iWork '05 Productivity Suite?

[t300]

Doubt it. It is definitely a nice gesture, however (rightly or wrongly) business is business, and if Apple releases a slew of new goodies at MWSF, you can bet good money that their homepage will be updated to reflect everything.

EDIT:
Edit: Ah, you said after, sorry, misread your post.

Yes...but I meant directly after/during the Keynote, as I really don't see a reason why it would change beforehand. But it possibly could to advertise the keynote and/or its live broadcast.

Oh, now I just edited your edit. Glad we got it all cleared up....

 

[macFanDave]

An AppleWorks update or Office competitor?

If Keynote is supposed to compete with PowerPoint, does this mean that Pages is supposed to go up against Word?

Apple told MicroShaft to stuff Internet Exploder when they made Safari and shove Outlook Depress when they introduced Mail/iCal/Address Book, so do you think they are at the point when they can give Softee the ultimate F.U.?

Personally, I'd rather see an updated AppleWorks rather than a bloated Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access "killer." Make it a solid package for the home user and maybe small office and you'll have a winner. Leave the Office situation at the status quo until Microsoft's demise becomes clearer to those who don't have my gift of prophecy.

 

[~Shard~]

They are included with the OS and free - not bundled with a office suite or ilife that requires an additional purchase.

Keep in mind though that once, a long time ago in a galaxy far away, all of the iLife apps were free as well before Apple decided you should have to pay for them (all except iTunes of course.)

 

[~Shard~]

Personally, I'd rather see an updated AppleWorks rather than a bloated Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access "killer." Make it a solid package for the home user and maybe small office and you'll have a winner. Leave the Office situation at the status quo until Microsoft's demise becomes clearer to those who don't have my gift of prophecy.

Who says it can't be both? Perhaps this is simply an upgrade to AppleWorks, but with a few major enhancements. And it definitely doesn't have to be a "bloated" Word killer - Apple seems to pride itself on making non-bloatware, so I'm sure they could come up with something to rival MS Office without needing to make it bloated.

 

[~Shard~]

Yes...but I meant directly after/during the Keynote, as I really don't see a reason why it would change beforehand. But it possibly could to advertise the keynote and/or its live broadcast.

Oh, now I just edited your edit. Glad we got it all cleared up....

Yep, no worries, my mistake.

 

[animefan_1]

this is why i like Apple's niche position. they can outfit their hardware with some top notch software, and because they have only a small percentage of the market, they can get away with it. though, i think the only issue is whether or not it comes preinstalled on new machines (similar to windows media player or internet explorer, which are the two that have caused microsoft problems).

Apple shouldn't have any problem with the law. They are only pre-installing the application (meaning it can be FULLY removed).

Microsoft w/ IE and Windows Media Player are TIED into the OS and cannot be removed. That's why they got into trouble.

For reference: QT Player is not tied into the OS. The QT Frameworks are tied in the OS, but those Frameworks are used by many programs: iLife, Mail.app, Safari (and other browsers), the Finder and many other third-party programs.

 

[dontmatter]

How much does MS office cost? retail vs. best buy/office max etc?

If there is serial number protection, then the price really matters, and it can't be too expensive. They can get away with it on ilife-it doesn 't really have any serious competition. Oh, and it's cheap. but if iwork is more expensive, only works on macs, and doesn't have a MAJOR leg up on office... who will use it?

None the less, apple's got such a good reputation and such good money right now, and, being apple, makes such awesome stuff.... I don't doubt this will be quite a worthwhile chunk of software. It just needs to be itunes vs. winamp good, and cheap, and save things readable to office (and read office documents).

 

[animefan_1]

I really hope we get the budget Mac and this new iWork suite, otherwise I do think we will be left with an Apple way too focused on the iPod.

I think that the appearance of these rumors PROVES that Apple is not totally focused on the iPod.

