Mac Office 2008 Hits Private Beta

MacRumors · Mar 30, 2007, 05:03 PM

According to apcmag.com, Microsoft's Office 2008 for Mac has proceeded into private beta stages of development (note: mirror may be slow).

Quote:

"We're in private betas right now" confirmed Sheridan Jones, Lead Marketing Manager for Microsoft's Mac Business Unit (MacBU), during an exclusive interview with APC magazine.

Microsoft announced Office 2008 for Mac at Macworld San Francisco in January, and previewed an alpha release which included features from Office 2007 for Windows such as the Ribbon, and new Mac-only features such as a Publishing Layout View that will allow Word users to create layout-rich documents (newsletters, fliers, and brochures), Ledger Sheets in Excel, and "My Day" priority tracking in Entourage.

Quote:

"Part of our mission with Office 2008 is to expose all the things that are already there and make the product easier to use" says Jones. "We wanted to make it more discoverable, to bubble up the features that people didn't always find. We also have an opportunity to have a simple UI and a more intuitive interface.

"We got a lot of customer feedback (on the UI), we've kept the menus and embedded toolbars, but I can hide rid of embedded toolbars to have a really streamlined interface."

Parts of the redesign are peeking through almost every application, as well as application modules such as the notebook view in Word, and Jones promises that there's plenty to share in the months ahead.

Microsoft has stated that Office 2008 will be a Universal Binary, and will bring compatibility with Office 2007 for Windows' Open XML file format. To the dismay of many corporate and cross-platform users, however, Microsoft has said that it will not be supporting Visual Basic scripting.

crees! · Mar 30, 2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

"Part of our mission with Office 2008 is to expose all the things that are already there and make the product easier to use" says Jones. "We wanted to make it more discoverable, to bubble up the features that people didn't always find. We also have an opportunity to have a simple UI and a more intuitive interface.

Bubbling up better not be anything like those Windows System Tray balloons you get ALL THE TIME.

elppa · Mar 30, 2007, 05:07 PM

Will this likely be the last release for the Macintosh?

epochblue · Mar 30, 2007, 05:08 PM

I'll be interested to see what the final product looks like because so far, I've been less-than-impressed with some of the screenshots I've seen.

mcarnes · Mar 30, 2007, 05:08 PM

Cool. So in MS time we're looking at a release around June 2011. Can't wait!

lazyrighteye · Mar 30, 2007, 05:10 PM

Being MS, I wouldn't' imagine them having any inside track to Leopard's UI, assuming there are UI changes (surely there must be, right?).

yzp · Mar 30, 2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcarnes

Cool. [...] a release around June 2011. Can't wait!

Damn, 4 freaking years!!!!!

Clive At Five · Mar 30, 2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elppa

Will this likely be the last release for the Macintosh?

I think they have to support the Mac until 2011, correct? That includes the same number of major releases for the Mac than for the PC. I would bet they'll make one more... unless they extend the contract again, which MS will undoubtedly drag their feet on, seeing as how they'll do just about anything to kill the Mac... rather keep it at 5% Market Share so that MS isn't a monopoly. *laughs*

-Clive

johnee · Mar 30, 2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazyrighteye

Being MS, I wouldn't' imagine them having any inside track to Leopard's UI, assuming there are UI changes (surely there must be, right?).

i knew we would be in single digits when leopard was brought up

Object-X · Mar 30, 2007, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazyrighteye

Being MS, I wouldn't' imagine them having any inside track to Leopard's UI, assuming there are UI changes (surely there must be, right?).

Let's hope they do a better job with the Mac version, because Office 2007's UI is horrid! It's just plain fugly. I much prefer Office 2003, and I'm not talking about the ribbon menus either, just the overal UI appearance is terrible and clashes with every other windows application. And Vista isn't much better for that matter. Why do they put exagerated drop shadows on all four sides of a window? It looks terrible.

Bern · Mar 30, 2007, 05:26 PM

I'm sure for some people having a Mac version of MS Office is essential, but I'm equally as sure for others it's really not that essential (but they think it is). For the past two years I've used Pages to replace MS Word and have never had an issue. I don't send .doc files via email that's what pdf's are for and on the rare occasion when I receive a .doc rather than a pdf Pages has handled it well.

Clive At Five · Mar 30, 2007, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crees!

Bubbling up better not be anything like those Windows System Tray balloons you get ALL THE TIME.

