Use Mac office software and focus on what needs to be done

The built in Textedit in Mac OS X isn't enough? You can get many powerful office software packages for Mac OS X and this page will show you some of them I recommend. Some are free, and others you have to pay for.

Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Student 2011 - Single License

Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac is one of the best ones yet. It really feels like a solid Mac application suite. I especially like Outlook. I used it for a while at work (we have a Windows environment, Exchange), but it works just fine I have had no issues with it.

Apple iWork '09

iWork is the office suite I personally use. I never knew that spreadsheets could look so stylish. When I am creating this website I am using Pages to write the pages and check for spelling errors. I use Numbers for my personal finance but I haven't needed to use keynote yet. I really like iWork, it is so easy to use and the compatibility with other software packages is good. The price is also humane compared to many other software packages.

you get the following when buying Apple iWork '09:

Pages
Letters, reports, resumes, brochures, newsletters, business cards--whatever you write, Pages '09 offers an intuitive way to create beautiful, media-rich documents. With two distinct modes, one for word processing and one for page layout, Pages puts the tools you need right at your fingertips. Powerful page layout tools offer complete control of where objects appear and how text flows, letting you create impressive newsletters, brochures, and flyers. Whether you start with one of more than 140 Apple-designed templates or a blank page, creating beautiful documents is quick and easy with Pages '09.

Keynote
Want to create presentations that light up the screen--and the audience? Keynote '09 makes it easy to capture everyone's attention from the first slide to the last. Get started in seconds with stunning Apple-designed themes. Apply cinema-quality animated transitions and builds with drag-and-drop ease. Add another dimension to your presentation with photos, music, and video from the iLife media browser. Record voiceover narration for your slideshow and put on a great presentation even when you're not there. With Keynote '09, you've have all the tools you need to make an amazing presentation amazingly simple.

Numbers
Numbers '09, the spreadsheet you've been waiting for--and already know how to use. Innovative, powerful, and intuitive, Numbers '09 lets you do everything from setting up your family budget to completing a lab report to creating detailed financial documents. Traditional spreadsheets lock you into a rigid matrix of rows and columns. Numbers lets you create multiple resizable tables on a flexible canvas. Each table is a fully functional spreadsheet that can consist of hundreds of cells or just a few. Add a header or a footer row for summary calculations with a single click.

OpenOffice.org

OpenOffice is the leading open-source office software suite for all your word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, database needs. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers. It stores all your data in an international open standard format and can also read and write files from other common office software packages. This is free office software for Mac.

OpenOffice is easy to learn and the software is a result from over twenty years' software engineering. Also anyone can report bugs, request new features, or enhance the software if they want, this is because of the completely open development process.

NeoOffice

NeoOffice is a full-featured set of office software applications (including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing, and database programs) for Mac OS X. Based on the OpenOffice.org office suite, NeoOffice has integrated dozens of native Mac features and can import, edit, and exchange files with other popular office programs such as Microsoft Office. It can be downloaded and used completely free of charge.

Since 2003, NeoOffice has been the leading open source office software created and supported by Mac users specifically for Mac OS X and is used by over half a million people worldwide. NeoOffice is funded solely by the time and money donated by NeoOffice users.

Which of these should i use ?

The one I use is Apple iWork '09. After trying Microsoft Office, Open Office, Neooffice I decided to use iWork. It is well integrated in the look and feel of the Mac, it supports other formats and it is easy to work with. Also the price isn't so bad. But if I just wanted to do a quick edit of a document, or something light I would probably go for Open-Office anyway, because it is free. Think a little bit about how much you are going to use the software and decide from there. Maybe it is worth paying a little to get a good office software package ?