*This is part of a series about iWork, click the following links to read about Numbers and Keynote!
One of the most popular questions I get on my tech-based YouTube channel regarding Macs goes something like this: ”What software can I use for Office Productivity?” The answer is pretty simple, and cheap, compared to similar software on Microsoft Windows.
To me, the clearcut answer is iWork: Apple’s answer to the Microsoft Office suite. Of course, there are other options, including Open Office and Microsoft Office for Mac. This article will go over the basics and functions of Pages, if you’re considering kicking Microsoft Office for it.
I switched to a Mac in January of 2010, and for the first few months, attempted to use Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. I soon realized there had to be something better, easier, and easier on the eyes. I then learned that Apple had some software of their own: iWork. For only $80 dollars, you get the Mac equivalent of Microsoft Work, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Pages is, honestly, a simple advanced program. This means that it’s super easy to do what you need to do, and also super easy to do what you normally don’t need to do. When launching the application, you get this image below, that lets you choose between 180 different templates. Don’t worry though, you can organize by what you want to do (grocery list, MLA School paper, certificate, etc.) Even with this many options, I’ve used the “Blank” portrait template for 99% of my work.
Once you’re in the application (about a 3-5 second cold launch on my top spec 13 inch MacBook Pro) everything is neatly organized, and good looking. (See photo below) All of your tools for formatting documents are located at the top, as well as a ruler for margins. Default settings are standard, like Microsoft Office. Changing font faces, font types and styles, sizes, colors and adding extras like media, and charts/graphics is all done by using the well labeled settings above. From here it’s pretty straight forward. Get your document set up right, and enjoy the effects that iWork can do with graphics and text.
Another common topic about the iWork suite that I get asked a lot regards saving your work. Pages saves documents as .pages as default. Of course, you can check the box and tell it to save a .doc so any Microsoft Office, or, iWork suite can read and edit it. I have had trouble with certain effects making the suite change, but all the content is displayed correctly.
Pages is very capable with charts, tables, foot notes, media and of course text. You have word count, and of course a spell checker. You can even click the full screen button to get a beautiful full-screen view of your document you can work with. The only thing I regret to say about Pages is it’s lack of auto-save. So, make sure you don’t run out of battery in the middle of an un-saved document.
Having said all of this, I strongly feel that Pages can replace Microsoft Word. It may lack some of the more advanced features, but for what 99% of users need, Pages is a more attractive, organized and cost-effective way to create and edit spreadsheets.
