All iPads Planning On Using Microsoft Office?

[CoMoMacUser]

I just really don't see how you can do word processing on a IPad..??

I've done it since the iPad 1 and more recently with a Windows tablet. It sucks big time, so I avoid it as much as possible.

One of my colleagues recently blogged about how his iPad was so good at everything, including WP, that he no longer took his MBA on trips. Yet in his emails, he's always bitching how the lack of a file system and other things make WP a chore.

 

[AppleRobert]

Five devices I assume must be all Apple if one buys the subscription. It is only feasible on my Air, cannot see it usable on my 5s or iPad Mini 1st gen which the latter is closer in size to the Dell Venue 8" Pro which was a no go for me with that form factor for using this.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Five devices I assume must be all Apple if one buys the subscription.

That would be a bad move. Especially since there are more people with Windows PCs and an iPad/iPhone than people with Macs and iDevices.

They really gimped the Windows Phone version. I hope they don't do the same with iOS.

 

[HenryDJP]

They really gimped the Windows Phone version. I hope they don't do the same with iOS.

Microsoft has burned the paying Apple customers way too often to keep people on Windows. Office was first on Mac but after Microsoft got Windows off the ground then Mac Office suffered and it still suffers today. Even the One Note software they released for Mac the other day is missing some functionality that the Windows version has.

A Phone can/should only do so much and although I've only played around with the Surface version of Office I can bet it is a full version of Office with nothing missing. You can count on iPad Office to be gimped.

 

[Max(IT)]

I am on the fence at this point, it requires a subscription as far as I know. Just wondering about your plans.

No, if the subscription is confirmed. I don't like that kind of licensing ....

 

[Freyqq]

That is only apply if you have only one computer. If you have say, 3 computers and many iPads at home, 365 subscription make lot of sense. One MS Office Professtional could cost you more than $300. If you need it on more than one computers, you would pay multiple of $300.

MS does not force you subscribe rom365 nor they force you stay forever. You can pay monthly or monthly. If you feel you do not need for this month, you simple do not pay. There is no such thing as hold you as hostage.

I subscribe to office 365 university for $79 for 4 years gives me 2 computers, I got 3 copies of office 365 university using different university email accounts. I subscribe to it because I see the value of the subscription. When the 4 years runs out, I probably will pay for $99 per year for the subscription.

prior to the subscription model's existence, for office 2010 home version, you got 3 installs for $99 on sale. No subscription, so it was yours forever. The new subscription system is a ripoff in comparison.

 

[Max(IT)]

If you are satisfied with Pages, Numbers, QuickOffice, or Polaris, you are NOT the target audience for Office for iOS, and you are just preaching to the rest of the similarly voiced choir. Same for those who just can't see any value in a $99 family subscription. However, if you have a spouse and three kids all using Office, three of four have iPads, all have iPhones, then $99 per year is a cakewalk. Likewise, if you exchange documents with other Office users (Mac or PC) and they are anything more than simple paragraphs, then you have to have 100% fidelity with the file format or you get reformatted gibberish both ways.

That's the fact, Jack...

Actually we don't know yet what the audience for Office will be, since we don't know how it is and what are its functions related to iWork ...

 

[sracer]

Five devices I assume must be all Apple if one buys the subscription. It is only feasible on my Air, cannot see it usable on my 5s or iPad Mini 1st gen which the latter is closer in size to the Dell Venue 8" Pro which was a no go for me with that form factor for using this.

Not according to Microsoft's website. Any 5 computers and 5 mobile devices for the operating systems they support. There are some limitations such as Access and Publisher only being available for Windows.

 

[MisakixMikasa]

prior to the subscription model's existence, for office 2010 home version, you got 3 installs for $99 on sale. No subscription, so it was yours forever. The new subscription system is a ripoff in comparison.

That was sale price not regular price....

 

[sracer]

That was sale price not regular price....

Technically you are correct but it doesn't appreciably change the equation. It was still cheaper to outright buy a copy of Office for 3 PCs for a little more than the price of a year's subscription.

 

[Freyqq]

That was sale price not regular price....

Sale pricing at that cost was very common. Even without the sale, it was only $119. And, the software was yours forever. No yearly renewal fees.

