MICROSOFT has launched a new version of Office for the Mac that boasts scores of updates and newbies. Office 2008 for Mac is universal and runs natively on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs.

MICROSOFT has launched a new version of Office for the Mac that boasts scores of updates and newbies.

Office 2008 for Mac is universal and runs natively on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs. It shares core technologies with the 2007 Office system such as Open XML file formats and OfficeArt graphics engine.

Besides that, Office 2008 for Mac comes with a streamlined and new user interface. There is still the traditional dropdown menus, but it now adds an Elements Gallery row of tools in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Elements Gallery gives users a quick access to tools and Mac-specific features within the applications.

There is also a revamped Toolbox, which offers a one-stop destination to tools such as Object Palette, animation settings and citation functions.

Just like the Windows-based Office 2007 products, OfficeArt is available

in Office 2008 for Mac, providing a similar ribbon experience and contextual menus.

Additionally, SmartArt Graphics provides professionally designed graphics that can be added to any document, spreadsheet or slide show in one click.

Each Office application also has new features included. For example, Word 2008 offers Publishing Layout View, a specialised workspace where users can create and edit layout-rich documents. It comes with layout tools such as Zoom Loupe and colour-coded, linked text boxes to flow columns of copy between pages.

There is also a Documents Elements feature in Word 2008 that simplifies and automates common tasks such as cover pages, tables of content, headers and footers.

In Excel 2008, Ledger Sheets now comes with pre-built worksheets for common money management tasks such as budgets, invoices and inventory management while Formula Builder walks users through the steps needed to create any formula.

Excel 2008 also has increased the number of columns and rows to up to 16,000 columns and over one million rows.

Meanwhile, PowerPoint 2008 has a new Thumbnail View that provides a side navigation pane. Object Palette offers quick access to visual assets,

including iPhoto images, while Dynamic Guides helps users to quickly align text and graphics.

Besides that, there are improved Presenter tools that feature both elapsed and actual time indicators.

Then there is Entourage 2008, which comes with an improved entourage calendar user interface, with colour-coded categories, status indicators and flexible to-do list management.

And the standalone My Day application allows users to track professional and personal priorities.

Office 2008 for Mac is available in three versions. Office 2008 for Mac is the core suite, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage

along with Microsoft Exchange Server support and Automator tools. It is priced at RM1,660 for the full retail version and RM996 for the upgrade version.

Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition offers three licences for home users and students. It comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and a non-Exchange Server-enabled version of Entourage. This version goes for RM619 for the full retail version and is not available as an upgrade.

Finally, Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Edition combines Office 2008 applications with the Microsoft Expression Media digital asset

management system. This edition is targeted at professional users who need Exchange Server support and Automator tools. It is available at RM2,074 for the full retail version and RM1,244 for the upgrade version.