Features

• 50+ templates; text to speech, have your script read back to you
• Word processing combined with professional script formatting
• Designed for writing movie scripts, television episodics, and stage plays
• Automatically paginates and formats script to industry standards
• 100-percent cross-platform compatibility; easily import/export files

Reviews (37)

Watch Out Hollywood, Here I Come!
I have been writing short scripts since I was 11. I used Word to write them.

Now that I am in older, I am learning that following the traditional Hollywood script conventions make sense now that I am sending my work to scriptwriting contests, etc.

I got Final Draft because all my friends said it was 'what everybody used'. Normally,I would resist following this kind of advice, since I've always thought of myself as not being like everyone else & not following the crowd - but it was correct in this case.

Scripts are literally flowing out of me now.

Watch out Oscar, save one for me!

I am in LOVE with this program!!
F Scott said it best - "...there are WRITERS & there are those of us who write." I write. And write. And write. I have no time. Actually, I don't have time 2 write this, but I am, because this program rocks! I used 2 use Word, have it all setup with my own template and all. Someone in Hllywd **strongly suggested** I get Final Draft, and I bought it here (because amazon has the best prices). I was reluctant 2 switch. Now in re-writes, I am a true believer in screenwriting software. Why didn't I get this years ago? Wow. If you WRITE (scripts) and don't have a copy of Final Draft, do yourself a favor and check it out before you waste another minute. Cheers!

Great.
I have been researching several products for screenwriting. I am a beginner.I do not recommend Hollywood Screenwriter due to restrictions: must have cd in drive to use, incompatible with some cut/paste features, etc.

I read the for's and against's on here and other sites; it was terribly difficult to figure out what to purchase. I want the best for my money.

I did download both Movie Magic Screen Writer and Final Draft.For my work, I found that Movie Magic had too many values to work with in it's software.Although, I enjoyed the "windows" appearance and its reports, I found that the thesaurus was limited.The names list works well.

In Final Draft, it has an exceptional thesaurus, but it has a name list that works off of letters you enter vs. Movie Magic which provides a visible name list (a little easier to use).

Both seem to work almost identically in their format method.I did prefer the side bar in Movie Magic to enter or tab "dialouge," "transition," etc.Final Draft does do a find job of handling it and the "mores and continueds" work accordingly.

OVERALL, I came to the same conclusion that one rater has come to.You have to find which software works for you.They are both good.

I chose Final Draft and bought it from J&R Music because its interface is simple, it's easy on my eyes and the cost was relative. There's little clutter. I want to focus on my script and not the drop down with 9 or 10 items on it (yes, FD has one like that too).

To make either product out as a "bad" choice is silly.The developers of those products are math folks working to bring a screenwriting program for liberal arts folks into the market and make it functional.

That's a difficult chore, but I think they did a good job.My choice was Final Draft, because it's no nonsense, straight forward and functional.

Hopefully, some of these details helped you and best wishes getting your script out!

Excellent Program
Read the negative feedback on this site, so I attempted to use Word (again) for all of my script formatting.It looked horrible, so I decided to give FD7 a try, regardless of the reviews.Typed the entire script, made revisions, tracked changes, made more revisions...
The program worked great, and the script looks better than anything I would have had the patience to create in Word.
Maybe they have fixed all of the initial problems (that I read about on this site), but I think it is an excellent program.I recommend it to anyone, who, like me, likes to write and hates worrying about where he/she has placed the "more" and "continued" on the page, or how the margin on my dialogue centers.

A great Tool that's Easy to Use
I understand that there are a couple glitches with this software (what software package doesn't?)- and both times I had to get customer support from Final Draft, they were of immense help - patient and walked mr throughthe issues I had.

That being said, the Final Draft tools are straightforward, easy to use, and industry standard.

It's my favorite screenwriting software and I think the best out there. ... Read more

Product Description

INDESIGN CS V4 WIN CD ... Read more

Product Description

Nice electronics is your source for everyday low prices on theQuark 119701 - PROMO QUARKXPRESS 6.0/6.1 WIN SINGLE FULL NO RETURNS and all other Quark Software - Office ... Read more

Features

• Improvements to output features, including As Is Color Space and DeviceN
• Page layout utility
• Output PDF files directly from QuarkXPress without buying third-party software
• Layout spaces with synchronized text
• Improved, interactive tools for Web page design

Reviews (9)

question
is there a chance of taking mirror print (whole page) with more than 1 colon edit in any versions
if printer is not postscript

A Design Resume Absolutely Must Have Quark
I learned how to effectively use Quark in the first 2 weeks of my college Prepress class, and anybody in the design world knows that if you can't use it you're a novice. It's itelligent, straight forward and an essential program for any graphic designer to master. All the complaints about this program are the result of non professionals who are either unwilling or unable to learn how to use it properly. "In Design" - what a joke. I love Adobe products, but let's get serious. If you can't use Quark, you might as well start applying for a job designing the Church Newsletter, because you can't get a top level design position without knowing this program. If you are studying to be a designer - trust me... learn it, know it, love it!

QuarkXpress 6.0 is a joke
I am actually writting this review while on the phone with their tech support group in India. I can barely understand the person and the can you believe that you have to call them to reactivate the software every time we go from Daylight Savings Time to Daylight Time. That is twice per year. There is a bug in their authentication/serial number system, which by design includes the DST flag for the local computer in the activation routine.

This is crazy...After paying full price for two copies, why do I have to spend 30 minutes per machine twice per year to reactivate their product to help them control piracy, of which I am not a part of.

Sounds like class action suit time...We should all sue for the time lost just in reactivating their products.

I used to be happy with version 3.x and 4.x.

Stress Is Not Worth It
This is the most poorly designed software yet from Quark.First, installing it can prove to be a terror if you have to ever reinstall it.Quark has set up a monstrous procedure where you must call them or attempt at their website to activate the software, which can force you to wait 2 to 3 days before you can use it.The orginal from the factory is actually their demo.Not just that, but the length of the activation code is 47 numbers and even though you get them right, they won't work on their website application/registration/activation page.

Now, let's assume you get that far.Once into the working Quark you'll find you spent a lot of money for nothing more than what Quark 4.1 offers except for a "clear vision" extension and some minor bells and whistles.They advertise that you can "build web pages" using Quark, clearly deceiving you to believe you can "translate existing Quark documents" to web pages.Forget it.You have to redo or build from scratch.It's also very old technology and is not the kind of page you want to post against the newer W3C rules. You'll play with the deveil in the end.

Best to use the older version if you still have it. If you've never used Quark and are tempted to buy it to try it...go to Adobe's Indesign first or pick up an older copy of Adobe's Pagemaker.

Finally, Quark's support service is AWFUL. They just aren't there for you when you need them, unless you pay them a lot of money for a "service agreement."If you do get hold of someone, they are in a foreign country and barely understandable and worse, they are reading something or blaming you for their product not working correctly.Quark has changed from its original service company to the newer modern insult-the-customer business style.

Thumbs down on this one.

