For those Mac users looking for an alternative to the more common office software suites on the market, you may want to consider iWork as a possibility. Contained within the iWork suite is everything you may need to make your business flow efficiently.

With Pages, you get a powerful word processor and page layout and design software title that makes your documents sing. Numbers is a powerful spreadsheet program and Keynote offers the most advanced presentation software available. Not convinced? Consider the following:

1. The Apple iWork office software is fully compatible with the software in Microsoft Office

2. The most you will pay for a single user license of iWork is just under $80 – far less than other productivity suites

3. The Mac iWork software integrates seamlessly with other Apple software titles, including the iLife suite of applications

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make documents sing with Pages from the iWork suite

It doesn't matter if you're typing a term paper or putting together a newsletter for your division at work, Pages from the iWork suite offers powerful tools to make your documents look perfect. Pages makes use of a Contextual Tool Bar at the top of the window that places one-click shortcuts to common commands based on what you're doing at the time.

I recommend: While there are many familiar commands used in iWork's Pages software, there are some things that you will find deviate from what you consider the norm. To help yourself acclimate to the difference, check out the tutorials on Pages located over at Apple. Once you have the hang of Pages, you may want a quick template that you can't find in the standard fare offered by the software. In this case, go over to Jumsoft and check out their selection of templates for various occasions.

Use Numbers software in the iWork suite

The iWork package offers users a powerful spreadsheet program that's fully compatible with Excel. Never again will you have to worry about whether or not that spreadsheet is going to be readable by somebody using a PC.

I recommend: Is the Numbers software in iWork exactly like Excel? Of course not. It's more intuitive than other spreadsheet applications and aims at creating the perfect user experience. If you've been using an alternate spreadsheet software for many years, you may find that Numbers doesn't respond quite the same way. Check out Apex Web Media to purchase a training CD to help you learn about Numbers and other iWork software. If you're comfortable working with Numbers and just want a larger selection of templates available to you, check out Numbers Templates. They offer Business, home, loan and other templates all for free.

Awe your audience with the Keynote presentation software available in the Macintosh iWork software

Keynote may be one of the most visible pieces of the Macintosh iWork package. It offers you the ability to create slide shows and presentations that will truly catch the attention of your audience. If you're tired of boring overhead presentations that have no pop, then it's time to look at iWork and Keynote.

I recommend: Spend just a few minutes with Keynote and you'll realize how different it is from other presentation software. It's fast, intuitive and allows for creative thought. This isn't a piece of software you want to use only the basics with; dig in and have fun. To help with that process, VTC University offers a six hour online course that goes over every detail of the software. If you're in a hurry and need a great looking template to make your presentation really catch the audience, go look at KeynotePro. They offer amazing, professional looking templates.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Try importing photos from iPhoto or video from iMovie to spice up your iWork documents. It's quick and easy and really makes documents from Pages and Keynote unique.