Microsoft Reportedly Considering iPad Version of Office

[Swift]

Hmm

I keep on hearing of more and more interest in this platform. The mags and papers are really interested. Movie producers. Book publishers. That's a lot of interest for something that's "not a laptop," and definitely not with Flash and a webcame, and is just a big iPod Touch.

 

[bretm]

Will Apple ever develop a (bluetooth) printing architecture for the iPhone/iPad? If they do, they're well on their way to replacing the PC/Mac for most casual users. Imagine using an iPhone with a (wireless) keyboard and large external monitor. That, or some other small device, is in our future...

Edited to ask if anyone knows how many years the mobile processors are behind their desktop cousins? I remember a chart showing that the "average" PC has always been about 20 years behind the fastest super computer on the market. I'd guess about 5-7 years.

Also on their way to cannibalizing sales of the computers. If the pad will print directly, or be a more complete computer it will cannibalize higher profit products.

 

[richman555]

I think this is a killer move for Apple. You have to look at where they make their money. What is better, moving units of iPads or selling iWork? People, Companies, Schools will flock to this if they can edit word documents on it. It would sell like hotcakes.

 

[Journojulz]

I think this is a killer move for Apple.

I agree. The genius move was launching iWork though.

Use the most anticipated product launch since 'USA 2.0bama' to attack the lynchpin of microsoft's entire business model - the programmes 80% of people in offices across the world rely on every day.

....and then show them there are smarter and cheaper alternatives.

One can imagine the responses in redmond watching the keynote:

Cute name....
media device...
kindle will be shaking over that....
wow price - wasn't expecting that....
neat toy....
OH S**T! IT DOES OFFICE STUFF - AND MAKES IT SEXY!


Now all iPad users will have a choice between pages and word - but with pages so cheap it won't be long before a whole new raft of people try apples answer to office and can make an informed choice...

This really is the missing link between the smartphone and the desk/laptop OS. Its a taster for both experiences.

Maybe the next stage of market penetration should be iWork for Win7?

Also on their way to cannibalizing sales of the computers.

Yes, and as apple has such a small share of the global desk and laptop market - each bite will be mostly from the PC market.

iWork for iPad is genius - every iPad user at some point will be asked by curious friends "what's Pages like then?"
And then they will show them. "Similar enough to work well, different enough to work better."

 

[Kelmon]

The statement is good news, if they go for it, but somehow I don't see the fruits of any labours that Microsoft invests being seen in the App Store for a good year at least. This assumes that they haven't already been trying to port the Office applications to the iPhone. If they have been toying with Cocoa Touch already then they have a head start on things.

Personally, I don't really care who makes my spreadsheet or other applications are long as they are good applications, are fully compatible with the Microsoft Office file formats, and aren't as slow as Open Office.

 

[cumanzor]

Have this been mentioned already? GIVE ME OneNote for the iPad and I won't ever need another notebook in my life ever again!

(oh, and someone please give me a conductive stylus as well)

 

[lovejoyhealth]

Great Pages

Wonderful that MS is thinking of porting Office to iPad, but... I am really quite happy with my iWork apps! I actually think they represent a vast improvement to Office.

 

[VenusianSky]

Uh huh...OTOH, wasn't there something about a lawsuit, Apple v. Microsoft...? In the 90's. "Look and feel"...ring any bells?

The quote I posted was from 2007, not pre-1997. It was Steve Jobs response to the ongoing development of Mac applications by Microsoft and the relationship between the two. As Jobs stated, their relationship is one of the best between any of their partners. It's funny that people still live in the long past days of the Mac vs Windows dispute. Steve Jobs has moved on. If he hadn't, Apple would not be the company they are today. As he stated many times, if Apple supporters think that for Apple to succeed, Microsoft must fail, Apple will fail. As we have seen, that approach has worked out very well for Apple. That shows how brilliant Steve is as a business man.

 

[SFStateStudent]

Yup, I'm jumpin' on the iWorks bus. I've used both in recent years and find myself leaning towards iWorks more often...

 

[Journojulz]

I'd buy it for the works PC if i could

 

[LagunaSol]

It's funny that people still live in the long past days of the Mac vs Windows dispute. Steve Jobs has moved on.

Not really. Exhibit A: the Microsoft-savaging "I'm A Mac" campaign. Jobs still very much wants to stick it to Ballmer and his empire of mediocre software, but he's been smart enough to recognize there are new markets to conquer too.

Apple has moved on and hasn't. Good thing for us, or we'd all be using Windows PCs right now.

 

[Jaro65]

This would really be great, and oddly enough, would have Microsoft giving an Apple product some credibility..

Though I'm not sure how much would MS really care. If they can sell a piece of s/w, why not? Obviously they would prefer for the customer to also have to buy their OS in order to run their app, but in this case one strike out of two is better than none at all.

 

[stubeeef]

This is a game changer, it turns the iPad from Toy to Tool. iWork properly done would also be awesome, being able to plug in an iPad to a projector and use Keynote or PPT would make this a real tool for me.

 

[nastebu]

This is a game changer, it turns the iPad from Toy to Tool. iWork properly done would also be awesome, being able to plug in an iPad to a projector and use Keynote or PPT would make this a real tool for me.

I thought it will be able to do this on launch? With Keynote I mean.

 

[cumanzor]

Not really. Exhibit A: the Microsoft-savaging "I'm A Mac" campaign. Jobs still very much wants to stick it to Ballmer and his empire of mediocre software, but he's been smart enough to recognize there are new markets to conquer too.

Apple has moved on and hasn't. Good thing for us, or we'd all be using Windows PCs right now.

you might want to check your facts there pal. It is well known that the Apple benefits of MS as much as MS benefits of Apple. After all, MS is mainly a software company.

Jobs doesn't have a personal vendetta against MS. At this point I'm pretty sure he is more annoyed by Google and Adobe.

If people like you were in charge, interoperability would be non existent, and the industry would not be what it is today. Business are business, if money comes in, it works, regardless of the opinion of brand loyalists.

 

[inolan]

iPad for Education

The iPad could definitely replace school laptops. In the state of Kansas, the assessment software that students use to take their tests is supposed to be made available for the iPad next year. If Microsoft makes Office available for the iPad, there could be enough tools to make the iPad another tool to be used in the classroom. However, with Microsoft Office being the standard word processor, I highly doubt that schools will make the iPad apart of their budget without Microsoft Office (for iPad).

 

[Hmac]

If people like you were in charge, interoperability would be non existent, and the industry would not be what it is today. Business are business, if money comes in, it works, regardless of the opinion of brand loyalists.

Yeah, that's probably true. Too many people viewed (and apparently still view) the Apple/Microsoft relationship as if the were their favorite sports teams. They get their emotions and egos all wrapped up in their choice of computer and the result is posting wars that end up being the cyber equivalent of a bunch of soccer hooligans. An amazing waste of emotion and energy for something as mundane as choice of computing platform.

 

[Terminal.app]

I'd definitely like to see this. I already use Office for Mac regularly, although I probably won't be getting an iPad until rev. B or C at least.