InDesign Is a better choice
I've been using QuarkXpress for 8 years and was a dedicated Xpress user until the release of Quark 6.0 (which I purchased). The pdf feature and the high resolution preview of eps files and OSX compatibility as well as it's familiarity made me give it a try. I've been using Xpress 6 for about a month now and I'm not impressed. Customer support is weak at best and it is almost impossible to register because users have to enter a serial number and a registration number and a one hundred digit activation code (I'm not kidding 100 numbers and letters). Quark claims it's software will activate automatically on-line. It doesn't if you have a firewall. Many of the new features Quark claims to have added are extensions that must be installed separately (high res preview for eps images being one of them). Quark 4.11 users will be upset to learn that 6.0 will only save down to version 5.0 and there isn't a plug-in to fix this oversight as Quark claims. The icing on the cake is that if you change computers or if your system has trouble and you need to re-install QuarkXpress 6 you'll have to call Quark and get a new activation code. Be prepared to wait a week or two. Now if you've wasted enough of your valuable time you've probably been like me and bought a copy of InDesign. Yeah I have to learn a few things to be as fast as I was in Quark ..but it'll be worth it .The best part of InDesign is that I registered Photoshop, Illustrator, GoLive and InDesign with one serial number and I was up and running (at half the price of QuarkXpress). ... Read more

Product Description

iWork '05 ... Read more

Features

• Integrated iLife media browser and photo masking
• Create, present, and publish work quickly and easily
• Cinema-quality slide presentations; streamlined, yet powerful word processing
• 40+ professionally designed templates with multiple page designs
• Freeform graphics canvas; easy-to-use text styles, charts, and tables

Reviews (17)

Great package for work and efficiency.
I bought this product about a month ago and iWork made my life more efficient with all the easy functionality and integration that Apple has created. It is fully integrated with .Mac and your on-going web\work sites. The main application I use is Keynote which is an easy to use presentation sofware that places all the needed functionality for a quick presentation. Keynote has a very easy to use interface and similar functions to Pages which makes the transition from app to app very easy. The only downside I thought was the ramp up time to understand and get use to the apps.
Recommend it for all Mac users new and veteran.

Don't Underestimate This Program.
A number of reviewers have commented upon how easy this program is and, I suppose, in one sense it is, especially if you stick to using the templates.However, as one who has had occasion to work with "Adobe Pagemaker," this program can do sophisticated page layout and, as such, there will be a learning curve for the inexperienced.

But, the User Manual is good and there are good books coming out, like one from Visual Start in July, that will help people learn.

It is wrong to think of this program as a word processor "in competition with" Word."MS Word" is a robust word processor; "Pages," as its name implies, is a page layout program.Having also worked with "MS Publisher," the real point of comparison and not "MS Word," "Pages" far exceeds "Publisher" in capabilities and yet for relatively simple layouts is as easy as "Publisher" to use.

I have not as yet put any real strain on the program, but at first blush, on my Powerbook G4 1.5, speed of operations is just fine.Yes, as a few reviewers have pointed out, some of the palettes could be more elegantly combined.One tends to get a clutter of open palettes.But, these are refinements that will be made in future editions, I am sure.

Bottom line: If you want to layout pages with a lot of the sophistication possible in the more expensive "Quark" and "PageMaker" programs; if you want to be able to export your documents to universal portable PDF file format and print out beautiful documents; if you want to pay, basically, only about $40 for these benefits ["Keynotes," the other half of iwork represents another $40], then buy "Pages."

And, if you are a novice with respect to not only page layout programs but also to very robust word programs like "Word," don't expect that everything will be simple.You will have to learn, but you will be rewarded relatively quickly.

I almost didn't buy it....
I thought, "I have MS Office for the Mac, why do I need iWork?" Was I wrong!

Okay fine I suppose I don't really NEED it. But it is a great program, and worth the price. The ability to export my work as a .pdf file is worth the price by itself. The Pages interface is much better, cleaner than Word. And the templates are suprisingly useful. I created a web page by costomizing a template and exporting it as HTML. I twas easy and quick and the result looked great. Most of the people I work with are PC users and because they were unfamiliar with pages the web Page looked fresh, not like a modified copy of someone elses work.

I use my Mac for research mostly and the ability to save documents as .pdf files is very valuable as they are searchable. With Tigers ability to search the text within a .pdf I can now save my work as a .pdf and later find everytime a particular work appears in the fines I've created. This has made cross-refrecing very easy and fast. I now use a program called Pyramid to create a "mind map" of my work and create links from the "map" to refrences in the .pdfs.

I don't use Keynote as much. I t more visially appealing than Powerpoint and pretty easy to use. The ability to use Quicktime movies in the presentation is helpful and the ability to export as a Powerpoint file is nice.

Great program if Microsoft can develop an imitation
Keynote and Pages, the two applications included in iWork, were flawless under the Panther operating system. The Keynote app has always suffered from its inability to share with PC users. Oh yeah, I know I can convert a Keynote file to Powerpoint, .swf, QuickTime, or PDF, but the problem is that, especially when converting to PowerPoint, Keynote loses all its buttery-rich goodness. It's a PowerPoint problem, I realize, but without a Keynote viewer, there's no way around it. Thus, Mac folks must rely on Microsoft for slide presentations if they don't want to lug around their Mac laptop.

Also, installing Tiger will mess up the purchased Keynote templates you have saved. Even reinstalling them won't help.

My humble advice is to wait a couple of years until Apple fixes the bugs in Tiger, then MAYBE think about using a Mac. Until then, I'm switching back from a Mac to a PC.

Big time winner!
iWork comes with two programs, Pages (a word processor) and Keynote (Apple's version of PowerPoint).Both of these programs are very simple to use and very effective.Without a doubt, there are better programs available, but their cost several hundred dollars more and for the average user don't provided more bank for the buck.

When I first turned on Pages I thought "How cheesey!"But as I got to using it I found my first impression was totally wrong.It's simple appearance is very deceptive.This is a word processing program that can do everything that is needed for ordinary personal documents and beyond.You have to be willing to explore the program to discover its gems, but once you learn were things are you will find it a very fast and easy to use.The real value of the program is its desk top publishing.The 40 some templates let you create profession grade newsletters, journals, resumes, invitations, marketing brochures, and many other kinds of documents.This is worth the price of the software alone.It seamlessly works with your iPhoto, iTunes and iMovies.This is one powerful piece of software.With it you can produce commercial grade color brochures or newsletters at an entry level price.

Keynote makes wonderful multimedia presentations, and like Pages is seamlessly integrated with iPhoto, iTunes and iMovies.If you are using graphics or want to import photos into your presentation, Keynote is significantly easier, quicker, and simpler to use that PowerPoint.You can't miss with this program.You can even save you presentation as a PowerPoint, Quicktime, or PDF file or post it on the internet for all to see with the easy of a single click.

