My ABM bites the dust
Epochal news. This Mac user (since 1984) gives up on running a proud ABM shop ("Anything but Microsoft").
I've been using NeoOffice (an implementation of OpenOffice) when clients sent MSWord docs, and when recruiters want that format for my resume (because they have robots that scan 'em for buzzwords).
However, my Mac is now running VMWare Fusion 4, which gives me a virtual machine, where I am running Windows 7 and installing MSOffice. All duly licensed -- including $40 more for Office Home and Business because Home & Student allows no commercial use.
I got pushed over the edge by recent events:
(a) Client One, frustrated that I can't open his Visio docs. There isn't ANY Mac app that opens them (a few that emulate its functionality, but I need the file format compatibility).
(b) Client Two, wanting me to run the Win-only simulator of their app in order to experience their GUI (it's a simulator because it really runs on proprietary hardware).
(c) Prospect X, sending me a quote request and attaching a Word doc with their site map... where the diagram displays not at all in NeoOffce.
(d) Client Three having me work on site, since last June, with my "own" Windows laptop (where I've found and downloaded tools for FTP and FileCompare, etc), so I'm more proficient -- and confident -- in it.
And there's always my pleasure in making (quality) PowerPoint decks (my explanatory bent). But PowerPoint for Mac is significantly different, and no one's looking for expertise in that!
It is the end of an era.
I've been using NeoOffice (an implementation of OpenOffice) when clients sent MSWord docs, and when recruiters want that format for my resume (because they have robots that scan 'em for buzzwords).
However, my Mac is now running VMWare Fusion 4, which gives me a virtual machine, where I am running Windows 7 and installing MSOffice. All duly licensed -- including $40 more for Office Home and Business because Home & Student allows no commercial use.
I got pushed over the edge by recent events:
(a) Client One, frustrated that I can't open his Visio docs. There isn't ANY Mac app that opens them (a few that emulate its functionality, but I need the file format compatibility).
(b) Client Two, wanting me to run the Win-only simulator of their app in order to experience their GUI (it's a simulator because it really runs on proprietary hardware).
(c) Prospect X, sending me a quote request and attaching a Word doc with their site map... where the diagram displays not at all in NeoOffce.
(d) Client Three having me work on site, since last June, with my "own" Windows laptop (where I've found and downloaded tools for FTP and FileCompare, etc), so I'm more proficient -- and confident -- in it.
And there's always my pleasure in making (quality) PowerPoint decks (my explanatory bent). But PowerPoint for Mac is significantly different, and no one's looking for expertise in that!
It is the end of an era.