Microsoft just came out with a sack-load of information about its line of Office suites for Apple platforms. Office 2008 for Macs is the latest installment, allowing for document cross-platform compatibility (the sure-fire way) if you could afford the price. Because for the three offered flavors of Mac-compatible suite, the lowest tag would still cost a student a leg and part of an arm.

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition is the cheapest flavor of the three offered packages, but it asks students to shell out US$ 149.99 for its full retail version. A single purchase allows for three licenses, though it comes with limited features, such as no connectivity to Microsoft Exchange servers and automated workflow tools.

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac is the name of the regular package, though it costs US$ 349.99 for a full license of the retail version. Users can shave off US$ 160 from the price tag if they own a previously licensed version. The package has a good share of features, including most of the core programs of the Office suite: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Edition rolls as Microsoft's premiere Office for Mac package, costing up to US$ 499.99 for a full retail version. Users can get up to US$ 200 discount if they own a previously licensed version and decide to get the upgrade version instead. Aside from what the regular package offers, Media Edition carries extra tools and features for digital file management, including annotation and distribution of such content.

For the cautious business shopper, there could be another one of those "60-day trial" bundles for new Macs just like Office 2007, but no official word on that has been revealed by the company.