I have used both Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and keep them on my hard drive but rarely use them.As my skill with Pages and Keynote has grown I have found them to be more than sufficient in producing quality documents from personal letters, teaching handouts, to professional grade overhead presentations.
For the cost, iWorks cannot be beat!And you will not be disappointed.

iWork `05 System Requirements
- Macintosh computer with a 500 mhz or faster Power PC G3, G4 or G5 (G4 for PowerBook); G4 or G5 recommended
- 128 MB of physical RAM (512MB recommended)
- 8 MB of video memory (32MB recommended)
- Mac OS X v10.3.6 or later
- QuickTime 6.5 or later ... Read more

Features

• Syd Field's Screenwriting Workshop DVD for all skill levels included
• Word processing combined with professional script formatting
• Designed for writing movie scripts, television episodics, and stage plays
• Automatically paginates and formats script to industry standards
• 50+ templates; text to speech, have your script read back to you

Reviews (1)

What They Write With & How To Do IT!!
Okay, so I found out that Final Draft is the Industry Standard in Tinsel Town. Great. I'll buy one. Check out who uses it on their website. Wow! But the software alone doesn't tell us, say, what goes where and why in a screenplay. It just lays there, blank, with blinking cursor... waiting for some brilliance to be entered by me. Enter Syd Field. I have his books on screenwriting and, although the DVD is a little 'talking head'-like, it did make me understand more about the craft of screenwriting, like plot, story structure, action points and character arcs - the things that make up a really great movie. Take notes while watching the DVD! It made me better and less insecure about taking the movie idea out of my head and Final Draft is a cool tool that formats for you and types things you type alot for you. An excellent combination!! Highly recommend. ... Read more

Product Description

Charm Your Inner Wordsmith
Express your ideas with more brilliance and clarity using the innovative new tools in Microsoft® Word 2004 for Mac. The gold standard in word processing works harder than ever for you with improved reference tools, dynamic reviewing capabilities and enhanced views for organizing your thoughts.

Listen Up
Keep ideas in context. Now you can record sound right into your notes as you type with the new audio notes feature.

Put MSN Messenger to Work in Word
Now you can discuss comments and changes in real time thanks to MSN® Messenger for Mac version 4.0 integration with Word 2004.

Word Notebook Layout View
Type right onto ruled notebook "paper," manage different sections with tabs and quickly search for key ideas using this new view.

Improved Track Changes
View changes in comment balloons next to your text, quickly identify the reviewer with color-coded comments and initiate instant message conversations about comments with MSN Messenger for Mac.

... Read more

Features

• Soft drop shadows; decline auto corrections, numbering, and bulleting
• Search and flag relevant info; record audio into documents
• Word processing with innovative new tools
• Improved reference tools; dynamic reviewing capabilities
• Keep text, pictures, logos, and other important info right at hand

Reviews (2)

Microsoft has Done Word Processing Right
It is hard to find anything bad to say about this program, except that it is slow as molasses on my G3 iBook. However it zips along on my gal pal Sara's G5 iMac. I mean it flies. And there is nothing you cannot do with it, from formatting a book (who needs PageMaker or Quark anymore), to writing a screen play. You can change the menus to anything you want, for example Sara has four font menus. You can save your stuff as a pdf document and your pdf opens exactly like it was in Word and I mean exactly.

But, as I said, it's too slow on my older iBook, so I use the previous version of Word instead and the excellent NisusWriter WP (for Mac only). Word will open anything. The dictionary is pretty good, but the thesaurus could maybe be better. No, it could definitely be better. But here I'm nitpicking, probably because it's hard for way left leaning me to admit that Microsoft got something right. And about my iBook being too slow to run this elegant program, maybe, just maybe it's time I sprung for one of those new nifty PowerBooks with the glow in the dark keyboard. Whoohoo.

Jack Priest, Sailor Home from the Sea

incremental improvements
Despite all the touted improvements in this latest version of MS Word for the Mac, experienced Word users should consider carefully before plonking down for it. The chances are that if you are comfortable running an earlier version on your Mac, then there is little need to migrate.

Though I'll grant that one new feature is appealing. The ability toavoid the automatic corrections and numbering does indeed give you more fine grained control over the document.

Overall, consider skipping this version. ... Read more

Product Description

Microsoft OneNote 2003.OneNote 2003 is a new program in the Microsoft Office System that enables you to capture, organize, and reuse your notes on laptop computers, desktop computers, or Tablet PCs. It gives you one place to store all your notes and the freedom to work with them how you want. OneNote 2003 also helps you capture information in multiple ways and then organize and use it according to your needs.OneNote 2003 combines the freedom and flexibility of paper notes with the efficiency and power of digital organizational tools, enabling you to work with your notes and information more productively.Capture Information in Multiple Ways Take notes and collect information the way you want. Organize Information Easily Organize your notes the way you want and be more productive. Access Information Quickly Have one convenient place to capture all of your notes and information. Reuse and Share Notes Easily OneNote makes it easy to reuse and share your notes after you have captured them. ... Read more

Features

• Great for in meetings, classes, phone conferences, and more
• Capture and use notes on laptop or desktop computers or Tablet PCs
• Versatility of paper notes; efficiency of digital organizational tools
• Capture info in multiple ways; store in one place; easy to use
• Be more productive anywhere you work with notes

Reviews (11)

Great Product! Does exactly what it promises.
This is an outstanding product. If you check out the Microsoft Office site, you'll see a tremendous amount of support and information.

It does what is promised. You can take virtually any kind of information, arrange it any way you want to, and come back to it later, finding precisely what you're looking for. One of the best feature is Side Note; it stays open with any other application, letting you take notes or paste information. There is even an Explorer add-on that lets you paste whole web pages, or selected material to your notebook, citing where the information came from.

You can move information anywhere you want to, instantly e-mail it from Outlook, or create a Word document from it.

I don't understand the reviewer who says that you can do this with Word and "special" folders. You could do try to do it with a pen and paper, too, but the product is all about efficiency and organization.

In my opinion, this is one of the bes MS Office products--maybe they'll include this in the standard edition next time.

Excellent Product!
Think of this as a tabbed notepad program that can take input from just about any source, index all the words and allow you to search them.(though searching could be beefed up - with that improvement, it could blow away infoSelect or AskSam)

The tabbing has two levels.Across the top are the tabs for different projects. down the side are different pages for each project.

For instance, I am studying for the Teradata Physical Implementation certification test. I created a project tab for the test.I created page tabs for each chapter of the study guide. on each page, I type the learning goals for each chapter (posed as questions) and answer them.I scan in any diagrams that I feel are important.with my Wacom graphics tablet, I write notes and impressions on the charts.I also scan in the chapter test questions and then answer them.for me this has been a very productive study method.

I know it got off to a troubled start, but the 2003 version is VERY good, so don't let old impressions steer your buying decisions.

Very Cool Product for Organizing
Contrary to what some people say, this product is very useful and does exactly what its is advertised to do. I use it to keep writing notes and ideas together. I took 81 pages of Microsoft Word documents and consolidated them into my notebook.It lacks the ability to create a completely separate notebook and does not save one notebook into a complete section rather saves in files and sections.Those two are the only downfalls of the product. Hopefully Microsoft will fix that next time.

so so quality but very bad service
I bought one , but it is not convinient for those that with the touch pad, it is hard to write unless you have pen.
also I bought hope there will be a rebate, but they said the coupon must be original, but they did not send me the one, which means they give you better hope but not real result.
that is bad feeling!!! very bad!! since then I willnever buy one microsoft product privately.

Very efficient and easy to use
This is a very well thought out program, that makes it much easier to stay organized and take notes quickly. I find that I am able to type far quicker than I can write, so taking notes is much easier on the computer. Plus, afterwards, it's a lot easier to reorganize or rearrange digital notes than paper notes. You can click anywhere and start typing, just like you can do in a "real" notebook.

