Microsoft and Apple...

[CHess]

Like it or not

Whether you like Microsoft or not, the fact remains that they are a dominant force in the personal computer industry. You don't have to like Office v.X or IE (though I happily use them both) to understand that their existence signifies Microsoft's acceptance of the Mac is a important computing platform. That's really saying something, coming from a company that uses strongarm tactics to destroy its competition.

It seems that there may be no new contract between MS and Apple, but I'm happy to hear that there are strong indications that MS support for the Mac platform will continue. Non-Mac users will view this as something positive when they look at Macs and that's what Apple needs if they are going to convert more of them over to the Mac platform and grow their marketshare.

As for Wordperfect, I haven't used it since the Apple IIgs days, so I don't really care what Corel does. One thing is certain, Apple does NOT need to make deals with Corel. What Apple needs to do is to grow marketshare and then Corel and other companies like it will jump on-board on their own.

 

[Balzac]

It's difficult to imagine that the Mac would be "better off" without continued MSFT support.

 

[AJW]

Who's signature is "The future of the PC industry rests on one company... Apple" or something like that should change it to read, "The future of Apple depends on two companies: Microsoft and Adobe"

 

[TechLarry]

Missing one important point

Everyone seems to be missing one BIG, very important point.

Microsoft makes a TON of money off of Macintosh Software, especially Office.

If Microsoft were to simply throw that away, that amount of literally wasted revenue could do no less than inspire a law suit against Microsoft by it's own shareholders.

It's all about money, folks. Whether you want it to be or not, it IS all about money.

TL

 

[mangis]

As much as I do not want to admit it, Office for Mac is not only wanted but needed. We use macs cause we kow that they are better, but I need the ability to work in a M$ world. I guess that in our lifetimes, Macs will not come close to beating Windose in numbers. It is highly likely that that will NEVER happen. Let's be happy that we can translate all the M$ documents onto our lovely machines. Hell, Office for Mac is better than for them. What are we complaining about?

Word.

 

[jefhatfield]

dog and tail

if ms was the big bad dog, then apple is the little tail

a couple of times that tail has wagged the dog

most notably,

1) windows copying the mac os
2) windows xp copying os x and the aqua look

wouldn't it be funny if one day windows became a variant or flavor of unix? my compTIA computer repair manual/textbook already states that windows nt technology, which is what windows xp is built upon, is already unix like

ms may be the richest, but apple still is the innovator twenty five years later

 

[eric_n_dfw]

Re: dog and tail

Originally posted by jefhatfield
wouldn't it be funny if one day windows became a variant or flavor of unix? my compTIA computer repair manual/textbook already states that windows nt technology, which is what windows xp is built upon, is already unix like

Technically, NT is more like VMS than unix. See http://www.win2000mag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?IssueID=97&ArticleID=4494 for some history on nt's roots.

 

[Kela]

My prediction: the contracts will be renewed. Apple Works is pathetic and MS and Apple both will mutually benefit if Office remains on da mac.

 

[Mr. Anderson]

I definitely see the relationship continuing, especially considering the new bit of news with Apple and MSN. But it is nice knowing that Apple is atleast in the game. The alternative would be nasty.

 

[chicagdan]

It makes me laugh when I hear Mac users singing the praises of Office ... Office is the M$ cash cow, more so than their various flavors of Windows. If you were going to split the company in two, with one having Office and the other having Windows, the smart money would be on the Office company.

Personally, I use Final Draft for all my writing needs, it beats the hell out of Word ... Entourage sucks and PowerPoint in any form is just plain evil. But if you must give your money to Gates, fine, just have no illusions about your badass Mac attitude.

 

[CHess]

Originally posted by chicagdan
... Entourage sucks and PowerPoint in any form is just plain evil.

Entourage works great. Why do you think it sucks? And what do you use when you need to give presentations if not powerpoint?