Using Mac for work

Bigcheeze

As an iphone and ipad owner I was considering fully signing up to the cult and buying my first Mac to replace an old laptop......but I would need to be able to use it from time to time for work - e.g. if I need to check something in the evening or weekend.

Work has a windows setup. Will I be able to easily do things like connect to work servers over VPN or remote desktop ? Do Macs have a nice MS exchange interface out of the box like in IOS ? If I create or edits docs in MS Office for Mac is it completely compatible with Office for Windows or is it a buggy ? Any other issues ?

brianwalshcork

There is a remote desktop client for the MAc do you will be able to rd to any windows hosts that your office provide.

You will more than likely be able to find a VPN client to allow you to connect to the work VPN server, that may not be a windows box all, you'll need to confirm with your work admins.

Can't comment on the office file comparability, but a quick google tells me it should work ok, whether it's 100% bug free is smother question, but your probably going to be ok with basic files.

big_moe

office files work fine from mac to pc. vpn works fine as well, all macs have a remote desktop program built in - i use it at home from my mac to a windows 7 pc.

MS exchange support is fine, once the exchange server is 2007 or newer. if its older than 2007 then you'll need to setup mail as IMAP and have your calendars sync over calDAV, which is a bit ropey for push updates from my experience.

adam

nesf

I've had no problems going between Office for Mac and Office both in spreadsheets and Word docs. Haven't needed Exchange or VPN for work.

Worst comes to worst you can do like I did and use Parallels or VMWare Fusion to run a virtual copy of Windows and get a native environment to run software in. Had to do it with accounting software etc.

Freddie59

Bigcheeze wrote: »

As an iphone and ipad owner I was considering fully signing up to the cult and buying my first Mac to replace an old laptop......but I would need to be able to use it from time to time for work - e.g. if I need to check something in the evening or weekend.

Work has a windows setup. Will I be able to easily do things like connect to work servers over VPN or remote desktop ? Do Macs have a nice MS exchange interface out of the box like in IOS ? If I create or edits docs in MS Office for Mac is it completely compatible with Office for Windows or is it a buggy ? Any other issues ?

I've got Windows 7 64x running through Parallels on a 2010 iMac.:)

john__long

Bigcheeze wrote: »

Work has a windows setup. Will I be able to easily do things like connect to work servers over VPN or remote desktop ? Do Macs have a nice MS exchange interface out of the box like in IOS ? If I create or edits docs in MS Office for Mac is it completely compatible with Office for Windows or is it a buggy ? Any other issues ?

Mac OS X has a built in VPN ability. See System Preferences->Networking. It supports PPTP, Cisco IPsec and L2TP over IPsec.

There is a Windows Remote Desktop Connection application if you want to connect via RDP to other Windoze boxes.

Mail for OS X has Exchange support OTB.

Also, you can get MS Office for Mac OS X. Compatibility wise it's the same as the Windoze version.

It's a good rule of thumb, anything your Windows machine can do, a Mac can do. The only trade off is lack of customizable elements in UI and gaming. In a business environment though, does that really matter?!

conor.hogan.2

Open/libreoffice saves in several word formats.

You could also use a vm (like virtualbox) to rund word or any specific software that your work may be picky about having to run.

studiorat

I work in a place with all Macs, and we run everything a PC would. Agresso databases, accounting software the lot in VM ware fusion.

Personally I use Open Office and it's compatible with all the Microsoft Office software, Excel, Word etc.

Don't forget a Mac is the same as a PC except with a different operating system.

Bigcheeze

big_moe wrote: »

MS exchange support is fine, once the exchange server is 2007 or newer. if its older than 2007 then you'll need to setup mail as IMAP and have your calendars sync over calDAV, which is a bit ropey for push updates from my experience.

adam

This is proving to be a problem. Exchange server is 2003. IT guy is cursing me!

Greentree_uk

get a copy of office 2008 and your problem is solved.

Bigcheeze

Greentree_uk wrote: »

get a copy of office 2008 and your problem is solved.

Where would I get that ? Second hand ?

muggyog

Entourage is cr@p. Get Office 2011 for Mac , Outlook works better with Exchange.

conor.hogan.2

I have win7, windows xp (server versions also) and several other operating sytems installed on my base macbook pro.

Also I have no problems giving word files to people, opening their powerpoints or random archaic windows file formats either.

Homer

Do you use business banking? I just found out that BOI business on line only works on internet explorer so if I want to use it on the mac i'll have to parallel and install windows :mad:

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EL_Loco

Bigcheeze wrote: »

This is proving to be a problem. Exchange server is 2003. IT guy is cursing me!

poor chap should just refuse to support anything that goes off the reservation. Surprised you've been humoured tbh. Not because it's a mac, I've worked in Mac environments too, just because it's non-standard.

anyways, hope it all works out.