SVA Forum

[dawnjlane]

Morning all

I am taking a leap into the unknown and moving my main work machine from a PC to an iMac.

I have almost transferred everything that I can across and setting up Outlook etc but am struggling with 2 things in Outlook and also wonder what the Mac version of Access is (if there is such a thing).

I want to put a signature in each of my email accounts and can't easily find the answer - anyone able to help?

The other Outlook problem is about Rules - I know that I should be able to open an email, click on Rules and then add to put in place a rule to move the email directly to another folder (like you do with Windows version). However, when I try to do this, my Rules menu only shows Apply All and Edit Rules (there are none in place though). Any ideas where I find the Add Rules??

Access - I use a simple Access data base for mail merging reports for one of my clients. Office 2011 for Mac (latest version) doesn't do Access and I wondered whether there is anything that is compatible or will I need to use the Office program on the Virtual Machine I have set up with Office 2007 on it?

Thank goodness I have been able to keep hold of my old PC for a few weeks whilst doing the transfer - I can get a brief insight before going 'naked' in iMac (so to speak) - old dogs, new tricks time here!!

Dawn
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Dawn Lane VAcertified MAMS MInstAM
Your Office Online - www.your-office-online.co.uk
Virtual Business in a Box Ltd - www.virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk
dawn@your-office-online.co.uk
dawn@virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk

[caroline]

I'd be really careful about switching - especially if you are doing any documents for clients Dawn. We have no end of trouble with clients on Macs and one of our call handlers who uses a Mac.

I'd be tempted to throw it out the window...

The signatures need to be set up as HTML files and inserted. Beware also Macs nasty little habit of attaching text of emails as an attachment rather than in the main body of the email and the fact that you may/may not be able to store a copy of the email you download on the server. They will move stuff around and reformat stuff in Excel and Word, even if it looks fine on yours - you will spend a lot of time exporting to PDF. Top tip in making it slightly more useful as something other than a design feature in your office: install Firefox as your web browser as a lot of sites (particularly social media/flash based) won't work on Safari.

And there endeth the lesson on Macs and why they are EVIL!!
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[dawnjlane]

Hi Caroline

I don't use Safari - I am currently using Chrome with no problems there.

I have also managed to put Windows 7 and Office 2007 on as a Virtual PC so have the ability to jump to that for documents.

I have also found some software which will allow me to sync and share Mac/PC documents and is online back up too - SugarSync.

I have worked with another VA who uses a Macbook and we have shared documents for formatting etc with no problems, but know that one of my old clients used to have problems opening word documents after I had done transcription work for her. I had to send to another staff member who was on a PC and they would send to her (strange she could open their word document but not mine).

I have a couple of weeks to be able to run both machines in parallel before I give the PC back to PC Business (leased off them) so have time to get used to the quirky bits.

I am just so fed up with Windows and Office being unstable. Even though I have a large RAM and hard drive, my PC is forever hanging and crashing. Time for a change, me thinks.

Thanks for the warning though - it may lead to a number of glasses of wine to wind down.

Dawn
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Dawn Lane VAcertified MAMS MInstAM
Your Office Online - www.your-office-online.co.uk
Virtual Business in a Box Ltd - www.virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk
dawn@your-office-online.co.uk
dawn@virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk

[caroline]

Hubby is threatening to buy one and I am NOT having him being in a foul mood 24 hours a day because the stupid thing doesn't work...

I have very, very few PC problems - but I don't ever upgrade unless it's to a stable version which has been out at least a year. I think that's pretty key actually.

He of course upgrades every two minutes and won't install the anti-virus I recommended because you need to pay for a licence and he has freebie stuff. And he wonders why his computer runs S....L...O...W!
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[MarkC]

Hi Dawn

I am just catching up on what happening on the forum and came across your posting regarding the use of Macs. I have being using a Mac for the last 3 months and have to say I am really glad I switched.

I made sure I bought Office for Macs and every document I have sent on to clients/contacts has been fine.

