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Very good for Apple. I've already seen Appleworks at school, i see more students using Appleworks now rather than Office. I guess it's because it comes free with the mac
 
I've not really had an opportunity to use it, can it translate - import and export - ms documents? In my thinking that would be the best way to gain acceptance, period. And what do they have that's comperable to PowerPoint that you can use for presentations?

But over all, the idea of moving away from MS Office sounds like a great idea.

D
 
I love it! Give it to them I say. Not only that, but there is a PC version of AppleWorks. Make the app cross platform, and boom, there is another mole into their lair. he.he.

Bring Apple, I cannot wait to be microsoft free.
 
you can import/export certain file types i know.... not sure about all though. and as far as i know, there's nothing quite as thorough as powerpoint. that's not to say they won't add something like that though, if they really really want to be office competitive.
 
I can only hope that this rumor is true!

The iOffice will only work if I can open up my M$ Office docs in it.
Otherwise not dice. I have way too much time invested in current Office documents.

Making it cross playform.... I dont like that idea. Screw them.
Buy a MAC and then you can use the killer apps.


Now bring on an Apple Browser and we can truly be M$ free!!!
 
don't want to spoil the joy, but I abandonned AW for the simple reason that it makes ugly documents. it just wont render plain text like letters nice. office does a much better job.
 
I just wish it came free with a Tower. If I'm paying $3,000 + for a machine, I guess they assume I'll want M$ Orifice... I mean, Office, which I don't. I just need basic utilities and the ability to open other peoples docs. I can use Final Draft to draw up the important stuff.

It's only an extra $30 (EDU discount and current mail-in rebate) for the current, but limited, offering. But the way Apple has been lately, I'm wondering if the new version would be free.
 
AW can open files

Apple Works can open MS word and Excell files from
MS 5 to MS xp 2002. The only thing it can not open is power point files.

There was program way back called Astound it was pretty good and sometimes better than PP it even can animated 3D charts.

It died the last version I think was 3.1.

Wash
 
Can't you guys see that this is bad news? It shows that M$ is probably ready to drop support for software on the mac and if they do that suddenly, it's going to leave a huge vacuum and a loud sucking sound... As in it SUCKS. Without office, Apple's going to have an even harder time trying to get the mac into corps because ignorant IT managers are instantly going to discount the mac because it doesn't have office. Also, new users will be turned off because they'll think that their old documents "won't be compatible with the mac because it doesn't have Office." Either way, this is going to put a big monetary drain on apple, both in developing and maintaining appleworks, and in advertising to potential switchers that the mac IS compatible with M$ office docs. Just having a cheap, but fully functional Office suite that is compatible with Office won't do, as Wordperfect Office for the pc has shown (Corel's practically bankrupt).

It would be even worse if M$ pulled IE because most basic pc users are still using IE and have probably never heard of Mozilla, Opera or have very little knowledge of Netscape (nowadays). When they switch to the mac, they'll be expecting to use IE for their browsing and if the mac doesn't have it, it's going to be another con in the mind of an average (potential) switcher.
 
Would M$ drop M$Office v.X ?

Even if Apple introduce their own Office App, I don't see why M$ need to drop their development of Office for OSX. Last I heard (correct me if I'm wrong) M$ made good money on Office for the Mac. I never heard Microsoft turn down the chance to make money. Mind you, with them complaining about the advertising by Apple of OSX, maybe Office v.X isn't making enough money?
 
Re: AW can open files

Originally posted by Wash!!
Apple Works can open MS word and Excell files from
MS 5 to MS xp 2002. The only thing it can not open is power point files.
Wash

It can open them but there are some major limitations preventing companies from going this direction. A couple of glaring problems - with Word, if you use numbers and/or bullets they do not transfer well at all, and with Excel, you cannot use a file with more than 1 worksheet.

backspinner is also right in that it does not render to the screen well.

I actually think Apple might be smarter to put a major effort into porting OpenOffice to OS X. OpenOffice communicates quite well with MS Office (not perfect but very good) and the underlying functionality is pretty complete. In addition, beyond the technical reasons, a number of governments are pushing the use of open source software in their departments to reduce cost. Using OpenOffice and distributing it free could help Apple penetrate that market more.
 
