Macworld: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC ...

Up to Discussions in Business Mac

18 Replies Last post: Feb 4, 2005 10:26 PM by camfarm 1 2 Previous Next

moore_1980

4 posts since
Jan 1, 2005

Jan 1, 2005 4:44 PM

Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

I recently switched over to Apple computers. I need to install the Microsoft Office software (Word, Powerpoint, etc). However, I am wondering which would be the better option. Do I buy the Mac version of the software, or should I buy Virtual PC and use the copy of these programs I already own for my old PC? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

moose_n_squirrel

2,886 posts since
Sep 16, 2004

1. Jan 1, 2005 5:30 PM

in response to: moore_1980

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

Virtual PC is best used for apps you can't find on the Mac. The problem with it is that it consumes as much resources as a PC, but in addition to your Mac needs. You have to add enough RAM to run Mac OS X, Mac apps, Windows (inside OS X), and Windows apps (inside Windows inside OS X). That is a tremendous amount of overhead and performance hit that you should avoid when possible, i.e. if you can afford to get the Mac version of Office you will probably be more satisfied.

moore_1980

4 posts since
Jan 1, 2005

2. Jan 1, 2005 9:11 PM

in response to: moose_n_squirrel

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

Thanks or your advice. It is very much appreciated. That was the way I was leaning. Is this a pretty unanimmous choice, or is there anyone with a differing opinion. Thanks in advance.

Peter Cohen

4,312 posts since
Feb 5, 2003

3. Jan 3, 2005 5:51 AM

in response to: moore_1980

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

I'd find it hard to believe that anyone would recommend running an emulated version of Office over the "real" thing on Mac OS X. Emulation is always bound to suffer a performance hit compared to a native application.

shades

333 posts since
Jun 28, 2002

4. Jan 3, 2005 7:51 AM

in response to: Peter Cohen

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

As long as you don't need Access. If you do, then your only option is VPC.

schokid02

1,321 posts since
Jun 28, 2002

5. Jan 3, 2005 1:27 PM

in response to: shades

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

You can contact Microsoft and see what kind of deals they can offer you on the Mac version of Office. If you bought the Windows version recently enough, they might let you exchange it (they have for other users on this forum). If not, then they still might offer it to you for an upgrade price.

bofus

143 posts since
Jun 30, 2003

6. Jan 3, 2005 5:23 PM

in response to: Peter Cohen

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

Try Excel with a large pivot table (reading about 30,000 rows of data with calculations in each row). Excel in Win98SE & VPC 6 calculates faster than the Excel X or 2004 versions on OS X.

Regards,

shades

333 posts since
Jun 28, 2002

7. Jan 5, 2005 5:51 PM

in response to: bofus

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

The other difference you will notice is that MS has crippled the VBA on the Mac side. Thus, if you have to write code for both, make sure to check thoroughly. Also, MS chose not to port ActiveX to Mac, so any Control toolbar controls will not work on the Mac side (use the Forms toolbar instead).

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

8. Jan 6, 2005 7:46 PM

in response to: moore_1980

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

Use Microsoft Office version 2004 for Mac, it is better than the Windows version. I also use Virtual PC with Win2000 for a couple of programs, you want to limit your use of VPC if at all possable, it is buggy and crashes more often in the virtual world than on a real PC, and I give it the max RAM at 512.

Now if you are using a pivot table with 30,000 rows of data, you would really be a thrill seeker to use VPC because you could very easily crash the whole virtual drive and not be able to recover it or your data.

I work on windows PC's all day long, so I can't bad mouth them to much, the fact that they are such junk provides me with a good living, but I would never give up my Mac, it just works without effort or worry.

bofus

143 posts since
Jun 30, 2003

9. Jan 7, 2005 4:22 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

Maybe your machines are not "properly" maintained. My versions of VPC have never crashed (Win98SE, XP Home, XP Pro, Win2000). Your OS may work better if you let someone else maintain it.

Regards,

moose_n_squirrel

2,886 posts since
Sep 16, 2004

10. Jan 7, 2005 6:04 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

I agree, Virtual PC crashes on my machine were eventually traceable to two things:

The Mac disk was running low on free space so the virtual disk image was running out of scratch space to expand or store temp files.

The RAM was defective. The VPC crashing turned out to be one of several symptoms of the faulty RAM modules. Other apps requiring similarly intensive use of RAM were also crashing. After the RAM was exchanged nothing on my machine crashed again.

These days VPC6 is quite stable for me.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

11. Jan 7, 2005 7:07 PM

in response to: bofus

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

In reply to:<hr />
My versions of VPC have never crashed

<hr />

Ha! LOL LOL LOL LOL, then you must have the platinum copy of VPC, occasional crashes of VPC are normal according to myself and three other people that I know use the program, not to mention about 90% of reviews of the product. Do you work for Microsoft?

In reply to:<hr />
Your OS may work better if you let someone else maintain it

<hr />

Do you mean like this:
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update,
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
OH MY GOSH, WE HAVE PORTS OPEN!
SERVICE PACK
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
Hot Fix, Anto_Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Hot Fix, Anti-Virus Update, Spyware Update
SERVICE PACK

RonAnnArbor

577 posts since
Sep 20, 2003

12. Jan 9, 2005 5:22 AM

in response to: Nobody

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

Absolutely get the Mac version of Office and not VPC and your PC versions.

I try to stay as far away from VPC as possible as it is buggy and crashes constantly. I use it only for a PC-based medical billing program I need to access once every two weeks, and to run occasional MS publisher files to edit at work from my partners.

I have found that he MS Office for the Mac runs smoother and is more consistently designed for the mac environment than the PC version. I like the floating pallets and the ease of use of the program, and the fact that you can leave all your office programs open forever.

As to the person who said VPC doesnt crash if properly maintained -- WRONG -- I am a computer professional who has never seen a program crash as much as VPC, even when "properly maintained." It is a work around solution for those few people who must have a PC to run a program or two. It is not an adequate solution for day to day use.

camfarm

39 posts since
Oct 8, 2004

13. Jan 20, 2005 10:54 PM

in response to: RonAnnArbor

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

Here's my requirement: Operate licensed legacy copies of MS Money, MS Streets and Trips, MS Project, MS PP98, Paint Shop Pro, and Garmin US Topo. Sounds like I am as well off saving my cash and continuing to run my legacy WIN98SE 1Ghz machine. Any contrary or confirmatory opinions?

Many thanks.

M

bofus

143 posts since
Jun 30, 2003

14. Jan 21, 2005 1:47 PM

in response to: camfarm

Re: Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

On my Dual Processor 1GHz G4, VPC 6 works very good with Win98SE. As noted above (and many poo-poo'd the remark), Excel calculates faster in VPC than Excel 2004 does in OS X. Obviously, running the programs on a PC would be better/faster, but it depends on how many machines you can keep. My PC is a 700MHz PIII XPS-series.

Go to original post 1 2 Previous Next

Go to original post

Name	City

Address 1	State	Zip

Address 2	E-mail (optional)

Jan 1, 2005 4:44 PM

Mac Version of Office vs Virtual PC

Actions

More Like This