Review by Snap, Crackle and Pop

The main reason to use Microsoft Office is to take advantage of its ubiquity, and the huge investment - for better or worse - that people have made in learning how to use it.

So the two great advantages Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac offers are compatibility and productivity:nnCOMPATIBILITY: Using the defacto standard means that you can usually readily open the files you receive, and that others can usually open the files you send. (And if they can’t, they will ironically consider that to be their fault, not yours, and make the effort to open the file. Unless they are paying you!)nnPRODUCTIVITY: Tens of millions of people have invested a lot of hours into learning how to use Microsoft Office - understanding the features, concepts, and quirks. Choosing Office for Mac takes advantage of that investment. Of course, if it worked identically to the PC version, that might be the ideal way to take advantage of the experience and training people have.

If those are your goals, you’ll be very happy. If specific features interest you, be sure to check the details before buying.