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  • The argument for the ease of an Apple Mac is akin to someone arguing that catching limosines everywhere is better than owning a car because, every time this person drives a car, they crash it. Now, there is nothing wrong with using limosines for transportation if.
  • Jan 29, 2014  After 30 years, why did the Mac never break into big business? Apple's solidly built PCs have developed a cult following over the years, but they never made a dent in the enterprise.

Jul 11, 2018  On the other hand, if your employees prefer a Mac or PC due to efficiency or ease of use, you may have a harder time convincing them to switch. Workers who use extensive keyboard shortcuts or specialized design, visualization, or analytics software may be particularly sensitive to laptop type.

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In recent years, Microsoft Word and Google Docs have been quietly waging a war for the title of best word processor. While most of us have been using Word for decades to draft everything from school essays to resumes to important work documents, Google Docs web-based platform is a total game changer for editing and sharing documents in the connected age.

So which is better? That depends entirely on what you need from a word processing program or mobile app. Today we’re going to cover the benefits and downsides of both Microsoft Word and Google Docs so you have the intel you need to decide for yourself.

Learn more about Word

Download our print-ready shortcut cheatsheet for Word.

How to use and access Microsoft Word and Google Docs

You cannot purchase Microsoft Word as a standalone program.

It comes as part of the Microsoft Office 365 package, which includes other programs like Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

Once you purchase this suite, you can only install Word on a select number of computers, depending on the plan level you choose.

So if you install Word on your desktop, you’ll need to bump up your plan to get a copy for your laptop, which can get pricey.

It wasn’t until 2010 that Microsoft finally launched Word Online as part of its Office 365 package.

Though Word Online boasts enough features for casual users, it is not the full version of Word by any means.

Select ribbons and toolbars were removed from the online version to help it load and run faster. It offers a more streamlined experience though it leaves others wanting more.

For instance, Word Online isn’t able to handle large or more complex documents and users find it clunkier to work around these bugs than using their regular Word program from the start.

All of that is different with Google.

As an internet-based company, Google Docs started out as a cross-platform word processor that works entirely online.

You don’t have to download any software or purchase a suite of programs you don’t want/need to use it.

Simply log in to your Google account from any browser and head over to docs.google.com.

That’s it.

Unlike Microsoft Word, which can only be installed on Windows and OS X computers, you can use Google Docs from any computer and browser, including:

  • Windows
  • Mac OS X
  • Linux
  • Chrome OS

The Google Docs app is available for both iOS and Android devices—but not on Windows-based phones like BlackBerry.

The Word app comes pre-installed on Windows Phone devices and as a free (very bare) app for iOS and Android.

Our winner: You can access the full version of Google Docs, with all its features, from any browser.

You have to purchase the entire Microsoft 365 software package just to receive a full version of Word. And the online version of Word lacks certain features which may render it useless for you.

Why Do Businesses Use Microsoft Instead Of Macbook Pro

Unlike Microsoft Word, Google Docs is free to use…

Google Docs is free for the average user.

If you want to purchase a “Business” version of G Suite, monthly plans start at $5 per user.

It’s going to cost you more to get started with Microsoft Word.

You’ll need to pay either a:

  • One-time fee of $149.99
  • Yearly fee of $69.99 / monthly fee of $6.99 (for an install on 1 computer)
  • Yearly fee of $99.99 / monthly fee of $9.99 (to install on up to 5 computers)

Business plans are priced differently.

Most of these packages include the desktop versions of all the Office apps and online access for their web-based counterparts.

Our winner: You can’t beat free — Google takes the cake here.

… But free comes with limitations and a lack of control

We know Google Docs is entirely online.

You access your docs online, you write and edit in-browser, and your documents are saved to your online Google Drive cloud.

But what happens when your internet goes out thanks to a big thunderstorm?

Or Google’s servers go down right before your huge AM presentation?

Though you can work in Google’s offline mode (after following a series of steps), you can’t normally access the platform when Google’s servers are in chaos or when you lack Internet.

Google lets you check for outages using their G Suite Status Dashboard tool.

At the time of this screenshot, all the Google apps were running without problems:

But when there’s a service outage or reported service disruption, you’ll see a bar like in this example:

The most commonly reported problems with Google Drive, according to Down Detector, include:

  • Not being able to access files online (53%)
  • Apps (like Docs and Sheets) not loading (36%)
  • File syncing (10%)

This could cause major stress if you’re unprepared.

