Edward Mendelson

PDFs can be a serious pain to edit if you don’t have the right tools. While some are pricey, a few free tools can get the job done, too. Here’s what you need.

Plenty of thoughtful new features to try while you wait for Apple Intelligence

Parallels Desktop is the best and fastest emulation software for running Windows, Linux, and even older versions of macOS on Intel-based Macs. If you need to run Windows on an Apple Silicon machine, it’s the only practical option.

Microsoft Office 2024 gives you perpetual access to class-leading and user-friendly office productivity software for a one-time fee.

Full-featured backup solution with lots of security extras and some major gotchas

VMware Fusion Pro lets you run a variety of virtual systems on all modern macOS machines and has enterprise-friendly management features, but it could be faster.

Virtualization software lets you run Windows on macOS or Linux systems, and other OSes on Windows machines, too. Here are the best options for Mac users who need to run a different OS on their computer.

VirtualBox is free and open-source, and it works well for developers and hobbyists, but less well for anyone who wants to run Windows and Linux apps in a smoothly integrated way on a Mac.

UTM costs nothing to download and lets you run almost any operating system on a modern Mac, regardless of architecture, though it performs sluggishly in some cases.

Google’s excellent Workspace office suite is nearly as powerful and flexible as Microsoft 365, despite only offering online apps. This browser-based approach means its apps are available for and work the same on any platform.

FineReader 15 is the best all-round PDF-and-OCR app there is, with a smooth, modern interface, fast performance, and a deep feature set.

Microsoft 365 is the standard for office suites and the only one that’s as powerful online as on the desktop. Nothing else comes close in power, flexibility, or ease of use.

We don't know what it will be called, but at WWDC on June 9, Apple will reveal the latest version of macOS. Based on my long history with the operating system, here are a dozen features that would make it better than ever.

We don't know what it will be called, but at WWDC on June 9, Apple will reveal the latest version of macOS. Based on my long history with the operating system, here are a dozen features that would make it better than ever.

Let's get beyond looks. These are the new things in macOS 26 that will elevate my day-to-day computing experiences.

Microsoft 365 Business is the clear market leader for workplace-ready office suites, thanks to its broad availability, excellent update policies, and unbeatable apps for creating decks, documents, spreadsheets, and more.

The macOS 26 public beta is packed with intelligent features, a bold new design, and deeper iOS synergy than ever before. I can't wait to make the final release release my new daily driver.

Microsoft 365 is not your only choice for word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Whether you want local or cloud-based apps, our reviews of the best office suites help you choose the one for your needs.

With macOS Tahoe, Apple adds tons of smart, productivity-focused features, integrates key iOS capabilities, and debuts a stunning new design, making it the most exciting version of the desktop OS in years.

Google Docs and Microsoft 365 are two of the most advanced and widely used office suites available today. With extensive experience using both, I'm here to help you choose the one that best fits your needs.