Microsoft Office 2015 (2016?)

[skaertus]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/18/6375419/microsoft-office-16-features-screenshots

Looks like the next Office for Windows is under-development!

Interesting to know that. There is already a beta of the next Office for Windows, and it looks like it will be released in Spring 2015. Perhaps the Windows and Mac versions are released simultaneously. I would like to know whether the Windows and Mac versions are alike.

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Oh, I wanted to ask you. Have you every tried Scrivener? It can't (and wasn't designed to) replace Word for final edits and layout adjustments, but it a great tool for actually writing. I'm using it now for my thesis and love it. I'll compile and export it to Word to finish it up and fix any endnote citation issues. The biggest thing that held me back was endnote citations, but apparently endnote does work with it.

I have tried Scrivener and I do have it. It looks great for writing, but I am not really sure if I can get along with it. Word 2013 still seems better for me, as it has useful features such as the theasaurus, grammar check and auto-correct.

Other thing I was thinking about...

Yes, I'm a computer "nerd," and love software and have tried many Office suites. Since I use them so much all day everyday the right choice was important. I never hated Office because: (1) there's no reason to, and (2) I'm an accounting major and will finish my Masters and get my license within 2 years. I will be using Office, Access, and MS Dynamics (among other enterprise system software) all my life. I get a lot of Access and Excel projects in class right now. I tried, I really tried, to do my Excel projects on the Mac version, but it simply didn't have the functionality I needed, it lagged, and it wasn't very compatible.

I have tried several office suites as well and I still think Microsoft Office is the best. Well, Microsoft Office for Windows, of course.

Well, I loved Pages 09. I used it for everything from letters to research proposals, but my usage has dramatically changed for a few reasons. First, I am using my iPad a lot more now. It's easier to take an iPad and a good keyboard to class than a 15" rMBP. Second, Microsoft finally released Office for iPad, and it was really good. Is it perfect? No. Is it a solid release that has received much support? Yes. The only compatibility issue I've had was with one font that wasn't on my iPad. Third (and last), Apple destroyed iWork. Even before the update, the Mac and iOS version of iWork were NOT very compatible so I gave up on them. With me using the iPad at school I wanted good Mac/iOS communication and OneDrive has worked out great. Why use Pages 09 on Mac and Word on iPad? I've almost completely cut out Pages without even thinking about it. It makes me sad because Pages was an amazingly refined and useful word processor and page layout tool. I have all kinds of pages documents still on my system, but Word was just easier and is the standard. All my professor post material as .docx (why not .pdf, I don't know...). There is also Word and Excel communication in Windows, I haven't tested it in the Mac version. Office is the standard that I will use and it's good. Why not use it? Pages will not be supported and will fade away eventually, Office is here to stay. Office has it's issues and many people dislike it with good reason, but for my usages it fits. I've started using Word for all the small tasks too (if I don't use textedit for really quick things) and Scrivener for big projects that get exported into Word for final edits. I've even grown to enjoy OneNote.

I never really loved Pages. It looks nice, but that is about it. It is OK for simple documents, but if you have to do something more complex, then... well, it just lacks the features you would expect.

Microsoft has done some amazing work. I just wish that they would function more like a neutral software company and make great products with parity on all platforms. Sadly, the Mac clients will never be what the Windows versions are, which is to be expected (or not surprising I should say.) Now I just use Mac Word for a viewer and some lighter usages and Mac Excel for only the most basic spreadsheets. I use Office 2013 in VMWare for everything else.

I hope Microsoft releases a better Mac Office next time, though. Microsoft Office for Mac is not as good as the Windows version, and it is not an act of sabotage, or at least this is the way I see it. If Microsoft wanted to destroy the Mac platform, it would stop releasing Office for Mac. Then, users would have to migrate to Windows or bootcamp/use a virtualization solution (which would also mean that a Windows license would have to be bought). Even Mac users are very dependant on Microsoft Office. So, as Microsoft had the chance of stop releasing Office for Mac and never did, then I think the reason why Mac Office is so inferior to Windows Office is the fact that the user base of Mac Office is so much lower that it is not worth to put much money and effort in the development of the product.

Quick side note: When I first moved to Mac, I really tried to like Numbers, I really tried. I used it a lot, but it was just infuriation to use! Simple things were completely absent and even the implementation of what was there was unintuitive.

This is how I feel about Pages!

