With all the buzz Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) 
creates with its consumer electronics products like the iPod and iPhone, it's easy to forget that although the company has dropped the word "computer" from its name, it still makes computers.
Not only does it make computers, it makes some pretty nice software to run on those computers, too.
While many of the applications 
Apple packages with its computers won't overwhelm professionals with power, they will get the job done for most of us.
Utility and Fun
"Getting the job done," however, is just the start for an Apple software package. It has to do it with style.
What's more, it has to do it in a way that makes whoever is using the application feel like they've exceeded what they thought they could do; that they've discovered potential they never knew they had.
Also, of course, the software has to be fun to use.
That leitmotif is continued in Apple's latest edition of its productivity suite, iWork '08 (US$79).
New Spreadsheet
The big news about this version of the suite is the addition of a spreadsheet program, Numbers.
When many of us think of spreadsheets, we think of dull rows of letters and figures. Not Apple. It sees lots of color, page-popping charts and maybe an image or two, as well.
That's not to say the program shirks it primary responsibilities of crunching numbers. Its repertoire includes 150 numeric, date, logical and statistical functions.
Using basic formulas is more transparent than in other spreadsheet applications, too.
For example, you can highlight a column of numbers and several options will appear in a sidebar, options like sum, avg, min, max and count. You can drag an option to the appropriate cell and the formula will be inserted there. You don't have to worry about fiddling with cell ranges and formula syntax.
Printing spreadsheets can be a hassle, but not with Numbers. It has an interactive print view that lets you size and move tables, charts and other elements around the pages of a project.
The program will also import and export a number of popular file types like Excel, PDF, CSV and Quicken.
Word Crunching
Word crunching in iWork is done with Pages. Although most word processors these days have substantial document formatting features, Pages bonds the functions in a seamless and visually appealing way.
New to this version of Pages is a "track changes" feature.
I suppose a feature like that in a word processor can be handy when a document is reviewed by a number of eyes. However, most editors I've written for never use it. Why? It confuses more than clarifies.
That's not true with Pages. Its tracking view is organized in a way that makes it very accessible to the eye.
There are three columns.
One represents each page in the document graphically.
Another lists the changes in the document and who made them. Each editor is identified by a unique color.
The third displays a marked up version of the document.
Each document alteration listed in the change column is neatly connected by a line to the marked up text.
The result is something useful, not the hash that results from tracking changes in some other word processors.
Presentations With Pizazz
The third program in the suite is Keynote, a presentation application.
If, like me, the thought of business presentation software makes you yawn, Keynote will change your mind forever.
Not only is it a pleasure to use, but it has an array of features bound to perk up even the dullest material.
Even if presentations aren't your thing, the addition of voice recording to Keynote means you can use the program to create some interesting podcasts.
With the addition of Numbers, iWork has taken a giant step toward becoming a true productivity alternative for folks who don't need the feature bloat found in a typical office suite.
John Mello is a freelance business and technology writer who can be reached at reviews@jpmello.com.
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