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As Macintosh fans eagerly await Apple Computer's release of a tuned-up version of its Mac OS X operating system, Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled its latest desktop Office suite intended to run on it.

Microsoft says it will release the latest Office for Mac in November, about two months after Mac watchers expect Apple to release Version 10.1 of its Mac OS X. The first version of OS X, while generally well reviewed, some analysts have criticized for slow performance and lack of support for some features and applications.

The suite of Microsoft applications--renamed Microsoft Office v. X for Mac--will include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the e-mail management software Entourage.

Microsoft designed the new office suite to match OS X's "Aqua" look--the term Apple executives use to describe the new colors and interface featured in the operating system. Microsoft officials say they expect the set of applications to set the tone for other third-party software intended for use on Apple's operating system.

"It is literally the poster child for what an Mac OS X application should feel and look like," says Erik Ryan, a product manager with Microsoft's Mac group.

Previewed in July

Microsoft previewed most of its Office suite--known previously as Office 10 for Mac OS X--at the MacWorld Expo in July. At the time it announced new features including Microsoft's Messenger 2.1 instant messaging software and the latest Windows Media Player.

At the time, the company had yet to detail the improvements made to its e-mail management software, Entourage. Microsoft gave more details on that application Wednesday. Called Entourage X in its latest incarnation, Microsoft has altered the look and feel of the software to "increase the discovery of navigation tools," Ryan says.

New additions to Entourage include the ability to send HTML e-mail. That means users can cut and paste, or drag and drop picture files into the text of an e-mail message. The new applications also give users the ability to "undo" multiple entries, whereas most Mac applications only let users undo the last entry, Microsoft says.

Microsoft also made major changes to the calendar features in Entourage X, including added support for international users. The software can now store calendar entries across time zones, and its address book has the ability to store addresses in formats respective to the region.

In addition to an English-language version, Microsoft Office v. X for Mac is available in Spanish, Japanese, French, German, and Swedish.

The software suite also makes use of an Apple technology called "keychain support," which lets a user store passwords. Microsoft also added its new notification technology, which can send automatic notices and reminders through a pop-up window on a users' desktop.

Some Features Remain XP Only

While Office for Mac does bring new changes to the software, Microsoft has left out a number of features specific to the latest version of the software for the Windows operating system, Office XP. The Mac version won't include support for Microsoft's controversial Smart Tags, which offer links to Web content and other information stored in a user's computer from within the desktop.

"It's similar to what we've done with Office XP in that it's really the beginning of bringing .Net over the Mac platform," says Michael Connolly, group program manager for Microsoft's Mac division.

"But we have some pretty different goals in Office XP. I think a direct comparison with Office XP isn't the right way to think about this release," Connolly says.

Microsoft has set pricing for Microsoft Office v. X for Mac at $499 for the full version and 299 for an upgrade. The company is also offering a special upgrade price of $149 for users who already run Office 2001 applications for Mac.

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