Should Apple sell Keynote to Windows users?

[GeneR]

It seems that Apple is making inroads to replacing M$ Office on Powermacs, but given its need to recapture market share, would selling Keynote to Windows users be a way for Apple to accomplish this feat?

I guess to do so would be to start challenging M$ on their home turf... in the same way that iPods have now begun to make inroads into the PC world. It seems that Apple is building up productivity tools.

It also seems that most PC users do not have enough experience with Apple's excellence and are not willing to migrate and/or test the waters in OSX.

Would the act of making Keynote cross-platform make Apple more accessible to those would-be switchers -- or at the very least, whet their appetites for something better than M$? At the very best, give Apple a new revenue channel?

Perhaps Apple can sell it as a shareware type deal: try it for 30 days and if you don't want it, don't buy it. Otherwise, purchase it online through Apple.

Please let me know what you think. Thanks! :)

[rainman::|:|]

Well the functionality of importing and exporting PP documents hints that it's a strong possibility, i think. Normally i like Apple to not release things for PC, let them switch to get the benefits, not just keep using their PC. But in this case, i think it might go over well... i could definitely see businesspeople getting used to the Apple logo on a product that they come to use and love...

they would have to make sure it was *just* as powerful and easy to use as on the Mac, tho, otherwise it could be bad news...

:)
pnw

[GeeYouEye]

It'd be nice, but they didn't port iTunes. They won't port this.

[FattyMembrane]

keynote is written in cocoa and would require massive effort to be ported to windows. it's also an incentive to buy a mac since keynote makes much prettier presentations than pp. you could just as easily use this arguement to wonder why apple does not port all of it's software to windows, and the answer is because then no one would buy macs. the format is open. if people want to view the presentations on windows (or any other os for that matter) let them, but keep the software on our side. i didn't drop a disproportionate amount of money on an apple so that my pc friends could say "yeah i can do that on mine too".

[RBMaraman]

They port AppleWorks, so they could probably port Keynote. I really hope they don't, but they always could.

[benjaminpg]

Originally posted by FattyMembrane
keynote is written in cocoa and would require massive effort to be ported to windows.

This is mostly true. It is written in Cocoa, and Apple has not released a windows Cocoa compiler. However, a long time ago, Apple had plans for a windows Cocoa compiler. I'm sure it would need massive updating, as Cocoa has progressed so much. Unless, Apple has kept a secret internal Windows Cocoa compiler.

I don't think it would be a smart move to write it for windows, though.

[trusted_content]

You CAN compile Cocoa on Windows to a certain extent. It requires Cygwin, GNUstep, and a lot of hacking but it's definitely feasible. Can't see why anyone would go through the trouble tho when they can just get a mac ;]

[Rower_CPU]

The other obstacle is the Quartz rendering of objects in the slides. Keynote can take advantage of OS X's advanced graphics abilities...transparency, compositing...things lacking in other "mainstream" OSes. ;)

[aafuss1]

I'd say ir would need to support directx.

[medea]

no, Apple made this for us mac users and it should stay that way, if everyone in the pc world wants to use all the great apple software then they should buy a mac.

[CrackedButter]

I gave it some thought and i was wondering if apple should port the software over, thus give windows users a taste of apple software, but in doing so their software would have to overcome 2 problems:

1. Porting the software over to windows takes away the apple look and feel that is apple software. Instead it looks like any other app that is on windows.

2. Why should apple bother coding for a sub standard platform?

[aafuss1]

Originally posted by CrackedButter
I gave it some thought and i was wondering if apple should port the software over, thus give windows users a taste of apple software, but in doing so their software would have to overcome 2 problems:

1. Porting the software over to windows takes away the apple look and feel that is apple software. Instead it looks like any other app that is on windows.

2. Why should apple bother coding for a sub standard platform?
Except-the Quicktome lookls similare on both-apple works doesn't (I know because I use the mac version of the one bfrtom claris before apple bought uit .and used onthe pc too

[iJon]

no one would buy keynote if it was for windows. everyone already has powerpoint or they woudlnt consider getting anything else other than keynote. chances are seeing the apple logo would turn some people away. I dont see apple doing this, it would be one less reason to switch to the mac.

iJon

[Adurbe]

Apple made this product to replace PowerPoint, it needs to do so on the mac before they even CONSIDER porting it....

