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AppleWorks X?
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64-Bit compliant? If that means that it can actually take advantage of a G5, I would have to say that it would be ridiculous to go through any extra effort since word processors are already naturally fast. Except for Microsoft Word. Damn freezes. Well, that's mostly on Windows anyway. Windows sucks. As yall know.
I hope Appleworks X (if it exists) is as much of a break from previous versions of appleworks as Mac OS X was a break from previous versions of Mac OS. Or rather, as much of a radical improvment. And, it has to be completely, utterly, almost so you may as well use office compatible with office if it's going to take off at ALL. Different OSes is fine, but different document standards? Nope.
Would be awesome, though, having a completley ground up, mac built, redesigned office suite, to see how great it could be.
Would be awesome, though, having a completley ground up, mac built, redesigned office suite, to see how great it could be.
Amazon.co.uk posting
My god, Amazon.co.uk is offering a 30% discount on a book that hasn't even been published yet
Seriously though, read the post from the guy explaining that the X may be a stand in for the actual version number when it gets decided.
Sanj
My god, Amazon.co.uk is offering a 30% discount on a book that hasn't even been published yet
Seriously though, read the post from the guy explaining that the X may be a stand in for the actual version number when it gets decided.Sanj
Amazon.co.uk said:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
appleworX rocks!
Change the GUI, compatibility improvement and go... Do not forget that any update should be less than 40 I'll be happy
Change the GUI, compatibility improvement and go... Do not forget that any update should be less than 40
I'll be happyA new version of AppleWorks would be really nice, even if it's not some awesome Office-killer. Just a decent "Works" suite that gets the job done better than the current version, which really hasn't aged very well.
That's all 90% of home users need, and just as most people who got a copy of Microsoft Works (which, of course, is the suite that AppleWorks X would REALLY be competing with) with their Wintel box think it's good enough and don't pay $400 for Office, most people who get a copy of Appleworks with their Mac should be happy enough with it that they don't feel they need Word or Office. That's what I want--an Office replacement would be nice, but really a program with a few more features than TextEdit and a few less than Word that runs more smoothly than AW6 would suit me just fine. Mellel almost does it, but it's a bit light and doesn't have the other components.
And it's really worth noting that, assuming AppleWorks remains just that--a "Works" suite, rather than a full-scale "Office" suite--it's not really competing with MS Office. MS hasn't had a version of Works that ran on the Mac since the early 90s, leaving AppleWorks as the only thing in that space at all.
By the way, I REALLY hope they keep a database component in there--that's always been conspicuouslly absent from Office, and being loosely FileMaker based, is a real strong point of AppleWorks--I still know businesses run off of AW databases.
(I do hope they keep the AppleWorks moniker, too--there's something cool about the fact that 20 years ago I was running AppleWorks on an Apple //c, and I can still run it on OSX.)
That's all 90% of home users need, and just as most people who got a copy of Microsoft Works (which, of course, is the suite that AppleWorks X would REALLY be competing with) with their Wintel box think it's good enough and don't pay $400 for Office, most people who get a copy of Appleworks with their Mac should be happy enough with it that they don't feel they need Word or Office. That's what I want--an Office replacement would be nice, but really a program with a few more features than TextEdit and a few less than Word that runs more smoothly than AW6 would suit me just fine. Mellel almost does it, but it's a bit light and doesn't have the other components.
And it's really worth noting that, assuming AppleWorks remains just that--a "Works" suite, rather than a full-scale "Office" suite--it's not really competing with MS Office. MS hasn't had a version of Works that ran on the Mac since the early 90s, leaving AppleWorks as the only thing in that space at all.
By the way, I REALLY hope they keep a database component in there--that's always been conspicuouslly absent from Office, and being loosely FileMaker based, is a real strong point of AppleWorks--I still know businesses run off of AW databases.
(I do hope they keep the AppleWorks moniker, too--there's something cool about the fact that 20 years ago I was running AppleWorks on an Apple //c, and I can still run it on OSX.)
Just a 2nd Edition
This appears to be just a 2nd Edition of Peachpit's AppleWorks 6 for Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide book, also written by the same author.
In my experience it's not uncommon for web sites like Amazon to use an 'X' in a book's title. It replaces the program's version number until the book's published. I'd guess this is just in case the version number is incremented. I don't believe it suggests a Cocoa version of AppleWorks is waiting in the wings. (Though it'd be nice ;-)
It's good that there's still enough interest for Peachpit Press to release a 2nd Edition of this book. And if you want a version of AppleWorks that supports Mac OS X features then please let Apple know. They've had 4 years since AppleWorks 6.0 has been released to do this!
A new AppleWorks doesn't have to compete with Office either. The Mac world is big enough for a consumer level productivity package akin to Microsoft Works for Windows, without it being seen as Apple trying to depose Microsoft Office for Mac!
If you do have a strong opinion either way about a new version of AppleWorks I'd appreciate you visiting my blog and completing the AppleWorks 7 Poll I set up few weeks ago.
Cheers.
