Microsoft Office is an incredibly popular productivity suite, but many home users have a far greater need for a word processor than they do for a spreadsheet program or presentation software. It's for that reason that Microsoft has released this version of Word 98, a special edition for iMac and iBook owners. After the simplest installation procedure imaginable--just drag the folder from the CD-ROM--all of Word 98's convenience is at your fingertips. Layout tools (page borders, font effects, and automatic formatting) and proofing tools (automatic correction of typos, spell and grammar check, and a contextual thesaurus) are matched with wizards that guide you through typical document creation as well as a helpful Office Assistant that you can query in plain English. Far from overwhelming, the result is an extremely flexible word processor that strives to make it as easy as possible for you to make your work look good.
Features available only in this edition are the greeting card templates designed by PaperStudio.com and the extended clip art library of 5,000 images that range from highly iconographic black-and-white pieces to dynamic colored art. The clip art library is nicely consistent in quality and styles, making it easy to mix and match items.
By culling Word from Office 98, repackaging it with some goodies, and offering it at a reasonable price, Microsoft has made a professional tool that's home user friendly. --Jack Gardiner
