FOR ANYONE WHO uses a Mac for work, an update to the iWork suite is welcome. Does iWork have what it takes to do serious business?

iWork ’09 consists of the Pages word processor, the Numbers spreadsheet application, the iWeb site builder, and the Key note presentation software. New in ’09 is iWork.com, which lets you share files and collaborate with colleagues, whether they use Macs or not.

If you’re seeking a replacement for Microsoft Office, iWork is not it. Although it can read files made in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can’t have it automatically save original files in those apps’ formats. And the features in iWork’s apps are relatively limited.

On the other hand, if you need inexpensive, versatile tools, iWork ’09 is a solid choice that can create cool newsletters, intuitive and beautiful charts, and stunning presentations.

Among the most substantial updates in Pages ’09 is vastly improved linking to Numbers spreadsheets. This makes mail merges easier and lets you add charts powered by Numbers data. And a new mode can fill your screen with just the document you’re editing.

In Numbers ’09, powerful sorting features now help you create rich spreadsheets that act more like user-friendly databases. Set a table category for a column, and you can sort and reorder your spreadsheet based on it. Drag an entry from one category to the next, and the accompanying data up dates. Picking a formula is easy, too, with helpful descriptions and a natural-language search function. Most impressive is the updated chart creator, which offers gorgeous new shading and textures, yet gives you minute control over them.

The standout is Keynote, which beats PowerPoint in simplicity and usability. It’s packed with tools to import, arrange, and manage music, video, and pictures, as well as to make impressive transitions. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, a 99-cent download will turn your device into a Keynote remote control. With its slick, intuitive interface and almost foolproof presentation creation, Keynote by itself justifiles the $79 price tag for the iWork ’09 suite.

If everyone in your company is using Microsoft Office, stay with the crowd. But if you’re a small-business owner who needs to bang out a newsletter and track inventory in a spreadsheet, or a professional who makes a lot of presentations, iWork is worth a closer look.

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