Comments on: iWork ‘08 Review: It Grows! http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/ Mac Apps, Reviews, Previews, Interviews, and Giveaways. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:12:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Zacharias J. Beckman http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-17726 Zacharias J. Beckman Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:09:38 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-17726 I recently <a href="http://weblog.bosslogic.com/2007/10/iwork-08-not-ready-for-the-office-yet/" rel="nofollow">wrote a review</a> myself, now that I've been using iWork '08 for a few months. In this case, I'm looking at iWork to see how it stacks up as an office suite for use in a professional setting. Bottom line, while I do love iWork, I also feel that it's just not ready for prime time. There are a handful of truly <i>manditory</i> features that would change that. For instance, automatically numbered figures and tables. I can't believe that Pages has no support for this. If I need to label my figures (e.g.: Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) I have to do it manually. And if I need to insert a new figure at the beginning... I've got to manually edit every single figure. This is just such a horrendous oversight, I still can't believe it... and it just kills Pages as a viable word processor for anything beyond casual letters, memos and the like. I sure hope Apple puts some real effort behind fixing the deficiencies. Until then, we'll still be using Windows for office work. I recently wrote a review myself, now that I’ve been using iWork ‘08 for a few months. In this case, I’m looking at iWork to see how it stacks up as an office suite for use in a professional setting. Bottom line, while I do love iWork, I also feel that it’s just not ready for prime time. There are a handful of truly manditory features that would change that. For instance, automatically numbered figures and tables. I can’t believe that Pages has no support for this. If I need to label my figures (e.g.: Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.) I have to do it manually. And if I need to insert a new figure at the beginning… I’ve got to manually edit every single figure. This is just such a horrendous oversight, I still can’t believe it… and it just kills Pages as a viable word processor for anything beyond casual letters, memos and the like. I sure hope Apple puts some real effort behind fixing the deficiencies. Until then, we’ll still be using Windows for office work.

]]> By: Mark http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-12346 Mark Sun, 26 Aug 2007 03:25:46 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-12346 Good review, but where are the XML and or DITA features? Microsoft has a BIG lead in XML versus Apple even though Apple products are on much more professional level. XML is used for exchange of data across products and industries. Microsoft uses their own proprietary version and not W3c (http://www.w3.org/) standard. I bought my first MAC before the release of Vista since I now have no confidence that MS will release a product that is free from security HOLES and that is DRM free. I plan on buying more Apple products in the future and the upgrade costs are relatively painless compared to MS outrageous prices. Good review, but where are the XML and or DITA features?
Microsoft has a BIG lead in XML versus Apple even though Apple products are on much more professional level.
XML is used for exchange of data across products and industries.
Microsoft uses their own proprietary version and not W3c (http://www.w3.org/) standard.
I bought my first MAC before the release of Vista since I now have no confidence that MS will release a product that is free from security HOLES and that is DRM free.
I plan on buying more Apple products in the future and the upgrade costs are relatively painless compared to MS outrageous prices.

]]> By: Ian Turner http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-12058 Ian Turner Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:05:00 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-12058 Whilst the use of multiple tables in Numbers seems to have been applauded by many people, I think the true potential of this approach has yet to be explored. It does make for much better and more useable spreadsheets and that can only be a good thing. But, more significantly, it is an approach that can allow for modular spreadsheets. A library of tables can ultimately be developed and spreadsheets can be created by bolting together different tables that are standarised and have previously been verified. For somebody checking a spreadsheet all they would have to do is check that the tables have been bolted together correctly rather than checking the entire spreadsheet. Even better, at some point in the future, there could be an 'Automator' for producing spreadsheets using standard libraries of spreasheets. To me that would be the biggest change in the use of spreadsheets since they were first created. Whilst the use of multiple tables in Numbers seems to have been applauded by many people, I think the true potential of this approach has yet to be explored. It does make for much better and more useable spreadsheets and that can only be a good thing. But, more significantly, it is an approach that can allow for modular spreadsheets. A library of tables can ultimately be developed and spreadsheets can be created by bolting together different tables that are standarised and have previously been verified. For somebody checking a spreadsheet all they would have to do is check that the tables have been bolted together correctly rather than checking the entire spreadsheet. Even better, at some point in the future, there could be an ‘Automator’ for producing spreadsheets using standard libraries of spreasheets. To me that would be the biggest change in the use of spreadsheets since they were first created.

]]> By: PieterB’s blog » Blog Archive » iWork MS-Office compatibiliteit http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-11054 PieterB’s blog » Blog Archive » iWork MS-Office compatibiliteit Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:06:40 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-11054 [...] Andere reviews: review door macwereld.nl review door macapper.com [...] [...] Andere reviews: review door macwereld.nl review door macapper.com [...]

]]> By: Gary http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-11050 Gary Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:57:00 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-11050 Its awesome software.. No more need to run openoffice! Its awesome software.. No more need to run openoffice!

