Microsoft Has 'No Current Plans' for Office on iPad

[Coda81]

"No Current Plans" Breakdown:

1) Because they are hating on the fact the Apple just gave them a Jimmy the Supa Fly Snooka off the top ropes when it comes to tablets!

2) Because they probably want to make an office program official to the "Courier" when ever that decides to show up...all late, mind you. Not to mention they will copy and try to mimic the iPad as will the rest of the competition. And...Ultimately...FAIL!

3) Then after that idea turns into a massive pile of steaming fecal matter, they will then release an iPad app to try and pull whatever funds they can out of it, to support their failed, weak attempt in trying to "innovate" better than their daddy. Sit down SON!

Did I just say that?

(I endorse this message even though I own a pc)

 

[deconstruct60]

Well, let's be realistic: it's more that Steve Jobs has a new target in his sights (Flash), and wants it eliminated. People here tend to decry Flash because of generally much-lower performance in OS X (and it's relatively true), but there is absolutely no reason for that lower performance outside of the on-going dislike that Apple and Adobe have for each other.

Nice side effect too if getting everyone hooked on H.264 since Apple is one of the patent holders that gets paid more when that becomes the dominate format (for the video aspect). Likewise, flipping some folks from Flash based games/application to proprietary iPhoneOS games ... also happens to leave more money jingling in Apple's pocket too.

Adobe was an easy target. Flash was a big sphere of complacency (everyone did Flash because everyone else did Flash ). Apple is also going to get a better Flash implementation out this too. ( Adobe was dragging its feet on making it better across platforms).

The iPad was a nice inflection point to stir the pot.

 

[deconstruct60]

Even if Office doesn't ever come to the iPad, iWork isn't "going to take the market by storm". iWork for iPad and iWork for OS X will still be vastly different software packages. Sure, they'll look somewhat similar, but given how dominant Office for Mac is, iWork for iPad isn't about to just turn the tables. It'll be suitable for light usage (i.e. opening documents, slight editing, etc.), but when it comes to desktop-usage, people will still probably use what they're comfortable with/experienced with, and for the most part, that's Office.

It won't radically turn the tables, but may give incremental push for iWork on Mac OS. For folks who really only need a subset and the occasional home office format reader it will suffice. And it is cheaper.

Having Mac Office incrementally helps Windows Office. It is another platform to help push the number of users up. Likewise, iPad will likely help iWork generate a bit more revenue ( Apple isn't using iWork as a major profit center but definitely get way past break even here as iPad market goes past Mac OS X market in terms of new units deployed in a year or so. )
Office on two platforms helps it, will likely also help iWork too. (much more than a Windows port of Work would. )

iWork on Mac OS X isn't radically killing off Mac Office but does cut a chunk out of the the lower end on the Mac Office Home:Student edition.
iWork is priced at $79 versus the $100+ for Home:Student. The iPad is priced even lower still. That has to be shaving off some sales for Mac BU.
Questionable strategic move for Microsoft to follow Apple deeper into their home canyon with a 3rd platform to port Office to.

Even more so if Windows7 Mobile or a much more touch target version of Windows Mobile comes out and targets similar form factors as the iPad. Working to have a version of Office Touch would be much more of a win/win for microsoft. As oppose to propping up the iPhoneOS even more (when their mobile platform is so far behind. )

I don't think Microsoft is just going to sit back and let Android win in the Open Vendor Mobile platform space. Surely they have blundered, but they have lots of resources to effect a recovery if get their head screwed on straight. Especially if Android blundered in the next year or so. ( Ironically, if Apple manages to force HTC off of Android they would likely jump straight back into Windows Mobile where they were before. A kneejerk goof ball move by Apple. HTC was helping to kill of Windows Mobile by making the switch they did. If just stalling and inflating FUD then it may work for a while. )

 

[-hh]

My thought exactly. With iWork probably being ubiquitous on iPads due to their low price for their functionality and due to their heavy advertisement by Apple, iWork needs to be improved in order to handle almost full compatibility with Office docs. I say "almost full" because I acknowledge that it's very hard to get 100% accuracy with every type of document no matter how arcane its settings or contents. But if they can cover 95-99% of the cases, it's good enough for almost everyone.

And if that happens, no need for Office. In fact, with Google Docs available on the Web, and iWork on the iPad, I can't see any purpose for Office on the iPad.

I think we are reaching the post-Office world.

What would be a nail in Microsoft's coffin would be for Apple to merely demo a iWork BETA that runs under Windows.



-hh

 

[Drag'nGT]

My soul hurts when I say this... but I really have started to figure Office is necessary on my Mac units because of how poorly iWork handles the Word format.

Just today I had 4 pictures (1 per page) on a Pages document followed by 3 pages of text and then 2 more pictures. I had to save them in Word format naturally and Pages ended up changing it all up when exporting to Word. I had picture, text, picture, text... alternate through the whole document. WTH?

So naturally I was hoping that my physical assessment document could be made touch friendly with a Word app but I guess not. I'll play with the device and the Pages app when it come out and see what it's all about.

