Does anybody have any [valid] opinions on these? Anything that you know of for which is better, from experience or otherwise? I've searched the web and found many articles and things, but there doesn't seem to be an easy choice.

You see, I'm looking to get a Mac and I would require one of these pieces of software but I don't know which to go for. I know iWork is cheaper, but the price isn't important really. Do you have any information on compatibility problems with Office for Windows? Or is there anything else that I should know about either of the two?

I would use ms office because its more familiar to institutions. Edit: this is not to say that I don't like Iwork, I love it.

I presume you have a copy of XP or vista with a version of Office on. In which case just get VMware Fusion and create a virtual machine and have office on that, it will be better than iWork and Office for Mac.
I've found office for mac quite unpredictable, especially when using modern formats such as .ppt.pot and .pptx. i have not tried the latest version yet tho (have purchased it but not used it).

You used to get iWork's for free, but to be honest it's not with £55, nothing compared to office.

Office for mac is about £100 and VMware fusion is £42.39, so if you got a copy of XP and office already, just get that, it's the cheapest option and the best imo.

VMware fusion (if you didn't know) is a virtual machine software, it allows Intel-based Macs to run x86 and x86-64 "guest" operating systems on Intel-based Macs with Core 2 processors, such as Windows, Linux, NetWare and Solaris as virtual machines simultaneously with Mac OS X as the "host" operating system using a combination of virtualization, emulation and dynamic recompilation.

Ahh, I forgot about the option of using Office for Windows via a virtual machine. I was looking into those, but just generally, not for the use of Office.

I had only known about Parallels though (and Boot Camp, but I guess that's kind of different because you can't run the OS's simultaneously, like with Parallels and VMware Fusion, right?), so I'm going to guess that you would recommend VMware Fusion over Parallels?

I do have XP with Office, but I'd need a new Office since this one is extremely dated. But if the best option is to get Office for Windows with VMware Fusion, then I might as well do that.

I was expecting your reply by the way Gaz!

Of course, if other people still have comments and opinions, please discuss them as it will give me a greater insight into this topic.

just use neo office. its open office but for mac. however i only have used it for writing papers so far so i cant really comment of the powerpoint, excel, ect parts of it but it has all the options of MS word and you can save files in the .doc format for when you need to open them in MS word. i say give it a try since its 100% free

Parallels and VMware fusion are the same at heart, but i would defiantly go with VMware, not just because i believe it's better, but because of the company behind it. If you keep your VM small enough you can put it on your iPod or on a flash drive.

Just out of interest, what Mac are looking into purchasing?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Office:Mac come pre-installed on all new Macs? If that's correct then I see no point in paying extra for iWork.

You used to get a demo with tiger, but I'm pretty sure you don't get that with Leopard.

I have iWork, get it, it's a better-quality set of apps, and it is super-easy to export them to office format if you need to work with files on a PC (File > Export, there is a tab for PPT/XL/Word respectively in each app), not to mention the price difference.

I use both on tiger and both are great. though... iWork seems better finished

but they both work great

I use Pages instead of MS Word on Mac. It has everything that I need, it's lighter, boots up and works faster, supports .doc exporting and it also has great templates. I used MS Office :mac before but last year I switched to iWork.

Well considering I use OpenOffice the most, I'd suggest NeoOffice.

OpenOffice 3 will have a native Mac version.

This may sound stupid that I haven't made my mind up from what I'm considering, but there are reasons. It's between a Mac mini (with 2GB memory), a MacBook, or the 20" 2.4GHz iMac (again, with 2GB memory). Obviously the iMac is the obvious choice, but I'm also considering how valuable portability is to me (in which case the MacBook would obviously lead, or even the mini in that I could easily move it around my house - I'm not that bothered about being able to take the MacBook out of my house, but then again it would be nice if I did ever want to), as well as price (there's around a £200 increase between each Mac) compared with how much I would actually need the specs of the iMac over the others.

It seems there are many opinions on what is my best bet! I'll definitely continue to research, as well as take into account people's own experiences.

I've got a Mini (1.66Ghz C2D with 1GB of ram) enough to run tiger well, but just a lil to slow for leopard (for my liking anyway) The great thing about these is you can use them as home entertainment systems, they can be plugged straight into any modern TV. downside i feel is the graphics card, not powerful enough to run two displays. seeing as how every other mac can (except the air (i think)) makes it something you miss.
I've also got an iMac (24" 2.8Ghz c2de with 4GB of ram) more than enough to run leopard with windows, as well as itunes safari and eyetv (which are all known for there memory hogging).

Apple are known for there memory being very expensive. for an upgrade from 1GB to 2GB costs £60, but for the same price (£56.39) you can get 2GB x 2 and install it your self. it's hard to do that on the mini (that only takes 2GB max) but on the laptops and the iMac it is as simple as undoing a screw and just replacing it.

if you do get an iMac, i wouldn't go for the 20" as it doesn't actually display 16 million colors and isn't HD..

I doubt I'd ever run two displays, so I guess that wouldn't be something I miss personally.

I never thought about buying and installing the RAM myself, I've just had a look around at how to do it and things and it does look stupidly easy! Did you get that price (and probably use yourself) off of Crucial.com? If not where would you recommend?

Is the jump from the 20" iMac to the 24" worth the extra £200? I don't think I'd need the 2.8Ghz C2E, plus the price is getting a bit too much for that one.

I'm still completely stuck on what I should do regarding Office for Mac/iWork/Neo Office, or go for VMware and Office for Windows. I would need to purchase a new Office for Windows along with VMware, but that could probably be justified. Then again, it seems people have found the other options just as satisfactory, so I don't know what to do!

Why don't you at least just try Neo Office for starters? Since it's free and all, you have nothing to lose.