With OSX Mail, iCal and now Keynote we have apple equivalent of two M$ office programs (entorage and PP).

Apple can't hope to compete with M$ until they atleast equal current functionality of M$ and Keynote has taken them a step closer in my opinion

[janey]

Hell no. Apple shouldn't because Keynote alone is a great reason to switch. My art teacher switched because she thought keynote and all the iApps are great (imagine spending upwards of 2 grand for some software that costs less than a hundred dollars).

[macktheknife]

As someone who works in Corporate America (the biggest users of PowerPoint), I can tell you that a Windows version of Keynote will probably not sell very well. PowerPoint files are all about presentation, and any incompatibilities is sure to screw up the formats of the slides. I've made thousands (I kid you not!) of PowerPoint slides, and I can tell you that it will be a nightmare to worry whether the file will be read correctly on someone else's computer running a non-MS PowerPoint program.

Also, PowerPoint files sometimes don't even render correctly on different versions of Windows and PowerPoint! Whether it's an issue with fonts, sizes, etc., I can never trust a PowerPoint slideshow to display correctly on another person's machine. That's why I almost always PDF the slideshow to ensure it's displayed correctly.

[chmorley]

Originally posted by macktheknife
As someone who works in Corporate America (the biggest users of PowerPoint), I can tell you that a Windows version of Keynote will probably not sell very well. PowerPoint files are all about presentation, and any incompatibilities is sure to screw up the formats of the slides. I've made thousands (I kid you not!) of PowerPoint slides, and I can tell you that it will be a nightmare to worry whether the file will be read correctly on someone else's computer running a non-MS PowerPoint program.

Also, PowerPoint files sometimes don't even render correctly on different versions of Windows and PowerPoint! Whether it's an issue with fonts, sizes, etc., I can never trust a PowerPoint slideshow to display correctly on another person's machine. That's why I almost always PDF the slideshow to ensure it's displayed correctly. Your second paragraph seems to refute your first.

Are you saying that people will only want to use Powerpoint for sharing presentations with each other (since you are showing it in .pdf anyway)? If so, then I understand what you are saying.

Chris

[macktheknife]

Originally posted by chmorley
Your second paragraph seems to refute your first.

Are you saying that people will only want to use Powerpoint for sharing presentations with each other (since you are showing it in .pdf anyway)? If so, then I understand what you are saying.

Chris

Sorry about that--my statement does sound contradictory, doesn't it? PowerPoint files can be read from PC to PC usually (80%) without any hiccups, but there are certainly instances of incompatabilities even within the Windows platform. PDF'ing the PowerPoint files is my personal option of choice, but many secretaries or admins who are not technically inclined might not be aware of this option. Of course, such option would only be available if one had the full version of Acrobat.

In any case, I could see how it would be a tough sell to the corporate IT manager or tech officer who has to OK any major software purchases. They would probably be more inclined to stick with what's supposedly safe than try something new. Also, since many businesses purchase Office (with PowerPoint bundled), they will probably not spend an extra $100 for a presentation software.

[aafuss1]

Iwonder if Appleworks's presentationmodule could gain some keynote features (aka Keynitelite)-or apple will drop the presntayin modukem, jus to focus ion kdynote-as its msin preszentation dsofdfrware.

[voicegy]

Originally posted by medea
no, Apple made this for us mac users and it should stay that way, if everyone in the pc world wants to use all the great apple software then they should buy a mac.

I couldn't have put it friggin' better myself...100% correct.

I've made many PP presentations and try and do what I can to make them look as sweet as possible, including my own narration so I don't have to ramble and talk as the presentation takes over. (Note to Jobs: Please give us automatic running and the ability to narrate for the full presentation in Keynote updates!)

However, they always "look" like PowerPoint. They're a dead giveaway. And face it folks, even though it's pretty easy to use and all that and has a lot of functionality, most of the corporate world has no CLUE how to wow an audience. Keynote gives me transitions that are light years ahead of the boring corporate pack, and I can't friggin' WAIT to use it for my next dog and pony show.