This appears to be just a 2nd Edition of Peachpit's AppleWorks 6 for Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide book, also written by the same author.
In my experience it's not uncommon for web sites like Amazon to use an 'X' in a book's title. It replaces the program's version number until the book's published. I'd guess this is just in case the version number is incremented. I don't believe it suggests a Cocoa version of AppleWorks is waiting in the wings. (Though it'd be nice ;-)
It's good that there's still enough interest for Peachpit Press to release a 2nd Edition of this book. And if you want a version of AppleWorks that supports Mac OS X features then please let Apple know. They've had 4 years since AppleWorks 6.0 has been released to do this!
A new AppleWorks doesn't have to compete with Office either. The Mac world is big enough for a consumer level productivity package akin to Microsoft Works for Windows, without it being seen as Apple trying to depose Microsoft Office for Mac!
If you do have a strong opinion either way about a new version of AppleWorks I'd appreciate you visiting my blog and completing the AppleWorks 7 Poll I set up few weeks ago.
Cheers.
dmg_software said:
Even if it's a second edition, it can still cover a new version. It's not uncommon to call a newer version of a book covering a later version of the software 2nd or 3rd edition.
Not gonna happen folks. And if it does it's going to still suck.
Apple can't afford to lose office. IE they could because well as long as its compatible with net standards it doesn't matter. You lose office (Word, Excel, PPT.) Apple will lose any hope of touching the enterprise market and even some of the home consumer market.
I can honestly say if MS dropped Office for the Mac tomorrow I wouldn't even consider the Mac anymore. I need office compatibility with whatever my next computer is going to be. (Which appears to be more and more likely an IBM Thinkpad. ) Whatever. The point being is I doubt Apple is going to bite the hand that is feeding it customers.
Apple can't afford to lose office. IE they could because well as long as its compatible with net standards it doesn't matter. You lose office (Word, Excel, PPT.) Apple will lose any hope of touching the enterprise market and even some of the home consumer market.
I can honestly say if MS dropped Office for the Mac tomorrow I wouldn't even consider the Mac anymore. I need office compatibility with whatever my next computer is going to be. (Which appears to be more and more likely an IBM Thinkpad.
) Whatever. The point being is I doubt Apple is going to bite the hand that is feeding it customers.
Hector said:
Or what? You'll switch to Windows? Apple knows that this isn't that big of a product. They know if you want a WP you buy Office or use one of the other third party apps that are out there.
AW doesn't or wouldn't be a major selling point for switchers. It might be more of a selling point if Apple bundled the AW in with the OS but again it's the whole bites the hand that feeds you thing. They cannot afford to lose MS office.
What I would like to see is a slimmed down Wordpad type app for the Mac. Something that would be the rough equivalent of missile testing during the cold war. (That's what I consider the current state between MS and Apple right now.) something that may agitate MS and get them a bit pissed but not enough to drop office altogether.
The Muffin Man said:
Reallly? I haven't had office freeze on me since Office XP back in 2002.
Just goes to show where MS's priorities are.
macridah said:
If M$ makes Office for the Mac or not just depends on how much money they make with it. They are not doing it because they love the Mac. I guess companys would still buy it and then they make it. If no one buys it - they stop making it - but why bother then ?
Cheers
mkaake said:
Sure they did. It was a convenient excuse to stop supporting an application. Otherwise you would have had the Mac community up in arms stating "They are leveraging their monopoly" This way MS can point to Apple and say that they have their own browser we don't need to make one for them. And beyond that yes development costs prob did play a roll in it as well.
Yep, it was written concurrently with the Mac system software (and that early exposure had a lot to do with the timing of Windows' introduction).nuckinfutz said:
Right. ClarisWorks was specifically written to compete with Microsoft Works, not Office.[/QUOTE]
CmdrLaForge said:
It's more complicated then that. Microsoft will drop Office for Mac when it's in their best interest to do so. e.g. They stop making money on it or if Apple starts invading their enterprise territory. I'm willing to bet a months salary that Apple has an anticompetitive lawsuit strategy on the table for the day MS drops office. For now its not a big deal since Apple owns a paltry +/-3% of the market which is hardly a threat to Microsoft.
Hmm I should consolidate my posts.
Mellel may be the answer to some of you
Well, this may be off the main topic, but I think that Mellel may be good answer for some of you who don't need spreadsheet or data base software. I just bought Mellel and I am very satisfied with it. $30 and 3 years of free upgrades -- it's very good deal! And new version every 2 or 3 months.
Well, this may be off the main topic, but I think that Mellel may be good answer for some of you who don't need spreadsheet or data base software. I just bought Mellel and I am very satisfied with it. $30 and 3 years of free upgrades -- it's very good deal!
And new version every 2 or 3 months.
Think different
If rumors hold true, this new office suite won't be copying Office X, it's more in Apple's reputation to offer something infinitely better. Office X is a tool that is long outdated for the multimedia demands that we need in business communications - complex word documents with embedded instructional videos, animated email newsletters, video 'powerpoints'/business imovies, all with music! etc. etc. It'd be fun to see a list of more future apps we'd love to see.