Not sure whether you have received answers to your questions and whilst I am no expert would be happy to have a chat and see if any of my learnings over the last 3 months will help!

Welcome to the exciting world of Mac

Best wishes

Mark
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Mark Crone
Clearwater Virtual Assistance

providing virtual administration and marketing support for business growth

www.clearwaterva.co.uk

[TraceyW]

Hi Dawn and Mark,
I also use a macbook - will never go back to PC.
At the moment i have office mac 2008 but very interested to get the office mac business 2011 because it has outlook, but, i have read a lot of reviews saying that there are problems with outlook syncing with mobileme. This would be a big problem for me as i rely on mobileme a lot for syncing of my calendar and contacts. Be interested to know if either of you use mobileme and if you have any issues with 2011 outlook.
Regards
Tracey

[dawnjlane]

Hi Tracey

My Mac did come with Office 2011 and Outlook but I couldn't get it to do what I wanted it to do, so I actually managed to get hold of Office 2007 and am now using that with Entourage. I don't sync with anything and haven't used Mobile Me - don't really understand what it does!

I am now getting the hang of things and find it isn't too much of a change - just different ways of finding/saving things. Most of my work is saved to external hard drives and backed up using IDrive (now on the Mac version rather than Windows version) and don't use Time Machine for back up either as I found that it was such a huge file (backing up every hour) that my external hard drive for back ups was filling up within the space of a day (different hard drive to the client one).

Dawn
_________________
Dawn Lane VAcertified MAMS MInstAM
Your Office Online - www.your-office-online.co.uk
Virtual Business in a Box Ltd - www.virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk
dawn@your-office-online.co.uk
dawn@virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk

[Top-Pocket-PA]

I'm feeling a little faint at the thought of going over to the dark side. I love my PC even (or especially) as an ex multi-media graphic design student.
I know my way round PC, can upgrade my own machine and I know whichever laptop I get, it will be compatible with my Main Computer.
I have found that what you get for your money is often much less per £ when you buy a Mac. It's a Design Icon, very pretty but a bit slow and IMO just not as good as the PC's I have had over the years.
In all the years I have had the dubious pleasure of working with both systems, it's PC every time for me. Not for me, the Facsism of Apple. Did I say I'm not an Apple Fan?
Every one of the students on my Graphics Degree course with a mac had Windows installed!
Also anytime a PC or PC laptop broke down it was easy to find someone to fix it. Every Mac was out of commision for weeks, usually following a far trek to the nearest Apple showroom.
Not for me I'm afraid but good luck all the same.

[caroline]

@Top-Pocket-PA - join me in destroying the Mac myth....

I am going to divorce hubby if he buys himself one for Christmas, I just can't stand the whinging about how it doesn't work with anything else which is bound to follow the initial euphoria of buying a "design icon"!!!
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[Top-Pocket-PA]

I had to laugh at a friend who was as anti Mac as I am, went over to the dark side because it was pretty. Pretty didn't stop the glass of water from breaking it completely even if it looked nice as it swooshed over the keyboard ;p
3 weeks later and some long round trips he found out they would take a look at it. 2 weeks later they rang and said it would cost as much to fix as it cost to buy. It is a very nice paperweight. And he likes his Acer laptop from Tesco just as much now
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Shelly

[dawnjlane]

Would have been worthwhile taking out the IMac insurance or even checking his household insurance to see if covered.

I had a laptop and external disc covered via household insurance and ended up with better replacements in both instances.

Dawn
_________________
Dawn Lane VAcertified MAMS MInstAM
Your Office Online - www.your-office-online.co.uk
Virtual Business in a Box Ltd - www.virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk
dawn@your-office-online.co.uk
dawn@virtualbusinessinabox.co.uk

[Top-Pocket-PA]

Dawn, he had insurance, that's what made it so bad! I don't have a problem with Mac users I just like my PC is all. And I spent a few years with designer types who are just so smug about their boxes of underpowered, overpriced.....sorry, I shan't go on :p . Good luck with it!
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Shelly