And you're damn STRAIGHT I'm going to be making that presentation from an Apple machine with that logo smack in their faces...damn it if I'll have some crappy Dell or Compac or other piece of you-know-what running a blow-em-away slide presentation created in Keynote. No way in hell. They'll just think it's some new Microslop transition and backgrounds. I WANT them to know that they, too, the whole boring uninspired bunch of them, can perform the same state-of-the-art great looking presentations....if only they'd get a CLUE and buy a MAC.

(Rabid tonight, ain't he?)

:p

[GeneR]

I appreciate all the very well voiced opinions. I really think there's a great point made by voicegy:

"And you're damn STRAIGHT I'm going to be making that presentation from an Apple machine with that logo smack in their faces...damn it if I'll have some crappy Dell or Compac or other piece of you-know-what running a blow-em-away slide presentation created in Keynote. No way in hell. They'll just think it's some new Microslop transition and backgrounds. I WANT them to know that they, too, the whole boring uninspired bunch of them, can perform the same state-of-the-art great looking presentations....if only they'd get a CLUE and buy a MAC.

(Rabid tonight, ain't he?)"

I guess that makes the best attack to the corporate culture: bring your sleek neato-keen powerbooks to work and show off all the wham-bang-wow stuff that you can do so we can get used to the following type of dialogue:

"Oh, I'm sorry? You want to know how to make your presentations look like mine? Oh! You think it was made in Powerpoint? ERRRRRRH!!! Sorry! Thanks for playing! Next contestant!"

or...(for the passive aggressive types...)

"Sorry, can I have my powerbook back now? I know you want a cool presention (like mine) to wow the boss... Well, it's not like Apples are expensive anymore..."

or...

"One work: Apple. Think about it."

Thanks for all the great info! :D

[Eckslusive]

i would like to see a Keynote for windows because then that will eliminate Presentation. Cause right now...if u can export to presentation..its just giving a chance for PC users to stick with M$.

[Sol]

I think that Keynote's strength & weakness is the integration it has with graphics hardware. The reason why this product is so compelling is that it looks a lot more sophisticated than PowerPoint which does not have real-time 3D effects and transsitions. Keynote can do that because Apple knows that every Mac running this software is using OS X.2 which runs on recent (post CRT iMac) machines only, all of which have either ATI or nVidia 2D and 3D acceleration on-board.

[Das]

AS a person who can't really understand why we need Keynote to begin with (there have to be other more breaking products Apple can make), I don't really know if it would be worth the trouble and dev time to convert it. The Windows world won't use it anyway as long as PP is the prevailing program of choice, so it won't be a PP killer...hehe...PP killer..*ahem*

[FelixDerKater]

If they fully rethought the word processor and spreadsheet portions of AppleWorks, they might be able to do something.

Make a bundle of FileMaker Pro, Keynote, and the updates word processor and spreadsheet programs.

[oldMac]

Originally posted by benjaminpg
However, a long time ago, Apple had plans for a windows Cocoa compiler. I'm sure it would need massive updating, as Cocoa has progressed so much. Unless, Apple has kept a secret internal Windows Cocoa compiler.

Given the history of Next, I have little doubt that there's a team that maintains a port of the OS X API set for Windows. This would have to be true if the rumors of Mac OS X on Intel harware are true.

In fact, Apple considered doing this early on after the Next acquisition.

Watch out... before we see Mac OS X on Intel, we might see Apple apps (iLife, Mail.app, Keynote, Quicktime, etc.) running inside a very thin compatibility environment on top of Winodows.

Then, from the income earned, watch for Apple to give away cross-platform development tools that allow folks to build applications for both the Mac and Windows (that run slightly better on the Mac). It could happen in our life time. :)

[cubist]

Originally posted by aafuss1
Iwonder if Appleworks's presentationmodule could gain some keynote features (aka Keynitelite)-or apple will drop the presntayin modukem, jus to focus ion kdynote-as its msin preszentation dsofdfrware.

Obviously you typed this on the Celeron :p

[Das]

Originally posted by cubist


Obviously you typed this on the Celeron :p

Or on medication of some kind.

[mcrain]

I just bought Keynote, and in 10 minutes had it installed and had the first 4 slides done with build effects, transitions and a really cool theme.

I also have powerpoint on both the PC and the mac, and this is by far much much much much better!!!!

Wow, I'm still reading the manual, but in just a few minutes I can tell you I'm impressed.