--- Forwarded Message from Derek Roff <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:31:54 -0600
>From: Derek Roff <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
<[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #8827 Feedback on iWork for Mac
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
>References:  <[log in to unmask]>

I like iWork '08 (and iWork '06).  Each of the programs has its 
strengths and weaknesses, compared to Microsoft Office 2004.  I have 
Microsoft Office 2004, and don't currently plan to get the 2008 
version.

Word can do many things that Pages cannot, but they each handle the 
majority of common word processing tasks.  For the things that it does, 
I find Pages to be more pleasant to use.  I also use Nisus Writer 
Express, and more recently Nisus Writer Pro.  I use Word mostly for 
documents that I receive, when they contain Word graphics or change 
tracking.  Most other Word documents open fine in Pages and Nisus.  For 
documents that I create, I almost never use Word.  For simple page 
layout tasks, such as flyers and brochures, Pages is much easier to use 
than Word 2004.

The iWork spreadsheet Numbers is rather basic.  Perhaps the same is 
true of the average language professor's spreadsheet.  Excel 2004 has 
many more features and formulas.  Many Excel users would need more 
capabilities than Numbers provides.  But for simple spreadsheets, 
especially where presentation of the numerical data is important, 
Numbers works well.

I consider Keynote to be quite superior to PowerPoint 2004.  For the 
kind of work that I and my professors do, PowerPoint is frequently 
frustrating.  Keynote can more often do what we need more quickly and 
easily.  Two examples that are common for us:  If you link a slide to 
external video, we haven't found a way to change the linked video file 
in PowerPoint, update it's file name when that changes, nor tell the 
program that the video files have moved to a different location (such 
as the project has been burned to a CD or DVD).  2) If a teacher wants 
to create a PowerPoint show quickly from a folder of photos, PowerPoint 
requires each photo to be imported separately.  Keynote will import the 
photos as a group, and automatically create one slide per photo.  I 
find that Keynote handles most tasks with greater ease and aplomb. 
PowerPoint for Windows has a number of features that don't exist on the 
Mac version.

According to the box, iWork '06 will run on the last version of 
Panther, 10.3.9 (and later).  iWork '08 requires 10.4.10 and later.

Derek

> Hello Mac Users,
>
> I just downloaded a free trial version of Mac's iWork, and have
> played around some with Pages and Keynote.  So far I like it, and the
> price is right; but I'd love to hear from users as to whether they
> have encountered any drawbacks, especially when compared to
> Microsoft's Word and PPT.
>
> One more question (which I've been asked): does the iWork suite also
> work with OS 10.3? (i.e., with the wild beast before Tiger; Panther I
> believe)



Derek Roff
Language Learning Center
Ortega Hall 129, MSC03-2100
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
505/277-7368, fax 505/277-3885
Internet: [log in to unmask]



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