]]> By: Tim Ruhter http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10876 Tim Ruhter Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:58:46 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10876 I love the new iWork i have been using it since the day it came out. I publish a student newspaper and doing the flow from one box to the next is awesome. Also i am an accounting major (yeah weird, i know, talk to Jesus) and Numbers is so much less spartan like feeling its like Excel is 10 cent lemonade from the kid down the street, and Pages is like gourmet McAlister's lemonade. It's awesome and of what i have tried with keynote it is great too, wish they had changed the pages icon though, its getting a little old. I love the new iWork i have been using it since the day it came out. I publish a student newspaper and doing the flow from one box to the next is awesome. Also i am an accounting major (yeah weird, i know, talk to Jesus) and Numbers is so much less spartan like feeling its like Excel is 10 cent lemonade from the kid down the street, and Pages is like gourmet McAlister’s lemonade. It’s awesome and of what i have tried with keynote it is great too, wish they had changed the pages icon though, its getting a little old.

]]> By: John http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10842 John Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:56:10 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10842 What about grammar checker in Pages?! What about grammar checker in Pages?!

]]> By: Dirk http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10838 Dirk Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:55:14 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10838 Keynote is even better than it was. If import/export with Office works as it should, I might not upgrade to the new MS Office when it comes out. Just keep the old version around to be save for compatibility sake with the Windows world. Nice to have finally all essential tools available for the Intel platform. Keynote is even better than it was. If import/export with Office works as it should, I might not upgrade to the new MS Office when it comes out. Just keep the old version around to be save for compatibility sake with the Windows world.

Nice to have finally all essential tools available for the Intel platform.

]]> By: Julian http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10798 Julian Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:52:43 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10798 i was wondering can powerpoint open keynote presentations?? great review by tha way!! Is somebody gunna review iWeb or make an iWeb 08 vs. Rapidweaver ? ohh mann dat would be soo cooll!! i was wondering can powerpoint open keynote presentations?? great review by tha way!! Is somebody gunna review iWeb or make an iWeb 08 vs. Rapidweaver ? ohh mann dat would be soo cooll!!

]]> By: Michael De Leon http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10792 Michael De Leon Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:02:49 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10792 Great review. I downloaded the demo and really like all of the changes, especially the format bar when you want to use Pages as purely a word processor. Instant alpha didn't work great for me, but animations were easy. The thing I like most about iWork though is that it makes it simple to do so much more than what the tools are made for. Paul Figgiani at podcastacademy.com uses keynote for making graphics and diagrams. I've used keynote to make intro slides for slideshows, my web portfolio that I then exported as a .mov and .pdf to put on my webserver and now with voiceover, you can create tutorial podcasts and export them as .mov files. Great review. I downloaded the demo and really like all of the changes, especially the format bar when you want to use Pages as purely a word processor. Instant alpha didn’t work great for me, but animations were easy. The thing I like most about iWork though is that it makes it simple to do so much more than what the tools are made for. Paul Figgiani at podcastacademy.com uses keynote for making graphics and diagrams. I’ve used keynote to make intro slides for slideshows, my web portfolio that I then exported as a .mov and .pdf to put on my webserver and now with voiceover, you can create tutorial podcasts and export them as .mov files.

]]> By: Damien http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10789 Damien Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:29:19 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10789 Are the tools able to open ODF files from OpenOffice.org? Are the tools able to open ODF files from OpenOffice.org?

]]> By: iWork ‘08 « Insomnic Dreams http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10787 iWork ‘08 « Insomnic Dreams Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:23:29 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10787 [...] MacApper has a good rundown of some of the new features of iWork ‘08 for the Mac.  It looks like it might finally be a true replacement for Word.  I’ve always [...] [...] MacApper has a good rundown of some of the new features of iWork ‘08 for the Mac.  It looks like it might finally be a true replacement for Word.  I’ve always [...]

]]> By: Brajeshwar http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10786 Brajeshwar Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:22:24 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10786 Thanks for the extended review. I've been playing with Numbes since morning and I know that I'll have to buy this as soon as it is released in India. Thanks for the extended review. I’ve been playing with Numbes since morning and I know that I’ll have to buy this as soon as it is released in India.

]]> By: Ronald Lamars http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10785 Ronald Lamars Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:00:01 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10785 Very useful review; I was struggling with a rather complicated spreadsheet imported from excel. Not everything went well, but nothing lethal. The concept of being able to have more tables on one worksheet makes a big difference in the way you use the apps, and I needed this review to understand it. All in all I am very glad Apple released this software, and I think it is fully worth its $79 (or €79, in my case). Conditional formatting in Numbers seems to be less extended than excel's: I do not see the possibility to fill in a formula as the condition (i.e. format one cell in ways depending on the value of another cell). Very useful review; I was struggling with a rather complicated spreadsheet imported from excel. Not everything went well, but nothing lethal. The concept of being able to have more tables on one worksheet makes a big difference in the way you use the apps, and I needed this review to understand it. All in all I am very glad Apple released this software, and I think it is fully worth its $79 (or €79, in my case).

Conditional formatting in Numbers seems to be less extended than excel’s: I do not see the possibility to fill in a formula as the condition (i.e. format one cell in ways depending on the value of another cell).

]]> By: Mike Abdullah http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/comment-page-1/#comment-10778 Mike Abdullah Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:11:20 +0000 http://macapper.com/2007/08/09/iwork-08-review-it-grows/#comment-10778 The dictionary-lookup functionality is not new. It's a feature of the OS itself that you can look up the meaning of any word. All Apple have done is move it into a submenu with some other cool tools. The dictionary-lookup functionality is not new. It’s a feature of the OS itself that you can look up the meaning of any word. All Apple have done is move it into a submenu with some other cool tools.

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