[Macworld]

Post your comments for First look: OnLive Desktop here

[Dan]

I've never had an issue creating, editing or saving Word docs with Apple's iWork Apps. Pages makes it soooo easy to do. Why the 800 lb. Gorilla when it's not necessary. What am I missing?

[yomacdaddy]

Dan,

Pages is no where near 100% compatible with MS Word. This has been argued on numerous forums. But, I will give you one example. Try to create an outline on Pages using a numbered list like 1, 1.1, 1.11 or 1, a, ii, etc. Pages does not have this fundamental feature. If you exchange documents in business, the formatting has to be exact. Other programs like NeoOffice come much closer for both Word and Excel.

FYI, Numbers is pretty. But, it is not even in the same book much less page as Excel.

[Dan]

yomacdaddy, on 16 January 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

Dan,

Pages is no where near 100% compatible with MS Word. This has been argued on numerous forums. But, I will give you one example. Try to create an outline on Pages using a numbered list like 1, 1.1, 1.11 or 1, a, ii, etc. Pages does not have this fundamental feature. If you exchange documents in business, the formatting has to be exact. Other programs like NeoOffice come much closer for both Word and Excel.

FYI, Numbers is pretty. But, it is not even in the same book much less page as Excel.

Understood; for BASIC word processing tasks, I use pages to edit, reply to and re-send/return Word documents I've received from customers. For the heavy lifting, I use InDesign, a program that can format circles around Word. Yes?

[yomacdaddy]

Dan, on 16 January 2012 - 11:22 AM, said:

yomacdaddy, on 16 January 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

Dan,

Pages is no where near 100% compatible with MS Word. This has been argued on numerous forums. But, I will give you one example. Try to create an outline on Pages using a numbered list like 1, 1.1, 1.11 or 1, a, ii, etc. Pages does not have this fundamental feature. If you exchange documents in business, the formatting has to be exact. Other programs like NeoOffice come much closer for both Word and Excel.

FYI, Numbers is pretty. But, it is not even in the same book much less page as Excel.

Understood; for BASIC word processing tasks, I use pages to edit, reply to and re-send/return Word documents I've received from customers. For the heavy lifting, I use InDesign, a program that can format circles around Word. Yes?

Dan,

If you have not checked out NeoOffice, you should. I think it is either free or $10. It will do everyting and is nearly 100% compatible with the industry standard programs Word/Excel. If InDesign works for you, that is great. But, again, for the heavy lifting, it is not compatible with Word. Thus, a major setback in my opinion.

[MrEnglish]

Just started playing with this today and it's very cool. Clearly it's a start, and I probably will use this more for nostalgia and just because it's available than for serious business use. It is, however, very interesting, and well done for what it is. Smooth, fast, and familiar. I like what they've done and hope for a more robust flavor in the months to come.

[Dan]

yomacdaddy, on 16 January 2012 - 11:36 AM, said:

Dan, on 16 January 2012 - 11:22 AM, said:

yomacdaddy, on 16 January 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

Dan,

Pages is no where near 100% compatible with MS Word. This has been argued on numerous forums. But, I will give you one example. Try to create an outline on Pages using a numbered list like 1, 1.1, 1.11 or 1, a, ii, etc. Pages does not have this fundamental feature. If you exchange documents in business, the formatting has to be exact. Other programs like NeoOffice come much closer for both Word and Excel.

FYI, Numbers is pretty. But, it is not even in the same book much less page as Excel.

Understood; for BASIC word processing tasks, I use pages to edit, reply to and re-send/return Word documents I've received from customers. For the heavy lifting, I use InDesign, a program that can format circles around Word. Yes?

Dan,

If you have not checked out NeoOffice, you should. I think it is either free or $10. It will do everyting and is nearly 100% compatible with the industry standard programs Word/Excel. If InDesign works for you, that is great. But, again, for the heavy lifting, it is not compatible with Word. Thus, a major setback in my opinion.

I've been curious for some time about the NeoOffice but never looked into it. Thanks for the reminder.
I believe I understand your emphasis on Word compatibility; its a normal part of your workflow. It's not for me as my final documents are InDesign files. This review by MacWorld and all of your comments are appropriate for the subject at hand. I'm a bit off base with my comments. My apologies.
With that said, may I ask you why it's important for you to maintain nearly 100% compatibility with Word? Is your final result Work docs? Do you produce/print final output through Word? Just curious.

[sterlizzi]

The best thing is the ability to track changes in Word while editing on your iPad. However, they need to provide a way to upload directly from your iPad using GoodReader or something. Then, you can get a Word document in your mail and edit on your iPad. Very cool.

[prettythin]

Dan, on 16 January 2012 - 10:26 AM, said:

I've never had an issue creating, editing or saving Word docs with Apple's iWork Apps. Pages makes it soooo easy to do. Why the 800 lb. Gorilla when it's not necessary. What am I missing?

Dan, I totally agree. I haven't used Microsoft Word since Pages 09 came out. I write heavily and work with publishing houses who use MS Word. We've had seamless back-and-forth editing for years. Pages is elegant and powerful, whereas Word is utilitarian and at best a lowest common denominator. I call it no contest.

[jescott418]

I just have to question why people buy a Apple product and have to work so hard to use Microsoft products?
I thought Apple was so great? Its like buying a BMW and putting a Hemi in it? Why? But also why do any document on a Tablet of any kind?

[Maverick513]

I do not use this. But I can see it is useful.

[wcontello]

Dan, on 16 January 2012 - 11:22 AM, said:

yomacdaddy, on 16 January 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

Dan,

Pages is no where near 100% compatible with MS Word. This has been argued on numerous forums. But, I will give you one example. Try to create an outline on Pages using a numbered list like 1, 1.1, 1.11 or 1, a, ii, etc. Pages does not have this fundamental feature. If you exchange documents in business, the formatting has to be exact. Other programs like NeoOffice come much closer for both Word and Excel.

FYI, Numbers is pretty. But, it is not even in the same book much less page as Excel.

Understood; for BASIC word processing tasks, I use pages to edit, reply to and re-send/return Word documents I've received from customers. For the heavy lifting, I use InDesign, a program that can format circles around Word. Yes?

Your assertion that you cannot make numbered lists in your statement "Try to create an outline on Pages using a numbered list like 1, 1.1, 1.11 or 1, a, ii, etc. Pages does not have this fundamental feature." is patently false. iWork is not a replacement for some MSOffice features but, for the money, it is an excellent software package. In many ways I prefer to use iWork. There are a small, and limited, set of conditions where iWork just won't cut it.

This post has been edited by wcontello: 17 January 2012 - 12:56 PM