Personally, I feel that while iPod has been getting a lot of the marketing dollars (currently). Apple has been focusing A LOT of R&D dollars on Mac hardware, the OS (witness Tiger - WOW), and Software - iWork, anyone.

The fact that they are working on iWork proves that are not worried about competing with Microsoft in their own backyard (should this prove true, of course).

 

[BornAgainMac]

News.com finally leaked the story about the $499 iMac rumor. Probably next week they will mention iWorks. Is Apple secretly starting rumors to increase the hype? They don't seem to comment or try to stop these rumors except for the Asteriod gizmo (Yawn).

 

[aldo]

I think that the appearance of these rumors PROVES that Apple is not totally focused on the iPod.

Personally, I feel that while iPod has been getting a lot of the marketing dollars (currently). Apple has been focusing A LOT of R&D dollars on Mac hardware, the OS (witness Tiger - WOW), and Software - iWork, anyone.

The fact that they are working on iWork proves that are not worried about competing with Microsoft in their own backyard (should this prove true, of course).

They won't drop Microsoft. Microsoft owns a large stake of Apple. Microsoft has a very good reason to keep Apple alive (if weak): It proves there is viable competition and alternatives on the desktop market.

The only reason Apple survived in the mid 90s was because of Microsoft.

 

[mox358]

Considering it's going to be shipped with the new budget mac, I think it's going to have to be $99 or less - who is going to pay $199 or $149 for iworks and ilife when they could get an entirely new computer with tiger aswell (another $99 - if they wait) for just a few more dollars?

hrmm... good point. one i didn't think of, but it makes a lot of sense to me. just run with me here for a minute, then we can debate this apple would LOVE to ship tons of new systems, even if it means they include these programs for free. maybe thats the whole point and it WILL be price @ 149. If apple can sell you iwork and ilife, or a brand new system, which one do you think they would rather sell you? maybe that has something to do with the price point of the h/l imac as well. get people to say "well, i can get this brand new system for just a little more, why not?". As a salesperson, i use this trick all the time and it WORKS. If people see tons more value in what they're buying vs a little more cost, they'll take it.

i'm open to debate on this, but thats my thinking as of now.

 

[rikers_mailbox]

. . .iWork '05 will use a software serial number, require a 500MHz system or better, run on Mac OS X 10.3.6 or later, and will likely come with most new Mac models, including the rumored Headless iMac. . .

wow, that's a 1-2 punch on Wintel machines. A cheap Mac that includes an Office replacement to boot?!

And correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the latest version of MS Office support XML based documents? Yay for open-standards giving 3rd parties the ability to save files readable by Office.

 

[t300]

With all this new software talk, I have just one thing to say...

Gosh, I love being a student!

Thanks Apple!

 

[Thataboy]

Tiger: $129
iLife 05: $49 (presumably)
iWork: $149 (my guess; I also can see it at $99 and $129 price points).

Once all of it is released, this is $327 worth of software that you get free with a new Mac. If you want all of this software, then you have GOOD reason to just buy a whole new $499 cheapMac. The computer essentially would only cost $172, and that is a super price for, say, an iTunes server or a media center for your living room.

Brilliant.

 

[asphalt-proof]

Please let this rumor pan out. I HATE using Appleworks. When I switched over a year ago I remember being profoundly disappointed in the included Works suite. This is something that Apple could and should remedy. As for price: I can't imagine it costing more than the $129 we pay for an OS upgrade. As mentioned before, it would have to be huge improvement over Office in order to make it worthwhile for some one to switch to it. And Office is currently the Gold standard.

 

[doogle]

There is already a product in the Apple market called iWork.

iWork

So where does this leave them? I assume for whatever reason they didn't have dibs on the name. Or has Apple bought it off them?

Anyone know or have any ideas?

I guess the marketing idea is to package work related apps under iWork and recreational stuff under iLife (no brainer) but really they should rename iLife to iLive in that case
iBirth, iSchool, iWork, iDie

 

[polyesterlester]

A slingshot is what David used to kill Goliath.

