Appleworks is slated to be replaced by iWorks with the next system upgrade. Traditionally, Appleworks was included with every new computer and the upgrades were always free...let's see how it goes with this next round.

I have been using the original version of iWorks which included Pages and Keynote. Pages is a sort of word processing/page layout program that's been excellent and Keynote is the Apple version of Powerpoint. We were most interested in Keynote and I'm happy to say that not only has it been a joy to work with but all files are completely interchangeable between Powerpoint and Keynote.

I have to admit that I've never used a Windows machine to do any layout but it was interesting to me that my musician buddy, John, asked me to do the layouts for his last CD's artwork on the Mac because he said that he didn't like the way that fonts looked when they were done on the PC. I guess I always thought that fonts was fonts and that, in the finished product, there was no difference. I managed to do the entire project in Photoshop Elements (type and all!) and it went through the printer's without a hitch and looks mah-velous. Guess I can hold off on buying Adobe Creative Suite and spend the money on kilts!

Best

AA