Microsoft Bashes Apple's iWork Software, New iPads

[paul4339]

Shaws comments somewhat are deceiving. Although surface does come pre-installed with a Office 2013, Microsoft's website says:

As sold, Office 2013 RT is not designed for commercial, nonprofit, or revenue-generating activities. However, organizations who purchase commercial use rights or have a commercial license to Office 2013 suites that include Outlook can use Office 2013 RT for commercial, nonprofit, or revenue-generating activities.

... meaning that if you are using for non-consumer use (ie for business) you have to pay the FULL price of Office 2013.

.

 

[mw360]

Seems like I'm in the minority here, buuuuut....

MSFT has a pretty valid point. Serious users—and especially serious corporate users—don't use this stuff. The only exception I can think of is quasi-professional presenters who sometimes start with a Keynote template. But Word > Pages and Excel >>>>> Numbers. And while I haven't used a Surface, I've heard good things.

Look people. I've been using Macs since the mid 1980s. I have never purchased any non-Apple PC, phone, music player, etc. But give MSFT credit where it's due. They're really ***** good when it comes to matters of productivity and business. You can be an Apple fan and still acknowledge the strengths of your competitors. Doing so does not weaken you, your position, or your love for your product.

They do have a point, but nobody cares. Serious users--serious corporate users--don't buy colourful plastic toys to do their Excel spreadsheets on. Apple has cornered the market buy making products people want. Corporate IT depts don't buy things people want.

 

[rei101]

If there is something I have learned in business...

Is to never make fun of Apple. That is bad corporate karma.

 

[se7encrows]

Yeah, but the Surface still runs Windows.

 

[phillipduran]

iPad to Surface is not the correct items to compare.
The Macbook Air is the Surface competitor.

He should redo his powerpoint.

 

[UNMENINU]

Who is deciding this is still a good idea.

This whole Microsoft bashing apple products in commercials and in statements is making me mental. Regardless on the pros and cons of either device, the fact of the matter is this "bashing campaign" seems to have no end in sight, despite not helping them sell any more units.

Basic advertising, don't focus on competition products on your own ad time. Surface sales pale in comparison to iPads along with customer satisfaction I believe yet they still continue to play the "bashing game." You think that final straw would be pulling their series of YouTube videos down taking place in the "competitions conference room." Yet someone is still approving this method as a good attack. Someone please explain this to me.

 

[springsup]

- The Surface and Surface 2 are less expensive than the iPad 2 and iPad Air respectively, and yet offer more storage, both onboard and in the cloud.

Not when the OS itself gobbles up half the space.

- ... come with full versions of Office 2013, including Outlook, not non-standard, non-cross-platform, imitation apps that can't share docs with the rest of the world.

Oh, so Microsoft is now the bastion of open standards?

Also, this is factually incorrect. iWork is cross-platform since it has native apps on both iOS and OSX, and a web version which supports Windows and Linux.

 

[neoelectronaut]

I'm not going to poke fun at the guy because I've never used Windows 8 or any of the Surface devices, but this kind of retort just screams "kid on the playground that isn't getting any attention".

 

[Squilly]

Disregarding price, get a MBA 11"

If anything, would want to go 13". 11" for a laptop seems too small (imo). Only reason I can do 10" on a tablet is because I hold it closer for viewing.

 

[Pakaku]

Honestly, this is hardly bashing.

 

[jkichline]

This is what a huge company does...

This is what a huge company like Microsoft does when another titan destroys their business model. Microsoft makes money on Office and Windows installs and upgrades. Apple just set the precedent of free OS upgrades and free iWork and iLife applications for new products. Those products are quality and desired in the BYOD workplace.

Microsoft should be scared. Their hardware is not doing well and their other branches are in trouble from multiple fronts.

 

[phillipduran]

Yeah, but the Surface still runs Windows.

Yes, thanks for the warning.

Welcome to MacRumors. Did you sign up during work hours per the request of your boss at Microsoft? Grats on your first post.

Damage control operation?

 

[mandoman]

When people want to get work done, they turn to a desktop computer, and if it's a PC, the computer they're working on today is more likely to be running Windows XP or Windows 7 than anything else. Understand that, Microsoft.

Businesses won't touch Windows 8 with a ten foot pole.

XP was decent, Windows 7 is actually pretty good, but only in a business environment behind a corporate firewall well protected from virus's, etc, the bane the PC world.

M$ needs to get their act together. Fix your OS, and get rid of your junky, expensive, subscription *&^! based Office 365 dreams. Business will never adopt that due to the crazy licensing cost. They need to stop bashing the competition, and focus their energy on making better products.

 

[BC2009]

I'm okay with MS bashing Apple. Every time they do, Apple comes out the winner in the end.

Remember how they bashed the iPhone because of lack of a physical keyboard? Now they are doing the same with iPad… you would think they would learn.

