You've upgraded to Apple's most recent OS X Mavericks. You will probably go ahead and upgrade Apple's suite of apps, including Pages. But wait a second, is it upgrading or downgrading? The new Pages 5.0 and Pages 4.3 are two completely different programs. Pages 5's code was completely rewritten, in order for Apple to set the ground for new things to come with the program.

More specifically, Apple wanted to add 64-bit support to Pages 5 and several other of their programs, allowing them to take advantage of the processor architecture in most modern Macs. This task would prove quite laborious if they tried it on the existing apps, however, so it prompted them to completely rewrite them. Apple also wanted to bridge the gap between the iOS and OS X versions of their software during this program rewrite. In the case of Pages 5, Apple really took advantage of this change. Many will tell you that Pages 5.0 is an entirely different program from Pages 4.3; the only resemblance is in the name and licensing. Of course, they both share the general functions of word processing and page layout. Once you get past that, though, they're really two different programs.

Pages 5.0 "Missing" Features

The massive changes to the program aren't necessarily for the better. Many have been quite disappointed, irrationally complaining that Apple has 'dumbed down' the application. This was most likely part of the complete rewrite, where Apple was ready to release Mavericks, but it didn't get a chance to add many of the original Pages's advanced features into the new Pages 5.0. Here are a selection of these numerous "missing" features:

• Toolbar editing
• Vertical ruler
• Page reordering and duplicating
• Facing pages
• Linked text boxes
• Almost all AppleScript support

This list could go on for a while longer. Not to mention that Pages 5 has a new file format from older Pages versions. If you open a Pages 4 document, Pages 5 will prompt you to convert the file. Converting the file can mess a few things up, and the converted file cannot be opened in older Pages versions. Once again, Apple does have an excuse for this behavior. They rewrote the program from the ground up. They also had to give Pages 5 a new file format in attempt for full compatibility with the iOS version.

Nonetheless, many are quite disappointed with Apple over Pages 5. Some think that Apple might be doing this as a money-making tactic, whereas they might make a professional-grade application alongside its consumer level Pages, similar to what they've done with iPhoto and Aperture. Knowing of Apple's excuse for the absent features, this is not true. A large group of users will be sticking with Pages 4.3, for the time being, anyway. Luckily, Apple leaves it in your Applications folder after you update, in a folder titled "iWork '09". Until the missing features are reintroduced, Pages 5 won't be sufficient for many users.

New Functionality

Though many are focused on all the downsides to Pages 5, there are some new things added and changed for the better as well. The first thing you'll notice once you open Pages 5 for the first time, other than the new icon, is the new interface design. Only a few buttons are on the toolbar at the top of the screen, and the inspector was abolished. Instead, a new right-side sidebar dynamically updates dependent upon what is selected to reveal most of the controls. Some users dislike this new design, complaining how it takes up more screen space, while others appreciate the new design, thinking that it makes things easier to navigate.

No matter your opinion, it can take a while to get used to the new control layout. Several times, you'll likely find yourself wondering how you can do a particular Pages 4 action. In most cases, you'll eventually figure out how to accomplish the task, though it may be named or otherwise set up differently. For example, the character spacing setting could be accessed in the Text tab in Pages 4's Inspector. In Pages 5, the setting can be found in the sidebar Style panel Advanced Options. Paragraph and character styles now work differently as well. The old method involved using a style drawer to switch between preset styles. Now, paragraph styles are included prominently atop the sidebar when editing text. If you modify text from it's predefined paragraph style, an update button appears, allowing you to easily change the style for the full document. Most agree that this change is for the better, as it makes dealing with styles a bit easier.

New documents are now, by default, word processing files. To switch the file to a page layout file, open the Document sidebar and uncheck Document Body. The new page layout mode lacks a few important features in most page layout programs. The good news, though, is that the features that are in the program are quite versatile. Specifically, anything you do on your Mac in Pages 5 can also be done on your iOS device. You can transfer files between the two without a hitch.

Sharing a Conclusion

Additionally, Apple has embedded new iCloud sharing into Pages 5. Through the Share menu, you can upload your document to iCloud. The document can optionally be allowed to be edited through iCloud, otherwise it can only be viewed. It can also be password protected if you desire. Anyone who opens the link to the document can then view the document in their web browser, and if they're allowed to edit it, they can collaboratively work on the document. This is done in their web browser, through iCloud, with most of the features in Pages 5. This is essentially Apple's take on office app collaboration, similar to how Google Drive works. It's not quite as robust at this point, as it is still considered a beta program, but it serves the purpose for now. Also note that traditional exporting features are still in the application, in addition to the ability to quickly share a variety of file formats using Email, iMessage, or AirDrop.

In the end, Pages 5 is a completely revamped version of Pages. Rebuilt by Apple from the ground up, it's a different program with the same name. Most advanced users are upset with Apple's removal of many advanced features, though it does have a valid excuse for doing so. On the bright side, however, Pages's simplified interface appeals to many, along with its new sharing features. Which version should you use? Newcomers to the program will likely prefer Pages 5 over the older versions since it's simpler. Power users will probably prefer Pages 4.3, as it contains more advanced, familiar functionality. If you fall into neither of those categories, then the choice is up to you. Let others know what you prefer in the Comments.