopro videos, working on spreadsheets, etc.

Defining what you want to do with a computer before deciding on which to buy is the right first step. For editing videos, I'd first think about the monitor (bigger is better), memory (more is better) and processor. Video editing can consume all of these resources. Depending upon how elaborate you want to get with video editing, this could dictate a desktop computer, not a laptop.

I get so irritated with Windows updates, etc. seems like something always needs done to keep windows machines running!!!

I've been using PCs since DOS and DESQview were considered state of the art. Moved to Windows, Windows95, Windows98, etc. Microsoft's model has always been to send out updates frequently. It's even known as Patch Tuesday in the corporate world. I don't see this changing any time soon.

So I was considering a Mac. But unsure about using it for Excel, etc.

As others have said, there's Office for Mac. Microsoft also sells iPhone and iPad apps that amounts to Office for them.

Thank you for any advice. I love my iPhone and iPad... They just work! And I want something that just works for a laptop!

No offense meant, but I would not compare phones and tablets to laptops. Non-Apple phones and tablets just work, too.

There was a time when the best software for video editing was only available for Macs, but that's no longer true. They're available for Windows, too.

If you really don't like the frequent updates required for Windows, then an Apple device is your only realistic option.

Apple laptops come in two model categories; MacBook Airs (11" and 13") and MacBook Pros. Airs favor lower weight and increased battery life which tends to result in lower power devices. The Macbook Pros are the more traditional 'portable desktop' laptops. For just Office type work, e.g., spreadsheets, either would work. Including video editing, I'd opt for a Macbook Pro, with a big screen, big processor, lots of memory and probably an SSD versus a standard hard drive.

You can buy direct from Apple, at a store or online. Best Buy also sells Apple devices. The Apple website also has a refurb store that offers their products at a 10% (approx) discount. They come with the same warranty as new.

Good luck with your search and have fun. Don't get caught up with the religious wars.

 

[check]

There are to ways to do this. First every Mac comes with software called "Boot Camp" which allows you to load windows and re-boot the computer into Windows. Since Mac and Windows both use Intel chips these days, it boots into Windows perfectly and runs it just like a Windows box. In fact, because to the quality of the hardware in Macs, many people feel that the best available Windows computer is a Mac. The disadvantage is that you you have to buy a copy of Windows, which can cost quite a bit (~$200 a few years ago). The second is to get a program called Parallels, which runs as an application in the Mac OS, and allows you to run Windows inside this application. I have Parallels and it is not perfect, but it is OK. You will still need a copy of Windows. As someone has mentioned, you can get a home use subscription to MS Office for about $100 per year for five computers. The downside is that they hit you for $100 every year, the upside is that you always have the latest version.

I have been thinking that this may be the best solution for my wife, who uses windows on a laptop that is so old it should be put out of its misery. But would I be able to simply load Bootcamp and then copy all the data and old uprograms over from the old (Toshiba) laptop, or would the old programs flip out in the new environment (Macbook Pro)?

 

[aczlan]

I have been thinking that this may be the best solution for my wife, who uses windows on a laptop that is so old it should be put out of its misery. But would I be able to simply load Bootcamp and then copy all the data and old uprograms over from the old (Toshiba) laptop, or would the old programs flip out in the new environment (Macbook Pro)?

You would want to install all the programs on the new computer, then use Windows Easy Transfer - Microsoft Windows to move her files and settings over.

Aaron Z

 

[check]

You would want to install all the programs on the new computer, then use Windows Easy Transfer - Microsoft Windows to move her files and settings over. Aaron Z

Ol, thanks, Aaron - will follow up.

 

[ultrarunner]

Are you advocating illegal office keys or purchasing them legally? :confused3:

Of course I would want it to be legit on her computer...

When it was bought a few years ago it came with a 60 day free office trial...

Now, she has a paper to write and it is asking for the license key?