One of the best features (that makes this surpass Word for any type of note-taking situation) is that you do not need to save, EVER. I have accidentally lost power on my PC and not lost any information. It's quick to load, and loads to the last "page" in your notebook that you were using, which makes getting started fast really easy.

The only thing I have trouble with figuring out how to incorporate drawings or mathematical formulae easily, since I do not have a tablet PC. I find that I can do well with a science class like Biology, which isn't all that Math intensive, but for Math I haven't found a good solution. (I'm still using paper and pencil for Calculus.)

All in all, however, this is a sleek program, that runs swiftly and is a great tool for note-taking. ... Read more

Product Description

Collect, produce, and share Intelligent Documents

Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Professional software is the advanced way to create, control, and deliver more secure, high-quality Adobe PDF documents. Assemble electronic or paper fileseven Web sites, engineering drawings, and e-mailinto reliable PDF documents that are easy to share with others using free Adobe Reader® 7.0 software.

Features:

• Enjoy improved performance:With improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
• Extend commenting capabilities:Enable anyone who uses free Adobe Reader® 7.0 software to actively participate in reviews.
• Easily design Adobe PDF forms:Use Adobe LiveCycle™ Designer 7.0 software (now included with Adobe Acrobat 7.0 ProfessionalWindows® only) to create PDF forms that look like the paper forms they replace. Incorporate business logic, such as calculations and data validations.
• Organize Adobe PDF documents:Quickly find a list of Adobe PDF documents you have recently opened. View them as thumbnails, and drag and drop files into related collections.
• Enjoy improved attachment capabilities:Easily attach source documents such as spreadsheets, multimedia files, images, and drawings to an Adobe PDF document.

Features

• Easily attach source documents such as spreadsheets, multimedia files, images, and drawings to an Adobe PDF document
• Enable anyone with free Adobe Reader 7.0 software to use highlighter, sticky note, pen, and other commenting tools
• Create PDF files with the click of a button from Microsoft applications and AutoCAD
• Create a single Adobe PDF document from multiple sources, including portions of Web pages and previously combined Adobe PDF documents
• Use the included Adobe LiveCycle Designer 7.0 software to create PDF forms that look like the paper forms they replace

Reviews (7)

Avoid: "Worse than Malware"
Don't take my word for it that's a quote from the title of a recent post excoriating this irritating and increasingly bloated product on Slashdot.

Be warned: Adobe has not learned its lesson, and despite the outcry that followed the release of version 6, this latest release of Acrobat continues Adobe's aggressive trend of intruding into your desktop environment, again, as in version 6 without providing an easy way to undo the damage once its done--in fact, it's now nearly impossible. Like earlier releases, this version of Acrobat adds startup macros and new toolbar buttons to your existing applications and adds menu entries to your desktop "right click" menus. Adobe argues that these are conveniences, but they are entirely unnecessary (for most of us "printing" to Adobe PDF achieves the same result, is much more convenient, and a more natural model), and clutter what for most users is either a too-crowded user interface (for those who don't have the knowledge or patience to customize it) or a carefully tuned one (for those who do). Unlike many well-behaved applications that provide obvious ways of avoiding this kind of intrusive and disruptive behavior (e.g. through a simple checkbox option in a settings dialog), Acrobat's "option" for disabling this behavior, once deeply hidden in the setup process,is now almost completely absent. To disable the "Convert to Adobe PDF" button that mysteriously appears in the Outlook mail editor, for example, one has to be sure to choose "this feature will not be available" from the "Microsoft Outlook" option under "Acrobat PDFMaker" under "Create Adobe PDF". Simply deleting the button using Outlook's toolbar customization feature will not work: it comes right back when the editor is next opened. Similar problems arise in Word, Excel, Visio, Project, and Internet Explorer. And there's simply no way to get rid of the never-used "Convert to Adobe PDF" and "Combine in Acrobat..." entries in that appear in the desktop context menus for files (even if one installs none of the Acrobat PDFMaker features).

For the technically inclined wishing to repair some of the damage that Acrobat 7 does, there are complex but largely effective step by step instructions available on the web, but even the authors of these are driven to despair by version 7: ("Adobe has really pushed the boat out with Acrobat 7 and managed to screw Word royally") .

In short, Acrobat will make a mess of your working environment, there's no way to completely fix it, and even the partial fix is a pain (and not well documented). (This may seem a minor issue, but if every application followed Adobe's reckless example, our working environments would start to look like strip malls, crowded with features screaming for our attention to the point where it is hard to find what we need when we need it. One of the great strengths of the personal computer desktop is that users can configure it in ways that suit their needs; no application should interfere with that.)

Experienced Acrobat users will also notice that this version continues another frustrating trend for Acrobat (and most other Adobe applications): it is yet again slower to launch than the previous version. In fact, on my 2 GHz Pentium 4, it takes longer to launch than the entire Visual Studio .NET development environment, and longer than the boot sequence for Windows XP!

There are other minor problems as well (arbitrary rearrangements of menu and tool bar items, etc.) but these two major flaws are more than bad enough. Unless you really need the latest Acrobat features, you should probably avoid this upgrade. And if the "improvements" in this release are any indication of where Adobe plans to go with future releases, it may be time to start looking elsewhere for a tool for digital document management.

Fortunately, there's no reason at all to upgrade. Version 7 offers no usefully new features, so you can (and should) avoid this one (at all costs).

Bummer
If you use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) don't buy it!Links to your previous .pdf simply don't work.Adobe knows about it, but have no viable work around.Stick with prevous versions.

NO-BRAINER, GET IT.
Simple. It loads like a blaze. Sure all the new frills and features like easy annotations are neat, but the speed of 7.0 alone makes it worth every dime. Especially if your current Acrobat is the half-baked clunky 6.0.x that burst through the gates before it had legs.

Good upgrade, perhaps the pinnacle
Honestly, I don't know how much more they can improve Adobe Acrobat.It is an excellent product, and a god-send for electronic file management.

I upgraded from version 6.0.The only problem I had with 6.0 is that it seemed terribly slow.

This new version seems much brisker.It loads quickly, and files seem to "print" to it much more quickly than version 6.0.I do not utilize the "one-button" feature it provides in MS Office and other programs.I try to keep all my programs as non-integrated as possible, because my previous experiences showed that they really, really bog each other down, no matter how much their makers claim they won't.

I don't come close to using all the features of Acrobat, but for my needs, it far surpasses anything else I've tried (or researched).

If you're having problems with version 6.0, or have an older version that you just want upgraded, I strongly recommend this.However, I don't foresee ever needing to upgrade Acrobat again.

Good upgrade..!!!
I have been using v.7 from the last week or so and i am very pleased with it. It loads very fast (unlike all other adobe versions), the conversion to PDF from doc or ppt files also is much quicker.

I have not encountered any problems yet, but its only been 7 days since i am using it..

