Apple vs Microsoft?

[Brian Turner]

Microsft's SP2 patch has absolutely killed Office 97. And with it, my ties to Microsoft.

I've actually been looking out for a new PC, and so long as I can convert my existing office docs then I may as well look to branch out.

I'm still a little nervous about setting up with Linux because I'm so unused to issues of the OS systems. For example, if I suddenly find I had to start re-compiling drivers at a critical moment, without actually knowing what recompile means.

Apple seems a fair choice - although seemingly more expensive for what you actually get, it seems like you're paying for quality. With a business computer, that seems a good idea. I also believe that Apple have features for running old Office files on Apple?

Thing is, how hard would an actual move to Apple be? Would there be any real concerns with hardware options? Any comments are welcome.

[Craig B]

Hi,

I know what you mean about SP2, we are advising our clients not to update machines yet, until we have had chance to test it out with all of there software.

I have a desktop machine running XP Pro, and a laptop dual booting XP Pro and SUSE 9.1 Linux Pro. In the office we have a Mac as well as other stuff that I'm currently tinkering with.

Apple and Linux will convert your docs to and from the popular office formats (Word, Excel and Powerpoint). I wouldn't worry about the recompiling talk that goes with Linux, you don't have to use it, in fact I've only ever recompiled things out of interest never out of need. Just because a car bonnet can be opened, doesn't mean you have to be a mechanic and do stuff. With Microsoft the bonnet is welded shut so you cant tinker, that's the main difference...

With Linux (I recommend SUSE Linux Professional 9.1 for business and ease of use) on the desktop you don't need to know any command line stuff, even I probably use 10 commands that's about it and I use it to it's limit.

The actual move itself (regardless of Linux or Mac) I felt had more to do with confidence and faith in the new system than any technical hurdle. I was lucky and had a laptop that I was under utilising and decided when I set-up that it was to be my main machine so I could work at client sites around the country. This tied in with my move to Linux and for a while I had two machines sitting on the desk side by side until my confidence was at a point whereby I could switch with confidence.

The two main (technical) hurdles I had was firstly migrating mail archives from outlook (the same process applies regardless of Mac or Linux) and the other was that I could no longer use an access database containing my old invoices. The first point was overcome easily enough and I just exported my old access database to an excel spreadsheet. Problems solved.

Other than that I've never looked back, and I definitely do a load more work than under Windows.

Good luck with your choice and if you need a hand then give me a shout...

Craig.

[Brian Turner]

Thanks for the comments - very useful. Like the analogy of the car bonnet, too.

And - as if by magic - Office 97 is working again (another auto-update?) so I can get back to invoicing.

[temi]

Brian,
Does your office 97 work now? If not, consider reinstalling it. SP2 probably overwrite some office 97 files, reinstalling office 97 will reestablish the overwritten files.

You may also want to buy Office 2003, if you want to move away completely from Miscrosoft based application then download Open Office, its and open source office software that is compatible with MS office and other leading Office packages, its completly free. Do a search for open office on your favourite search engine.
Temi

[Brian Turner]

Office 97 works fine now - still issues with WS_FTP, but I'm using Leech FTP for high volume uploads.

Office 2003 always seemed a little pointless in terms of functionality - Office 97 normally does me great.

Really think hard about the next PC, though - probably won't be running Microsoft as for a business computer it just seems far too vulnerable.

Thanks for the comments, though, Temi.