Last time we talked about switching from Windows to the Mac in regards to three basic computing functions: web browsing, email, and media (photos, music, and video). Since these functions rely on “standards” like HTML for web pages, MP3/AAC for music, MPEG for movies, and JPEG for photos, etc., they’ll flourish on any operating system and within a variety of applications.

However, for many prospective switchers, one more “standard” stands in the way of total freedom from Windows: Microsoft Office. The good news is there are many ways for Mac users to stay “Office-compatible”, ranging from complete compatibility to barely readable, and many points in between. Let’s explore, shall we?

The most compatible (and expensive) option is to purchase Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac. Mac Office comes in two editions: Standard, which retails for $399; and Student and Teacher, which retails for $149. Both editions are identical. However, the Standard Edition can be upgraded to a newer version when it comes along, while the Student and Teacher Edition cannot - you have to buy an entire new Student and Teacher Edition if/when there’s a major revision.

The only major feature that Mac Office lacks versus the Windows version is Microsoft Access, the suite’s database application. The closest thing to Access you can find for the Mac is a very capable database application called FileMaker Pro. There are also third-party programs you can buy that automate the conversion of Access records to FileMaker Pro records.

The other three parts of the Office suite – Word, Excel, and PowerPoint – are all in Office for Mac. In the past Microsoft “ported” the Windows code in the programs to work on the Mac, often creating very different and crippled Mac versions. Not any more. A separate part of Microsoft, called the “Macintosh Business Unit”, builds the Mac Office suite “from the ground up” and often innovates above and beyond the Office for Windows folks. At the same time, however, care is taken to keep the menu bars and other “controls” as standardized between the Windows and Mac versions as possible. And, obviously, Office for Mac reads/writes Office for Windows files perfectly. Office 2008 for Mac is scheduled for release in January, at the same price points as Office 2004.

For many years, Apple’s answer to Office was called AppleWorks. AppleWorks read and wrote Word and Excel documents with ease. However, Apple doesn’t develop or bundle AppleWorks anymore. While it will run fine on your new Mac, you’ll be hard pressed to find a copy to buy, and better alternatives exist.

Like Apple’s iWork ’08 suite. “Pages” can read/write Word documents and keep up with Word’s more advanced collaborative features, and has a desktop publishing side that puts Microsoft Publisher to shame. “Numbers” can read/write Excel documents, and brings Mac flair and simplicity to the spreadsheet genre. “Keynote” can import/export presentations in PowerPoint format, and runs circles around the current PowerPoint in creating gorgeous, cinematic presentations that will keep your audiences riveted. Your new Mac comes with a fully-functional 30-day iWork demo that you can turn into “the real thing” for $79.

Another option is NeoOffice, a full-featured Office alternative with word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and drawing programs. The best part – it’s free! It’s a 134 MB download from neooffice.org.

If all you need is Word compatibility, you might also look at Mariner Write ($50 from marinersoftware.com) and Nisus Writer Pro and Express ($79 and $45, respectively, from nisus.com). Both have free demos available for download.

Finally, all Macs come loaded with a simple word processing application that reads/writes Word documents called TextEdit.