Manage updates with the Download AppMicrosoft Office for Mac 2008 (Home and Student Edition)
Manufacturer: Microsoft Part number: GZA-00006
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Office for Mac 2008 may be the best pick for business users, but most people can get by with less costly alternatives.
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CNET editors' review
Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 (Home and Student Edition) price range: $89.99 - $103.02
- Reviewed by: Elsa Wenzel
- Reviewed on: 01/07/2008
- Released on: 01/15/2008
The good: Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 offers good looks that encompass deeper features than other Mac productivity software; business users get full Word mail merge, robust Excel spreadsheets, and better tools in Entourage; amateur desktop publishing features more polished documents; runs on Intel-based Macs.
The bad: Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 is pricey; saves work in new file formats by default; Excel drops Visual Basic support; features don't match the depth of those in Office 2007 for Windows.
The bottom line: Office for Mac 2008 may be the best pick for business users, but most people can get by with less costly alternatives.
User reviews
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Improved usability but serious, painful bugs found out of the box
by vivideaux on February 5, 2008
Pros: Better tool palette organization for improved productivity; 3-user license; cleaner install process; a few more capabilites than Office 04
Cons: Serious Mac Keychain bug (masquerading as Safari bug) created when simply trying to register product online; bug in MS website won't LET you complete registration; price for marginal amount of benefit
Summary: I bought this upgrade in the hope that I could do three things I couldn't do with Office 2004: 1) Create keyboard shortcuts in Powerpoint (to improve my speed ...
Summary: I bought this upgrade in the hope that I could do three things I couldn't do with Office 2004: 1) Create keyboard shortcuts in Powerpoint (to improve my speed of use); More easily edit and manage animations on a slide (Office 2004's interface for this was primitive, clunky and laborious for even the smallest changes) and create animations with elements on a slide such that I could move one or more elements from one area of the slide to the other.
The first feature I expected, given that this is the first upgrade in 4 years, and Word 2004 and Excel 2004 both had this capability. Microsoft has graciously provided this feature.
Feature #2 I noted from a friend's Office 2007 for Windows; I simply assumed that Microsoft would give this upgrade features similar to those in Office 2007. I was wrong.
Ditto with Feature #3. While MS has revamped *where* this information is displayed (now in the tool palette instead of a dialog box that goes away once you're done), the user is still, frustratingly, required to move elements in the order of animation window up and down via two up and down arrow buttons -- not by dragging and dropping the elements in the list themselves. This interface *has* been marginally improved by the ability to reorder multiple selected elements in the list at the same time -- but that seems to be it. No Feature #2 at all -- i.e., no ability to specify so-called "sprite" movement (elements on a slide that can move around the screen a user-specified amount.
Very little progress in 2 years -- despite the appearance of all these features in Office 2007 for Windows. Keeping such features out of their software on purpose, for use later in subsequent versions of the product -- so-called "dry powder" -- is inexcusable in today's climate of innovation.
But what I didn't expect was to find that my attempt to register the product -- be a good doobie and check in with Microsoft about my purchase -- not only resulted in an inability to register after going through a multi-step process (MS "failed to recognize" the product ID its own install disk gave me once I put in my license key), but it created a bug in my Keychain. The only fix that worked, after combing discussion lists for several hours, mind you -- was to delete my keychain. This confusing process wound up erasing all my keychain data.
In sum, beware registering this product, until Microsoft publishes a fix for it, and publicizes it. And, as a new user to this version, I can only imagine what other ugliness lies in store.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Unimpressive
by Joe M on November 15, 2008
Pros: Long list of features.
Cons: Sluggish, poor OS integration, compatibility problems with other Office versions.
Summary: I bought Office:mac 2008 Home and Student Edition because I use Office on a PC at work, and I figured it was the best way to assure compatibility between ...
Summary: I bought Office:mac 2008 Home and Student Edition because I use Office on a PC at work, and I figured it was the best way to assure compatibility between home and job. If I had it to do over again though, I would not.
12.1.7 update won't install. Says product to which it applies is not found. That's it. I'm done. Bye bye Office...
The applications are sluggish and clunky. Integration with the operating system is inconsistent, and not all the menus and dialogs are very ?Mac-like.? Even after installation of the Service Pack and numerous (large) updates and patches, Office:mac 2008 seems like a beta release.
Aside from the much-complained-about omission of VBA, there are numerous other incompatibilities with Windows versions of Office, and older Mac versions, that are not as well-known, but possibly even more problematic. Look at some of them here: http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.mspx?MODE=pv&CTT=PageView&clr=99-0-0&target=a6423962-3417-4974-b489-479794e52dcd1033
In short, even though I use Office at my job, even though I?ve used Office for years, and even though I?ve already spent money on Office:mac 2008, I now use Apple?s own iWork 2008 on my Mac and am much happier with it. I manage to share files and data with everyone I need to, and no one knows (or cares) what software I?m using to do it.