 

[TechGod]

Nope. The iWork suite syncs with my Mac good for free so why should I pay yearly?

 

[Max(IT)]

That was sale price not regular price....

I bought office:Mac 2011 for 89€ (3 computers)

 

[Altis]

The iPad really works quite well as a word processor.

I think "quite well" is a bit of an overstatement. It's pretty bare minimum, actually.

But to have a mouse... oh to have a mouse.
I didn't realize how useful that could be until I bought a Surface 2.

Having a mouse is very handy for document creating and editing. If I did more document work on the go, I think the Surface 2 would have to be the tablet for me.

 

[HenryDJP]

I think "quite well" is a bit of an overstatement. It's pretty bare minimum, actually.

It's not at all an overstatement. That's your opinion. It depends on what software you are using for creation. Just like anything else. I have a sudo Apple Bluetooth Keyboard for my iPad and I use Pages on it to create business banners and brochures for my office.

Once again, it just depends on what software you're using and what you're doing with it.

 

[Altis]

It's not at all an overstatement. That's your opinion. It depends on what software you are using for creation. Just like anything else. I have a sudo Apple Bluetooth Keyboard for my iPad and I use Pages on it to create business banners and brochures for my office.

Once again, it just depends on what software you're using and what you're doing with it.

I think that making banners would be classified as minimal, in terms of word processing, would it not?

Don't get me wrong, minimal can be good.. I even use Notepad still for things

You can use slightly more advanced software, but on the iPad there are limitations that make it nothing special at document creation. For example, not even being able to highlight more than 1 thing at a time, and no option for a mouse to precisely highlight area(s), and not being able to have other apps such as Safari open side-by-side for reference (as is common when writing something), are some of the many limitations.

 

[HenryDJP]

I think that making banners would be classified as minimal, in terms of word processing, would it not?

Don't get me wrong, minimal can be good.. I even use Notepad still for things

Actually I don't do simple stuff so my work is not minimal so don't assume and you're taking it too far comparing what I do to using Notepad. And I did mention making brochures for my office but you decided to ignore that to make your point which was pointless. Just because YOU can't be creative with an iPad doesn't mean everybody is in your boat.

 

[Altis]

Actually I don't do simple stuff so my work is not minimal so don't assume and you're taking it too far comparing what I do to using Notepad. And I did mention making brochures for my office but you decided to ignore that to make your point which was pointless. Just because YOU can't be creative with an iPad doesn't mean everybody is in your boat.

When did I say you cannot be creative with an iPad? Sure you can. I don't think your work is simple, but the tools you use can be minimalist... one has nothing to do with the other. I use text editors to perform complex programming work.

My point is that word processing is still very basic and slower on the iPad compared with just about anything else. You say it does it "quite well"... but does anything not, then? A Surface 2, laptop, or desktop, are all much more efficient and capable of performing the task. So with iPad as the "quite well", what would do it poorly?

While creating a document, you might want to: use a mouse for highlighting/precision editing, be able to use an external monitor, be able to have applications (especially web browsers, PDFs, or other documents) side by side, or email/messaging apps, not have the keyboard take up 2/3 of your screen (unless you use external keyboard)...

The only situations where the iPad does it "quite well" is when the needs are quite light. The real advantages of the iPad come in its portability.

 

[HenryDJP]

When did I say you cannot be creative with an iPad? Sure you can. I don't think your work is simple, but the tools you use can be minimalist... one has nothing to do with the other. I use text editors to perform complex programming work.

My point is that word processing is still very basic and slower on the iPad compared with just about anything else. You say it does it "quite well"... but does anything not, then? A Surface 2, laptop, or desktop, are all much more efficient and capable of performing the task. So with iPad as the "quite well", what would do it poorly?

While creating a document, you might want to: use a mouse for highlighting/precision editing, be able to use an external monitor, be able to have applications (especially web browsers, PDFs, or other documents) side by side, or email/messaging apps, not have the keyboard take up 2/3 of your screen (unless you use external keyboard)...

The only situations where the iPad does it "quite well" is when the needs are quite light. The real advantages of the iPad come in its portability.

