Microsoft just released its first update to its new Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac client. Here’s a look at what you can expect from the updates.
Hmmm, I thought you were going to be a Mac fan. With all due respect, I've been using the PC environment for many years, and am only recently a Mac purchaser/user, but I really like my Mac. Sure, it took time to get used to some of its nuances, but it's a lot more stable operating system, the ergonometric design is hard to beat (although PC makers are now copying the Mac), and the music/graphics/gaming capabilities are great. Hey, I've had it now for 5 years, so maybe I'm out of the loop. Maybe PC makers have computers that have surpassed the Mac and I just don't know it. In any event, I still think you're 'okay,' Nate, because you (hopefully) solved my question.
Sure, it took time to get used to some of its nuances, but it's a lot more stable operating system, the ergonometric design is hard to beat (although PC makers are now copying the Mac), and the music/graphics/gaming capabilities are great. I think Mac fans, and perhaps PC fans, should be much more careful when they make statements like this, personally. Which Mac OS are you using? Unix on an Intel processor?
Which version of Windows are you talking about, because that too makes a huge difference. What kind of File Structure do you have? NTFS is of the much more recent variety. And, the Kernel in different Windows versions, speaking of sound, works much differently. There have been numerous changes to the audio stack over the years, but the core audio architecture has remained the same until Vista.
Over the years, we've realized that there three major problem areas with the existing audio infrastructure:. The amount of code that runs in the kernel (coupled with buggy device drivers) causes the audio stack to be one of the leading causes of Windows reliability problems. It's also become clear that while the audio quality in Windows is just fine for normal users, pro-audio enthusiasts are less than happy with the native audio infrastructure. We've made a bunch of changes to the infrastructure to support pro-audio apps, but those were mostly focused around providing mechanisms for those apps to bypass the audio infrastructure.
We've also come to realize that the tools for troubleshooting audio problems aren't the greatest - it's just too hard to figure out what's going on, and the UI (much of which comes from Windows 3.1) is flat-out too old to be useful. Back in 2002, we decided to make a big bet on Audio for Vista and we committed to fixing all three of the problems listed above. The first (and biggest) change we made was to move the entire audio stack out of the kernel and into user mode. Pre-Vista, the audio stack lived in a bunch of different kernel mode device drivers, including sysaudio.sys, kmixer.sys, wdmaud.sys, redbook.sys, etc.
In Vista and beyond, the only kernel mode drivers for audio are the actual audio drivers (and portcls.sys, the high level audio port driver).So, I found Windows 2000 to be unstable, Blue Screens of Death, etc. But Windows Vista (Ultimate) is extremely stable, and the sound is great. But again, keep in mind that it's drastically different than XP, etc. The only thing that bothers me about Vista is that it has a huge footprint, and it's automatic updates destroy my computer's performance every few days at 3:00 am (I have to reboot). In terms of hardware, that's another slippery slope. What kind of PC are you talking about?
With a Mac, you get a Mac. Not so with PCs, I have a couple of boxes, one's a generic HP laptop that's obsolete, and a custom-built (in every sense) desktop, that rips. Now, in terms of malware. Is the Apple-Mac targeted less? Makes sense to me, if you're a malware writer, and your goal is to reach the masses, you don't write malware for 11% of the market (Mac), you write it for 89% of the computer market, PCs. So, while one can say Macs are less likely to contract malware, that's not speaking to brilliance of Mac designers, it's a simple fact that PCs have to be much better as they're the target of desire. However, it is a real concern.
I also started a thread on this in the Lounge, if you're interested.
Excel 2016 for Mac brings lots of welcome improvements to the workhorse spreadsheet but also leaves out useful tools. Pros Moving to the cloud: Like the other apps in the latest Mac Office suite, Excel 2016 lets you store, sync, and edit files online, via Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage service. You can also save Excel files to your Dropbox account. Collaborate: Excel 2016, through OneDrive, lets you share documents with colleagues and collaborate in real time.
You can chat online as well, either through a document chat window or through Skype. Modern design: The redesigned ribbon for the Mac version of Excel borrows the look and feel of its Windows counterpart, presenting tools and formatting options in much the same way as Excel for Windows does. Excel also recommends appropriate charts based on spreadsheet data. Moving across platforms: Excel 2016 supports many of the Windows keyboard shortcuts and most of the Excel 2013 for Windows functions, which should make it easier to use the tool across platforms. The update also includes an Analysis ToolPak add-in, PivotTable slicers for analyzing data, and an improved formula builder. Cons Macro limits: Prior to Office 2016, you could build macros in Excel for Mac. The 2016 edition offers what Microsoft calls a 'simplified' Visual Basic Editor (VBE), which allows you to debug existing macros.
But if you want to build new macros, you need to do that on the Windows side or use an earlier Mac version. For those who built macros in preceding Mac editions, this is a big loss. Bottom Line Excel 2016 is probably worth the upgrade just based on its ability to take advantage of OneDrive. The new analysis tools and formula builder help keep Microsoft's spreadsheet an essential tool. Hobbling its macros tool, however, diminishes a bit of the attraction for serious users. More Resources.
With the new features in Excel, you'll be telling your data's story in no time. Charts, graphs, keyboard shortcuts and data entry enhancements (like formula builder and autocomplete) immediately make you more productive. And support for Excel 2013 (for Windows) functions ensures that you can easily share files across platforms. The new Analysis ToolPak offers a wide range of statistical functions, including moving averages and exponential smoothing, and PivotTable Slicers help you cut through large volumes of data to find patterns that answer questions.