When most people think about what they need a computer, the answers are primarily email, the Internet, and maybe some word processing. The majority of consumers aren’t sure what they’ll need. Suppose you think there’s a possibility you might need to create or edit some documents, be it for work or personal. In that case, there are some questions you need to answer for yourself before deciding on your two main choices: Microsoft Office for Mac or Apple’s iWork suite. A Mac can do everything you want; it’s just a question of how. A Mac can do everything you want; it’s just a question of how.
The first and biggest deciding factor on everyone’s mind is the price. Microsoft Office for Mac Business Edition retails for $399.95, and Home and Student Edition retails for $149.95. Apple’s iWork suite retails for $79 or $99 for the Family Pack, which allows installation on up to five personal machines in the same household.
But which one do you need? Answering that question isn’t easy, so let’s break down the differences. Microsoft Office has two main versions that apply to most people. The Business Edition is required if you plan to use it commercially and require Microsoft Exchange support. If you have no idea what that means, you probably only need the Home and Student Edition. The Home and Student edition allows installation on up to three personal computers, meaning if you have other family members who may want it, one price is all you pay for use on up to three Macs. Both versions include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage, and Messenger. Another key difference is that the Home and Business version is not upgradeable.
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That is the simplified answer. For those unfamiliar, iWork includes Pages, Keynote, and Numbers. Pages are for word processing and are similar to Word. Keynote is a presentation program like PowerPoint, and Numbers is a spreadsheet application identical to Excel. In true Apple fashion, each is easy to use, has powerful features, and seamlessly integrates with other Apple applications and your documents.
The main issues you will run into are compatibility. One of the people’s major misconceptions when hearing “compatible” is thinking of it only as being between Microsoft and Apple. Compatibility is just as important between versions as it is between operating systems. Someone can email you a Word document made on a Windows computer with Office 2010, and if you have Office 2003 on Windows, you may still have difficulty opening the file. Compatibility between Windows and Mac versions is not an issue, as both Microsoft Office for Mac and Apple’s iWork can work with Office files created on a Windows PC. Apple’s iWork seems to have fewer difficulties working with Office documents than even Office itself does. Apple also incorporated into iWork a feature that allows you to create a document in Pages, for example, and export it as a Word document. If someone emails you a Word document, you can open it with Pages, edit it, save it as a Word document, and send it back to them with full confidence they can open it.
Where you will run into problems, just as with a newer and older version on the same computer, is in the different features offered; pages, for example, have templates, graphics, and other enhancements that will not work in Word, just as Keynote has slide templates and effects that are not available in PowerPoint. Each application will work fine for basics but may encounter compatibility issues when adding impact and style. Simply being aware of this can often eliminate any problems before they start. Office and iWork will inform you about potential issues, allowing you to make the necessary changes to resolve the concerns and finish working.
What does it all mean? Microsoft Office was the only show in town for quite some time, and that reputation continues today. Many are unaware that iWork even exists. Apple offers a free 30-day iWork trial for you, as does Microsoft for Office 2008 for Mac. You can try both to determine what you will need. The answer should become clear for most people, those who do minimal document work or presentations, who aren’t running large companies with their Mac.
Bottom line: iWork is the best choice. At $79, it costs less, in many cases, does more, is easier to use, allows you to work with files created in Microsoft Office, and starts beautiful documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. In each category, documents, spreadsheets, and presentations far outshine Office for quality and ease of use. There is no need for Microsoft Office for most everyday users, not when you can pay less and get more with Apple’s iWork. Download a 30-day trial of iWork and see for yourself.