I certainly don't need education from you about how proficient and useful my iPad is. I noticed that you've brought up the Surface 2 multiple times while you've been putting down iOS as I was going through your previous threads. From what I gather you don't have an iPad, you have an iPhone 4S. You're spending a great deal of time on this thread telling people how limited their iPad is to them while promoting the Surface 2. Maybe you should be checking out other forums that you can relate to. BTW, the Surface 2 isn't really a true Tablet. It's more inline with a laptop which is why it's so overpriced in the first place. At the end of the day it's just another plain jane Windows machine running that bloated mess called Windows 8.

Another thing, the screen design is way too wide so it's absolutely horrible in portrait mode for surfing, typing documents, word processing or running any other apps and the resolution is too high. In normal mode application and window buttons are just too small to deal with. Of course it can be adjusted but what's the point? It's no longer in the normal way intended by Microsoft for it to be used. And let's not even talk about how it eats up battery and storage space. It hasn't been a big seller and that's Microsoft's problem so please don't come here on an iPad forum promoting it while downplaying the iPad.

I would love to see the response from the Microsoft fans if an iPad owner appeared on their forum downplaying the Surface while promoting the strengths of the iPad.

 

[Altis]

I certainly don't need education from you about how proficient and useful my iPad is. I noticed that you've brought up the Surface 2 multiple times while you've been putting down iOS as I was going through your previous threads. From what I gather you don't have an iPad, you have an iPhone 4S. You're spending a great deal of time on this thread telling people how limited their iPad is to them while promoting the Surface 2. Maybe you should be checking out other forums that you can relate to. BTW, the Surface 2 isn't really a true Tablet. It's more inline with a laptop which is why it's so overpriced in the first place. At the end of the day it's just another plain jane Windows machine running that bloated mess called Windows 8. .

Wow, a private investigator? Yes, I have a 4S. Also have iPhone 3GS (for work), iPad 1 and 4, rMBP, Mac Mini, and for the Mrs.' we have MBA, iMac, and iPhone 5. I don't have a Surface, but I do have a PC for the serious stuff (FL Studio and video rendering). Why not keep the personal attacks to a minimum, yes?

You also don't seem to know much about the Surface even. You're probably thinking of the Surface Pro 2, which costs laptop money because it effectively is a laptop with built-in Wacom and removable keyboard cover. The Surface 2 is about the same price as the iPad. It's certainly not better at everything, but it's better in some very key ways that Apple should respond to. It's not like I don't want Apple to get better... I really do.

I'm glad that the iPad works well for your document creation needs, truly I am. However, to say that it's good at it is still a bit of a stretch, compared with other devices (Apple included). What it is is "adequate" (not "bad"), meaning that it can meet certain needs well enough. It's kind of like saying MS Paint works well for image editing, which is does if you are working within the limitations it has (such as resizing/cropping/rotating, highlighting areas of a photo, basic diagrams,...)

Honestly, Mr. Henry DJP... this is nothing personal. We are talking about some devices here

 

[MisakixMikasa]

Technically you are correct but it doesn't appreciably change the equation. It was still cheaper to outright buy a copy of Office for 3 PCs for a little more than the price of a year's subscription.

Sale pricing at that cost was very common. Even without the sale, it was only $119. And, the software was yours forever. No yearly renewal fees.

I bought office:Mac 2011 for 89€ (3 computers)

Year subscription gives you 5 computers and 5 mobile...that is 10 devices in total... You are looking for over 300 dollar for 3 computers and no mobile device and you won't get e latest version.

Microsoft put new version of office every 2 years, if you need the newer version, you still need fork out money for new version. If you have 365 subscription, you automatically upgraded to the newer version.

Also, all your documents would uploaded to OneDrive and you get some Skype minutes with it. I cannot see how 99 dollar per year for 10 devices and additional 20GB One Drive space and Skype minutes for phone call is a bad deal...


Believe or not, software subscription would be the trend for new applications. It is also good way to reduce software piracy.