Both codenames are weapons, which makes me think Apple is going for Microsoft's throat with this. They're finally going to give the royal FU to MS. Good luck David.

 

[mhouse]

Errr...no.

They won't drop Microsoft. Microsoft owns a large stake of Apple. Microsoft has a very good reason to keep Apple alive (if weak): It proves there is viable competition and alternatives on the desktop market.

The only reason Apple survived in the mid 90s was because of Microsoft.

MS does not, nor have they ever, owned "a large stake of Apple." Where do you guys get this stuff? Microsoft did pay Apple 100m at one time in exchange for Apple bundling IE with all Macs. But let explain something to you...100m does not buy you "a huge stake" in a company with a 25 Billion dollar market cap.

Back to topic:
This makes perfect sense. If Apple is going to try to bite a 10% chunk out of the market, the way to do it is what?

-Compete on price (499 dollar iMac)
-Add in a simple, elegant Office compatible freebie. Appleworks is too lame to even pretend to be a viable alternative even for the casual user at this point.

 

[Doctor Q]

News.com finally leaked the story about the $499 iMac rumor. Probably next week they will mention iWorks. Is Apple secretly starting rumors to increase the hype? They don't seem to comment or try to stop these rumors except for the Asteriod gizmo (Yawn).

Page 1 of the Los Angeles Business Section today: "New Mac? Apple may bring out a $500 iMac...".

Yes, rumors aren't confined to rumor sites.

 

[iRiKliAN]

Sounds cool. Cant see it happening though.

 

[aldo]

hrmm... good point. one i didn't think of, but it makes a lot of sense to me. just run with me here for a minute, then we can debate this apple would LOVE to ship tons of new systems, even if it means they include these programs for free. maybe thats the whole point and it WILL be price @ 149. If apple can sell you iwork and ilife, or a brand new system, which one do you think they would rather sell you? maybe that has something to do with the price point of the h/l imac as well. get people to say "well, i can get this brand new system for just a little more, why not?". As a salesperson, i use this trick all the time and it WORKS. If people see tons more value in what they're buying vs a little more cost, they'll take it.

i'm open to debate on this, but thats my thinking as of now.

I agree, but what about those who have splashed $2000+ on a powermac (aka fools )? They are not going to be sold up.

Maybe they'll include it with Tiger?

 

[Stella]

I would really like it if Apple has taken OpenOffice, ported it to a native Mac Application and repackage it. Replace the existing openoffice presentation app with KeyNote.

OpenOffice is the way to go for compatibility with other platforms.

Do I think it'll happen.. no, unfortunately.

 

[aldo]

MS does not, nor have they ever, owned "a large stake of Apple." Where do you guys get this stuff? Microsoft did pay Apple 100m at one time in exchange for Apple bundling IE with all Macs. But let explain something to you...100m does not buy you "a huge stake" in a company with a 25 Billion dollar market cap.

Back to topic:
This makes perfect sense. If Apple is going to try to bite a 10% chunk out of the market, the way to do it is what?

-Compete on price (499 dollar iMac)
-Add in a simple, elegant Office compatible freebie. Appleworks is too lame to even pretend to be a viable alternative even for the casual user at this point.

http://aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/tec081097.html

"Microsoft buys 7% of Apple". It is also rumored that they bought much more via various proxy companies and various payoffs down the line. I can remember them giving Apple $500mil at one time for some technology deal of some sort.

 

[adam1185]

Page 1 of the Los Angeles Business Section today: "New Mac? Apple may bring out a $500 iMac...".

Yes, rumors aren't confined to rumor sites.

It was also talked about on CNN.

 

[zwilliams07]

Sounds good.

I would love to rid my machine of Office 2004. But I have to use it for easy converting later on with classmates and teammates. But the damn thing is so sluggish and buggy.

Not to mention that MO's autocorrect is the manifestation of all evil.