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Microsoft Office isn’t just for Windows-based computers. In fact, Office 2008 for Mac offers a powerful set of programs that are specifically designed with Mac users in mind. There are similarities and differences between what Office for Windows offers and what Office for Mac offers
Both Office for Windows and Office for Mac offer Word, PowerPoint and Excel, and while some features and tools are the same for both systems, things start to look a bit different when you start working. The layout and the user interface are quite a bit different. For some of the programs in Office 2007 for PC, Microsoft replaced the traditional menus and toolbars with the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface so that you can find and use the features you need a lot easier. In Word, PowerPoint and Excel 2008 for Mac, it’s called the Elements Gallery which is located below the toolbars and provides quick access to some of the most-used features. From the Elements Gallery, you can add SmartArt graphics, WordArt, charts, tables and templates to your documents and presentations. In PowerPoint, you can apply slide layouts or slide themes from the Elements Gallery, and in Excel you can find pre-formatted ledger sheets.
Microsoft makes it easier to share all your files by using the popular Portable Document Format (PDF), ensuring that your documents appear with the correct layout and fonts on any computer that can view PDF files. The PDF file format option is available directly from the Save As dialog box on the File menu in Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
By using the theme-aware colour picker on the Formatting Palette, you can quickly see how various theme colours appear when applied to a theme. In PowerPoint, you can create custom theme colours which can then be applied to the custom theme colours and to other Office documents.
In Word, both systems offer great reference tools, powerful reviewing capabilities and enhanced views, such as a navigation pane with a document map and thumbnail views so that you can better organize your thoughts. However, one of the features in Office 2008 Mac is the publishing layout view which combines desktop publishing tools and designer templates in one location. Using the publishing layout view, you can quickly create professional-looking documents, such as brochures, catalogues, flyers and newsletters. It’s like having Publisher and Word all in the same program.
Just like in Excel for Windows, Excel 2008 for Mac offers advanced charting tools, easy-to-set-up formulas and a Page Layout view that allows you to review and manipulate on screen what will appear on paper. One of the differences is that Excel for Mac offers a bit more advanced charting features. The pre-formatted ledger sheets can work to help you create invoices, budgets and even balance your cheque book. Each ledger sheet addresses a specific scenario. For example, if you open a portfolio ledger sheet, the sheet contains all of the formulas and columns appropriate for tracking and managing investment portfolios. These pre-formatted Excel sheets help to track an investment portfolio, create an expense report and perform other common tasks. Each ledger sheet addresses a specific scenario. For example, if you open an invoice ledger sheet, the sheet contains all of the formulas and columns appropriate for tracking and managing invoices.
When it comes to presentation software, we all know that PowerPoint is the industry leader. Both PowerPoint for Mac and PowerPoint for Windows lets you customise your presentations in a variety of ways. You can use predefined templates, create your own presentation, use animations and add graphics and video to your slides, but with the Office 2008 Mac, you can send slide shows to a video iPod. For example, you’ve created a presentation of a trip and wish to share it with someone who doesn’t have PowerPoint. Just send it from your Mac to iPhoto, then you can sync the slides with a video iPod, and PowerPoint creates a picture for each slide in your presentation, and saves the pictures as an album in your iPhoto Library. There are also a wide range of slide themes available that you can preview and apply directly from the Slide Themes tab in the Elements Gallery. PowerPoint 2008 for Mac comes with several that you can use as is or modify, and you can also import themes from other Office files.
While the mail program in Office for Windows is Outlook, it’s called Entourage for Mac users. Both Outlook and Entourage help you handle email messages, contacts, schedules, notes, documents, tasks, and more from one central location. Both also work with Microsoft Exchange Server and have a three-column view, folder list, messages (that you can thread by date, conversation, flags, etc.), and preview pane.
However, one interesting feature in Entourage 2008 for Mac is called the My Day feature. Basically, say you’re in a hurry and you just need to access your calendar and To Do List… with the My Day feature you can do it from your desktop without having to open Entourage. You can also add, rearrange or remove toolbar buttons so that you can customize your workspace just how you like it, filter out unwanted messages better than before with enhanced Junk Email Protection, and use Spotlight to find any information that you have in Entourage, even message attachments.
Where & How To Buy
Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac can be bought from a range of computer outlets, such as PC World, Currys or Dixons, specialist computer distributors, as well as online, either direct from the manufacturer – Microsoft – from online outlets, such as Amazon, or via specialist online computer outlets, such as www.CoastalSoftware.co.uk. When buying the software, you will often have the option to purchase the program CD through the post, or be able to download the software direct to your computer. The download option is often cheaper as the supplier does not have to cover the CD, packaging or postage costs. However, buying online does not allow you to visually see the product or ask any specific questions. If you wish to actually view the product or see it tested, then buying from a high street shop or store will be a better option for you.
Pricing
Pricing varies depending on where and how you purchase your software. Amazon.com is currently quoting a price of £160 plus VAT for their standard edition, and prices range from £150 to £450 plus VAT (and any postage/delivery costs) depending on whether you buy the standard alone version, the Home and Student version or the Business version. Upgrade options are cheaper, and if you only need the Product Key Card, the prices start lower. Pricing is also dependent on the number of users of the software, one user/computer or up to 3 users/computers. Prices will be more expensive for the boxed software packages as these will include the CD-ROM or DVD, a user guide and the packaging, so if you have the opportunity to purchase online and download the application, this will be a cheaper option.
Special Offers & Discounts
Microsoft Store Online is currently offering free delivery on everything. Most online stores will offer discounts if you purchase more than one software application from them. Students often receive discounts, as do some small businesses. Special offers and discounts really are dependent on what the retailer is prepared to offer at the time you buy. There is also the option from Microsoft of Volume Licensing, tailoring programs to meet the needs of your organisation and making it easier and more affordable to run software on multiple computers (250 or more) within a single purchase, and you may also be able to purchase a Software Assurance licence to allow for future upgrades at a more cost effective price.
System Requirements
Document Connection for Mac is included in Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 2. If you have not yet installed Service Pack 2 on your computer, you can start installation directly from Office Live Workspace. Before you begin the installation, make sure that your computer is set up with the following requirements:
| REQUIREMENT | VERSIONS |
| Mac operating system | Mac OS X 10.2x or later |
| Microsoft Office | Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 1 |
| Internet browser | Mozilla Firefox or Safari |
If you do not have Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 2 installed on your computer, you can start installation directly from Office Live Workspace:
- Using a Firefox or Safari browser, sign in to Office Live Workspace
- In Office Live Workspace, on the left navigation bar, under My Workspaces, click Documents.
- On the actions bar, click Install Office Live Update.
- On the Download page, read about Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 2, and then follow the instructions to install it.
Important: You must close all applications before installing Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 2. If you do not close all open applications, the text in any open browser page may become unreadable.
Upgrading
If you use a Mac operating system, when you upgrade to Office 2008 for Mac Service Pack 2, a small program named Microsoft Document Connection for Mac is installed that lets you access your Microsoft Office Live Workspace beta documents directly from Office 2008 for Mac programs.
With Document Connection for Mac installed, you can open workspace documents using Office 2008 for Mac Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on your computer. Any changes that you make to a workspace document are automatically saved to your workspace.
Summary
If you have a Mac computer but want the functionalities and user-friendly abilities of the Microsoft programs of Word, Excel, Publisher, Access and Outlook, then you can’t go far wrong with Office 2008 for Mac, plus you get the added benefits of additional features.