 

[ScottNWDW]

I've been using an iPad since they first came out. The latest version of iWork is very good and creating documents. They sync perfectly to my Mac and even my iPhone. I don't use an external keyboard, I use the one that pops up when I need it. I have considered getting a bluetooth keyboard, but I don't want more stuff to lug around. To say that "real" work can't be done with an iPad is absurd. I use the iPad every single day in both my personal and professional life. We use iPads at work for multiple things. iWork, because of the way it can sync between devices is fast becoming the standard in my workplace. We use Windows PC's and Macs at work so we are looking at what Microsoft may do as far as an iPad version of Office is concerned. Because of the way iWork has been going for us though, unless Office for the iPad provides at least the same functions and can sync seamlessly the way iWork does it is likely we will continue replacing the Windows PC's with Macs and continue using iWork. iWork can do a lot more than people give it credit for. I am not saying it is perfect, Office isn't perfect either.

Office may be considered the "standard" as far as business is concerned, but we have seen standards change and Microsoft may have put a few nails in it's own coffin when they neglected the iPad. Kodak, NCR, IBM, Blackberry, Sears are just a few companies that were considered "standards" in their respective fields and they all refused or were slow to change with the times and where are they now? Kodak is pretty much extinct, IBM and NCR are not the powerhouses they used to be and Sears and Blackberry are clinging to life and will probably be gone within the next 5 years. Microsoft didn't just miss the boat when the iPad sailed in, they refused to get on it. Now they realize that ship has sailed and now they are trying to get on board. Might be a little too late, but we shall see.

In regards to the pricing of Office. An Office 365 subscription is not as bad a deal as everyone is thinking. As mentioned, it's $99 for 5 computers (Mac or Windows) and 5 devices, you also get an hour of Skype and an additional 20GB of One Drive space. I consider One Drive to be like iCloud so I have no problem with my documents going there. You get the updates to the apps as they come out for free, no need to do repurchase them if you want the new version.

Now compare that to Apple's iWork. iWork is free IF you buy a new Mac or iOS device. If not, you pay $19.99 each for the Mac and $9.99 each for the iOS versions. Keep in mind though that is 3 applications each (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) so that is $59.97 for Mac and $29.97 for iOS. In addition to that you probably will need to subscribe to an iCloud plan which start around $50 a year so that you have extra space. When you look at the numbers an Office 365 subscription is really priced rather smartly, Microsoft and smart usually don't go together well in the same sentence, but this time they do.

In anticipation of the possible iPad for Office release and the forthcoming Office for Mac 2014, I reinstated my Office 365 subscription on a monthly basis. What they did with One Note for the Mac was enough to at least let me try it out. They did a great job with One Note on the Mac and I have enjoyed One Note on the iPad and iPhone for some time. For the record i also have a Windows laptop so using One Note is not new to me, but seeing my One Note notebooks on my Mac was great. I DO use a Mac 95% of the time as it is.

Don't go bashing iWork just because YOU don't feel it is the standard, it has come a long way and Microsoft's refusal to put out an Office on the iPad has made people take a closer look at it and they all found out that iWork is pretty good and that Excel, Word and PowerPoint are bloated and more than overkill.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I think few are bashing iWork and more are resisting Office which is more than understandable on the Apple Forums.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

Worse still, what is often a superior hardware (Next Cube) or software (WordPerfect, Lotus 123) solution, doesn't always survive in the market.

Errr, I'd be willing to bet that the NeXTcube never really took off because it cost $10,000.

 

[Booji]

If it's full featured enough, I'll try it out. If it's just another gimped mobile version, then no thanks.

I'm the same here. I'm a consultant and a power user of Excel, Word and PowerPoint. My desire is to be able to pick up my work across platforms. For work, I run Windows. When I travel, I like to use my MacBook air because its light and easy to carry. I sync all of my docs on Dropbox. Because there is a perfect compatibility of MS Office across Mac and Windows, I've had very good luck with this. Now, if I could only edit documents on my iPad that would make it even better for travel!

I gave the online version of 365 a spin, and found out that there are many functions not supported. Especially in Excel, I create monster spreadsheets with advanced functions such as arrays. Sadly, the only version was not able to cope with heavy spreadsheets and highly formatted PowerPoint slides.

I'm really hoping there is full compatibility, but given the limited resources of an iPad, even with full compatibility I'm not sure even the iPad Air will have the power to cope, but I'm crossing my fingers!