Many free and inexpensive office suites are available for download or for use in a web browser. So what's the advantage of paying a pretty penny for a desktop office suite? Corel's WordPerfect Office X4 offers a strong software package that comes closest to the breadth and depth of features found in Microsoft Office.
Zoho Show is an online-only presentation application. Not only is it relatively powerful, but it's completely free to use. Whether you're a businessperson, teacher, student, sales rep, or anyone looking to create a cool presentation, Zoho Show is well worth a try.
Office 2008 for Mac may be the best pick for business users, but most people can get by with less expensive alternatives.
A new version of Microsoft Office for Mac is due in a couple of weeks. Here are our impressions after testing the release candidate for a month or so.
It's no secret that Microsoft dominates the productivity suite market, but that doesn't mean it's the only way to go.
Apple's new iWork becomes a more well-rounded productivity package by adding Numbers for spreadsheets. Pages and Keynote include some nifty visual enhancements too.
Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 makes prettier presentations, so an upgrade may be in order if your work is particularly image-focused and you don't mind relearning the application. If PowerPoint 2003 serves you well, however, it offers most of the same features, albeit with flatter-looking graphics.
If you're ready to let go of old habits from previous versions of Word and want to make sleeker-looking documents, Microsoft Word 2007 is worth the upgrade. However, less-expensive alternatives handle its core features without the clutter.
If you need to make sleeker-looking documents and presentations, Microsoft Office Standard 2007 is a worthy upgrade. But stick to your current software if you don't feel that it lacks anything.
The Zoho Office Suite beta has strong potential, but it's not yet a final product, and its spreadsheets and presentations apps need more work before you can rely on them.
Google Apps for Your Domain lets you brand online services with your own URL, but it doesn't eat the costs of domain registration as Microsoft Office Live does.
The online Google Spreadsheets is free, easy to use, and handy for collaboration, but stick with Excel for complex spreadsheets.
Megaphone: Windows Mobile 6.5
Take a closer look at Windows Mobile 6.5, including the new interface and improved IE web browser.… Watch it now
Having problems with complex data center? Simplify your data center now.
| Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB | 33 plans |  1% |
| Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB | 33 plans |  1% |
| Nokia N97 | 37 plans | 1% |
| Apple iPhone 8GB | 33 plans | 3% |
| Nokia E63 | 33 plans | 1% |
| Apple mobile phones | 1% |
| Nokia mobile phones | 3% |
| Sony Ericsson mobile phones | 2% |
| Samsung mobile phones | 1% |
| LG mobile phones | 1% |
Has New Zealand's smiling assassin delivered?
The long-awaited separation of Telstra
Google open-sources JavaScript tools
What makes you click?
Tell us for a chance to win a $1,000 GAME gift voucher.
Click here for more.
Win an iPhone 3GS!
Sign up as a ZDNet Australia member during November and you'll go in a draw to win an iPhone 3GS!
Click here to sign up!
Best Laptops
Check out the best laptops here!
Click here for more.
