Apple Numbers vs. Microsoft Excel

openoffice.org

I haven't used it.

The ability to have multiple independent tables on a single sheet would be a big help, but the lack of macros is a big minus for me.

Seconding the OpenOffice.

OpenOffice is nearly identical to Excel. Unless your issue is $, or a hatred of MS, there's not much reason to switch.

Numbers? I thought Visicalc was king on the Apple?

Everyone uses Excel - period.

Apple doesn't understand accountants - obviously. Accountants do not want a paradigm shift for spreadsheet work - they want the same ol' same ol'. Accountants have not really needed much since Office97 - my god, and to think, that they could do it all with pencil, paper and calculator with tape!

I use Excel/Calc (Open Office's product) to create some fast reports where the focus is on the data and not so much the presentation. I would say that the statement, "In Microsoft Excel, graphics often seem like an after-thought" makes me satisfied that I am using a product better suited to what I am looking for.

Also, if some of those 65 additional functions are as oft-used by me such as OFFSET, then I would be better off staying with Excel/Calc.

I'm curious, from Apple's strategic standpoint, why not include Macro and better importing features to get more people to switch? Perhaps they just made a decision that the user-base they are trying to build is more interested in the presentational aspect? Or maybe because 95% (my made-up estimate) of people who use Excel use it's most basic capabilities?

I like some of the ideas that have gone into this. Perhaps, if this proves successful for Apple, Microsoft may incorporate these features in future Excel versions.

Vanamee wrote:

I'm curious, from Apple's strategic standpoint, why not include Macro and better importing features to get more people to switch? Perhaps they just made a decision that the user-base they are trying to build is more interested in the presentational aspect? Or maybe because 95% (my made-up estimate) of people who use Excel use it's most basic capabilities?

I like some of the ideas that have gone into this. Perhaps, if this proves successful for Apple, Microsoft may incorporate these features in future Excel versions.

Vanamee,

I think Apple is looking for the masses as opposed to the experts in order to get some level of installed base. It seems that the strategy is to broaden the iWork suite which started with Keynote (Powerpoint comp) and Pages (Word comp).

Personally I agree with 'accounting department'. I'm building my second data warehouse and although I've deployed Business Objects, MicroStrategy and Cognos the majority of the high-end analysts want to know "can I get this into Excel?". What it comes down to is: do you compromise the talent of your analysts by forcing them to use a new tool, or do you work within their strengths? In this second DW we are using SQL Server 2005 with BIDS which lets us provide Analysis Services cubes to the analysts right in Excel 2003. Excel 2007 has even better integration to SQL Server and AS.

Word. I was at a client's office and forced to use their software, which included the new office package that comes with Vista. That new Excel SUCKS!. The menus are all screwed up now. If you are an accountant, stay away from upgrading to Vista as long as possible.

accounting department wrote:

Accountants do not want a paradigm shift for spreadsheet work...Accountants have not really needed much since Office97

The old farts of the day said pretty much the same thing when spreadsheets first appeared.

I've played with it some. Nice so far, but it does take some getting used to if you're an old-time Excel junkie. I do like it's ability to make some nice looking reports very easily.

Pages and Numbers work well with the Office equivalents I've imported, so I could definitely see people that are lightweight users switching. If all you're doing is creating something for distribution (not joint editing) you could use Numbers and Pages, use the built in Save as PDF and you're good to go.

It'll be interesting to see where it goes, since long time Mac users will remember that two of the core Office products (Excel and PowerPoint) started on the Mac.