You’ll need to download or email physical copies of your documents for times you won’t be connected to the internet.

Microsoft may have the upper hand here since you can get your work done in the offline desktop version of Word.

Plus, your Word documents will be saved locally on your computer or device instead of in the cloud so you’re always in control of them.

Our winner: MS Word removes the “what if” factor of relying on Google’s servers and lets you work without an internet connection.

Similar layouts and interface: Google wins on user-friendliness, but Word has tons of features

Seasoned Word vets know there are SO many options and features built into Word that it can be exhausting navigating all the ribbons and toolbars just to find the one button you need.

After all, you’ll probably click on ribbons like References, Mailings, and Acrobat, which will replace your toolbar with even more buttons, maybe twice in your whole life.

Google Docs solves that problem by drastically simplifying the layout and toolbar situation to create a more user-friendly, easily manageable workspace.

Just check out the differences to see what we mean.

Here’s what Microsoft Word’s ribbon looks like in both Windows and OS X versions:

Now check out the Google Docs toolbar:

Pretty big difference, right?

Google places all your most frequently used buttons right in your easy-access toolbar. Everything else, like inserting images or tables, can be found in one of the dropdowns.

With Word, any time you change one of the ribbons, like if you clicked on Layout, all the buttons in your toolbar change as well.

Though Word does let you customize your toolbar so all your most-used buttons are in reach, narrowing down these options can be overwhelming for a novice or casual users.

The less time you have to spend hunting for the exact tool you want, the quicker your work will be accomplished.

Our winner: An easy-to-use interface doesn’t mean much if the tools you need aren’t available. Choose Google if you need light word processing features; stick to Word if you’re on a more advanced features level.

Google saves the day when it comes to saving your files

Ever forget to hit the save button on your Word doc before you lose power or accidentally close out of the program?

Though you’ve crossed your fingers and recovered several Word documents in your lifetime, wouldn’t it be great if you never had to replay this terrible nightmare again?

Google Docs not only automatically saves your work every few minutes or so, it also continually saves as you’re working.

This means you can log in on your desktop and see the changes made live from your smartphone at the same time.

Plus, Docs backs up your saved files to Google Drive instead of your local hard drive.

So Google saves your work — and backs up your work — to give you extra protection should you spill coffee all over your laptop and wreck your hard drive.

Our winner: Google is the automatic save hero you never thought your docs needed.

Comparing document compatibility and file formats

You can use Google Docs to open and edit Microsoft Word documents. You can even download your Google doc as a Word document so it has a standard Word extension (.docx).

But that’s not the only file format Google Docs will let you export.

You can download your docs with the following extensions: ODT, PDF, RTF, HTML, TXT, EPUB.

However, you can only download your Word Online documents as PDF, ODT, or DOCX files.

And if you want to open a Google doc in Word, you’ll need to convert it first.

One area Word has Docs beat is PDFs.

You can open PDFs in Word on your desktop, edit them, and then save them as PDFs again; you can’t do this in Google Docs.

Our winner: Google gives you more file format compatibility. But Word may be your go-to if you require PDF editing.

Collaborate remotely using real-time editing and doc sharing

We live in an ever-connected world, which means many of us have to collaborate with teams and coworkers remotely.

Both word processors will let you track the changes made by editors you shared your document with.

While you can download your Word doc and email it to others for collaboration, you can invite collaborators directly from your Google doc or send them a link to access your document.

When you’re in Google’s “Suggesting” mode, all the edits made are merely suggestions which accompany the highlighted text as comments in the sidebar.

You can choose to accept these changes (and they’ll happen in the doc) or ignore them without harming your original text.

Select the tab below for the version you're trying to install. Office is installed now' and an animation plays to show you where to find Office applications on your computer. Microsoft office 2016 mac crack. Install Office 2016 on a PCRemember a one-time purchase version of Office is.Depending on your browser, select Run (in Edge or Internet Explorer), Setup (in Chrome), or Save File (in Firefox).If you see the User Account Control prompt that says, Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device? Select Yes.The install begins.Your install is finished when you see the phrase, 'You're all set!

If someone deletes part of your text during editing, Google will strikethrough the text in the document like this:

Edits made in Word will remove the original text from the document and place it in the sidebar along with the other comments:

You’ll be able to read an edited version of your document without your original copy to distract you from the final product (unless you click into the sidebar).