 

[maflynn]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/18/6375419/microsoft-office-16-features-screenshots

Looks like the next Office for Windows is under-development!

Not surprising, I think with the subscription model, MS is on the hook to roll out more updates faster to help justify the reasoning for paying annually. It makes less sense if the some span between versions is 3 to 5 years.

 

[sracer]

Not surprising, I think with the subscription model, MS is on the hook to roll out more updates faster to help justify the reasoning for paying annually. It makes less sense if the some span between versions is 3 to 5 years.

I was actually thinking the opposite may be true...
The subscription model makes the subscriber continually dependent on the provider...especially if Microsoft reduces or eliminates the availability of an outright purchase option.

There is no purchase option for iOS nor for Android. Time will tell if the only consumer option for Office is subscription for future versions.

People who genuinely need MS Office need it. LibreOffice isn't going to cut it. Google Docs isn't either.

Without the ability to purchase Office, subscribers will be at the mercy of Microsoft.

I'm trying the subscription model, primarily because I was able to get it at a discounted $65/year and to have a time to fully test the OSX and iOS versions. If Microsoft fails to deliver a parity-version of Office for OSX by the time that 1 yr anniversary of the iOS version's release, I don't think that I'll be alone in letting the subscription lapse and moving on to something else.
(I don't "need" MS Office, but I prefer it)

 

[maflynn]

Adobe is a good example of the subscription model. They've been good at rolling out numerous updates instead of one big update every few years - at least to the CS applications (LR - not yet).

I can see MS following suit. Additionally the numerous updates in a shorter time span also fits their new philosophy, as they've promised that with windows.

 

[sracer]

Adobe is a good example of the subscription model. They've been good at rolling out numerous updates instead of one big update every few years - at least to the CS applications (LR - not yet).

I can see MS following suit. Additionally the numerous updates in a shorter time span also fits their new philosophy, as they've promised that with windows.

One reason why I don't think that Adobe is a good comparison is because MS Office is a staple in the Enterprise. Stability and predictability are requirements. Corporations will not appreciate frequent updates.

Frequent updates will create a greater challenge for Microsoft in maintaining stability and compatibility. That is something that MS does not currently excel at.

 

[shandyman]

One reason why I don't think that Adobe is a good comparison is because MS Office is a staple in the Enterprise. Stability and predictability are requirements. Corporations will not appreciate frequent updates.



Frequent updates will create a greater challenge for Microsoft in maintaining stability and compatibility. That is something that MS does not currently excel at.

Well considering the frequency of Windows updates, wouldn't be much to include Office updates too. We seem to have Windows updates on a bi weekly basis, causing us to restart servers.

 

[skaertus]

Not surprising, I think with the subscription model, MS is on the hook to roll out more updates faster to help justify the reasoning for paying annually. It makes less sense if the some span between versions is 3 to 5 years.

You have a point. I am an Office 365 subscriber since last year. It is a little disappointing that the software was not updated this year (neither the Windows nor the Mac versions) and that I still had to pay the annual subscription fee. However, I also understand the benefits of the Office 365 subscription model.

For companies, it makes less sense to update so frequently. But Microsoft may allow companies to keep the previous version instead.

 

[WorldIRC]

You have a point. I am an Office 365 subscriber since last year. It is a little disappointing that the software was not updated this year (neither the Windows nor the Mac versions) and that I still had to pay the annual subscription fee. However, I also understand the benefits of the Office 365 subscription model.

For companies, it makes less sense to update so frequently. But Microsoft may allow companies to keep the previous version instead.

The subscription is for more than just "updates"...it is your license to utilize the software...software that used to cost up to $500 depending on the version on required.

 

[skaertus]

The subscription is for more than just "updates"...it is your license to utilize the software...software that used to cost up to $500 depending on the version on required.

Yes, I understand that. I have multiple licenses to use the software. However, after the first year of subscription is paid, and then the second year, and then the third year, and the software is not updated, the user will think again of paying a fourth year of subscription instead of buying a license of the software that is perpetual and will not require additional payments. Frequent updates are an incentive for users to stick to the subscription model.

 

[Traverse]

You have a point. I am an Office 365 subscriber since last year. It is a little disappointing that the software was not updated this year (neither the Windows nor the Mac versions) and that I still had to pay the annual subscription fee. However, I also understand the benefits of the Office 365 subscription model.

For companies, it makes less sense to update so frequently. But Microsoft may allow companies to keep the previous version instead.

