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Homework answers / question archive / 1) In 500 words or more, compare the performance of Excel on Windows and Mac

1) In 500 words or more, compare the performance of Excel on Windows and Mac

Computer Science

1) In 500 words or more, compare the performance of Excel on Windows and Mac.
2. In 500 words or more, describe the use case for Excel Solver and how it works.

 

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Excel On Windows Versus Mac

Every computer user has used or has heard the application excel. It is a spreadsheet application that was developed and distributed by Microsoft Corporation. In mac and windows, excel support most of the significant features. However, someone keen or a heavy user of excel may note some differences between the two even though they are minimal (Ali et al., 2019). The differences that exist between the performance of Excel on Windows and that of Mac are as follows;

The first difference that exist between the two is when it comes to pivotcharts. In excel, there is a feature that is inbuilt known as pivottables. It is something that allows a user to create a table using data and to choose how they want to display it. According to Langmann (2021), even though excel in both mac and windows supports pivottables fully, there are some notable shortcomings in mac's excel when it comes to pivotcharts. To be more specific, in mac excel, when it comes to the features of a spreadsheet data analysis. one ‘cannot pull external EXCEL FILE data into a pivottable on a Mac’. It something that one can do with excel on windows. Even though over the years have been updates to fix the shortcoming and match the windows version, they are yet to be fixed.

Another significant difference between the excel in windows and excel in mac is when it comes to PowerPivot. According to Langmann (2021).  ‘Power Pivot is part of Excel BI features that will enable you to handle big data analytics.’ As a result, those using excel on mac cannot analyse big data efficiently as those using excel on windows. However, this difference is mainly notable to individuals who employ excel for business intelligence purposes and, more specifically, big data analysis.

Another difference is that compared to excel in windows, excel in mac has a lesser visual basic for application (VBA) integration. Visual basic for application is a powerful tool and, to be more specific, is a programming language used in editing and writing macros that help in action automation in excel. According to Langmann (2021), compared to excel in windows, the VBA in excel in mac is not great as most of the properties that make the VBA editor in excel in windows unique are missing. The last difference between the two is when it comes to the built-in database connectivity. According to Collins (2015), excel in windows has an in-built database connectivity, something that does not exist in mac’s excel. It is something that affects its performance

From the above, it is clear that the mac’s excel is still lacking behind the excel in windows when it comes to performance despite the recent updates. However, Collins (2015) states that to overcome those differences and the shortcoming, some ‘Mac owners run Excel for Windows through a virtual machine solution called Parallels Desktop 10  ($79.99), which then allows users to purchase and run Windows (starting at $99.99) on their Macs’. 

The Use Case for Excel Solver and How It Works

Excel spreadsheet is without a doubt one of Microsoft Corporation’s great inventions. However, it can only be used to compute a single variable at a time, making it less ineffective as in the business world and real life in general, we usually face formulas/ situations with two or more variables. It is where excel solver comes in. According to Harris (1998), excel solver is used in what is known as a what-if analysis. Harris (1998) further states that it is a sophisticated optimization add-in tool used to determine the favorable outcome in complex problems that require particularly high-level mathematical analysis. The optimization is done mainly through changing or altering the assumptions in a model, which usually have at least two. Microsoft Corporation (2021) also defines excel solver as a ‘Microsoft Excel add-in program you can use for what-if analysis and that it is used to ascertain the maximum or minimum value of the formula in one cell, commonly known as the objective cell’. The formula in the objective cell is a reference to more variable cells, knows as changing cells. The solver works by adjusting the variables in these changing cells until the optimal (maximum or minimum) value is attained in the objective cell.

Another outstanding future of excel solver is that it uses an iterative method to perform its calculations. ‘Using iteration means that excel solver tries a solution, analyzes the results, tries another solution, and so on’ McFedries (2003).  In simple terms, excel solver does not do any guesswork, the optimization program examines how the various variables change each time and through a sophisticated mathematical process, it adjusts the outcome in the objective cell to incorporate the changes.

Another thing is that as stated above, solver is an add-in software that adds more features to excel that are not available in the default versions. So, the first thing is to ensure that the solver add-in is installed. To do so, one ‘goes to File > Options, Click Add-Ins, and then in the Manage box, select Excel Add-ins, click Go, in the Add-Ins available box, select the Solver Add-in check box, and then click OK’ Now on the Data tab, in the Analysis group, you should see the Solver command’ (Microsoft corporation, 2021).

Another thing, and according to McFedries (2003), is that solver is a huge asset because of the various advantages it has. For one, it enables one to not only seek the most suitable outcome but also to see the most optimal result. Another advantage is that it enables one to generate multiple outcomes in complex problems. The last advantage of solver is that it enables an individual to include the constraints in adjustable cells that may affect the outcome. This ensures that they are not left out.

From the above, it is clear that excel solver is a powerful and useful tool. As a result, this program is applied in many fields that mandate the consideration of many variables at once. Some of the major areas that use this program include capital budgeting of states and large corporation, and in complex linear programming.