11 ms·

> The truly irreplaceable product is Excel. I’m by no means an Excel power user, but Apple Numbers provides everything I need in a spreadsheet app. I have nati

> The truly irreplaceable product is Excel. I’m by no means an Excel power user, but Apple Numbers provides everything I need in a spreadsheet app. I have native Numbers apps on my laptop, desktop, tablet, and phone (but there’s also a web app). Whenever I save a file on one device, it’s automatically added to all the others. A file created on my laptop can be edited on my phone and vice versa. Also, Apple Numbers imports and exports Excel documents. As a result, I haven’t opened Excel in over a year and I doubt I’ll ever buy another upgrade. Excel may not be replaceable for everyone, especially if you’re using it in a corporate setting, but for me, I have found I can easily do without. I find Apple Numbers to be way more user-friendly and convenient.

MAGZine 13y ago
So Numbers is a good, platform-locked spreadsheet editor for simple uses? Dropbox+Excel seems like it would do the same thing, but even with more flexibility (including version control, document sharing) and supporting even more platforms. I don't think you can ever consider spreadsheet software to be 'user friendly'. They're spreadsheets.
- Samuel_Michon 13y ago
  > Numbers is a good, platform-locked spreadsheet editor for simple uses? Numbers is not just a spreadsheet editor, it’s a full-fledged spreadsheet creator. Its features are sufficient for all but the most demanding users. > Dropbox+Excel seems like it would do the same thing For me, it doesn’t. Just using Dropbox and my stock OS (and providing I don’t use Numbers), I can view Excel files on my phone and tablet but I cann’t create or edit them. I still need to use a third party app and Microsoft doesn’t have an appealing Excel offering for mobile platforms. > even with more flexibility (including version control, document sharing) Numbers has version control and document sharing. > supporting even more platforms. Numbers is available as native apps for iOS media players, phones, and tablets. There’s also a native app for OS X. For Windows, Linux, and every other platform that can run a modern web browser, there’s a very capable web app, available for free. Excel is available as native app for Windows and OS X. For Windows Phone it has a very bare-bones app, the Android and iOS versions are a disgrace. > I don't think you can ever consider spreadsheet software to be 'user friendly'. Maybe you should try Numbers, especially on a mobile device, and then compare it to Excel.
  - MAGZine 13y ago
    I would, except that I don't use iOS. Then again, I carry my air on me everywhere I go, so I'll never, ever be editing spreadsheets on my phone. Seems like an odd usecase to me, though.
    - Samuel_Michon 13y ago
      I was mainly referring to Numbers on iPad, which I use much rather than Numbers on OS X. I do however occasionally use Numbers on iPhone, when I don’t have an iPad or notebook with me. It works fine for looking up information, make small edits, or do some quick calculations (although I mostly use Soulver or WolframAlpha for that).

MAGZine 13y ago

So Numbers is a good, platform-locked spreadsheet editor for simple uses? Dropbox+Excel seems like it would do the same thing, but even with more flexibility (including version control, document sharing) and supporting even more platforms. I don't think you can ever consider spreadsheet software to be 'user friendly'. They're spreadsheets.

Samuel_Michon 13y ago
> Numbers is a good, platform-locked spreadsheet editor for simple uses? Numbers is not just a spreadsheet editor, it’s a full-fledged spreadsheet creator. Its features are sufficient for all but the most demanding users. > Dropbox+Excel seems like it would do the same thing For me, it doesn’t. Just using Dropbox and my stock OS (and providing I don’t use Numbers), I can view Excel files on my phone and tablet but I cann’t create or edit them. I still need to use a third party app and Microsoft doesn’t have an appealing Excel offering for mobile platforms. > even with more flexibility (including version control, document sharing) Numbers has version control and document sharing. > supporting even more platforms. Numbers is available as native apps for iOS media players, phones, and tablets. There’s also a native app for OS X. For Windows, Linux, and every other platform that can run a modern web browser, there’s a very capable web app, available for free. Excel is available as native app for Windows and OS X. For Windows Phone it has a very bare-bones app, the Android and iOS versions are a disgrace. > I don't think you can ever consider spreadsheet software to be 'user friendly'. Maybe you should try Numbers, especially on a mobile device, and then compare it to Excel.
- MAGZine 13y ago
  I would, except that I don't use iOS. Then again, I carry my air on me everywhere I go, so I'll never, ever be editing spreadsheets on my phone. Seems like an odd usecase to me, though.
  - Samuel_Michon 13y ago
    I was mainly referring to Numbers on iPad, which I use much rather than Numbers on OS X. I do however occasionally use Numbers on iPhone, when I don’t have an iPad or notebook with me. It works fine for looking up information, make small edits, or do some quick calculations (although I mostly use Soulver or WolframAlpha for that).