Definitely worth the upgrade. ... Read more

Product Description

Quark Quark xPress 6.5 for MAC (With Free Update to 6.5 at Quark.com).QuarkXPress 6 software brought projects and layers, synchronized text, multiple undo, tables, and more. QuarkXPress 6.5 augments some of these features and provides even more enhancements that help you increase productivity, save time, and take advantage of the newest technologies.Note: The version sent is 6.0, QuarkXPress 6.1 is required to upd to QuarkXPress 6.5. If you are using QuarkXPress 6.0, please upd your copy to QuarkXPress 6.1, then continue with the upd to QuarkXPress 6.5.Download QuarkXPress 6.5 for FREE by clicking here. *Note: Quark requests your previous serial number for activation. Please provide the serial number in the #34Special Instructions#34 when placing the order, or call our Customer Service department at 1.888.322.4250 and a representative will be happy to assist you. There will be no returns or exchanges accepted on this product. ... Read more

Features

• Improvements to output features, including As Is Color Space and DeviceN
• Powerful layout software with an intuitive, versatile interface
• Combine writing, editing, and typography with color and pictures
• Output PDF files directly from QuarkXPress without buying 3rd-party software
• Improved, interactive tools for Web page design; layout spaces with synchronized text

Reviews (9)

Arrogant, unpractical, stiff software
Quark Xpress has always been a so-so software for design in general. If you are into editorial and publishing design, well you have no choice but to buy and get used to the software, because unfortunetly, it is the standard. But if you are into other fields of designs, say packaging, Quark is a mega pain in the a**. Macromedia Freehand is still the best overall design tool for the way it treatsobject manipulation and drawing features. For instance, object allignment, text can be converted to paths, images can be replaced from one image format to another, these features cannot be done in Quark. Adobe Illustrator is still the best for, well, illustation. Photoshop is the king for photoediting.I don't think editing Photoshop files in Quark is a very good idea, in the end, you'll always go back to Photoshop to do it right. But the worst is the ridiculous pricing of Quark products. Say you live in Latin America and you have to buy the passport version, Why pay more than 1000 usd if you only need it in spanish?. Should'nt some international versions be cheaper since they are going to be used in countries that have aweaker economy then the US, This leads directly to one thing, software piracy. So I hope one day Quark reconsiders and makes its products more accesible.

REASONS I HATE QUARK.
Quark USED TO BE the industry standard for layout.They had it cornered.But in the last few years, they've managed to jack it all up.Version 5 barely improved on 4 at all, and then there was a long, long wait for the hallowed version 6, and in the meantime Adobe was sneaking up behind them with InDesign.And a lot of us started using InDesign, and maybe we got a little spoiled.When Quark 6 FINALLY came out, it was already too late for me.I'm a total InDesign convert.We have Quark at work, and I still use it regularly as projects require.But for anything I do on my own, ifhave a choice, it's an incredibly easy one.

I can run through the usual Xmas list of problems associated with Quark 6 - the problems exporting to PDF, the OpenType font issues, the need for additional Xtensions to do things that InDesign does all by its lonesome, the OSX glitches, the problems collecting all your links, the lack of a functional hi-res preview, the inexplicable crashes...and I really have to say something about that idiot who said Mac is obsolete and Quark can't be bothered to cater to Mac users, and that Quark's font issues are actually Mac's fault!What a total crackhead!Mac IS the design industry!Not only that, he criticizes people for criticizing the fact that you can't use transparency, Photoshop layered files, etc in Quark, on the basis that it often doesn't print properly in Indesign and that you can use layered TIFFs instead of Photoshop in Quark.To that I say that if you have a service provider who actually knows what he's doing, InDesign transparency issues can usually be resolved, and why shouldn't you use a program that supports Photoshop AND layered TIFFs?But anybody in the design industrywho refers to "the obsolete Mac system" clearly has his head so far up his own rectal that he's quite beyond hope of redemption.

There's also the fact that Quark's decided to be total Nazis about their licensing - with 6 you originally just got the single licence for one machine.How many people DON'T work on the road on a notebook these days?More evidence that they just aren't keeping up with designers' needs.Eventually they realized they were being stupid and relaxed this a bit - you can now have it on 2 machines - but of course you have to call and wait on hold for 30 minutes before somebody in India reads you a license number longer than the Magna Carta.They just can't afford to be like this anymore!But it's nice for Adobe that they've thought of so many ways to alienate their base.

QUARK is obsolete.If they hadn't waited so long to step up to OSX, people might not have caught on to the fact that InDesign was so much better - but we have now.So Quark and Mr. Brown are going the way of the beta VCR.Don't let the door hit ya!

A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY!! ONLY A FOOL WOULD PREFER THIS!!
This program is a complete joke. Quark has basically re-issued Quark 4 (and 5 for that matter) with almost NOTHING new worth mention.
* The very first thing you'll notice is this ridiculous validation scheme. Think you're going to buy software and install it and go to work? Wrong!! You have to be validated first which, if something goes wrong, can take DAYS!
* The multiple undo's would have been a great feature for 1998, even now not everything is undo-able.
* Quark has this wonderful new system of "Projects" and documents. If you ever pick-up an old document to make some changes and then re-save as a new one, the old file name remains with the file because Quark assumes you're just adding a new document to the project...A MAJOR ANNOYANCE! If you do use the project thing as intended (multiple documents and sizes wrapped up into a single file) you still have to collect each individual document seperately! HELLO?! HOW BOUT "COLLECT ALL"??
* The "Export to PDF" feature so rarely works, I don't even bother with it. I still have to "print" to a PDF.
* The "full resolution preview" isn't and frequently causes crashes when trying to change the preview res on a picture.
* All the old stupid annoying things about Quark are faithfully preserved in version 6...
* Still no "update all" feature in the links menu.
* Still no way to select a graphic and tell Quark to re-link to something different.
* Still no key commands to select tools on the tool palette.
* Still limited to 48x48" layouts.
* Still no support forOpenType. If you use OpenType fonts, expect lots of very strange letter spacings, etc.
* Lots of people still use Quark 4. If you need to save down, you must save from Q6 to Q5, then Q5 to Q4. If you're upgrading from 4 to 6, YOU'RE SCREWED! Quark 6 WILL NOT save down to Quark 4!
* Quark brags about all these new features that NOBODY will have a use for. Web pages?! PLEASE! Not even even a half-a** hack web designer would try to create a website in Quark! I tried just for the experience and believe me, it's a joke! 3 words... NO CODE VIEW!! How bout 4 more? NO MEASUREMENT IN PIXELS. These things alone makes Quark a web program not to be taken seriously.
If you're DYING to waste nearly $900, keep your antique Quark 4 or 5 and take that money to Vegas. Better yet, download a free trial of InDesign and see what a REAL page layout program should look like in the year 2004!

QuarkXPress 6 for Mac
As a reporter for a small town newspaper one summer, I found myself laying out pages of the weekly newspaper in my first week.The software was Quark, on OS 9.I had no training, no introduction, just three pages to layout before deadline.After the production manager opened the software and the page template, and left, I was using Quark, albeit not as efficiently or creatively as I was by the end of the summer, but the powerful software was relatively user friendly.

That little newspaper and other publishing shops I know have stayed with OS 9 long after the writers had switched to OS X.The publishers stayed with OS 9 because of Quark.There was no Quark for OS X.In fact, Adobe's InDesign became attractive to Mac-based designers and publishers because of its availability for OS X.QuarkXPress 6 now must compete with InDesign CS, InDesign alone or bundled in Adobe's Creative Suite with Photoshop and other design software. XPress originally came out in 1987, InDesign in 1999.For the publishers who waited for Quark to catch up to OS X, the wait was worth it, but now there is a worthy competitor too.