Well, the added value of the OneDrive storage and regular iPad updates makes it worth it, but I will be honest, I'm a little irked at paying for the subscription and getting the same desktop software that I paid for in 2011. (I already had Office, but wanted the iOS counterpart so I deleted my disk install and downloaded the subscription version.)

Just Excel, please Microsoft, just update Excel. For me, please!

 

[5354]

It looks really close to the one offered on windows.

hopefully its features are also on par with the windows version.

 

[skaertus]

It looks really close to the one offered on windows.

hopefully its features are also on par with the windows version.

How do you know it looks close to the Windows version? Are you referring to the screenshots that were posted here in this thread? Those screenshots were of the forthcoming Windows version, not the Mac version. I am yet to see something about the next Mac version.

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Well, the added value of the OneDrive storage and regular iPad updates makes it worth it, but I will be honest, I'm a little irked at paying for the subscription and getting the same desktop software that I paid for in 2011. (I already had Office, but wanted the iOS counterpart so I deleted my disk install and downloaded the subscription version.)

Just Excel, please Microsoft, just update Excel. For me, please!

It is indeed disappointing to pay the same subscription price but, instead of having all the features of the Windows version, you get an old buggy Mac Office that never seems to get an update.

 

[glenthompson]

It is indeed disappointing to pay the same subscription price but, instead of having all the features of the Windows version, you get an old buggy Mac Office that never seems to get an update.

One advantage of the subscription is the five copies allowed. That means you can run both the Mac and Windows versions if needed. Handy since I need Access sometimes but prefer to stick with the Mac version most of the time.

 

[skaertus]

One advantage of the subscription is the five copies allowed. That means you can run both the Mac and Windows versions if needed. Handy since I need Access sometimes but prefer to stick with the Mac version most of the time.

Yes, this is true. And this is what I do. Still, you will have to have a separate Windows license anyway. And you'd better have a separate computer as well, because Boot Camp drivers are so bad that they just destroy any good user experience that you can have, and a virtual machine imposes a performance penalty.

 

[glenthompson]

Yes, this is true. And this is what I do. Still, you will have to have a separate Windows license anyway. And you'd better have a separate computer as well, because Boot Camp drivers are so bad that they just destroy any good user experience that you can have, and a virtual machine imposes a performance penalty.

For my needs a Parallels machine does fine. I don't push the Office apps that hard. I haven't noticed any performance problems. I have a 4 year old Windows desktop and its performance is no better than my VM.

 

[skaertus]

For my needs a Parallels machine does fine. I don't push the Office apps that hard. I haven't noticed any performance problems. I have a 4 year old Windows desktop and its performance is no better than my VM.

How much RAM do you have? For me, it is hard to run a Parallels machine. I have 8 GB of RAM and I can see the performance penalty Parallels imposes. I should have gone 16 GB.

 

[glenthompson]

How much RAM do you have? For me, it is hard to run a Parallels machine. I have 8 GB of RAM and I can see the performance penalty Parallels imposes. I should have gone 16 GB.

16GB. When I had 8GB I never saw page outs except when running Parallels. Then they went through the roof. Once I upgraded to 16GB, no more page outs. That's why I recommend 16GB to anyone planning on running a VM.

 

[Jacksonc]

I have 2gb on my MacBook. And I run parallels desktop with windows 7.

 

[sracer]

I find that Oracle's free VirtualBox works better on my OSX systems. I used Parallels for the first 5 years of owning OSX devices... but after being bitten by their upgrade policies and bugs, I sought out alternatives. I ended up with VirtualBox.

 

[skaertus]

16GB. When I had 8GB I never saw page outs except when running Parallels. Then they went through the roof. Once I upgraded to 16GB, no more page outs. That's why I recommend 16GB to anyone planning on running a VM.

Yes, I guess 16 GB would be ideal.

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I have 2gb on my MacBook. And I run parallels desktop with windows 7.

How do you manage that? I remember when I had a MacBook with 2 GB. I could barely run Windows XP on Parallels/Fusion.

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I find that Oracle's free VirtualBox works better on my OSX systems. I used Parallels for the first 5 years of owning OSX devices... but after being bitten by their upgrade policies and bugs, I sought out alternatives. I ended up with VirtualBox.

Why do you prefer Virtual Box?

