Software Update: Pages and Keynote (iWork '06)

Figured I'd toss in my two cents re: iWork.

* better at page layout than Word, hands down.
* needs a few improvements re: text and tables. Tables are more difficult to edit for me compared to Word, and I'm not a big fan of the default text formats in Pages, which I cannot seem to change.
* handles MS Office files with little issue, except for embedded comments in Word files. That includes exporting, which I do regularly to deal with Office-using colleagues. I do not have a version of Word or PowerPoint on my laptop, and do not use the ones on the desktop unless absolutely necessary (which is very rare).

The editing styles in Pages/Keynote are different, so don't except the same keyboard shortcuts -- but you can accomplish the same tasks with the same amount of effort (or less!) than in the MS counterparts.

I've switched -- sick and tired of fighting with Word to get the page layout I need -- and have yet to see a problem with imported/exported documents aside from the comments issue (and the usual PC to Mac fonts issues, which exist when you use Office anyway). If Apple can come up with a decent replacement for Excel, I will likely completely uninstall Office (and use the CD for a coaster).

Moochaworm, thanks for the links, I didn't know about cuk.

Stefan:

If you don't mind reading French, here are nice reviews from one of the best Mac sites (it is Swiss):

Keynote:
http://www.cuk.ch/articles.php?unique=551

Pages:
http://www.cuk.ch/articles.php?unique=505

I hope it works, and doesn't mess up like the update you gave about Skype. Still no apology post, yet!

So how is iWork compared to Office for Mac?

I've yet to see a fantastic review on iWork, why is that? hint hint wink wink

Ars.technica style, in depth as humanly possible