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Apple iWork '08
by tigger1992
iWork '08 version
I have had this software for about two years maybe more and I know there is a new version of this software but this is still really good. I have used windows microsoft office for ages and the I got a iMac and I had no idea what office suite to get. I bought this in 2008 and I have been using it ever ... since.
The software package contains pages, ketnote and numbers. They all have similar functions to that of the microsoft office packages. Because I am used to the microsoft software I found this one a bit difficult to use and get used to at first, but it is a good piece of software.
*Keynote*
Keynote is apples version of microsoft powerpoint. You can make presentations with apples pre-designed themes (backgrounds) which there are 35 to chose from. Some of the features are different to office, including powerful graphic tools and built in voice narration recording. can also add text, graphics, images, charts, sound and transitions to your presentations/slides like on office.
For me keynote is really useful, it makes, making presentations more entertaining and in my opinion it is quite easy to use, although you have to get used to it first. It is also set out really clearly and it has the same apple signature style of functionality, simplicity and elegance. You can also add movies to your slides, make images movie on your slide and you can export your slideshow into another format such as quicktime, so that you can add it to your iPod to watch it wherever and whenever you want!
*Pages*
This is apples version of microsoft word. You can do the same things with pages as you can with word, you add text, change text, add images, add tables and add charts/graphs. It is also a bit like microsoft publisher in that it also has templates which you can use for things such as letters, newsletters, business cards, flyers, cards and invitations - there are 140 templates to chose from.
Which are really good for making your personal gifts/items. For example, I made a birthday card for my sister on pages. I added images of my sister and text as well and it cam out really well.
Although it is quite difficult to get used to after using office for so long, but it is quite simple to use and it also has a clean simple layout. It has the text size, font, colour, bold and alignment at the top of the window, just like microsoft office word. It is a really good programme in my opinion.
*Numbers*
This is apples version of excel. You can do the same things as you can on office excel such as creating spreadsheets, tables of data, charts and graphs. You can also make 2d and 3d graphs like you can on excel. It says on the box for numbers that it has 'more than 150 functions', I just haven't found them all yet.
And numbers has video tutorials that you can watch and learn from. When you open numbers up you come on to this screen with various templates on the same as pages and keynote. Some of the templates include, event planners, dinner party organizer, an invoice and budget planner. I especially like the travel planner.
Again like with the other software, pages and keynote, it takes time to get used to unless you have only ever had a apple iMac or apple software. It has the same clear, simple apple design as all apple software. One thing I love so much about numbers is the travel planner, which has various sections for you to fill out for your holidays so you don't forget anything, including a packing list, reservations, emergency contacts and activities.
Conclusions
*A joy to use
*More entertaining to use than office software
*Simple, clear and elegance design which is true of all apple products I have used
*Good high quality brand
*Great product - the pack contains the apple software cd, am iWork getting started guide and a installation sheet.
*So easy to set up
*New version available
*I payed about £50 I think for this product which is really good in my opinion as you can spend up to £300 for the microsoft office software
*Nice colourful apple packaging
*Easy to install
*Does take a bit of time to get used to - but the getting started booklet helps so does the apple website and the video tutorials. And apple support.
Thank you for reading my review
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Apple iWork '09
by ben_w_uk
Apple iWork '09 is a suite of three programs - Pages, a word processor, Numbers, an Excel equivalent, and Keynote, a PowerPoint substitute. iWork is, rather unusually, at just £60 actually cheaper than Microsoft's alternative Microsoft Office for Mac. So, is Apple's offering better than Microsoft's? Read on and all will be ... revealed...
To start with, the quality of design in iWork '09 is - well, in my opinion at least - better than the quality of design you get in Microsoft Office. There are template designs for keynote that look amazing, and Pages has a selection of templates that look nicer than Microsoft Word's default templates. On from design, iWork is very easy to use, if a little confusing for people who - like me - have used Microsoft Office for all of their life.
I would say that the main problem with iWork lies in its compatibility with Microsoft Office, which is after all used by 95% of the computing world. In Apple's defense, there are stellar tools for converting to Office-type files, however sometimes, especially with Keynote presentations, the converting goes wrong and you end up with a less-than-good product. However, if you think you can live with that, I would definitely recommend iWork as it is very easy to use, and has good design templates.
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Apple iWork '09
by TheRedTower
iWork 09 is the latest version of Apple's smallish business software suite.
Comprised of Pages, Numbers and Keynote and priced at around £60 it make for a compelling purchase when compared to Microsoft Office and it's prohibitive price tag.
Installation is simple enough, you just have to run an installer package and ... go through a couple of simple steps. One thing I noticed during this was that Apple seem to have dropped using serial numbers (iWork '08 had them.)
On to the individual programs:
Pages - A reasonably simple but capable word processor. One of the standout new features for me was the full screen writing mode. Very useful when distractions in other bits of the screen stop you working. It also has a wide range of predefined templates that are actually well designed (something else iWork has over Microsoft Office.) Pages can also open and save as Word documents. Handy in a mixed office environment or if you don't want to subject yourself to Word itself.
Numbers - Apple's alternative to Excel. It does what it does with style, forgoing the usual infinite axis grid of cells for the option of drawing separate tables. It has been improved with additional mathematical functions and templates.
Keynote - The crown jewel in Apple's 'business' software in this reviewer's opinion. Keynote is the equivalent of Powerpoint, but puts it to shame with it's text control and design. The transitions and builds, whilst showy, ooze quality, as do the templates.
A new addition to the iWork family is iWork.com, an online repository that allows you to share your documents with others or access them remotely. This, whilst useful, is still in beta and subject to change (further comment is reserved until it reaches it's final release.)
My only criticism of this suite of applications is the 'Inspector', the tool palette that is common to all of the apps. It looks a little dated in comparison to the rest of the software, it's layout and design could do with a tweak or two. This is only a minor factor and doesn't really hamper my use of the apps.
Overall, iWork 09 represents excellent value for money and makes producing documents a pleasure.
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