--- 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] *********************************************** LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for Language Learning Technology (http://iallt.org/), and The Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning (http://www.languageconsortium.org/). Join IALLT at http://iallt.org. Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask]) ***********************************************