Updated on Apr 26, 20093 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best product for long-time MS users
by Florida Panther on January 25, 2008
Pros: Very polished, easy to get used to
Cons: Inscrutable documentation
Summary: I had used MS Office since the days of Win 3.1. When I switched to MAC a year ago, tried several products. OpenOffice (and NeoOffice) both work, but I ...
Summary: I had used MS Office since the days of Win 3.1. When I switched to MAC a year ago, tried several products. OpenOffice (and NeoOffice) both work, but I thought both a bit clunky; I experienced maddening printer problems frequently.
iWork looked very nice, but I didn't really want to learn another new application.
Since I own 3 Macs, I liked the 3-user license for $139.95 (at BB) and I bought it (after persuading the BB-brain that there was such a thing). I am generally very happy. I can do everything I want to - pretty easy to learn. I don't miss the VBA macros - those days are past me (I am retired). If I need one, I'll take e crack at AppleScript.
My problem is the truly awful manual - it might as well be in Sanskrit.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Reminds me why I support Apple
by shoutj74 on February 16, 2008
Pros: ...umm...looks a bit better
Cons: ....crashes like it's on a Windows OS
Summary: I purchased Office 2008 as I consider myself an advanced user of productivity software and wanted to have access to the latest suite.
In support of Office 2008, it looks ...Summary: I purchased Office 2008 as I consider myself an advanced user of productivity software and wanted to have access to the latest suite.
In support of Office 2008, it looks like Mac software and is not so different to office 2004 that it leaves you intimidated and confused as to what happened. I like the 3 user license available as well, which means if I go to a Intel Mac I don't need to buy Office 2008 all over again.
The negatives are numerous though. Whilst I appreciate that on a G5 iMac I might not own the best platform to run 2008, it is markedly slower to Office 2004 in everything it does; from starting up, to simply moving between sheets in Excel or e-mail messages in Entourage. Like others I cannot register the product, there a bugs all over the place and best of all, unlike any other Apple software on my iMac, it crashes all over the place. Ask it to do anything even vaguely taxing, such as deleting multiple files and down it goes, just like the bad old days when I used to be a PC user. My biggest concern is that it is so bad, that sales should be so low, that they wont do much to fix it for months. Like XP Service Pack 2, I expect the fixes will warrant a 200MB+ download.
They should also make it clearer that all default save formats are incompatible with any other software. I note on Mactopia they have at least started to list the known errors. At AU$229 the problems are bearable, just, but if you brought the full product at AU$600+ I would be absolutely disgusted at the issues. If you can wait - do. There has to be an Office 2008.1 coming along soon....please!2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excel is a serious problem
by beng on June 5, 2008
Pros: The box is pretty
Cons: garbage compared to NeoOffice
Summary: Excel is unusable; extremely slow, I'm using NeoOffice until it's fixed. Word is just OK.
Summary: Excel is unusable; extremely slow, I'm using NeoOffice until it's fixed. Word is just OK.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Product.
by malbase on March 16, 2010
Pros: There are many features. Table making included. Templates available from Mactopia.
I use the 2004 templates as well.Cons: Not very easy to place art work where you want it.
Single line spacing - Does not default. There is a way you have to locate it.Summary: Much better than pages. Entourage easy to set up. Power Point, Excel are great.
Templates are easy to work with. Entourage has many features. Email, Group set up,
Import from ...Summary: Much better than pages. Entourage easy to set up. Power Point, Excel are great.
Templates are easy to work with. Entourage has many features. Email, Group set up,
Import from Apple address book, Calendar features, with add ons. Excel and Microsoft can be sent to Window users by email. Import Window versions of products.
Will not do Hebrew. You need a Hebrew Writing program for that,.
A good feature: Window Calendars can be downloaded and utilized.
Microsoft Office a spell checker. One warning: Do not move the Office File, else you may not be able to update product. Book Mark Mactopia as it contains the updates, templates and other goodies. Templates are available from Mactopia. Artwork can be imported from Mixrosoft. You can import Word table documents to Pages.
And that includes Tables. There are help features with Microsoft Office. Also search online what you do not understand or know how to use. Always remember to save your work constantly. Home and Student version can not be upgraded. May be worthwhile to get the full product as it upgrades. Try ebay, Amazon.com, or ecrater.com. -
Terrible. Not nearly as good as Office 2007 for Windows
by mjmayank on February 11, 2010
Pros: Good for basics such as changing fonts and such.
Cons: Instead of having buttons on the toolbar at the top, there is a floating one. The floating one is hard to use. Would work better if they were in the toolbar. Many of the functions from the Windows version aren't in this.