There's been many articles that talk about about his marriage not working out. Microsoft and Apple that is - with the switch ad campaing and the partnership between apple and aol - doesn't seem like the support will last much longer.

If apple can come up with a product similar or better than microsoft office and works seamlessly with ms office files then go apple!! I can see that it's going to have to be that way with all the contraversy that's being going between the two.
 
Re: Would M$ drop M$Office v.X ?

Originally posted by StuPid QPid
Mind you, with them complaining about the advertising by Apple of OSX, maybe Office v.X isn't making enough money?

The marketing for OS X has been virtually nonexistant. Never has I seen an ad for OS X, not in a magazine, newspaper, billboard, television, or web banner. Nothing.

Lord only knows why they haven't marketed it, but M$ does have a point.

but an Apple Branded version of office would be sweet. Word is about the worst designed program I've ever used.

microsoft
>>entourage is
>no
better.
 
if this is true it certainly is an interesting development, and IMHO exactly what Apple need to do.... to produce a viable alternative to MS Office, that is fully compatible with Office.......

Apple need to makesure that they have solid products that can interface perfectly with other companies products so that if a companies threaten to pull a product, Apple isn't going to be left up the creek.......

As for PP..... hopefully Apple will be able to come up with something far better, and capable of better things..... PP is just about the worst package out there...... PP makes the most boring of corporate presentations even more mind numbing...... the package is just totally naff........

But for it to fully succeed..... like B2TM says... make it cross-platform and 1000x better than anything available on the PC platform.......
 
Originally posted by iGAV
Apple need to makesure that they have solid products that can interface perfectly with other companies products so that if a companies threaten to pull a product, Apple isn't going to be left up the creek.......
yes, but initially they shouldn't give them away as the other iApps, since this will pull the competitors out of competition. Make it twice as good and half the price and I will happily shell out the money for it (as I do for 10.2)!

People shouldn't think that the iOffice is the only office suite that is available for the mac so that is why it should be a product to buy and not to get. Ah well, getting things for free is over now at Apple so we don't have to fear about that.
 
the problem with cross platform products is that you go directly head to head in the MS market - Apple is a small market for them - and by shaking the tree, all sorts of crap is going to rain down on us.

If MS pulls support for Apple and iOffice doesn't get widely accepted or has *issues* Apple's sunk.

I think for now making it compatible and offering complimentary apps instead of competitive ones would be the best move. Be patient and take it slow, give it time to build a user base. Right now I'd love to have a decent option to MS Office, but the current version of AppleWorks isn't there.

D
 
Bad to lose Office for OS X...

Losing MS Office for Mac OS would severely wound Apple, especially as they are tryign to push the Mac as a business machine as well. Businesses don't five a F--- about software being "compatible" with MS Office. They don't want AppleWorks. They want Microsoft Office... Why? Because that is what they were trained on, and it is the general standard. Microsoft Word is what WordPerfect was many years ago, the accepted standard.

Although I don't personally mind the idea of an expanded AppleWorks (iOffice, etc.), I am mindful of the troubles I had dealing with programs such as MacLink Plus back in the days of System 7, working hard to maintain some sort of formatting across the platforms. Hopefully, this has all improved, and will be much better if Apple decides to compete head-on with MS Office. :rolleyes: :cool: :eek:
 
OS X ads

Apple's OS X, Unix ads have been in Information Week for a while now too.
(The one that says, "Sends all other Unix boxes to /dev/null")
 
Just for a test I went home and installed Appleworks on my iMac. I updated to the latest release, and every, let me say that again, EVERY document and Excel file that I opened, opened perfectly. Not only can it open them, but if you create a new document or spreadsheet in AppleWorks, then you can choose to save it in word or excel format from jump. It was seamless and flawless.

Office v.X went to the trash. I never knew that AppleWorks was that sweet. Now, bring me iOffice.

Oh, and lets step on some toes. Personally, I think we give Office for PC to much credit. I would be willing to bet that most users of PC's use Works. Hmmm... AppleWorks, Microsoft Works. strange don't you think :eek:
 
Open Office anyone?

Has anyone heard of Open Office? Its for Windows, Linux and OSX, and it is FREE, or 79 w/ support.

OSX will be out in a bit, but Windows version is out. It opens all Office docs, and does a few neat tricks with graphics.

It is the real deal.

http://www.openoffice.org

Dave Gutt
 
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