Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 Business Edition Upgrade Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I installed Office 2008 on my 1.25GHz G4 iMac, running System 10.5.8 . Since many reviewers have thoroughly discussed the features of each Office application already, I am focusing this review on my experience of upgrading from Office v.X to Office 2008 on a PowerPC iMac. Background:
*I have experience with several versions of Mac Office, beginning with version 4.2 . I also have used Office 98, Office 2001, and as mentioned above, Office v.X before upgrading to Office 2008.
*The way I use Office has changed over time. I made extensive use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in graduate school and in various professional settings through Office 2001. Now I mostly use Excel to do basic financial analysis and Word to write personal documents.Installation:
*Installation is straightforward, using Apple's familiar Installer mechanism. I prefer this method to the old drag-and-drop installation method because OS X is so sensitive to where things are installed.
*The installer program automatically finds older versions of Office and allows users to delete them easily.
*Many customized settings can be transferred from previous Office installations, including dictionaries, autocorrect lists, and proofing tool settings.
*Once Office 2008 is installed, several updates must be downloaded and installed. Microsoft should have made this process more user-friendly. Users must manually shut down other applications, including the Office 2008 Installer, before running the update installer.Pros:
*Office is now a Universal Binary so the same program will run on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.
*An Uninstaller is placed in the Office folder automatically.
*Office will check for updates automatically on a schedule chosen by the user. No more messing around on the Microsoft website, hoping you didn't miss a Service Pack or Critical Update.
*Users can now turn the feedback sounds on and off. If hearing a chime, a popping bubble, or some other "cute" noise every time you did something drove you crazy, you will greatly appreciate this long overdue feature.
*Speaking of unnecessary cuteness, Clippy the Paperclip is gone! Yesssssss!Cons:
*All the applications startup and quit slowly on a G4 machine. Office v.X applications started and quit virtually instantaneously (yes, I realize v.X was written specifically for PowerPC processors). Saving files is slow as well.
*Office 2008 uses a new file format that is not compatible with other versions of Office. If you send documents to people who are not fully up to date, you have to save a second version or limit yourself to working with the older file format.
*It's good that Microsoft no longer just ports Windows Office to the Mac. Nonetheless, there are user interface inconsistencies both within and across the applications which keep Office from feeling 100% Macintosh.
*Silverlight, Microsoft's attempt to compete with Macromedia Flash, is installed by default.
*WARNING FOR POWER USERS: No macros in Excel! Bad, bad, bad move. And no support for Visual Basic.Bottom line: Office 2008 doesn't hold any surprises for experienced Office users. For the most part, everything still operates in the way to which you are accustomed. If you own a PowerPC Mac and use an older version of Office, you should carefully consider whether you want to upgrade or not. The benefits of the new features may be outweighed by the inconvenience of the slower performance and/or the need to adjust your workflow.
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 due to the removal of macros and Visual Basic from Excel.

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Your business is everything to you--an extension of your life, an expression of your passion. Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition is packed with all the tools and features you need to make your vision a success. Get core Office applications to help you manage your business, organize your data and present a professional image; plus new Exchange Server support and reliable Office for Windows compatibility that take productivity and collaboration to the next level.


Upgrade and save. You may be eligible to upgrade to Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition at a special discounted price. Licensed users of any Microsoft Office 98 Macintosh Edition suite or application, or any Office for Mac 2001-2004 suite or application, are eligible for the discount. Plus, get Business Edition extras like Exchange Server support and Office Live Workspace to help you manage, create and collaborate more effectively and easily.

Our best Office for your best business.
Only Office gives you this much compatibility. Confidently share files with colleagues and clients no matter what version of Office they're running, even if they use Office for Windows.
Choose software that grows with your business. Get a powerful suite designed to keep up with your company's growth. Find what basic users need and advanced users demand in one comprehensive package.
Save time and money with the world's most familiar software. Choosing familiar software can be a great way to reduce time and money on training. Get up and running faster, and allocate the resources you save to other important areas of your business.

What's New About Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition?
Microsoft Office Live Workspace Support Share files and collaborate on projects from virtually anywhere.
Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Store and share documents, contacts, calendars and tasks in a single secure location.
Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition Stay in sync on all your devices with Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition. Unlock the power of Microsoft Exchange Server (2007 or later versions) so you can sync your email, calendar and notes, between your desktop, laptop and Windows-based mobile phone.
Business templates, themes, and clip art Look your most professional with customizable business templates that can make brochures, newsletters, and flyers stand out from the crowd. Apply your personal brand to any document with themes, then add the finishing touch with business-right illustrations and clip art.
Remote Desktop for Mac 2 Connect from your Mac to your Windows-based PC quickly and access files, applications, devices and networks with advanced security technology.
Free product training Build your skills with beginner to advanced video based training from Lynda.com.