QuarkXPress 6 uses the familiar interface of earlier versions.Version 6 requires OS 10.2 or higher.This software provides many layout options for creating style sheets, building master pages, importing images, using layers to develop different versions of a layout, including print and web versions and pages of various sizes.The software enables the user to automatically generate indexes, manage color, export layouts to PDF, and design web pages.Cascading menus is a new web capability introduced with XPress 6.Synchronized text is a nice feature as the same text used in multiple places can be revised in one place and automatically changed in the other places.Undo is a more powerful tool in 6 than in earlier version, and images can be viewed in full resolution in 6.Most of the tasks are easy to perform.

Changing printers and exporting to PDF involve some confusion as the Quark Print Dialog Box and the OS X Print Dialog Box are both necessary to accomplish these tasks. XPress 6 lacks the range of fonts available with InDesign. Improvements in the form of extensions are available for download from the Quark website, like the new image-editing QuarkVista Xtension. Extensions for earlier versions need to be replaced with ones specifically for OS X - QuarkXPress 6.

The XPress 6.1 tested for this review will not open with Dvorak keyboard activated.When I click to open, a message appears on screen: "This version of QuarkXPress cannot be used with this keyboard."Since Dvorak was designed in the 1930s as an efficient alternative the standard QWERTY (designed in the 1870s to slow typists down so they would not jam the keys on manual typewriters), since the American National Standards Institute approved Dvorak as the alternate national standard in 1982, since Macs and Windows come with Dvorak as an optional keyboard layout, and since I have been using Dvorak for more than a decade, I was disappointed.I quickly discovered that I could switch to Dvorak with QuarkXPress open.I could use Dvorak keyboard commands and use Dvorak to type, but I remain in fear that some Dvorak keystrokes might not work and may mess up my product at some point. Why else that message?I tried opening XPress using a foreign-language keyboard, Spanish, and that worked, so the Dvorak-prompted message is not simply a "language" restriction, though Quark does sell XPress Passport to expand capabilities in 11 foreign languages.

I have no immediate interest in website design, so I checked other reviews for as assessment of the software's capabilities.David Weiss on the MacDevCenter.com site reported on taking a Project file (called a Document in earlier versions)and duplicating the file using the Layout menu and Duplicate command, selecting Web as the Layout type.He used the File menu, Export command, and HTML destination.He found exporting a multi-page document to HTML provided a challenge in regards to paginating the web document.Using XPress, he preferred creating the HMTL document from scratch, but that is not a practical approach for newspapers and magazines that go online as well as in print.

Reviewer Gene Gable at CreativePro.com identified a big problem for the single-license user:"No way to run XPress on both your work and home machines, even if you never run them concurrently."The reason was Quark's new product activation system that limited the software to one computer, not one at a time.Quark offered for sale a Mobile License to allow the single user to use more than a single computer.Quark heard complaints, like Gable's, and responded.In July 2004 Quark revised its single-user licenses so that users can install XPress on two computers for non-concurrent use of the software.Previous purchasers of the Quark Mobile License can request a credit toward future purchases of Quark products.

Quark provides support online, including a printable 20-page Keyboard Command Guide that lists menu, dialog box, palette, document, item, text, and picture commands.Ericka Kendra's QuarkXPress: Creating Digital Documents, is the text used by Against the Clock to prepare the test for the QuarkXPress Certified Expert Program, and the text is recommended for XPress users from beginning to experienced users.I have not yet seen it.

Prices vary for QuarkXPress 6.Suggested retail price is $1045.The Apple Store (store.apple.com) lists XPress 6 at $799.95.PriceGrabber.com has vendors selling the software from a low of $789.99 to a high of $1050.00.JourneyEd.com is one of many educational vendors offering lower prices for students and faculty; in JourneyEd.com's case the price is $199.98.

As a writer, I want to know which software the publisher of my next book will be using.As a self-employed user, I have to look at InDesign given its price advantage.But I like Quark.XPress 6 is a good product, and it has good competition.

Cannot support their differential pricing
While quark recommended price is $1045 (and Amazon sells it for $799), Amazon appears to be prohibited from selling it at that price outside America.
In other countries such as Europe and Africa, one has to pay EUR 1770 or $2130!
So while it is definitely an excellent product, I cannot support such differential pricing of a product!
... Read more

Product Description

Adobe InDesign CS2 - Upgrade - Graphics/Designing - 1 User(s) Product Upgrade - Standard - English - PCJoin the growing ranks of creative professionals discovering new levels of creative freedom and productivity using Adobe InDesign CS2 software. Tightly integrated with the Adobe applications you use most, InDesign CS2 delivers faster production workflows and a more fluid creative environment for designing professional layouts with sophisticated graphics and typography. ... Read more

Product Description

INDESIGN CS V4 UPG MAC CD ... Read more

Product Description

WordPerfect Office 12 Upgrade ... Read more

Features

• Powerful word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications
• Compatible with Microsoft Office, PDF, HTML, XML, and more
• Intuitive Publish to PDF feature; no need for additional PDF software
• Maximizes efficiency; versatile and easy to use

Reviews (11)

could not reliably loads jpegs
I upgraded from version 8 to version 12 because I could not reliably load jpeg format pictures in v. 8.All jpegs were created using Photoshop 7 but only some random subset of them will load into Wordperfect.I have the same problem with v 12.(Microsoft Word takes all jpegs with no problems.)The same problem exists whether using Windows 98 or Windows 2000 professional so it is not likely the OS.This product is of no use to me; I have again wasted $150 on Corel Wordperfect.However this was their last chance with me.I guess, long live the Microsoft monopoly.

The better word processing program
I don't have much use for anything in the suite except WordPerfect.I've been using WordPerfect since before Windows, when it had a blue or a green screen, displayed mostly ASCII characters, there were no fonts except courier, and laser printers cost a small fortune.I work for a number of attorneys -- WordPerfect is the software of choice for wordprocessing in most offices I've worked in because, in my opinion, it is the better product for the job.It may also be because WordPerfect has been around for so long that everyone just migrated without changing.If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

When WordPerfect came out, it took over the market.When MicroSoft came out with Word, I had the feeling they did everything they could to make it different from WordPerfect just to use their power in the industry to take over the wordprocessing market, just like MicroSoft did with every other good software idea to come along.(e.g., Mozilla/Netscape, Norton Utilities.)I hate Microsoft's stupid animated paperclip -- it makes me feel like a 7 year old."It looks like your writing a letter ..."Go away!It was amusing to watch it roll itself up and spit itself through some imaginary pinch rollers when you print a document.But only once.I want to tell MicroSoft to wrap that annoying the paperclip around their cable modems!!I'm an adult!

I have two versions of Word and WordPerfect 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12.(I just threw out 5.2 for Windows and 7 when I moved.)I use the MicroSoft product only when absolutely necessary -- usually because someone else needs the document in that format.