Here’s the best perk about Google Docs: real-time collaboration.

When your recipients click the link to your document, you’ll be able to view their name (or anonymous Google-assigned animal avatar) and their unique identifying color in-doc live.

Watch your collaborators mark up your doc or open up the Google Docs messenger feature and chat with each other — right in your document — about the changes you want to make together live.

Google will track the changes — along with who was responsible for them and the time they made them — so contributions are always recognized.

You could literally have an entire department working on the same doc together in real-time wherever in the world they happen to be working from.

While you can email your documents to your collaborators with Word, you can’t actually work together on it at the same time like you can with Docs.

You can only do this in Word with Microsoft’s Office 365 online Word app, which isn’t a full version of the program anyway.

Plus, you’ll need an account or subscription for Word online and your teammates might not have one.

Here’s an interesting study to note:

When Creative Strategies surveyed over 350 college students across the country, they discovered:

Why Do Businesses Use Microsoft Instead Of Mac Os

  • 12% use Google Docs to write papers alone; 80% use Microsoft Word instead
  • 78% use Google Docs to write papers in a group collaboratively; just 13% use Word for group work

So you may want to follow in the footsteps of today’s millennials and use Word for your personal work and Docs for your teamwork.

Our winner: Google Docs shines in collaboration mode with its universal access and real-time editing features.

Is there a better mobile candidate?

Google Docs started and lives online so you’ll always have access to its full features when you’re signed in on the browser version. Though the mobile apps have fewer features, you can still write and edit docs on-the-go without any hiccups.

Since the mobile-based Word app isn’t Microsoft’s core business, it’s not as robust or comprehensive as their standalone program or what Google offers their mobile users.

While you can insert charts, drawings, and even spreadsheets with the online version of Docs, you don’t have these abilities with Word Online.

Mobile users will have their documents saved to OneDrive, Microsoft’s version of Google Drive, so working remotely is just as secure as when they’re in the office.

Our winner: Google Docs was made for the web and mobile working; MS Word is stronger offline.

Google has more third-party app integrations

Visit the Google Apps Marketplace for add-ons from third parties that fit your and your business’ needs.

Missing something from Word?

Check the marketplace and see if you can not only replace it, but find a better version.

From label merge tools to automatic contact plugins, these apps can be seamlessly integrated with Docs for a fully customizable program.

The most popular add-ons for Google Docs include those that replicate Microsoft Word features, such as:

  • Extensis Fonts which adds thousands of free fonts to Docs
  • Template Gallery an add-on that gives you additional templates for Docs and Sheets
  • Styles apply styles to jazz up Docs to give them a more sophisticated look
  • Insert icons for Docs imports icons to help you illustrate your Docs

Microsoft has their own Office Store with integrated third-party apps, but it’s not as stocked with choices.

Additionally, Google Docs works with the other programs in the G Suite. So you can create or access files from your Google programs right from the File menu in Doc:

Each document or app will open in a separate tab within the browser you’re already working in so you don’t have to wait for all those separate programs to load on your computer like you would with Microsoft.

Our winner: MS Word doesn’t need as many add-ons because it’s bursting with features, but Google’s basic skeleton allows for total customization with add-ons you specifically choose.

So are you a loyal Windows fan or a new Google devotee?

Microsoft Word has been the only name worth mentioning in the world of word processors for the last 30 years, but now Google aims to knock the crown off its head.

With its easy-to-use features cleverly designed for the growing cloud-based workforce, many people find Docs easier to use on a daily basis than Word.

Others in the business realm who rely on Microsoft’s constantly evolving features will be let down by Google’s basic approach and slim tools offering.

So after assessing the specifics of both companies, you’ll need to decide what’s right for you.

Why Do Businesses Use Microsoft Instead Of Mac Pro

If you have a Gmail account and take your Chromebook coffee shop hopping to work remotely with your team, Google Docs may be the best choice for your limited hard drive space and high collaboration needs.

But if your business does everything using Microsoft and you have an Outlook email, you may not want to rock the boat by switching from Word.

We think you should give each program a test run for a week to try them out yourself.

You’ll learn which features you can’t live without (and which you could use less of), work out the kinks and quirks between them, and have a solid answer based on your own real-world use.

