Here is a link about OpenOffice. I don't have good enough excel experience to be an advocate for the OO program. I love the concept of this project; professionals and users creating software for free (you can contribute toward costs), improving it as needed, and distributing for free to everyone - just for the public good, no profits involved. I hadn't heard of it until this last fall, but it's been around for over a decade. It is an org. and not a .com! http://about.openoffice.org/index.html Here is a list of features on their most recent release. Natal, I don't think I have "Pages". I haven't ever seen it and just searched finder for it and nothing shows up. Where would it be? Here is a link that might be useful: openoffice

I agree with Snidely, it is easier for a novice user to use a MAC than a window PC. MAC OS system and interfaces implemented/used by its applications are a lot more elegant, efficient and user friendly. MAC's hardware and software are less "open" than Window's, therefore, it has a lot less virus introduced by applications and less compatibility issues between OS and Applications. I like the 'almost' seamless integration among all the apple products/devices. In spite of having an IT division to support, we frequently have PC issues at work. I purchased my first MAC for home use in the summer of 2014, so far I have encountered zero problem. "At home with our computer nerd dad we were free to experiment on our own and get really comfortable with computers from an early age". YOU may not remember how much your parents had to pay to clean up your computers. While our children grew up we also highly encouraged them to have "hands on" experience. We are computer nerd parents working in Engineering, and with Computer Science degree, yet we still paid dearly to have 'professional' to clean up our children's virus infested Window PCs many times. For MAC new users, Apple's one year support program is a great deal. During one year, the new user could use it as many times as possible by attending trainings, group learning sessions and phone in questions to fully learn the system. The support is many times better than the technical support provided by any PC sellers.

I still use it and am going through the frustration of Yahoo. I'm trying to hang in there until Pidgin gets an update to keep using it. I used Pidgin for the client and it worked great until the update. I'd rather eat grits and pickled herring than have to text. I despise screwing around with a tiny screen when I can have a 17" monitor in front of me. Text is for emergency or times when someone isn't available. I've never contracted the phone addiction from which so many suffer. I went so far as to set up an AOHell account to keep in touch with people until Pidgin/Yahoo is resolved but the others with whom I IM are either too stubborn or too scared to make a change. I've been looking for another option so I can continue using Pidgin. Haven't had time to do massive research though. Indications were that ICQ is still around, which surprised me.

DYH, I dont have an opinion on the Apple Watch but hope you don’t mind if I respond to Nini, about my Garmin Watch. Last year, the band on my old Garmin Foreunner 110, which I only used for running, broke. Because of the design, the band is actually part of the watch so I couldn’t just order a new band. I looked online and the replacement was something like $50! What?! The watch was fairly old so didn’t seem worth it to pay $50 for a band at that point. So I called and they said they could replace it for $25 but I still had to send the whole thing in. Before I got around to doing that, dh surprised me with a new one. While not an Apple Watch (I actually get asked that about my Garmin all the time), it does receive text messages and phone calls. I’m sure it does a few other things but that’s all Ive found convenient. I do wear it 90% of the time because I rarely get dressed up and I like all the exercise features. I use it for running but also like to see how many steps I take, how much I’m sleeping, etc. The nice thing about having it synced with my phone is that if my phone is in my purse or elsewhere in the house, etc, I know right away if someone is texting or calling me. If I’m talking with someone, I can discreetly look at my watch to see who it is and make a mental note to call or text later. It definitely doesn’t have all the features of an Apple Watch, and honestly I don’t need that. But if you aren’t keen on replacing yours (I would be annoyed too!), maybe look at the Garmin. Mine is the Forerunner 35.