iWork '09

I already have Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac, but wanted some of the features that are in the Mac preferred office software (mainly Keynote). This was a cheap way of getting all three of the office products that work really well on my machine. The software installs quickly and if you are using the disk does not require a product key or serial number. After installing Software Updates updated it to 9.3 (the last version before the switch to the 2013 version - what is currently in the App Store). The software works fine (I am using Mountain Lion (I have not tried it in Maverick, but I am pretty sure it will not have an issue) - this is because Maverick did not work properly with some of my hardware, so I downgraded back to 10.8.5). iWork as a software is great since it quickly launches and never freezes up like MS Office does. However, it is a much different interface and will take some time to get use to. I also do not like that you cannot default to save as a MS document, you can only export to those formats. However, you can open and edit them all without any issues.A feature I use frequently that is not available is equation editor, however, MS Office has it, so I use it in WORD. Numbers and Pages work really well and offer a full feature of productivity software you expect with a Mac feel to it (so get ready to rely heavily on the File Menu vs the bar and banner like in Office). Keynote is the main winner here, it offers some really nice features and transitions that make Presentations easy. However, transitions are not as great as Office 2013, but for Mac options they are the best choice!In the end this software is great and easy to use, I think if you are a real power user you will probably want both (MS Office and iWork), but for most users iWork will have that Mac feel and work really well. I got this online since it was much cheaper than buying through the App Store (not the newest version, after the 9.3 update, it is close), but I do not see too many features that would constitute the App Store price).I want to add that I purchased an NEW copy (from a third party seller), and I received just a disk in a sleeve. The disk was a legit Apple disk (not a burn or anything), but it was not in a box. This does not seem to matter since the disk worked perfectly, but I wanted to let you know, since based on the item I expected a In-Box Retail Version Software Product (I bought it NEW).

Okay... So, this is about to be a lengthy review as I've done, literally, HOURS of research (reading, testing, etc.) on both this software (iWork), and its competitor, Microsoft Office: Mac '08. And, I have to say, for what I use it for anyway (college projects such as papers, large presentations, and financial analysis using spreadsheets), iWork is THE BEST software available. The Office and Excel equivilents were really not much different, and even easier to use through iWork than with MSWord and MSExcel. I've even used the MSOffice 2010 on our school PC's, attempting to write a massive finance paper with graphs and such throughout, which proved to be quite painful to say the least. So, as I was already fed up with MSOffice products, I jumped out on a limb and purchased iWork with my new Mac Mini (which is the first time I've ever really sat down and used a Mac!). iWork was just so much easier to work with. Truly a breath of fresh air for me. I was wishing I'd had it for my finance paper. haha. Oh well. Now... (drum roll please!).. iWork's presentation program, Keynote, truly takes the center stage. I am SO SO impressed with this program. In mere minutes, and keeping in mind I really knew nothing about a Mac or Mac Software when I started, I was able to create a mock presentation that looked 1,000 times better than a presentation I had spent hours and hours on with MSPowerPoint! In just minutes I had an extremely professional, impressive presentation that even wowed me, so I can only imagine what it will do when my professor see's my next presentaion. haha! The one AND ONLY downside that I had to do more research on for a couple days to find a simple solution, is the ever linguring question with PC owners... Compatability??? Sure Keynote can do amazing things, but how would I use it on a PC dominated college campus. I thought the recently developed [...] site would be the solution. I was wrong. That's really only good for allowing group members to edit something from a remote location. Why Apple doesn't make it so you can actually present a Keynote from that site, or from the MobileMe site, I don't know. But, I was willing to pay for it if you could. HOWEVER, and maybe this will both convince you, the reader, and save you some valuable time and money, I discovered through playing with Keynote that you can export your presentation as a Quicktime .mov file, changing the settings to "on click" for the next slide or transistion. Who knew, as a lifetime PC owner, that one could have such control options with Quicktime. By doing this you don't have to worry about your fonts, transistions, animations, etc. transfering. I've tested this on my Mac and the school's PC's and it worked like a charm. I was thrilled!! So... in review, simply... BUY THIS PRODUCT for all your Offce, Excel, and PowerPoint needs. A little time with them and you'll not only have fallen in love, you'll have saved about $100!! Hope this helps you!! :D

When I tried installing the disc it kept asking for a serial number that wasn't in the packaging.After much internet trawling and many attempts at uninstalling and retrying the disc I found this solution:Go to Macintosh HD > Library > Application support > delete the iWork09 folder > empty the trash > Install iWork from the DVD.If this exact solution doesn't work for you the key elements are eliminating every trace of the iWorks trial that you can find and emptying the trash so it's gone completely.I'm marking this down from five stars because of the above problem (I found forums complaining about it 6 months before I had the problem and Apple haven't done anything about it) and although there's many areas where it's superior to MS Word there's a few areas where Word is superior - holding Ctrl, Shift and End to quickly highlight a whole document for one minor instance.Also for the price of a Mac (let's face it they're a luxury item) iWork should have been included along with iLife!

not used it much but looks like a decent package although a bit difficult to get used to. Perhaps this is because i have been used to Office for over 13 years, but i found changing from Windows to Snow Leopard much easier than changing from Office to iWork.Also, there are a few compatibility issues when interchanging between Office and iWork files (eg. Word to Pages) - generally everything of importance changes, but finer issues such as types of font, borders etc, are not always recognised by the other software. I would not recommend this product if you have to change between Office and iWork files regularly.

Needed to upgrade from iWorks 8 to 9 so that I could use the latest version of Pages. However the older version of Pages in iWorks 9 is far superior in the areas I required so have continued to use version 9 over Apples latest editions.IWorks in my opinion is probably the best office suit of all available. I also have Microsoft office for Mac but only use it to read documents that are sent to me via email.iWorks 9, well worth the money. Very happy with it.

First-timer switch from PC to Mac and yes, wished I'd done it years before. Been a Windows Word user for years so still in the learning phase but so far I am finding iWork very similar and intuitive. A few gripes aside, generally very impressed although clearly it doesn't have the depth of ability of Word. However, how much of the full capability of Word does the average user REALLY use?!Recommended.

I don't like to work on the latest iWork, it is clearly a dehumanized Design.As a professional designer, I still use iWeb to design Websites, and the older User Interface (Skeuomorphic) is the environment I love and feel good to use. The flat design, in my opinion, is being a failure, maybe the designers pushed too soon.I love all the old Skeuomorphic Apple design.