 

[*LTD*]

Microsoft wil get on board eventually. They won't announce their wholehearted love and fondness for an Apple product too early.

My soul hurts when I say this... but I really have started to figure Office is necessary on my Mac units because of how poorly iWork handles the Word format.

Just today I had 4 pictures (1 per page) on a Pages document followed by 3 pages of text and then 2 more pictures. I had to save them in Word format naturally and Pages ended up changing it all up when exporting to Word. I had picture, text, picture, text... alternate through the whole document. WTH?

So naturally I was hoping that my physical assessment document could be made touch friendly with a Word app but I guess not. I'll play with the device and the Pages app when it come out and see what it's all about.

Unless files are going to be edited, everything should be saved as a .pdf.

Won't asking for RTF files work?

We really need to get away from the .doc format.

 

[HLdan]

It dominates because it is an excellent product. Sure, most users don't take advantage of the more complex portions of the software (like a lot of the great things excel can do) and the tracking feature. Those are great features that might not be able to be duplicated in such a small format in a usable fashion. I enjoy iWork at home and personal stuff, but it cannot handle what I do for work -not even close. I imagine the iPad will be used to read such documents, but not edit in any real manner. Maybe document tweaking.

Office doesn't dominate because it's excellent product, it dominates because MS pushed Windows in everybody's face, especially the enterprise sector and tossed in Office to go with it as they did Internet Explorer. Is Internet Explorer an excellent product? NO, but it's the most widely used browser on the web. Soon after, Office became the de facto standard because everyone else seemed to be using it.

It's narrow thinking like yours which is also why some people think that Office dominates because of it's excellence. You'll only entertain iWork for home and personal use but for real work you'll use Office, I'm just paraphrasing what you said.

And TBH, Word doesn't get used much by most other for than it's word processing functionality, Excel is what most people seem to "NEED". As far as the rest of Office, Publisher, that's a excellent product? NOT, Pages kicks it's but in templates and graphics. One Note isn't so amazing against other note takers, it's just tied to Outlook which forces people to use it. Keynote fries Powerpoint and beg to differ that most people would disagree.
Office won't be missed on the iPad.

 

[HLdan]

Certainly are getting closer to that world. I'm a little surprised by MS's reaction to the iPad. They must know it's going to be a success so why shut out all those potential customers and miss the opportunity to entrench Office on yet another platform.

MS doesn't want to help Apple win, they try very hard to make Apple lose. It's always been that way. The pity about MS is that they feel in order for them to win Apple needs to lose. This is why I won't pay for anything MS makes, they suck and Emballmer sucks too for being such an ass towards Apple's customers.

 

[tatonka]

Office doesn't dominate because it's excellent product, it dominates because MS pushed Windows in everybody's face, especially the enterprise sector and tossed in Office to go with it as they did Internet Explorer. Is Internet Explorer an excellent product? NO, but it's the most widely used browser on the web. Soon after, Office became the de facto standard because everyone else seemed to be using it.

It's narrow thinking like yours which is also why some people think that Office dominates because of it's excellence. You'll only entertain iWork for home and personal use but for real work you'll use Office, I'm just paraphrasing what you said.

And TBH, Word doesn't get used much by most other for than it's word processing functionality, Excel is what most people seem to "NEED". As far as the rest of Office, Publisher, that's a excellent product? NOT, Pages kicks it's but in templates and graphics. One Note isn't so amazing against other note takers, it's just tied to Outlook which forces people to use it. Keynote fries Powerpoint and beg to differ that most people would disagree.
Office won't be missed on the iPad.

You're point being?

The Office pack is an excellent product, because it has important features for the business world (and that is were MS makes the most money). It is a professional tool that has integrate scripting and workflow controls that are unmatched. You can open files from years ago and they still work and look the same.

Besides .. what are the alternatives? iWorks certainly doesn't work for a single reason (not even discussing whether or not it would be capable of handling the tasks necessary) .. Mac only.
Sorry, but in serious business there is virtually is no alternative.

T.

 

[fabianjj]

Isn't microsoft going to release a web-based version of office 2010? May they will make a few tweaks to make it work on iPad.

 

[HLdan]

As all available reviews suggest that writing long text pretty sucks on the iPad it just doesn't make much sense for MS IMHO.

And that's exactly why Apple created a keyboard dock for the iPad so your point is moot.

 

[peterja]

I think office work on the iPad falls in the category Steve placed netbooks, it doesn't do anything better it's just cheaper. If MS is going to spend time on half assed versions of desktop software its going to be on their platform

 

[alex2792]

If MS cuts down office features to make it work on an ipad you will end up with iWork. Office is used by businesses and I can't see many people creating complicated documents on an ipad.

 

[carmenodie]

Apple's tablet competition = Microsoft Courier, HP Slate (w/ Windows 7)

Please!!!
The courier isn't even a real product and the HP slate will face-off with other window based tablet systems on their way.