If you need help getting started with Microsoft Word or Google Docs, we can point you in the right direction. Take a Word online course to learn the basics or refresh your knowledge, then master the advanced features and become a bona fide pro.

Learn more about Word

Download our print-ready shortcut cheatsheet for Word.

They admitted that they blew it.

Why Do Businesses Use Microsoft Instead Of Mac Computer

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It's a question I get asked all the time. Do I buy a Mac for my business or a PC?

Why Do Businesses Use Microsoft Instead Of Mac Free

More than a decade ago, the answer was pretty clear: Get a PC. For years, Microsoft owned the corporate ecosystem. Servers ran Windows. Networks were more easily configured for Windows. Thousands of Microsoft employed, trained or partner-geeks were available to help support the famously-less-than-reliable Windows operating system. Businesses bought PCs. Sure, there were Apple products for the corporate world, but these were mostly used by a small group outliers -- those organizations that were generally in the arts, design or education industries.

Related: The Biggest Facepalm Moments of 2017

Then things changed -- Microsoft lost its mojo. People bought iPods, then iPhones, then iPads and iMacs. The Mac, particularly the Mac Pro, became a more accepted tool in the business world. As networking software improved and more developers wrote applications for the iOS platform, I began to see more and more Macs sprouting up at my clients' offices. Apple's applications were cooler and its devices just worked better than the Windows counterparts. Its products gained market share in the business community. And even as more people migrated towards devices and laptops, its desktop -- the Mac Pro -- symbolized the company's resurgence against Microsoft's declining Windows operating system and the PCs that relied on it.

Then . . . Apple blew it.

Last week, the company confirmed what just about every Mac Pro user could tell you about their flagship business desktop: It sucked. According to this report from The Verge, 'Apple admitted that its flashy 2013 Mac Pro redesign was a mistake, and executives indicated that Apple intends to better support its professional users in the future.'

Related: In Defense of Royally Screwing Up

The Mac Pro was so poorly designed that its creators were unable to upgrade its specifications for more than three years. Embarrassed by the mistake, the company essentially swept the product line under the rug, ignoring its user base and the tech community who waited vainly for any significant updates. The backlash has been considerable and the complaints 'scathing,' according to The Verge report. Things deteriorated enough that a group of executives from the company convened a mini-press conference to admit their mistakes and announce that they had nothing to announce -- other than a redesigned Mac Pro is still a year away.

There's no need to criticize Apple because you can't really blame them for ignoring the Mac Pro. The user community represents 'only a single-digit percent of total Mac sales' and Mac sales are only about 10 percent of Apple's revenue. Apple, like the rest of us, doesn't have unlimited resources. It's been focusing its attention on more profitable products and investing in new ones. The company left itself exposed to abuse from the small, yet vocal, community of Mac Pro users and is taking its lumps. Its a great company and I don't dispute its strategy, but by ignoring its business desktop products it has allowed Microsoft to regain more control with better, faster and more productive equipment running the highly rated Windows 10 operating system. Apple blew it.

Why Do Businesses Use Microsoft Instead Of Mac And Cheese

Related: 6 Mistakes People Make When They Go From Idea to Reality

But, that’s not your concern, is it? What's more important than Apple's business is your business. Sure, you've been equipping your people with laptops and tablets because more and more of them need mobility. But, the fact is that you still need desktop computers. I know this because every time I visit a client I see the majority of the people sitting in cubicles and offices -- where they sit every day -- with desktops in front of them. Businesses in 2017 still need accountants, managers, customer service teams, inside sales groups and other employees who are stationary in the office. They use PCs. When those desktops wear out they will be replaced by new desktops, and when new people are hired for office jobs they will also require new desktops. You will buy a desktop PC because, like the rest of my clients, when you evaluate the cost you'll agree that a desktop PC offers more bang for the buck (more power for less cost) than a laptop.

So will your next desktop be a Mac Pro? No, it won't. Given Apple’s recent history with this product line, that investment seems like a bad idea. Instead you will buy a desktop PC that runs Windows because it's not only less expensive but -- let's face it -- it seems to work better than the current line of Mac Pros. You've got enough problems in your professional life as it is -- why invite Apple's problems into your office as well?

Why Do Businesses Use Microsoft Instead Of Mac Pro

One final, important note: While I'm doing my best to be objective and I love Apple, please also know that my firm is a Microsoft Partner.