I mean, who enjoys reading text anymore when a picture/diagram/video explains the same thing in so much less time with so much more emotion - the limitation is in ease of production, and that's Apple's core competency.
Another major reason why I believe Apple will come out with their own version is because, for the company that pioneered desktop publishing and where the "i" in iMac stands for internet - I can't desktop publish to the internet! (ie design/send an email newsletter either through Office X or Mail, or even cut and paste one from Safari.)
I heard they're working on that one.
If rumors hold true, this new office suite won't be copying Office X, it's more in Apple's reputation to offer something infinitely better. Office X is a tool that is long outdated for the multimedia demands that we need in business communications - complex word documents with embedded instructional videos, animated email newsletters, video 'powerpoints'/business imovies, all with music! etc. etc. It'd be fun to see a list of more future apps we'd love to see.
I mean, who enjoys reading text anymore when a picture/diagram/video explains the same thing in so much less time with so much more emotion - the limitation is in ease of production, and that's Apple's core competency.
Another major reason why I believe Apple will come out with their own version is because, for the company that pioneered desktop publishing and where the "i" in iMac stands for internet - I can't desktop publish to the internet! (ie design/send an email newsletter either through Office X or Mail, or even cut and paste one from Safari.)
I heard they're working on that one.
SA that may be true today but things are rapidly changing. Linux is still growing despite not having any MS products. In fact Microsoft is whoring Office for $40 to compete against Linux/Star Office combinations. Microsoft is slowly losing it's focus on the Enterprise.
People don't buy Macs to run office. The support on PC for MS apps is always going to be better. Apple is not afraid losing office because of switchers because I can assure you that migration would be slight by comparison. They are afraid of the "Doomsday" articles that would come from idiot analysts that could hurt their stock. MS Office as a requirement for business is highly overrated. Many Gov are looking at ways of getting out from under the MS tax. It's only a matter of time.
Um no they didn't. My PC still runs IE6. MS stopped external updates for all platforms including Wintel. I really wish Mac users would stop revising history to try to prove their points. There's no proof either way but the fact that there is no IE7 weakens the whole Safari debate.
A lawsuit wouldn't be needed. Apple could do far more damage to MS by simply creating a kickass Suite and delivering it on Linux. If I was Apple my response would be a three pronged attack. I'd deliver my suite on Mac, Windows and Linux. My linux license would be around $50 a seat. The only way to hit MS is in their pocketbook. If MS stops making Office for Apple then they have absolutely no leverage at all. Apple and Linux unifying would be formidable competition for MS. Plus you have Sun that really wants to stick it to MS as well.
People need to realize that MS likes to puff their chest up and threaten people. But rashly dropping Office simply makes MS' financial goals that much harder. Their spreading themselves thin with the Xbox vs PS and in other areas. Apple needs to go for the gusto and focus on appeasing the users of its platform and not some company in Redmond.
Appleworks may not be coming but Apple needs their own presence in the Office Suite catagory. They have all the tools necessary. It's time to strike out on their own.
You know, just reading the past page or so of posts, I think that an Apple competitor to Office or Works could consist of the following applications:
* iWrite (the mysterious trademark from December 2003) to compete with Word.
* Keynote to go head-to-head with PPT.
* Some spreadsheet and database application (updated versions of those that currently exist with AW).
It might be an interesting bundle - I remember when M$ used to bundle Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access together (pre-Outlook), and then replaced Access with Outlook so they could make more money selling Access seperately or in "Professional" versions of Office.
Since Apple already has an excellent Mail program and iCal, they wouldn't need an Outlook competitor in the bundle. Essentialy, they could give folks more functionality than M$ as similar cost to the end user.
Just a thought...
* iWrite (the mysterious trademark from December 2003) to compete with Word.
* Keynote to go head-to-head with PPT.
* Some spreadsheet and database application (updated versions of those that currently exist with AW).
It might be an interesting bundle - I remember when M$ used to bundle Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access together (pre-Outlook), and then replaced Access with Outlook so they could make more money selling Access seperately or in "Professional" versions of Office.
Since Apple already has an excellent Mail program and iCal, they wouldn't need an Outlook competitor in the bundle. Essentialy, they could give folks more functionality than M$ as similar cost to the end user.
Just a thought...
I would like to see a new version of Appleworks. I don't need Office cost/function. I just need things to write pissed of letters to credit card companys, people who cut my sprinkler line, things like that. A little spreadsheet program for doing 'what if' type things for budgets, etc.
Every once in a while a simple spreadsheet/word processor/etc program would be nice. Appleworks 6 came with the iMac but it seems clunky compared to the iLife stuff.
Every once in a while a simple spreadsheet/word processor/etc program would be nice. Appleworks 6 came with the iMac but it seems clunky compared to the iLife stuff.
nuckinfutz said:
To be honest, I don't agree with that comment anymore. Sun has been propped up by MS and have you noticed how they've targeted IBM with their rumblings about buying SUSE to lock IBM into being their bitch for the SUSE OS that they run on their zSeries, iSeries, and pSeries products.