Apple unleashes Numbers spreadsheet with new iMac

Californian computer maker Apple has launched one of its cheekiest attacks yet on the might of Microsoft with a new software bundle designed to challenge the might of Office.

The iWork '08 suite introduced alongside the latest slimline iMac computers includes the Pages word processor, a presentation package called Keynote and Numbers, a rival to Microsoft Excel.

This being Apple, Numbers is not being presented as just another spreadsheet, but a new approach that in the words of chief executive Steve Jobs is "far more intuitive and easy to use than anything else out there".

Apple explains that where traditional spreadsheets lock you into a rigid matrix of rows and columns, Numbers is based around a background "canvas" on which you can create and position multiple "intelligent" tables alongside graphics and multimedia files. Readymade templates as well as on-screen rulers and alignment guides are included to help lay documents out on the free-form canvas.

The intelligent tables can be constructed by dragging elements from a library of 150 functions, including interactive checkboxes and sliders that let users change cell values easily to see the impact of changing scenarios. To add more rows and columns is a matter of grabbing the table corner and pulling it down and to the right, and summary calculation boxes can be added with a single click.

For compatibility, iWork '08 can take imports from Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and AppleWorks files. Files can be exported in Microsoft Office formats or PDFs.

The full iWork suite costs $79, and a 30-day trial version will be bundled with the new Intel Core 2 Dual-powered iMac machines.

By John Stokdyk, for our sister site, www.accountingweb.co.uk

Number of comments: 2

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Gail Perry, AccountingWEB Managing Editor , 13 August 2007 @ 14:43 PM  Apple users love their machines Thanks for the comment Firozali - you confirm what I hear frequently, that if one is using a computer for graphics, the MAC is the computer to have.

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Firozali A Mulla , 13 August 2007 @ 12:00 PM  Apple unleashes Numbers spreadsheet with new iMac Steve has been doing a good job for the students and for the public. Sir. I have no comments on what Apple brings I love apple save that this is expensive very expensive. $2000 plus is hefty price sir but for graphics etc Apple is the only computer that does the job. Sir: The plasma is expensive may be very handy but compared to the CRT, it is very expensive. Plus the edges do not show the vision as should be. There is always straight look at the TFT while in the CRT we can cope the vision from any angle. May be the manufacturer state that the vision is achievable straight from all angles but I doubt if they tell truth. I have a PC that states this. But NO sir. I have to poise myself straight and view the screen. I thank you Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD P.O.Box 6044 Dar-Es-Salaam Tanzania East Africa