BTW, you can get rid of those by adding a parameter to your registry.

http://blogs.imason.com/scott.howlet...09/01/190.aspx

Don't'cha love windows?

-Clive

speakerwizard · Mar 30, 2007, 05:31 PM

most people 'THINK' they need ms office, others keep it as a security blanket, (remember a lot of people are making the os just, take it one step at a time) we all know neo office and iwork (if it gets excel equivelent will do), neo office supports macros, ms office 2007/8 for mac does not.

Clive At Five · Mar 30, 2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epochblue

I'll be interested to see what the final product looks like because so far, I've been less-than-impressed with some of the screenshots I've seen.

The ribbon is a disgrace. It eats even more document space than the thirty rows of buttons.

Third party productivity suites: Now is your time to shine... XML has opened document format compatability for much less hassle! Go! Steal that Market Share! But most importantly, bring us an elegant, simple yet power set of productivity tools!

-Clive

Avatar74 · Mar 30, 2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bern

I'm sure for some people having a Mac version of MS Office is essential, but I'm equally as sure for others it's really not that essential (but they think it is). For the past two years I've used Pages to replace MS Word and have never had an issue. I don't send .doc files via email that's what pdf's are for and on the rare occasion when I receive a .doc rather than a pdf Pages has handled it well.

Same here. I haven't written tons of documents in either outside of work since most of my communication is via e-mail, but when I do I use pages. I initially still used Word for some envelope support but the Pages envelope printing options are nicer.

odedia · Mar 30, 2007, 05:34 PM

I care about one thing: Will it FINALLY do Hebrew? (Or any Right-to-left language, for that matter...)

jellomizer · Mar 30, 2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elppa

Will this likely be the last release for the Macintosh?

I don't think so. Microsoft has enough Monopoly problems right now imagine the outrage you will get from the EU and DOJ if MS drops Office for the Mac.

Secondly if Microsoft stops Office for the Mac, A lot of the Mac people will switch to Linux. Normally if a person who doesn't like Microsoft will either go with Linux or a Mac. The reason why they go with Mac a lot of the time is because Office is there so they feel that they wont loose anything. But without office Next Upgrade cycle they may just consider Linux on a cheaper PC. What will not happen is droves of Mac users switching to windows. So better off keeping them on the Mac and make money selling your product to people who generally hate you.

Third Mac Users and office for the Mac are a good experimental base for the next version of office. They are able to try new things without a major public outcry, from companies.

Forth it is profitable.

Fifth, it will keep droves of people who know what good User Interfaces are from decided to contribute there effort in making programs like open office good.

...

Apples iWork suit is by no way close to office. It is at best closer to MS. Works.

xJulianx · Mar 30, 2007, 05:37 PM

Lovely stuff.

glennyboiwpg · Mar 30, 2007, 05:40 PM

I have used versions of office on PC for years, and it has come along way. I've heard that people love the newest version of office, although i havne't tried it. But I have no intentions of having office on my mac. I've tried the 30 demo that came with my powerbook and I didn't mind it, its just there is NO way i'm spending 400-500 dollars on a home office suite!

I"m waiting for iwork07 to come along.

although i hope iwork07 comes before 08 ...

Westside guy · Mar 30, 2007, 05:41 PM

I'll likely get it when it comes out since 1) the academic price is reasonable, and 2) I still run across occasional oddities with document formatting whenever I try to move away from it (be it with Pages, or NeoOffice, or Abiword, or whatever). MS Office is still the defacto standard where I work, so compatibility does matter.

Of course if this one wasn't going to be universal then I'd just stick with v.X, since that still does what I need.

psychofreak · Mar 30, 2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speakerwizard

most people 'THINK' they need ms office, others keep it as a security blanket, (remember a lot of people are making the os just, take it one step at a time) we all know neo office and iwork (if it gets excel equivelent will do), neo office supports macros, ms office 2007/8 for mac does not.

Yeah, I use Pages for taking my notes in school and NeoOffice for more advanced things...

Westside guy · Mar 30, 2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jellomizer

Secondly if Microsoft stops Office for the Mac, A lot of the Mac people will switch to Linux. Normally if a person who doesn't like Microsoft will either go with Linux or a Mac.

I admit to being biased on this (having migrated from Windows -> Linux -> Mac); but based on my personal experience and what I observe around my department - there are likely a lot more people that move from Linux to Mac than the other way around. As a matter of fact, Macs have made much stronger inroads here among the Linux/BSD/Solaris crowd than they have among Windows users.