In my experience, Word does one thing better than WordPerfect -- and it is a biggie -- it works with HTML documents better than the Corel WordPerfect.With Word, you can copy an entire page from the Web and paste it directly into Word and it will pull most of the pictures from the Web.WordPerfect does not go and get the pictures.HEAR THAT COREL!?!However, I don't often copy entire web pages into my documents.

The reason I like WordPerfect so much is that it types more like a typewriter.You can set up and use styles if you want, but you can also just hit the tab button to indent the first line of a paragraph.If you want to change the margins for the entire document, you simply change the margins.The rest of the document follows the change.You don't have to change each paragraph.

In addition, you can get to the formatting codes.Hit Alt-F3 and the screen splits in half and displays all of the format codes -- bold, underline, tabs, indent codes, line spacing, column on and off, etc.Then you know exactly what you have done and fix and format it easily.This ability has proven useful on several occasions when clients, who insist on using Word for legal documents, cannot cajole Word to put their unruly documents into the format they want.(This is particularly true when using OCR with scanned or faxed documents.)By opening the Word document in WordPerfect, I have been able to use "Alt-F3" to identify the errant codes and quickly repair them.WordPerfect can then save the document in Word/RTF format with the problems fixed.

Working with columns is also easier.You turn on columns and tell it how many colums you want, set the width of each, and the space between them, and away you go.You have four types of columns to work with -- newspaper, balanced newspaper, parallel and parallel with block protect.It handles columns much better.I've tried the other software, and if you change text or printers, you can never get the columns to line up the way you want it.With Word, each colum change or page change seems to introduce new control codes, and a complete set of formatting, and you can never get it back the way you want it.I once tried to scan in a list of names and addresses which were in two or three columns into Word.Each name and address was placed in its own text box.I could never work with it.

The most prominent change between WP 10 and 12 is the workspace manager which allows you to switch between legal mode, original (classic) WordPerfect 5.1 mode (with the blue screen), legal mode, standard WordPerfect for Windows mode and Word mode.They have also included the ability to publish to Adobe PDF, HTML, and RTF/Word formats.

This is full featured software, and does everything I need.It handles tables, tables of content, tables of authorities, column sorts -- everything I need in a law office.Graphics can be dropped in with a click of the mouse.I'm considered to be almost an expert, and there is a lot I don't know!

Take time to get to know the software and you'll be glad you purchased it.

I recommend purchasing the stand alone student and teachers version as it contains all of the same programs at a lower cost.

Great Product
As a journal editor I use both Microsoft Word 2000 and WordPerfect 12. WordPerfect stands heads and shoulder above Word. Easier to use, more stable, more flexible, and more features. I found WordPerfect 12 to be a worthwhile improvement over version 11. Graphics are better and easier to use, in particular. It is a cinch to install and use.

Better than anything Microsoft puts out
I've been using Wordperfect since version 4.2 and this version doesn't disappoint.I use this program all of the time to fix the problems I find in Microsoft Word.I use Quatro Pro instead of Excel and all of the other programs.I would recommend this program without hesitation.

Complaints?
to those of you with complaints about WP's functioning with Windows XP: haven't you realized by now that NOTHING works well with XP? before upgrading to XP (which every new computer is being sold with now) i refused to buy it. i looked at all computers (esp. the fastest ones) and discovered that EVERYTHING takes forever to load and there were far too many glitches on all the programs. having worked at microsoft in WA state at one time, i found out there that 1st releases ALWAYS have numerous glitches and incompatibility problems. My suggestion: find a way to DUMP WINDOWS XP! ... Read more

Product Description

Make Everyday Tasks Easier with These Six Popular Solutions Works Suite 2005 offers everything you need to help your family be productive while having a great time—six complete Microsoft programs integrated into one affordable package. Everything from school projects to personal finances and vacation planning are at your fingertips with Works Suite. Get more out of every day. ... Read more

Features

• Get those finances in order with Money Standard 2005
• Write like a professional with Word 2002
• Get up and go with Streets & Trips 2005
• Edit and organize your photos with Picture It! Premium 10
• Explore the world with Encarta Encyclopedia Standard 2005

Reviews (4)

Dont think I'll like it as much..........
as my old Works Suite 2002.I tried installing the 2002 suite on my new computer. Kept getting an error message about not being able to display the EULA agreement for me to accept, and thus wont install the Works Task launcher. I tried all the "fixes" but it just wouldnt install, so, I bought the Works Suite 2005 from Amazon.Well, I got an error message after I installed it. This time about not being able to run it on Windows 95, 98 and 2000.Well, I'm using XP Pro.Long story short, I just right clicked on TASK LAUNCHER, THEN COMPATIBILITY, THEN UNCHECKED THE COMPATIBILITY MODE BOX, and the program started up.I also had to uninstall Office 2003, which uses Word 2003 because Works Suite 2005uses Word 2002. This was on the advice of Microsoft Tech support.
I was shocked to find vast changes.They just dont give you as many templates or programs like they did in WS 2002 in my opinion.I was very, very disappointed. Picture It is TOTALLY revamped and looks so much more complicated. Money stayed about the same. Gone from Word ( via task launcher) is the Wizard that would you pre-select styles, fonts, colors, letterheads etc.Calendar is the same....just a different color depending on what desktop motif you use.Anyway, what I did, wastransfer to floppy, my favorite WORKS 2002 templates/programs that worked in Word 2002, from my old computer to the new one, and so far it's worked just fine.
I still like the old version of Works Suite...I think it's more user friendly, and I know it gave you more templates and programs to choose from. Lots of Glitz, Picture It is REALLY different, but I think I've lost more than I gained.

Can't email from MS Word 2002 document
I recently upgraded by computer from Windows 98 to Windows XP. When the computer came from Gateway I assumed it would include MS Word 2000. It included Microsoft Works Suite 2005 that included MS Word 2002, which I assumed would be an enhancement of MS Word 2000.

On my Windows 98 computer with MS Word 2000, on the toolbar there was an icon that permitted me to email a document (and add one or two attachments). I expected that the updated version of MS Word 2002 would include that feature as well. To my amazement, it did not.

Secondly, in MS Word 2000 when I click on "Open" it permits me to view files alphabetically, or in the order of when last modified or created. The MS Word 2002 doesn't permit me to do that.

I write letters and reports and send them through email. Without those features, the entire Windows XP computer with Microsoft Works Suite 2005 that I bought is useless. I don't know what to do to salvage this. Now, my Windows XP computer is sitting on the floor, and I don't know what to do with it.

Why aren't those features included in MS Word 2002 as they were with MS Word 2000 with the ability to email documents from within MS Word, and add one or two attachments?

What Microsoft product must I purchase that includes those features within MS Word?

What is so frustrating about this is that as a customer I have no way of knowing what I am getting when I buy Microsoft products. I couldn't have anticipated that MS Word 2000 was more useful for my purposes than MS Word 2002. This is so unfair on the part of Microsoft and I think is strong evidence of the disadvantages of monopoly control for consumers.

Word 2002 Vastly Improved Compared with Word 97
I purchased Works Suite 2005 because I could no longer receive paid support from Microsoft with a problem I had with Word 97 (it would no longer open or function).I uninstalled the old program and installed Works Suite 2005 and the word processing program is excellent -- it even incorporates the "view codes" feature of WordPerfect!All of my documents were converted to the new verson of Word flawlessly. I haven't installed all of the other components of the suite because I really don't need most of them at this time.(...)

