iWork '09
by Apple Computer
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Software Reviews of iWork '09
Customer Review: more like Windows than old Apple software
Summary: 2 Stars
A few months ago I bought a package with a Mac system upgrade and iWorks to make sure my old files could be opened and used. For decades I've been using Apple software, and when Apple stopped bundling it with the machine (about five years ago)I just kept using my old software with my iMac and now my Mac Mini. With each system upgrade, however, we tend to lose access to the older versions of the software, so it seemed prudent to upgrade while I still could open and transfer files.
Well, I can easily open and use the old files. Reformatting them and making new files using the characteristics I want, however, is tedious and unncessarily complicated. Like with Windows, everything (compared to the old Claris software) seems to take an extra step or two to complete a simple task.
Many of the functions are in less-than-obvious locations. For example, isn't changing a margin a format change? Why, then, is it in "inspector" rather than in "format"? And why does it take several steps to open the right window and make the change rather than simply clicking on a marker and moving it to change a margin or indent?
The software is less frustrating than Windows, I will admit, but like Windows it seems to take a whole lot of effort to use, as if part of the job is battling the software (as opposed to being supported by it). This might be described as somewhere between the simplicity and elegance of the old bundled Apple software and the far more popular Windows software.
Another shortcoming of the package is that there is no longer a data base offered in the package. It isn't something I use often, but as a school librarian, I had created one in Claris Works for instructional materials, sources, and grade levels. There is no capacity in iWorks to create one or keep using the old one.
In summary, the best that can be said is that it is a necessary evil and better than Windows. Even saying that, I find myself still using my old bundled Claris Works software and, when time allows, backing up the files with Pages to ensure I will be able to keep using them years for now when some future system upgrade makes Claris Works unreadable.
Customer Review: Wish for an upgrade price!
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this product almost completely for the "pages" portion. I have nearly no need of the others. I like the program and though I have not used it a lot, wish it were something that came with the computer or "ilife" as it used to.
I was surprised when I bought my new mac that I also had to buy a new writing program. I bought my mac last Dec. 08 which means soon there is a new ilife and iwork program. So combined you spend approx. $150. to upgrade. I think that is a bit high for the minimum improvement.
Customer Review: Great program
Summary: 5 Stars
This suite is so user friendly, my clients were able to use it without asking me dozens of questions.
After 20 years of working in the IT field: good bye Microsoft and hellooooo Apple. Apple, you have a new and enthusiastic customer and advocate!
Customer Review: Not for scientific or semi-professional users.
Summary: 2 Stars
I think it was good effort from Apple to introduce this version of iWork. I have been using it now for few months, but I am deciding to switch to something different as it is not really handy when you are using it on professional basis.
Pages:
So many features does not work as they should and the way to do it is just too complicated. One example is format brush, it never works as it should. The same problem applies for Keynote.
The auto formating (Heading, body...etc) are just too poor to be used.
Numbers:
This was the straw that broke the back of the camel. Numbers looks cool as every product that apple does, however sometimes it is really nerving. There so many simple things that may have to go through very tricky procedure to be able to do them, if even possible. Some examples:
- Adding a series to a chart, (nearly impossible)
- Rotating text in the table (Not possible)
- Editing a series in a chart (extremely impossible)
I won't recommend it for a serious user, it may be good enough for a home relaxed user to calculate their monthly saving, expenses, budget...etc
Customer Review: Pages not great for complex documents
Summary: 3 Stars
Pages does have a very nice intuitive interface, as with most Apple products. And I suppose the main advantage of Pages is that you can do layout and word processing in one application. But for those interested more specifically in word processing - especially long documents, with many headers and subheaders, indexes, etc. - Pages is not yet optimal.
The main problem with Pages in my view is the lack of a "Document Map" feature. When working with long documents that have a lot of subheadings, Pages becomes clumsy to use. You have to work directly within the Outline view, collapsing and expanding sections. But this entails realigning the text, so you often end up navigating up and down through several pages to find the place where you had been working.
Another significant problem is that it does not export perfectly into Word. For example, when you save your Pages document as a Word file and then open it in Word, the Document Map feature in Word will not parse the document correctly. The result is that once you have converted a document to Pages format, it's pretty hard to convert it back into Word format.