New iMac preloaded with "trial" Microsoft Word

I keep getting messages telling me that my "free trial" use of Microsoft Word is running out. That program costs apx $400 bucks!!!!! Do I really need this?
Have already bought iWork '06 but haven't downloaded it yet (it's still in the box) so I really don't know what iWork is all about. Are these 2 programs alike?

Well, they both have a word processor and a presentation program, but office comes with a spreadsheet program and a mail program. So it depends on what you need. If you need to work with Microsoft Office documents from work or school then you should probably get Office. If you don't need that or a spreadsheet program, then stick with iWork. There is also a Student and Teacher edition of Office for less than $150; no one checks whether you're actually a student or teacher though. Also, there is an iWork trial that comes with your Mac, so you can try it out if you like.

Or you could just get NeoOffice, the free clone:

http://www.neooffice.org/

Carleen said:

I keep getting messages telling me that my "free trial" use of Microsoft Word is running out. That program costs apx $400 bucks!!!!! Do I really need this?
Have already bought iWork '06 but haven't downloaded it yet (it's still in the box) so I really don't know what iWork is all about. Are these 2 programs alike?

Click to expand...

I think the decision is completely yours to make.

As was indicated you could get NeoOffice, it works great.

Carleen said:

I keep getting messages telling me that my "free trial" use of Microsoft Word is running out. That program costs apx $400 bucks!!!!! Do I really need this?
Have already bought iWork '06 but haven't downloaded it yet (it's still in the box) so I really don't know what iWork is all about. Are these 2 programs alike?

Click to expand...

If you are a student... maybe even a UT student go the the Univ. Bookstore. If I remember correctly the UT bookstore sells MS OFFICE for Mac for around $10....