It Really Depends.
This version of Works Suite offers almost the same exact features of version 2004. The only difference is Money, Streets and Trips, Picture It! 10.0, Encarta, they included version 2005 instead. For users who might have stuck with version 2000, 2001 or 2002 of Works Suite, this will suit you more. The collection of software included is amazing for the value at which it is being offered. From powerful and easy to use Word Processing solutions such as Microsoft Word and quality photo-editing with Picture It! My only problem with Word is that they did not include version 2003 instead. Word 2002 is included instead and has been out since May 2001, kind of lame by Microsoft's standards. This is a recommend set of programs for the home user and some businesses who need only the essentials. The package includes Works 8.0, with basic spreadsheet and database applications. You also get great money management solution; Money 2005 makes it a synch to keep your budget on track and in tact. With its online integration you can pay bills online or get further information to better manage your financial data. These applications I still consider not to be as strong enough as Microsoft Excel and Access. The database in Works approach to creating queries is limited and unreliable. The Spreadsheet does not offer the powerful calculation tools found in Excel and integration between both applications is very limited. But if you need only the essential tools for managing the essential aspects of your life whether at home or school Works Suite 2005 is truly a bargain. Getting the latest versions of Encarta is always great and it includes version 2005, so information is once again updated and accurate and you get the benefits of updating it weekly, so your information is never outdated.

Remember if you are a user of Works Suite 2003 or 2004, this update might be unnecessary to you because the majority of the products in version 2003 have not had a drastic overhaul in version 2005. I would probably recommend this to existing users running 2000, 2001, 2002 and persons running versions 99 and really older, I think its time you upgrade!

... Read more

Product Description

Word 2003 ... Read more

Features

• Read documents more easily online with the new Reading Layout view
• Communicate quickly and effectively with others--internally and across organizations
• Bring information into your documents for more timely access to the information you need
• Quickly find the information you need to complete your work
• Create impressive-looking documents that help you work better together

Reviews (5)

Still the best word processor for Windows.
Word is one of those products which has become a victim of its own success, and automatic features that are more annoying than the conveniences they were intended to be. Another issue is the almost non-existent backwards compatibility with previous versions, meaning that only the simplest layouts are likely to successfully transfer across versions. And it doesn't seem to matter whether you save as a rich text file (.rtf) or a previous version of Word.

To get around these problems, I switch all the auto-format features off, and ship anything that needs to be accurately conveyed as a .PDF (Adobe Acrobat), which Word is highly integrated with. Macros work okay, but are best written up in the macro editor. Text for use outside of Word is best saved as a plain Text file, and any formatting done within the destination application. Framemaker, for example.

Word is a good word processor and is not a DTP application to any useful extent. And used in its word processor mode, it does compare more than favourably with any alternative that I have tried. And that's quite a few. The font options and quality of rendition is particularly good. It's also a good idea to visit and subscribe to word tips, who have a huge amount of advice about Word in general and macros in particular.

All in all, there's not too much to complain about if the aforementioned is observed. Users requiring a more sophisticated product should consider Adobe's Framemaker.

The famously broken bits are still broken.
Pointing out Word's faults is like pointing out the pyramids are crumbling--it may be true, but they're still going to be there. Still, Word's Master Document "feature" is still the surest way to document corruption. And you'd better track down the internet page that gives detailed instructions on the convoluted way you need to set up heading numbering if you want to keep your Word documents from corrupting.

And so on. I doubt anyone cares. Word is a fact of life, no matter if it's constantly falling to bits. The new version's XML support does give you a new path to recovering a corrupted document: saving to XML and then converting that file back to Word format has saved me some time on a couple of occasions.

We use Word because we have to. On those occasions when I don't have to, I use WordPerfect, because I like to actually produce things, not spend my time dealing with software problems.

Justified Upgrade for some, but not all
Word 2003 is more powerful than ever.Unfortunately, most of the new features are aimed primarily towards large business.As a result, many end-users simply won't need them (or be able to use them).The users who will benefit most from upgrading are corporate users or users purchasing bundles with new PCs.

Pros:

Instant Messaging support is now integrated with Office applications.However, only MSN messenger is used.Users who predominantly use Yahoo, trillian, jabber, or ICQ will not find any utility in this feature, without signing up for a messenger account.

The user interface has changed for the better, and matches the Windows XP interface better.Personally, I like it.Also, fonts are rendered better, and consequently documents will look better on laptops (no more jagged edges).

The Reading Layout feature splits the text into a two column format for easier reading (think newspaper).

If you have Microsoft Server and SharePoint services installed on your network, you can share and track changes to word documents.Nice feature, but requires a significant investment on server software.

When typing an hypertext link, word no longer reformats the font of the URL.

Cons:

Product activation, which requires network access.

All of the Office applications now have a blended help system that first checks help files online first, before getting local help files.

XML is useless for end users.Programmers who use Word to write XML will find that Word no longer tries to autocorrect much of the XML, but you will still have the annoying red underline on many of your XML tags because the spellchecker flags them as misspelled.

Still, I think it makes a worthy upgrade for 97/2000 users, but XP users will find the expense difficult to justify.More specifically, if you are an end user without a lot of Microsoft back end software installed on your network (Windows 2000/2003 Server, SharePoint services, etc.) I would think very carefully before upgrading.

Keeps On Getting better
Word 2003 includes development tools that add dynamic features to documents making them powerful than ever. The power beneath all this is XML, allowing the user to embed components for updating data in documents such as stock quotes. Word 2003 offers simple, familiar yet improved features regular users are accustomed to. Majority of the features in Word 2003 are aimed primarily toward businesses and the Enterprise. But are still necessary for the average user because of the control over information across all the Office applications. Tools such as Information Rights Management (IRM), (this controls the flow of information to specific users), persons can be restricted on how they use your Office files; whether it's printing or sharing, very powerful! Reading view is an enhanced mode of print preview; documents are laid out in virtual pages reducing the need to print. The Task Pane is also improved by offering resources to look up information on a particular topic being typed; this is a feature across the core Office applications. Lots of other great features make Word 2003 a worthy upgrade.

Just keeps getting better!
I was lucky enough to get Office 2003 before the official release date.Microsoft has done a nice job on the interface.Everything looks cleaner, and it will pop up useful sidebars on the righthand side (such as the clipbook for pasting items you have copied, help items, etc).

Another thing about the interface is that it meshes nicely with Windows XP themes.It will take a soft blue color when paired with Windows XP's default theme.All of the bars will be blue.This is nice on the eyes.The same goes with silver - everthing will match.

As for upgrading to 2003 from older versions... this is a tough call.If you have Word XP, I would be hard pressed to tell you to upgrade.Even Word 2000 does a fine job.I don't know if there are enough new bells and whistles in this to warrant upgrading.If you like to have the newest of everything however, this is the best word processor out there for PCs.

For those of you on a tight budget, thers is hope.As good as Microsoft Office products are, there is a FREE alternative.You may want to give OpenOffice 1.1 a download.It is completely free and open source, and most importantly, compatible with Microsoft documents (word, excel, etc). ... Read more