OVERALL OFFICE IMPROVEMENTS:
The last version of Office for the Mac was a great product, and often one of the deciding factors on whether or not to switch platforms. Microsoft did an excellent job in creating a very Mac-like suite of applications that adhered to Apple's beautiful Aqua interface. With Office 2004, Microsoft has gone one step further and now makes extensive use of Apple's Quartz technology. What this means is that charts can now have transparencies and your PowerPoint presentations flow more smoothly. You can use Quicktime transitions to create stunning transitional effects. Compatibility Reports in Office 2004 for Mac allow you to seamlessly share information and ideas with nearly anyone on any platform.  The report details issues that may be problematic on another platform or older version of Office and gives you the option to fix them. You can be sure that every document looks as good when opened as it did when you created it.

WORD:
With a click of a button, Notebook Layout View makes it easier for you to take notes on your Mac. Designed with the look of ruled notebook paper, Notebook Layout View shows you only the most important commands, leaving you free to concentrate on the task at hand. Your notes are automatically outlined and easily searchable, and you can quickly flag relevant information. No more searching, deciphering, and retyping your handwritten chicken scratches.  You can even record audio directly into your notes. Suddenly meetings are almost fun again. Almost.

EXCEL:
Function ScreenTips are the latest addition to the error-checking safety net in Excel. By instantly displaying correct function syntax, calculations work every time. Crunch away with confidence.

Range Finder improvements give you a quick and colorful way to find and change formulas.

POWERPOINT:
Improvements for PowerPoint in Office 2004 for Mac can help manage your time, your slides and your reputation. Presenter tools put you in control by clearly displaying your notes and showing you which slide is up now, and which ones are on deck. An on-screen clock, visible only to you, keeps your presentations timed to perfection and flowing smoothly.  And with a thumbnail view of your entire presentation, you can make changes and adjustments on the fly, so you’ll always appear perfectly prepared and in total control.

ENTOURAGE:
In an ongoing effort to rid mailboxes of the ever-increasing number of unwanted e-mails, Entourage introduces improved Junk E-mail Protection.  Now you can enjoy a relatively spam-free existence.

It’s hard to manage all the pieces of a project when they’re spread all over your hard drive.  Entourage is the home base for the new Project Center in Office 2004– your one stop shop for every piece of the project puzzle.  E-mails, documents, contacts, even audio and video are conveniently accessed from one central location.

VIRTUALPC 7:
Virtual PC for Mac makes PC-only software compatible with you. It takes advantage of OS X technologies, offering the convenience of Dock integration for your PC applications, drag-and-drop functionality, and more. Plus G5 support means you can run Windows and Windows-based applications on Apple’s newest hardware.