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iWork Family Pack

I miss Appleworks

Written by MF from Van Wert

Sep 7, 2009

After some quick (too quick perhaps) research, I decided to purchase iWorks. I had used Appleworks for years and also use MS Office programs. I recently took on the position of managing a database for a local organization. I have never been able to navigate Access but ALWAYS loved the Appleworks DB. I knew iWorks did not have a DB but thought between numbers and pages I would certainly be able to maintain data and print reports and mailing labels. I do like many of the ways Numbers allows you to organize and manipulate data....but if you want to merge data between Numbers and Pages....forget it. So I find myself moving data to MS Excel so I can merge into Word. I should have researched a little more.

I must say I am disappointed. I still have a personal database in Appleworks. I always loved what that database could do. Apple products were ahead of their time with merging data and printing reports and labels. Now I feel like I am in the dark ages with merging.

I also bought the family pack so I could load it on my kids Macs. Not sure it will assist my children any more than MS products. I guess I really expected something more from this product. I was not expecting a step back.

35 of 49 people found this useful

iWork Family Pack

Bye Bye MS Office, Hello iWork !!

Written by WW from ERIE

Aug 17, 2009

Been working with Numbers, Pages and Keynote quite a bit the last month and Wow!!!! So much better than Office.

42 of 51 people found this useful

iWork Family Pack

Really frustrating

Written by MS from Salt Lake City

Aug 16, 2009

I bought this software package because in general, I like Mac software. The program seems to work well with older Microsoft Office files (.doc or .xls). However, I would highly recommend that you do NOT buy this software unless you never have to work with Microsoft Office.

Here's why: Office 2007 (the new Microsoft Office software to which people are currently upgrading) is not compatible with iWork. Yes, you can open your docx or xlsx files in iWork. The problem is that your files look completely different in iWork - often you have to reformat your file by changing your margins, font size and/or columns. This takes so much time that you might as well retype the whole dang thing.

Don't buy this software unless you know that you will only be using iWork when at work and at home. Or wait to buy iWork until Apple has fixed compatibility issues with Office 2007.

82 of 90 people found this useful

iWork Family Pack

No Flash Export in Keynote 09!

Written by GS from Marietta

May 12, 2009

I cannot believe that Apple took the Flash Export feature out of Keynote. I use it all the time developing training for a company stuck on Windows. Converting to Flash means I can make the compelling content in Keynote and still get it to the screens where it needs to be.

I am sticking with '08. We need the Flash export back!

105 of 111 people found this useful

iWork Family Pack

No Flash export In Keynote 09 was a dealbreaker

Written by AG from Chicago

Apr 23, 2009

I use Keynote all the time, but I need to export in multiple formats to multiple people. Removing the Flash export was a deal breaker. I am sticking with '08 until Apple brings Flash export back.

94 of 102 people found this useful

iWork Family Pack

Replaced my MS Office in Iraq & only gotten better

Written by EK from Arlington

Apr 3, 2009

4 more licenses for twenty dollars? Of course that makes for a good deal.

This a new version made brought Pages and Numbers closer to the level of Keynote and added some features like iWork.com that liftedall of iWork over MS Office.

Pages (more templates, more solid, better conversions)
- export as PDF is invaluable for sending secure offer letters, statements, etc
- blank pages are great when you don't need any special format
- the templates allow for professional last-minute jobs
- the number word to pages conversion issue is fonts. Add the font and the issue is resolved.
Numbers
- The multiple spreadsheets on a page is excellent for data integrity and quickly drag/drop addition to an front page spreadsheet.
- is able to do all the math that i have been able to through at it from every aspect of capital accumulation with forecasted vs. actual comparisons
Keynote
- the templates are great and more is better
- this replaced powerpoint for me in Baghdad and got more attention for my embassy briefings ( i know since people asked me who I had preparing my presentations)

The '09 version
- iwork.com THIS IS WHY YOU NEED THE '09 version
- I use this for peer reviews of contact reports
- I use this to get feedback from mentors and SMEs on articles I am writing
- I use this for near real-time presentation and discussion in iChat video conferences

This product has enabled me to operate completely with out MS Office in the DoD/DoS sector. I recommend Bento2(over access) to round out a complete MS Office suite substitute.

53 of 61 people found this useful

iWork Family Pack

Kiss MS Office good bye

Written by MN from Marina Del Rey

Jan 28, 2009

I have had to endure using MS Office because it is what the rest of my PC coworkers use. iWork 09 mad such dramatic improvements in ease of use and the presentation of finished documents, I'll take the slight draw back of having to convert file back and forth. iWork 09 does a good job of reading and writing MS Office files, there are only minor issues that take less than 10 min to fix. As my IT guy said he wishes iWork was for windows then he would switch the whole company to iWork.

169 of 176 people found this useful

iWork Family Pack

Missing Features? Flash from Keynote

Written by WC from Bristow

Jan 28, 2009

I really depend upon Keynote's ability to export to QuickTime, MPEG-4 and Flash. I cannot find the Flash output. That is a non-starter for me. Must dig deeper but am very impressed by the updates overall in the software!

54 of 65 people found this useful