I should qualify this, and note that I'm strictly speaking about their desktop/laptop machines. On the server end I think we've got a grand total of TWO Xserves, compared to several hundred RHEL Linux boxes.

Marx55 · Mar 30, 2007, 05:54 PM

OPEN DOCUMENT STANDARDS NOW!!!!

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument

The day we get them, we can get rid of the awfull M$ Office for ever!!!

psychofreak · Mar 30, 2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marx55

OPEN DOCUMENT STANDARDS NOW!!!!

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument

The day we get them, we can get rid of the awfull M$ Office for ever!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument

That is the English link...

kainjow · Mar 30, 2007, 06:04 PM

TUAW has some screenshots here.

Mar 30, 2007, 05:07 PM	#3
elppa macrumors 68020 Join Date: Nov 2003	Will this likely be the last release for the Macintosh? __________________ Snow Leopard is animated

Mar 30, 2007, 05:08 PM	#4
epochblue macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nashville, TN	I'll be interested to see what the final product looks like because so far, I've been less-than-impressed with some of the screenshots I've seen. __________________ -- epochblue rolls with a 20" Rev. D Intel iMac, a 15" Rev. C PowerBook, an 80GB iPod classic, 2G shuffle, and a 4GB iPhone.

Mar 30, 2007, 05:10 PM	#6
lazyrighteye macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Denver, CO	Ui Being MS, I wouldn't' imagine them having any inside track to Leopard's UI, assuming there are UI changes (surely there must be, right?).

Mar 30, 2007, 05:31 PM	#13
speakerwizard macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London	most people 'THINK' they need ms office, others keep it as a security blanket, (remember a lot of people are making the os just, take it one step at a time) we all know neo office and iwork (if it gets excel equivelent will do), neo office supports macros, ms office 2007/8 for mac does not. __________________ mac pro octo-core, 10GB, 5.25TB, 8800GT, 30"acd iphone 3G, Macbook pro C2D

Mar 30, 2007, 05:37 PM	#18
xJulianx macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK	Lovely stuff. __________________ MacBook CD\|1.83GHz\|2GB RAM\|320GB HDD\|10.5.6 500GB Lacie\|Edirol MA-7A Monitors\|Logic 8 Last.fm

Mar 30, 2007, 05:08 PM	#5
mcarnes macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: USA! USA!	Cool. So in MS time we're looking at a release around June 2011. Can't wait!

Mar 30, 2007, 05:26 PM	#11
Bern macrumors 68000 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Australia	I'm sure for some people having a Mac version of MS Office is essential, but I'm equally as sure for others it's really not that essential (but they think it is). For the past two years I've used Pages to replace MS Word and have never had an issue. I don't send .doc files via email that's what pdf's are for and on the rare occasion when I receive a .doc rather than a pdf Pages has handled it well.

Mar 30, 2007, 05:34 PM	#16
odedia macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2005	I care about one thing: Will it FINALLY do Hebrew? (Or any Right-to-left language, for that matter...)

Mar 30, 2007, 05:40 PM	#19
glennyboiwpg macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2007	I have used versions of office on PC for years, and it has come along way. I've heard that people love the newest version of office, although i havne't tried it. But I have no intentions of having office on my mac. I've tried the 30 demo that came with my powerbook and I didn't mind it, its just there is NO way i'm spending 400-500 dollars on a home office suite! I"m waiting for iwork07 to come along. although i hope iwork07 comes before 08 ...

Mar 30, 2007, 05:41 PM	#20
Westside guy macrumors 68040 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The soggy part of the Pacific NW	I'll likely get it when it comes out since 1) the academic price is reasonable, and 2) I still run across occasional oddities with document formatting whenever I try to move away from it (be it with Pages, or NeoOffice, or Abiword, or whatever). MS Office is still the defacto standard where I work, so compatibility does matter. Of course if this one wasn't going to be universal then I'd just stick with v.X, since that still does what I need. __________________ The fevered rantings found in this post are generated randomly. Any resemblance to coherent thought is completely coincidental.

Mar 30, 2007, 05:54 PM	#23
Marx55 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2005	OPEN DOCUMENT STANDARDS NOW!!!! http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument The day we get them, we can get rid of the awfull M$ Office for ever!!!

Mar 30, 2007, 06:04 PM	#25
kainjow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jun 2000	TUAW has some screenshots here.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode