iWork '08 vs. Office '08

[Mr. Mayor]

Well folks, it's almost official... I'm using iWork almost exclusively over here.

A few years ago I picked up iWork 06, but didn't really use it too much. Not sure why, perhaps I was just too comfy with word/excel to make any effort to switch.

However, now that I have made an effort (honestly a big effort wasn't really needed) I love how the suite works.

I use Numbers for time tracking, budgeting and invoicing... and papers for all my word processing needs. The controls in each app are quite intuitive... I've never actually opened the instruction booklet yet have seemed to figure out everything I need to know... so far.

But what perhaps pleases me the most is the way the documents look when I publish or print to pdf to send off. They look great. No comparison to comparable documents created in Office.

Anyone else out there finding the same thing? Or are you an office fan? Don't get me wrong, both do the job... But I think I'm going to be an iWork booster from now on.

[madmacmat]

couldn't agree more, James!

this topic is so interesting due to its effects on people- word processors are trying to help us conduct and edit text, right? But for the very same reason we think of C: as home directory word sets the standard for what a word processor should be capable of... have You ever tried to write a text in Textedit? It works as a charm, is highly compatible but You have the feeling of something missing... and this is just something called routine thinking... apps like Pages and Mellel try something amazing: they break word processing down to the basic feature of entering text and then try to make life easier...
You see, the fame of word is also a bane in terms of changeability- since so many people work with it and are hesitant to switch habits concerning the usage of the program, implementing something new, be it the best thing ever, is hard to establish without scaring customers away... Same thing we witnessed with Vista: noone expected the weird and stupid standards Windows created over time to change- and now Microsoft will either lag behind in terms of technology (as they do, to date) or scare customers...

Back to the topic, to judge on quality You need to be able to compare- and most people simply don't make the effort- while Pages and Mellel offer not only good alternatives but a host of new and innovative improvements-

Dare to compare, people!

[Mr. Mayor]

mat,

You bring up TextEdit... I actually use this little app quite a bit as well. Have it in my dock so it's important (to me anyway!)

[madmacmat]

funny, ain't it?

you go for all the bells and whistles that Your word processor does nowadays- and let's be honest, Pages does an amazing job but also You pay the price- resourcewise...

But if there is one little thing I simply cannot take while typing away on something is the words on the screen lagging behind- I go absolutely mad with this, and, sad to say, if You do a littlebit more ambitious layouting in Pages my PB pauses here and there to catch breath, literally...

So I find myself mainly typing in Mellel, the fastest thing I know WP- wise (are you drooling for the review already, heehee...) and then getting the "hard work" of writing processed by Pages or You name it... thing is, I don't even want Mellel to get more powerful- it would result in speed compromise which would be worse for me...

[Mr. Mayor]

Cool mat... yeah, sometimes it's just nice to type and have that instant feedback!

Have never used Mellel... but I know we're all waiting for your review!

[madmacmat]

LOL, can't wait for it meself ;-)

[mabsey]

Tried using Office 2008 at Macworld and hated it. Have stuck with iWork and don't miss Microsoft at all for home use.

However, for work, I have to use a PC and Office on the PC is still an excellent package. Have just ordered Office 2007 for my Windows machine - for £17 GBP through my company's scheme with Microsoft. For that price, it is a no-brainer.

[madmacmat]

Won't argue with that, mabs, although I liked OpenOffice quite a lot in the windows days... Word still is a standard in the PC realm, no question...

Please do not forget that I am biased needing to use something I can easily work with on my PB- until I upgrade to the new upcoming 12" full-feature-Aluminum PB they'll bring out in late summer...<desperate>...

[roalgumo7]

Well, I've only used office on mac, never tried iwork, so can't give much of a good point here. But I do gotta say I've been using microsoft office a lot less, lately I've been using google docs alot.

[madmacmat]

gumo, do You really think this is something in future developmentm to have Your apps online? Right now I'd be too scared to not have the network but need to edit a specific file...

So I don't really think that in the end this type of app will get more popularity than our normal progs... but a handy alternative it might always be!