Anyone here use Appleworks? What do you think of it?

[Downtown Hound]

I have the 2002 version of Microsoft Office for Mac OS X. And I don't like it. For one thing, it's very sluggish, it tends to freeze up when I type a letter and I'll have to wait awhile for my text to actually appear. This only program that does this on my Mac with great frequency, so it's not the machine. It's that idiot Gates and his lame software. I really don't want to shell out another $200 for the upgrade to the 2004 edition, since in all likelihood it will probably do the same thing. So I was thinking about giving Appleworks a try, but I've never used it.

I rarely use Excel and I have Keynote for presentations so I don't use Powerpoint either, but I understand that Appleworks has programs similar to both of these. All I really need is a good word processor. How does Appleworks fare?

[gold_bug]

1. AppleWorks seems good to me.

I very rarely use word processors or office software, don't know a lot about them, but the few times I used AppleWorks it seemed like a really nice app. The version I used (the latest update I think) had a MS doc translator built into it (MacLinkPlus?) so it would open MS formatted stuff with no hassle.

Another option is the free OpenOfiice for X11. Here's the VersionTracker listing for it:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/10456

[BigMcLargehuge]

2. it sucks

the word processor is missing some essential functions if you are planning to do ANY professional writing. No on-the-fly grammar or spell checker, no change tracking or editing tools, extremely poor tables (have to be made and imported from the spreadsheet program and saved separately THEN pasted into the document (where they then disappear the next time you open it). It's slow to load fonts, it's slow to scroll, the views all suck, the text isn't anti-aliased so everything looks a little jaggy on screen. The layout tools bite, no text boxes etc... It loses formatting and graphics from imported Word docs.

If you are going to do ANYTHING decent with a word processor on your Mac, either bite the bullet and buy MS Office (it's a good Mac suite, if only for Word/Excel) or look into one of the other third party options like Open Office X, or Mariner.

[Downtown Hound]

4. Hmm...well that's too bad

Probably my biggest complaint against Apple is that you have to shell another $400 for a decent office package. Oh well, it's still better then PC's!

[eyesroll]

3. I use it because it came bundled with the iBook...

It suits my needs (basically, a glorified typewriter), but it's not all that powerful.

[Poiuyt]

5. iWorks

Apple just announced iWorks which will replace the word processor portion of Appleworks.

http://www.apple.com/iwork/

Also, if all you need is a good word processor, look at Mariner Write. I've heard a lot of good things about it from professional writers:

http://www.marinersoftware.com/

For what it's worth, I like Appleworks because it's simple and clean.

[Downtown Hound]

6. Hmm...that looks interesting.

I might give that a try. Thanks!

[cheezus]

7. iWork has pages

which is geared more towards a home user's document needs, I don't know well it would work for the professional writer.

Looks really freakin' sweet tho

[politicat]

13. pages is working GREAT for this professional writer.

I'm in love.

I also love Mariner Write. Both are much superior to bloatware Office.

And no #$%^&*() paperclips.

Pcat

[rhite5]

8. I like AWks and I use it a lot.

I've produced newsletters and prepared camera ready book manuscripts with it (and LOTS of *political* flyers, posters, newspaper ads - natch :)). There are some tricks to formatting with mixed graphics and text and mixed styles, but once learned they are easy to do.

I also do a lot of work with spreadsheets. AWks is great for that.
So I have no need for Excel.

(The DB portion of the application is very weak, however. So, for that, I use FileMaker.)

I try to avoid using MS products.

Just a thought, if your MS Word is balky and slow on your Mac try allocating more Ram Memory to it and do a Restart. Word has a heavy footprint.

Another escape from balkiness is to limit the number of fonts that load. Keep fonts you never (or very rarely) use in a separate folder. You can still get to them when you need them for something special.:)

[Downtown Hound]

9. Thanks for your input

OS X allocates RAM automatically, and my G4 powerbook has 1 gigabyte of it. It's just a silly program, and it reminds me why I switched to mac's in the first place. It has other quirks too.

It sound like Apple might be getting ready to ditch Appleworks in favor if iwork, so if I did get an Apple word processing program, it would probably be that one. Thanks for your feedback though. :hi:

[alfredo]

10. I works OK, but I would shell out the money for iWork

It cost less than AppleWorks, has text wrap, and other goodies. It has seamless integration with Keynote2.

Until then try the Aqua version of Abiword.
http://www.abisource.com/
Free

[realisticphish]

11. im not a fan; personally, i miss ClarisWorks

i use textedit for most of my text needs, but i use appleworks for pics cause i cant afford photoshop


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[alfredo]

15. Have you ever tried Tex-Edit Plus?

http://www.tex-edit.com/

It is shareware, but there is no time limit or nagging.

I paid for it. It's a nice piece of software he has earned our support.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. I absolutely love it

I have a PC at work and Word sucks compared to Appleworks. There is also an awesome spreadsheet program on Appleworks. I have tried to figure out Excel but feel like I need a doctorate in computer science to operate it.

Appleworks is so easy. Anyone can figure it out in no time.

[bullimiami]

14. its ok.

still no part of it is as good as the seperate part is/was.

the database is filemakers very poor step child
the spreadsheet is nowhere near as good as the old one.
the drawing, well I still use macdraw pro os9 for all sorts of stuff because it works.

but all in all its ok.