As an aside, Microsoft keeps saying they have more accessories for Surface. While it is true that they have more first-party accessories, there are far more third-party accessories made for iPad. Microsoft's music-oriented touch cover is a joke compared to the things you can do with an iPad, Garageband and a connected instrument.

 

[Michael Goff]

Not when the OS itself gobbles up half the space.



Oh, so Microsoft is now the bastion of open standards?

Also, this is factually incorrect. iWork is cross-platform since it has native apps on both iOS and OSX, and a web version which supports Windows and Linux.

My Surface RT had about 17 or so GB of space after 8.1.

>_>

Also, iWork is quasi cross-platform. It's somewhat cross-platform. But if I move over to anything other than OS X and want to type up stuff offline? SCREWED. At least you can get Office on the Mac.

 

[neutrino23]

LOL… This from the company that brought us Vista, the Zune, the Kin and many other fun failures.

 

[polbit]

To be fair, I am having a hard time deciding between the Surface Pro 2 and iPad (disregarding price). One runs a full fledged OS while the other is meant to be a mobile operating system. I want the best of both worlds while still having the ability to game a little bit and get productive with my tablet. Getting to be an increasingly difficult decision for me as the best of both worlds isn't here yet. iPad is really tempting with T-Mobile's free 4G but semi-lacking OS while the Surface is really tempting because of it's full-fledged OS but awful battery life and bulkiness.

I was in the same boat, and seeing the improved battery life of Pro 2, which was single biggest problem with the first one, I've taken the plunge and have been playing with my Pro 2 since Monday. This is an Apple forum so it's pointless to try to convince people to try other brands, but for those who are a bit more open-minded and are in a similar situation - give the Surface an honest try. You might just be surprised.

All I can say is that my iPad 4 has been given to the kids...

 

[158273]

This is the guy who writes in the same blog post:

I have to say, I’m really excited for a 1080p Lumia with a third column on my start screen so I can keep a close eye on more people, more news, more stuff.

Mhm. A third column. Very good.

 

[Tiger8]

Liar Liar!

Ok I always defend Microsoft office on this board, but I have to say one thing: He's lying.

Surface RT and Surface 2 come with Office 2013 RT, which is NOT the complete office version. Most of the 'office only' features that my clients use, such as macros and VBA, do not work on the RT version.

Get your facts straight. The Surface Pro ($900) is a laptop. Surface RT 2 is nothing but a confused tablet that sold for $199 on ebay (with cover)

 

[Squilly]

I was in the same boat, and seeing the improved battery life of Pro 2, which was single biggest problem with the first one, I've taken the plunge and have been playing with my Pro 2 since Monday. This is an Apple forum so it's pointless to try to convince people to try other brands, but for those who are a bit more open-minded and are in a similar situation - give the Surface an honest try. You might just be surprised.

All I can say is that my iPad 4 has been given to the kids...

Having to pay for Office and no 4G connectivity is killing me though. Man how much I take things for granted...
Are you liking the SP2 though? Concerns: battery life, weight, performance on Windows 8

 

[roadbloc]

Microsoft have full right to bash iWork. The rest, probably not just yet. I'd wait until businesses actually need newer touchscreen based machines before starting that verbal war. But I guess that airline chose to buy Surfaces for a reason, so it just goes to show.

 

[mtbdudex]

blah-blah-blah
what a wiener

 

[OC40]

The bias against MS on this forum is ridiculous. Yes, I get it, we all like our Apple devices. Was this jab from MS a bit over the top? Probably. That being said, iWork is nowhere NEAR the productivity suite Office is. I really like Keynote as compared to Powerpoint but Excel murders Numbers in ease of use, features, and standardization in the business world. MS knows productivity software and anyone who claims otherwise should go back to making brochures for their beat poetry slam in Pages.

The bashing hasn't been on MS' Office suite (software). In fact, most say they can't get by without excel. I use excel on my MBP.

The bashing is on the actual devices.

 

[leepalisoc]

Oh the surface, that tablet that I have seen......NOWHERE!

(Literally)

(Seriously, not even in the shops here!)

Well actually, we have Surface here in Canada but it's in a shop and no one's interested to play with it. Lol!

 

[aced411]

This may be true... I too believe that Word and Excel are better than Pages and Numbers. If you are publishing books or are an accountant, I would understand. but for 99% of the people out there who want to write docs, and keep expenses or everyday spreadsheet tasks, iWork is perfect. I have absolutely zero need for pivot tables on excel or any of the other "professional" features. And compatibility... the latest Pages plays very nice with Word docs.

Who are you people that claim iWork plays well with Word docs? Pages butchers the hell out of my word docs and Keynote butchers my PowerPoint slideshows. iWork is cool if my little brother wants to type out his resume or my wife wants to type out her christmas list, but for getting real work done it's nothing but headaches.