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MS Office for iPad
- Thread starter adddictedtomac
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MS is hoping that many iOS users will switch to a tablet that runs Windows 8 just to get MS Office. I don't see it released before Windows 8.
Sounds reasonable, but when you get an iPad, you also get iTunes, App store and big inter related support from Apple's ecosystem. It will be hard for MS to bet on MS Office just to make people switch!
On the other hand, Apple came up with iWork for iPad.
This is what I'm talking about the politics are all wrong.
Microsoft is a software company and Windows 8 is only one part of the big picture. They make a ton of money from the Office team. To ignore an emerging tablet segment is a mistake.
They make Office for Mac and eventually they will make it for the iPad.
Even Ballmer can't ignore the huge potential profits forever.
Let's say they sold it for 49.99 for the whole set PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. Apple keeps the usual 30% and Microsoft gets roughly $35 per sale. Now say they sale it to even just 10 million iPad users. 350 million dollars and that's only the begginng. Office would lead to more iPad sales which would lead to even more Office sales. Within 2 years it would be easy to see it as a billion dollar business.
.........................and save millions on not having to spend money designing packaging or distributing it. Not to mention saving money on not having to develop an app for a fragmented OS.
All in all, it's a big win for a small loss just like other things in life.
Well said and I totally agree with you, but don't forget that Steve Balmer, is not the sharpest CEO in America.
I wouldn't rule out the possibility, but don't expect to see Office on the iPad any time soon. Microsoft is going to try everything with Windows 8 and only if they fail, they are going to consider an iPad version.
This. Especially since W8 is coming out this Fall. We may see an official app during the iPad 4 launch next year. They probably want to focus on ways for people wanting to buy their w8 tablets and that would be one of the great reasons to buy one.
Meantime people will get used to iWorks.....not a clever strategy if MS is working that way!
Office is very strong in the Enterprise and that is where all the money is coming from. I don't think that Microsoft is risking a lot by not bringing an iPad version of Office. At least for now.
I'm not sure I understand why you think these are mutually exclusive. You are aware that MS has quite a few IOS and MacOS apps and applications, right? Why would a software company exclude a large market segment of customers?
It'll happen. Call BS and mark this thread so you can come back and apologize, that's all I can say
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It's the "just about" that bites you if you work with it every day.
I think for the iPad it is quite good. I use it a lot on my Mac and iOS devices and having become used to it - I like it more than office. Of course, we all have our opinions and I know of many places where it falls shorts - but the only one that affects me is the lack of a true pivot table in Numbers.
So here we are, one year later, still no MS Office for iOS.
It seems they really want to use this to push sales of the Win8 tablets. I've seen ads for the Surface tablets bragging about the "real MS Office".
I guess I can't blame them for trying. Question is, how long will they keep it up? Will they give in to the temptation of many instant dollars and release an iOS office eventually?
And how long will it take for someone to build a decent alternative for iOS? Even the best ones out there today are just barely decent.
It seems they really want to use this to push sales of the Win8 tablets. I've seen ads for the Surface tablets bragging about the "real MS Office".
I guess I can't blame them for trying. Question is, how long will they keep it up? Will they give in to the temptation of many instant dollars and release an iOS office eventually?
And how long will it take for someone to build a decent alternative for iOS? Even the best ones out there today are just barely decent.
1. It's highly unlikely there'll ever be native Office for iOS. MS is taking their tablet platforms VERY seriously. And, yes, they actively advertise them as the only truly MS Office-compliant. Why would they support the competitors?
2. Unfortunately, not even Apple's Office apps are flawless - that is, they don't deliver even the really reduced functionality they boast. For example, Keynote's TV output is truly buggy (more info at https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=17321186 )
$$$
Their apps would sell millions on iOS.
But, then, one of the exclusive titles of Windows 8 Pro / RT tablets would be a non-exclusive any more.
Well, yes, that's why they haven't released an iOS version yet.
I am just hoping the prospect of millions of app sales will at some point be tempting enough for them to reconsider. At this point, they could practically charge what they want for it, as there is no good alternative available yet.
If they wait too long, hopefully someone will step up and release a "good" office app, damaging MS's potential monopoly.
Please explain what you mean
I think this post has some implicit assumptions in it, which makes it (at least for me) difficult to understand. Can you please spell it out more explicit and understandable?
I think this post has some implicit assumptions in it, which makes it (at least for me) difficult to understand. Can you please spell it out more explicit and understandable?