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Microsoft is set to release their new Office 2007 for Mac later this month and if you didn't have the opportunity to take advantage of some of the decent discount programs offered at the end of the year, here is your best bet for an inexpensive way to get the full monty of Mactopia goodness.

Rather than go directly for the whole bundle of Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Edition-- which includes support for Microsoft Exchange and an illustration program -- at a cost of almost $500.00 (USD), consider grabbing Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Student and Teacher instead. It will set you back around $130 (USD) and you will be eligible for a full upgrade [PDF] for just the cost of shipping.

If you bought an iPhone as an early adopter and still have store credit, you can also purchase Office 2004 at the Apple store and potentially get Microsoft's newest offering almost free.

While it is required software if you need full compatibility with its Microsoft's Windows counterpart and despise Rosetta (as I do), Numbers, Pages and Keynote are all great alternatives.