New Macbook Pro owner.

Question

I just purchased my 13' Macbook Pro, and not sure if I need to purchase and download Microsoft office in order to create Word documents for school.  My school paper require me to submit paper as a Word document in APA sixth edition format?  I've been told that this will be possible through an application called PAGES that's free to download.  I all for saving money, but more importantly is to submit the right paper for school at ease.  Please help with any suggestions as to buy the software MS office for Mac or not.  Thanks

Answer 1

You're welcome.
a) It will be beneficial if it's what your school wants and is what everyone else is using.
b) It won't cause any issues with your Mac.  (Not saying it's perfect, but there's nothing particularly problematic about Office in terms of its effect on your Mac.)
c) Yes, Apple won't support Word - but Microsoft will.  It is their app, after all.  I'm not saying it will be easy to get support from Microsoft, or that they support Office on the Mac to the same level they support Office on Windows - although the gap has closed somewhat in the past couple of years - but it is supported, and in some ways Microsoft does a better job than many software vendors at acknowledging and documenting issues that do come up.
d) If your school is offering discounts on Office for Mac, your school's IT department can probably provide help as well.
Bottom line, while I'm not a big Microsoft fan and hate paying so much for their apps, I use Office simply because it is the de facto standard, and that makes it worth the cost.
Good luck in school, and enjoy your new Mac!  I guarantee your PC-using friends will be jealous of your Mac