Highlights and Features
Collaborate and Connect Your ability to share and communicate with others--regardless of Mac or PC platform--is critical to your success. Reach customers, prospects and partners more effectively with Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition.
Stay in touch while on the goSync your email, calendar and contacts via your in-house Exchange Server with ActiveSync.
Count on cross-platform compatibility Use the same file format as Office for Windows and rely on a sophisticated graphics engine to help ensure accurate, consistent file sharing and printing.
Access and share your files onlineMicrosoft Office Live Workspace is a security-enhanced "virtual headquarters" where you can share work and collaborate online. For more complex projects, Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services support enables you store and share documents, contacts, calendars and tasks in a single secure location.
Drive your Windows-based PC from the comfort of your MacWith Remote Desktop for Mac 2, you can quickly connect to your Windows-based PC to access files, applications, devices and networks.
Take your show on the roadExport presentations to your iPod or iPhone with PowerPoint 2008. Share your ideas or hold impromptu rehearsals wherever life takes you.

Create Effectively Bring your ideas to life, put more of your personality into your projects and represent your brand exactly the way you intend. Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition gives you the design, marketing and communication tools to help you create professional-looking business materials you'll be proud of.
Print-ready documents are a snapSave money, time and paper. Simple desktop publishing features in Word 2008 let you create high-quality newsletters, brochures and flyers. With Publishing Layout View, you can proof and edit your documents precisely so they print without surprises.
Discover the flexibility of Word 2008Use the Outline view to organize all your information into a convenient, flexible format, or choose Notebook Layout View to capture text and audio notes on multiple topics.
Work faster with your favorite toolsWhether you're working in Word 2008, Excel 2008 or PowerPoint 2008, the Elements Gallery puts your most commonly used tools and functions at your fingertips so you can create documents more quickly.
Quickly create and customize common business documentsStart with updated templates in Word and Excel 2008, then get creative with easy-to-use Document Elements, Word Art and SmartArt tools. Add your personal brand to any document with Themes, using fonts, colors and graphics you choose and apply with a single click.
Personalize mass mailings easily and efficientlyThe Mail Merge feature in Word 2008 lets you efficiently create materials for all your clients, so you can send a personal touch every time.

Manage Your Business Growing a small business can be more than a full-time job. That's why Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition has updated programs and features that are ready to go to work immediately to help you save time and operate more professionally.
Keep every day on trackMy Day in Entourage 2008 provides a real-time snapshot of your schedule and to-do lists so you stay on track and on time.
Stay in sync, anywhere, anytimeWith Entourage 2008, your team can access and manage their email and calendars from any web connection--via Mac, PC or a Windows-based mobile device. With Office Live Workspace, they can quickly launch online folders tailored to the unique needs of each project. Now it's easy to co-author documents and share feedback anytime, online.
Take control of your business financesExcel 2008 can help you manage your business finances like a pro. Clear, accessible templates, plus enhanced calculation and analysis functions, make it easier to monitor sales and billings.

Included Applications
Word 2008 enables you to expand your creativity with confidence. Create high-quality marketing materials like brochures, newsletters, flyers and more with professionally designed, customizable templates. Even add cover pages and bibliographies. Add polish with business-right illustrations using SmartArt and hundreds of specially designed, business-oriented graphics.
PowerPoint 2008 makes it easy to present like a pro. Give more polished, creative presentations. Save time and manage presentations better with Presenter Tools. Move about easily with Apple Remote and engage your audience while keeping your presentation running smoothly. Enhanced features like animation paths and animated GIFs are sure to make an impression.
Excel 2008 helps you manage business today while you plan for tomorrow. Business growth requires financial planning, and Excel 2008 can help you reach your goals. Updated sorting, formatting and charting tools, together with improved formula-builder and error-finding functions, help you track your progress.
Entourage 2008 empowers you to take control of project details. Project Center lets you quickly create, customize and track project-related emails, files, contacts and other important details, in one convenient location. Save your project on your server, and share the information through Entourage 2008.

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