 

[carmenodie]

Next you're going to tell me that Adobe won't be releasing photoshop for ipad either!?!?!!11!

The ipad will never be used seriously by anybody trying to accomplish actual work, at least not in it's current form.

So what! If Apple wanted it that way they would have created an ipad that had robust features that could handle the hardcore stuff. But they didn't. I'm sure though that a lot of people getting the ipad already have the tech, Apple's stuff or other swag to accomplish more extraneous task.

The ipad was the answer to Wall Street bit**** at Apple to enter the netbook world. A cheap a** world at that. Apple doesn't need a netbook when their laptops already sell like hot cakes. But lets not forget that Wall Street works for the stock holders and Apple is owned by stock holders.
Fill in the blanks.

Anyway, I say kudos to ipad! I'm getting the 3g wifi combo when I finish paying off them clowns at Jcrew. They went all metro male! Everyone of their freaking shirts are tapered! I'll use the money to pay att for 3g.

 

[ImperialX]

My soul hurts when I say this... but I really have started to figure Office is necessary on my Mac units because of how poorly iWork handles the Word format.

I have a lot of formulae in my Word documents, and I'm sad to say that even Office for Mac can't handle them properly. I often find myself booting to Windows just to use Office 2010.

Here's hoping the next Office for Mac will have better compatibility! It looks promising.

 

[carmenodie]

How is having to hold, then select, any "easier" than simply selecting right away?

I think people here, in their dislike of Microsoft, blind themselves to the fact that Courier and iPad are essentially targeted towards different demographics. The iPad is targeted towards the average consumer who wants to be able to view videos, do some light reading, basic web surfing, etc., a market it should be perfectly suited for.

From what we know about Courier, it seems to be more targeted at the productivity crowd, for those in enterprises, artists, etc. I know several artists who like to do drawing on Tablets, and who are very much looking forward to Courier if it does come out. There are certain demographics that stylus interfaces are amazing for, and Courier seems to be aimed more at those.

My guess though is that it'll also be fairly expensive, maybe $800+ at least, so I don't really see Courier (if it is ever released) and the iPad even competing against each other.


My thoughts exactly (regarding the issue of whether Office not being on the iPad will be a major concern/issue).


How is Office "awkward"? Pretty much every office-oriented productivity suite of the last decade, has attempted to imitate Office in some form or another (albeit adding their own touches). Office is the standard that all others get compared to.

Even if Office doesn't ever come to the iPad, iWork isn't "going to take the market by storm". iWork for iPad and iWork for OS X will still be vastly different software packages. Sure, they'll look somewhat similar, but given how dominant Office for Mac is, iWork for iPad isn't about to just turn the tables. It'll be suitable for light usage (i.e. opening documents, slight editing, etc.), but when it comes to desktop-usage, people will still probably use what they're comfortable with/experienced with, and for the most part, that's Office.

Lets be blunt shall we. No one has any artistic talent so lets stop with the courier being for that crowd, which is small. Anyway there are wacom tablets that fit the bill perfectly. As for the courier being for the enterprise market I say child please! There are dozens of tablets for the enterprise market not seen my the average consumer b/c they aren't meant for the average consumer. My homegirl works at 7-11 and she uses a tablet supplied by the 7-11 company to do everything around the store like inventory and ordering.
The stuff on that courier video was cool but anyone with talent could have made a program to do all that crap on any over the counter tablet.

 

[Saladinos]

I don't know why you're all praising iWork so much. It's lacking some key features:
- Equation Editor
You can get MathType for OSX, but you're not going to be able to on the iPad! Office 2007+ has one of the most beautiful equation editors I've ever seen.

- References
iWork sucks at this. Most people use EndNote. Office has much better OOTB support.

- File formats
iWork for iPad won't let you export your documents as PDF (uhm, the PORTABLE document format), or even as iWork documents! The reviews I've seen all say it's Office 2003 formats only. Joy.

 

[Doctor Q]

"We never say never, but we have no current plans" to develop a version of Office for the Apple iPad, Elop said. Last year Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft said it would create a version to work on Nokia Oyj's smartphones, since millions of Office users already own those devices.

Won't millions of Office users soon own iPads?

 

[ct2k7]

Won't millions of Office users soon own iPads?

Maybe millions will, but 100 millions won't.

 

[powers74]

M-soft

Shouldn't the headline just be ... Microsoft Has No Current Plans?

That's great!

 

[pale9]

What A Bunch Of Losers!

 

[BornAgainMac]

Office won't be necessary if they are making a lite version for the web like Google Docs. I don't think Microsoft ever put out really good Mac software. It is always sub-par quality.

 

[MrMacintoshBlog]

Won't millions of Office users soon own iPads?

True

 

[sushi]

Sad to see Microsoft take this stance. Office is a very useful suit especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Won't millions of Office users soon own iPads?

Exactly.

But by the time Microsoft decides that it's time to develop Office for the iPad, most will already be using iWork and the demand will be far less than it would be today.

Shortsighted decision, it seems.