Why delay iWork 07?

[dswoodley]

Ok, I started this in a previous thread, but wanted it to be a separate discussion.

I can understand why iLife 07 is late (waiting for Leopard and core animation), but why the hold up with iWork? Think Secret was posting screenshots of the upgraded program nearly a year ago and yet it's nowhere in site. How could iWork be tied to any feature in Leopard?

Thoughts?

 

[66217]

There are rumors that it may be part of Leopard. I don't see this happening, since the price for Leopard would increase and there are people that don't want it or never use it, so why pay for it?

Sometimes the iWork 06-07 gives the impression that it should be out every year. Maybe at first it was supposed to be like that, but now that more people buy Mac's, Apple should be planning on making more professional and better software to compete with MS Office.

I predict they'll announce it in WWDC and would start shipping a month or two after that.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

I would have to say Apple is waiting untill Leopard is released before we will see iLife 07 or iWork 07.

I'm just hoping when it is release it will be worth the wait.

 

[TheAnswer]

There's been some thought that either they will either:

1) Include it in with the OS.

2) Offer a discount bundle on all three OS 10.5, iLife, and iWork

3) Shift from a yearly release schedule to one that is released with each new OS version. Hence iWork for Leopard or iWork 10.5 or iWork Leopard Edition some such version scheme.

Also...if you understand the iLife delay, think about how the features you mentioned could be added to Keynote (which is part of iWork).

 

[erickkoch]

Because their still working on a spreadsheet application to include with it? (fingers crossed)

 

[IJ Reilly]

There are rumors that it may be part of Leopard. I don't see this happening, since the price for Leopard would increase and there are people that don't want it or never use it, so why pay for it?

Apple could do an iLife-style bundle with iWork. You get the current version with a new Mac, and pay for the upgrades. Makes a lot of sense for Apple to take this approach with iLife.

 

[66217]

You get the current version with a new Mac, and pay for the upgrades.

Is this a statement or a prediction? (the upgrade part)

I think it would be cool to put iWork pre-installed in all new Macs. And then you must pay for the new ones. Just like iLife right now. It is not very expensive, so if they get out every 18 months I wouldn't really complain.

What I really want is a better integration with Office. I like Keynote a lot and also liked the simplicity of Pages. But sometimes it wouldn't be so good when sharing files with Office users, specially with Keynote-PowrPoint sharing.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Is this a statement or a prediction? (the upgrade part)

It's been a hope for a long time, but what the heck, I'll upgrade it to a prediction and see how I do.

If Apple really wants this suite to be used, they need to start bundling it. It worked for iLife.

 

[66217]

If Apple really wants this suite to be used, they need to start bundling it. It worked for iLife.

That's true, "free trials" that last 30 days aren't very attracting.

If iLife didn't came pre-installed I would have never used it. But now that I have used it for a year, I am sure I'll buy the new one.

I must start saving money for these updates (Leopard, iLife and iWork).
Must be around $250

 

[samh004]

I must start saving money for these updates (Leopard, iLife and iWork).
Must be around $250

Cheaper than the M$ equivalent though

 

[66217]

Cheaper than the M$ equivalent though

And also a lot better.
That is if you can even compare iLife with MovieMaker and WMP.