They did it because they wanted to do spreadsheets or word processing or email.

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When performing general word processing tasks or surfing the Internet, it automatically cuts to the power-sipping integrated graphics chip mode, striking the ideal balance between performance and battery life.

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Subjects told researchers how often they used computers and whether they used PCs for email, Web surfing, word processing, games or other activities.

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So far, most have been costly paper-weights or glorified typewriters, running Japanese word-processing software.

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Fact is, if you want to use your computer for much of anything beyond word processing, number crunching or surfing the web, having an Apple computer is an enormous liability.

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Much like Microsoft Word had a model for GUI-based word processing in MacWrite, touch-optimized office suites have been developed by or snapped up by Microsoft's competitors, including Apple ( iWork), Google ( QuickOffice) and RIM ( Docs To Go).

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Google's word processing software isn't going to satisfy users working on complex documents, rich with footnotes or mathematical notations.

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