With only one significant miss-step over the years (anyone remember Word 6?), Microsoft's Office for Macintosh has arguably always been superior to the Windows incarnation. An ever-more Mac-like interface, Excel 2008 uses OS X conventions like the preference panes and integrated title/toolbar to improve on the 2004 version. New features like Elements Gallery, Ledger Sheets, Chart gallery, and Formula Builder makes it easier for the novice to create professional-looking work. However, like previous new versions of a program that many of us use daily, the interface changes and new features can be jarring, even if some of them are welcome. Excel 2008 brings new power and features, along with shortcuts for less experienced users. Your view of this latest version will likely be shaped by your need for VBA macros and your familiarity with the old Chart Wizards. This is especially true given the usually high cost of an upgrade. As a spreadsheet program, I rate Excel 2008 very high, but for existing Excel users with a lot of work that uses VBA macros, the rating drops significantly.
Click here to read the detailed review by The Macintosh Guild.