Can this be bought legit off the net or is it better to pay the $89 from the microsoft pop-up?

I can start a new thread on this... just questioning the wisdom of adding software to a 3 year old computer or looking for a deal on a new computer.

 

[MossRoad]

Open Office is free and works very, very well. My oldest has been using it through 4 years of high school and 4 years of college with no problems. You can save documents in MS office compatible formats that anyone with MS office can open. You might want to look into it, as the "price" is perfect!
:thumbsup:

 

[/pine]

Open Office is free and works very, very well. My oldest has been using it through 4 years of high school and 4 years of college with no problems. You can save documents in MS office compatible formats that anyone with MS office can open. You might want to look into it, as the "price" is perfect!
:thumbsup:

Gotta love (GNU) open source software...be it applications or entire operating systems...it's users that resolve (any) issues and make it worthy...not commercial entities etc...:thumbsup:

 

[Grateful11]

You said you like your iPad and iPhone. Then you will be familiar with iWhaterver :laughing:. However, be prepared to cough up big $$ for Microsoft Excel if you don't already own it because new Mac OS won't run free Open Office. Also be prepared to replace all your old software, as Apple is notorious for not being backward compatible, and they have some bugs in their OS. Also, despite what people say about reliability, their hardware fails just as often as PC hardware. And their wireless keyboards/mice eat batteries and are not ergonomic for professional typists. Overall, however, they are slick machines.
:thumbsup:

I've always been partial to NeoOffice on Macs and it is available to run on Macs right up through the new Yosemite OS. Not sure how stable it is as I'm still running 10.6.8 on my 27" iMac and 10.8.5 on my MacBook Air. I didn't however know that NeoOffice was no longer free, $30 now.

Currently Open Office is only available to run up to Mavericks.

https://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php

As far as buttons on a mouse I use a Magic Trackpad with my MacBook Air, it's awesome. On my iMac I still use the Magic Mouse it came with.

 

[ultrarunner]

One of the posts was not very positive on MS 365...

How does it measure up with MS Office 10 or 13?

I'm still using Office 2000 without complaints.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Are you advocating illegal office keys or purchasing them legally? :confused3:

People ask questions, I give'em answers. You make up your own mind, either conclusion I'm ok with.

 

[troutsqueezer]

One of the posts was not very positive on MS 365...

How does it measure up with MS Office 10 or 13?

I'm still using Office 2000 without complaints.

Office 360 is MS making the move to keep you from ever owning Office. You keep giving them money, they let you use it while they steer you to their cloud. Just about the only changes left to make in the office suite are those geared to keep the money flowing in. Office 10 does about everything one would need to do and then some. You can buy a version of 360 to keep and use on only one computer but it also wants to steer you to the cloud. Won't be long before that version goes by the wayside. Unfortunately, this is now the trend. Look at Adobe and what they are doing with their programs, same thing.

Office 10 is considerably more sophisticated than Office 2000.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ I was thinking it was a subscription thing to keep you tethered to the mothership...

Checked and my company is not eligible for the $10 employee copy... figures.

I have a window 98 machine with office 2000 that does everything I need... problem is the printer finally gave up the ghost and that is why I bought the Win 7 laptop because the new printer wouldn't work right with the 98 machine.

Still remember the day I came into work to find my XP had been changed to Win 7 pro and I had a presentation that day... boy was I not happy about that.

I understand some need all the features... maybe this is why I still drive a Model A Ford some days... still gets me from point A to point B

I appreciated the advice... I'm a computer user and not an enthusiasts... got off that after I spend a fortune on my Apple //e and soon found what I really needed was the Lisa... per Apple.

In 35 years I have had 3 computers... Apple //e, Dell with Win 98 and Acer with Win 7 home premium... no smart phones or tablets under this roof!

PS... how did you make out with the pond liner?

 

[troutsqueezer]

I have a nice, big, weedy hole in the ground still waiting for me to cough up that $560.