 

[Broph]

I subscribed to Office 365 earlier this year when I put an SSD in my mac (studying for an extra three years, so the $99 for four years made sense), and the reason why I didn't bother reinstalling my previously purchased Office 2011 was because I "knew" there would be Office 2014(15?) this year. I'm getting a little annoyed with the lack of leaks / discussion about Office for Mac, because it's making me think it's not coming. I'm dying for it. Even though it's "newer" than Office 2010, it feels like it was released back in 2007. I need to use Office (as opposed to Pages, LibreOffice etc.) for the equation editor. I'm an engineering student and work with Excel and the Word equation editor all the time, and unfortunately when I create reports containing calculations and tables, the formatting comes out differently on the University computers that have both 2010 and 2013, so, most of the time I still do my reports on the University computers.

The new mac office can't come soon enough, but as others have said, OneNote on Mac looks great, as does the iPad versions of their software, so I believe there'll be great improvements across the board.

/rant

Sorry for the wall of text.

 

[maflynn]

I find that Oracle's free VirtualBox works better on my OSX systems. I used Parallels for the first 5 years of owning OSX devices... but after being bitten by their upgrade policies and bugs, I sought out alternatives. I ended up with VirtualBox.

I found VB to lack features and performance vs. Vmware, plus the customer support is top notch, and I've needed to use that on occasion. I can't comment on the current version of VB but the last time I tried it, i found it lacking.

Plus Oracle's track record with open source (Open Office debacle) also raises a red flag with me.

 

[skaertus]

I subscribed to Office 365 earlier this year when I put an SSD in my mac (studying for an extra three years, so the $99 for four years made sense), and the reason why I didn't bother reinstalling my previously purchased Office 2011 was because I "knew" there would be Office 2014(15?) this year. I'm getting a little annoyed with the lack of leaks / discussion about Office for Mac, because it's making me think it's not coming. I'm dying for it. Even though it's "newer" than Office 2010, it feels like it was released back in 2007. I need to use Office (as opposed to Pages, LibreOffice etc.) for the equation editor. I'm an engineering student and work with Excel and the Word equation editor all the time, and unfortunately when I create reports containing calculations and tables, the formatting comes out differently on the University computers that have both 2010 and 2013, so, most of the time I still do my reports on the University computers.

The new mac office can't come soon enough, but as others have said, OneNote on Mac looks great, as does the iPad versions of their software, so I believe there'll be great improvements across the board.

/rant

Sorry for the wall of text.

I agree with you. Mac Office 2011 is in many ways inferior to Windows Office 2007. Office 2010 is miles ahead of Office 2011, despite having come out a few months earlier.

The next Office for Mac should have already been released, but I am having a good feeling about it. Mac Office 2011 is crappy, buggy and bloated, and I do not think Microsoft would want to keep that route with the next release. I mean, nearly every piece of software nowadays seem to be superior to Mac Office, despite not having the same features. Perhaps Microsoft is just working hard to deliver a better Mac Office, as it should.

I remember that a few months ago the Office for iPad Team (which is the same that develops Office for Mac) and they said the following:

The code for Office for iPad and Office for Mac is shared, as the development platforms for both are very similar. The iPad work required us to create an all-new UI and to redesign the interface between UI and the internal logic. That work actually helps us with de-Carbonizing Office for the Mac, instead of delaying or hindering it. We're able to create new Cocoa UI on the Mac and tie it into the new logic interface now.

The link to the interview is here: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/22iu9n/we_are_the_microsoft_office_for_ipad_team_ask_us/

So, I expect the next Office for Mac to be something better this time.

I hope Microsoft announces something on the September 30 event. Although it is supposed to be about Windows, perhaps there is a spot about Office as well.

 

[Traverse]

I only use PowerPoint to view and print professor lectures. Well, now I'm getting basic .ppt lecture files from my Accounting Information System professor that causes PP to crash on start up each time. I can use VMWare, but that's not the point. They REALLY need to update this.

 

[skaertus]

I only use PowerPoint to view and print professor lectures. Well, now I'm getting basic .ppt lecture files from my Accounting Information System professor that causes PP to crash on start up each time. I can use VMWare, but that's not the point. They REALLY need to update this.

Yes, they really need to update it. Time has come and gone. Office for Mac is already outdated. I wonder why people on the Mac world call Office bloated. It is because it is bloated.

I was just using Word 2013 for Windows with a 250-page document with 1,000 footnotes. It consumed just 70-80 MB RAM. I wonder if Word for Mac, or any word processor on the Mac, could ever achieve this.