<p>How well does the mac version of office work? I think that Office is the only Windows-based program I will need if I get a mac and does anybody get antivisur for a mac?</p>
<p>I've used office for the mac, and it works, but it might take a little bit to learn all of the differences between programs. Nothing just helps you work a little faster.</p>
<p>And I don;t know anyone who has antivirus software for their macs.</p>
<p>I think iWork is cooler than office...look at the tutorial in apple.com....its amazing....</p>
<p>The Mac version of Office works very well. Some even say that its better than the PC version. Also, I don't know anyone who has bothered to install antivirus software for a mac.</p>
<p>So if I get iWork can I open up a word documnet online?</p>
<p>Everything except VBA macros is compatible with the Mac MS Office. iWork is made by Apple, so the support for MS Office files is unofficial, and may not be complete. (though it's probably decent)</p>
<p>Funny, because Microsoft rammed its .docx format through the ISO as an "open standard."</p>
<p>Antivirus programs for Mac exist but I don't bother installing them. I used to work for Apple and even the people inside Apple corporate don't bother with antivirus.</p>
<p>Antivirus on a Mac is really just trying to do your Windows using friends a favor (so you don't inadvertently pass on an email w/ a virus).</p>
<p>Office for Mac is a great software package. I'm not sure about the new version on PC, but the Mac version looks and feels great and functions brilliantly. Personally I prefer using iWork because it just has that extra bit of Mac user-friendliness and it does export files as PC-friendly, but it's far easier to work in Office when you know you're going to upload something to the net or send it to someone on a PC.</p>
<p>And like everyone else has already said, don't bother with virus protection unless you're worried your friends might accidentally send you something which you'll then inadvertently send on to someone else. I've been using Macs for ten years and have never had a problem.</p>
<p>So hewey, you're saying that either iWork or Office for Mac would be compadible with other PC's. So why would it be easier to use Mac when uploading something on the net if they both have compadability? Thanks for your input, it has been very informative.</p>
<p>Sorry, I didn't explain myself very well.</p>
<p>In Office, yes, everything is compatible with everything. Everything will transfer and look exactly the same on both a Mac and PC. (Just make sure you by Office 2008 for Mac, not Office 2008 for PC, as a lot of people make that mistake and waste $300).</p>
<p>In iWork, technically, you can export all documents as "Windows-friendly". In Pages you have the option to export as a .doc (Word) file, for example. There is the same equivalent with Keynote/Powerpoint etc. HOWEVER, I'll admit, sometimes you'll have unknowingly used something in Pages that isn't compatible in Word so something small in the formatting will screw up. It's never a huge deal, but I just always feel more comfortable producing work on Word when I know I'm going to be sending it to others using Word, and vice versa with Pages.</p>
<p>My point was: most of the world use a PC. Using Microsoft Office on a Mac will guarantee that everything is readable by pretty much anyone you send it to via email, internet, USB, whatever. If you use Pages, they'll either need it themselves (which honestly, a lot of Mac users still don't) or you MAY run the risk of your converted document (eg. Pages to .doc) not displaying exactly as how you designed it.</p>
<p>Basically, unless you know you're going to be dealing with a lot of other people using iWork or you're just generally a Mac-freak and love the look and feel of the software, I'd suggest just buying Office. In terms of compatibility with the rest of the world, it just makes things far simpler.</p>