Pages 2 combines desktop publishing and word processing features in an inexpensive and easy-to-use package. Pages is part of iWork 06, which also includes Keynote, an equally easy-to-use program for creating presentations.

When you launch Pages, you can create a blank document, open an existing document or open one of more than 60 included templates. Each template offers several themes, from casual to formal. You can customize a template by replacing the placeholder images and text with your images and text.

If you start with a blank document, you can easily add text, images, tables and charts. Built-in drawing tools allow you to create and resize a variety of shapes, including squares, circles, triangles, stars and freeform shapes. You change the color of any shape by dragging the desired color from the color palette onto the shape.

Importing images is slightly awkward. In the previous version of Pages, you could import images only from an iPhoto library. In this version, you can import images from any source, but you must drag and drop the folder of images into the Media Browser window in order to access them. There's no option to browse your computer to look for images.

Pages 2 includes basic image editing tools. You can adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, tint, sharpness and exposure. You can also use the Auto Levels option to automatically adjust the image. You can resize any image by clicking and dragging one of its corners.

You can add tables and a variety of chart styles, including bar, pie, and 3-D, to any document, and add or adjust information as needed.

Other features include a spell checker, a mail merge tool (works with the Mac OSX Address Book only), a Comments tool for adding notes to yourself or your colleagues, and a Thumbnails view, which allows you to view and easily move between thumbnail versions of the pages of a document.

Although it lacks some of the features of high-end graphic design programs, Pages 2 can meet many of the desktop publishing needs of individuals and small businesses.


Pros: Inexpensive and easy to use, includes a good balance of word processing and desktop publishing features
Cons: In order to import images from any source other than iPhoto, you must drag and drop the folder of images into the Media Browser window


Specifications:
Available for: Macintoshes.

Minimum requirements (Mac):
Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or v10.4.3 or later
Macintosh computer with a 500 MHz or faster PowerPC G4, PowerPC G5 or Intel Core processor
256 MB of RAM (512MB recommended)
32MB of video RAM
QuickTime 7.0.3 or later
DVD drive required for install