Summary: Since Word 2011 for mac is coming out soon I assume it will be better but don't buy this because I'm sure iLife 09 for mac is much ...
Summary: Since Word 2011 for mac is coming out soon I assume it will be better but don't buy this because I'm sure iLife 09 for mac is much better. The only thing I'm unsure about is if it has the compatibility with Windows but I assume Apple took care of that when they made it. I guess its not that bad, but i expected much more from Microsoft and the Office brand.
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Save yourself the headache and buy iworks!
by racheles109 on November 14, 2009
Pros: Not much but then again I did not really get to use it.
Cons: Does not work on MacBook Pro Leopard!
Summary: As a student I have been using Office for years. I recently bought the Office for Mac 2008 student edition (I was using 2004) online as I wanted to stay ...
Summary: As a student I have been using Office for years. I recently bought the Office for Mac 2008 student edition (I was using 2004) online as I wanted to stay with the same program that my school and professors are using. I downloaded the suite just fine and it worked for about a day. Then it decided that it did not like being on a mac even though it was Office FOR Mac. I call Microsoft and talked with the techs. Went through a bunch of steps including starting it in safe mode and deleting files. They finally told me that they did not know what was wrong and that it must be an Apple font issue and to call Apple. I call the tech at Apple and he was really nice doing what he could without making me pay $50 more to be told that I would have to reinstall my operating system. Seriously!! Reinstall my system without a guarantee that Office would work!!!! No product is worth that headache!!!!! I asked for a refund so now I have no choice but to switch to iworks which yes does save as word fine but does not hold the setting and formatting of a document. So now I have to go to a PC fix the document before giving it to my professors. I don't know who to be more frustrated with Microsoft for saying it's for Mac or Apple for wanting me to reinstall my system. Please one of you fix this!!!!
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compatibility issues with older docs, program freezes
by twooceans on November 10, 2009
Pros: contains powerpoint, excel and word which I use a great dea.
Cons: The word program has serious compatibility issues with documents created in office 2004 version of Microsoft Word. Causes program to freeze. Requires force quit, reopen saving document in new format if possible before it freezes.
Summary: Sorry I upgraded. Wish I had waited until the bugs were out, hoping they will be out soon,
Summary: Sorry I upgraded. Wish I had waited until the bugs were out, hoping they will be out soon,
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Crashes Constantly!
by iabreu on August 30, 2009
Pros: If you are used to using PC and just converted to Mac- it is nice to have it's familiarity.
Cons: I downloaded the free trial and it has been crashing constantly! I thought it may have to do with the free trial but looked up reviews and it seems that it is a chronic and pervasive problem.
Summary: Be aware that you may experience constant crashes with Office for Macs
Summary: Be aware that you may experience constant crashes with Office for Macs
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Microsoft
- Part number: GZA-00006
- Description: Office 2008 for Mac features a leading suite of applications that Mac customers rely on to get their work completed with Word 2008, Excel 2008, PowerPoint 2008, Entourage 2008 and Microsoft Messenger for Mac. Mac users can simplify their day by using powerful new tools and easily located classic Office for Mac features. Office 2008 for Mac is designed to help users get more from their Macs by making key functions accessible through a more intuitive design and by introducing smart features such as Ledger Sheets in Excel 2008, My Day with Entourage 2008, Publishing Layout View in Word 2008 and SmartArt graphics in PowerPoint 2008 that are simple to use and yield powerful results. Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition provides the basics of Office 2008 for Mac for home and school users. This version includes three user licenses for use by consumers and students but does not include connectivity to Microsoft Exchange Server or support for automated workflows.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Category Office applications
- Subcategory Office applications - office suite
- Language(s) English
- License pricing Non-commercial
- Localization English
Software
- License Type Complete package
- Software Suite Components Microsoft Entourage,
Microsoft Excel,
Microsoft Powerpoint,
Microsoft Word - License Qty 3 PC in one household
- License Pricing Non-commercial
- Platform MacOS
- Distribution Media DVD-ROM
- Package Type Retail
System Requirements
- OS Required Apple MacOS X 10.4.9 or later
- Min Processor Type 500 MHz
- Peripheral / Interface Devices DVD-ROM,
XGA monitor - System Requirements Details Apple MacOS X 10.4.9 - RAM 512 MB - HD 1.5 GB
Product series
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Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 (Home and Student Edition)
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Specs: Office applications,
Mac -
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Specs: Office applications,
Mac -
Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 (Special Media Edition)
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Specs: Office applications,
Mac
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Microsoft products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Microsoft
- Address:
One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052 - Phone: 1-425-882-8080
- Fax: 1-425-706-7329
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