I think MS Office on iPad will happen, and sooner rather than later. Very soon.
How many iPads have been sold? How many are projected to be sold this year?
Compare the installed base of iPads by the end of 2012 to the installed base of (some competing tablet that can run some other version of MS Office). MS will get more money from catering to iPad's now and for the forseeable future.
MS doesn't make tablets; they make software. and if the iPad market isn't big enough to make a profit on developing Office for, then neither is any forthcoming Windows 8 tablet market.
I don't mind being called wrong, but let's check back here by November, ok?
Tom
I think you're absolute RIGHT! M/S is a software developer. M/S is still a smart company--they're seeing the same stats we are, the decline of 'truck' (desktop) sales, the increase of portable sales (smartphones, tablets, even the new push on laptops with Intel's 300mil deposit on UltraBooks, et al). I think they'll have Office on our tablets (iOS because of the ease of implementing with so few devices--probably around Christmas time, 60-90 days after the release of the Windows 8 tabs) by the end of the year. It's just impossible no matter HOW good Metro and the tablets marriage is...for M/S to hit the sales numbers iOS is now enjoying on iPhone and iPad. They would be just plain DUMB to ignore 50+million devices capable of running a stripped down Word/Excel/PPT. Just as Apple has done with their iWork suite.
Honestly, I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet. I really am. Seems the iPad 2 was the device, with the speed, to run it on. We've seen with OnLive it's capabilities running through servers...not even on the local system. It's well done, works great, and mirrors the capabilities of full blown Office systems.
makes sense, unless Steve Balmer has a different plan.....
If Microsoft is working on an tablet, they might want to hold back on making an MS Office for the iPad.
If Steve continues the trend he's on--and considers re-inventing the wheel a smart thing--I think his days are truly numbered. Bill Gates isn't ignoring the tech world--even though he's spending his time as a philanthropist---he's smarter than this.
They HAVE to join the party--or risk being completely left behind with the exception of the corporate world for another half decade. Then, ALL bets are off in my humble opinion
J