When Microsoft recently announced an Office for Mac 2011 update was in the works it also confirmed that OS X users would be able to take advantage of the newer Office 2013 as the software suite is reserved for Windows 7 and Windows 8 machines only.
[...]
The Office for Mac 2011 update is expected to ship early next year alongside the Windows-only Office 2013.
well thank buddha. i've been waiting forever for an upgrade,
oh ... huh ... what? the dumbasses at appleinsider can't be bothered to proof and edit their own copy and get it right? check.
Do we even need an Office 2013 for Mac? I mean how much more can you cram into an already bloated product whose myriad features go unused by the vast majority of human beings using it?
I understand that iWork probably can't break into the enterprise market. However, since Apple is making a product, why don't they make it suitable for business. It just seems odd to me that Apple would purposely keep selling an inferior product. It isn't that iWork is a bad product...it is an incomplete product. Why won't Apple finish it off? Give us features like reviewing and compare documents and better paragraph numbering...etc.
They've got 100 billion dollars, why not spend 10 million on office software?
Actually it's easy to work out the answer to that question because you answered it yourself.
Apple isn't aiming at businesses they aim for consumers. When you look at the needs for most consumers iWork is head and shoulders above Office. Why do I say that? Because unlike Office iWork is a very easy to use application. Unlike business users however most consumer's needs for office apps is basic. Office is too complex for most people's needs and so Apple gave what most consumers need... simplicity.
iWork isn't aimed at you... it's aimed at everyone else. If you need power you go to Office. If you just want to record data, write a document, make presentation with a degree of power but not all the tools that you'll never need iWork is perfect.
Apple doesn't care about business users because business users don't make them money. Go where the money is.
Actually it's easy to work out the answer to that question because you answered it yourself.
Apple isn't aiming at businesses they aim for consumers. When you look at the needs for most consumers iWork is head and shoulders above Office. Why do I say that? Because unlike Office iWork is a very easy to use application. Unlike business users however most consumer's needs for office apps is basic. Office is too complex for most people's needs and so Apple gave what most consumers need... simplicity.
iWork isn't aimed at you... it's aimed at everyone else. If you need power you go to Office. If you just want to record data, write a document, make presentation with a degree of power but not all the tools that you'll never need iWork is perfect.
Apple doesn't care about business users because business users don't make them money. Go where the money is.
I understand that iWork probably can't break into the enterprise market. However, since Apple is making a product, why don't they make it suitable for business. It just seems odd to me that Apple would purposely keep selling an inferior product. It isn't that iWork is a bad product...it is an incomplete product. Why won't Apple finish it off? Give us features like reviewing and compare documents and better paragraph numbering...etc.
They've got 100 billion dollars, why not spend 10 million on office software?
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;">I believe they think of it as personal software, rather than “incomplete” enterprise software. And for most personal/home/small-office users (albeit not must techie forum-goers), iWork is made much better by its very simplicity. Apple wouldn’t make iWork “worse” in the market it was meant for, jut to serve additional markets; they’ll just leave those markets to 3rd party software, be that Word or Word clones.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;">I agree that there IS a need for more, for a sizable niche of people; I’m just not surprised that Apple hasn’t tried to shoehorn iWork in that direction. (That said, it will still grow over time.)</p>
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;">As for me—not an everyday user who should get iWork—OpenOffice does me just fine!</p>
iWork has improved a lot over the years to the point where it is sufficient for most.
You know what would be an interesting idea? Apple making a Windows compatible version of iWork and promoting it as an easy to use creative office suite for all. Fight MS on their own turf and see what happens especially if they price it the same as the Mac version (ie far cheaper than MS Office).
I agree. I am not sure what the heck I get out of their updates anyway, to tell you the truth.
I believe Microsoft would sell a shitload of copies of Office for iOS. They'd be stupid not to release it. I work for a school and get asked constantly when/if Word and Excel for iPad will be released.
Do we even need an Office 2013 for Mac? I mean how much more can you cram into an already bloated product whose myriad features go unused by the vast majority of human beings using it?
I don't know if we need Office 2013 for Mac, but we do need some version of Office on the Mac to be feature complete - I mean, Outlook still doesn't have feature parity with dearly departed Entourage.
Quote:
They've got 100 billion dollars, why not spend 10 million on office software?
This also galls me - the amount of cash they're sitting on and they can't even pony-up to keep advancing the software products they've already got out there. iWork is languishing...Final Cut Pro X anyone?...and when was the last substantial update to Aperture? (No, don't tell me iCloud photo streams represent any real advancement of the feature set.)
Because Mac releases of Office have never had the same year as the Windows release. Now if you had asked them when Office for Mac 2014 is coming out, PR might have given a slightly different answer.
Precisely. This is a non-story. They haven't discontinued Office for Mac. It's just that the versions aren't in lock-step.
Microsoft should just drop the product for the Mac. How many copies do they sell anyway to such a small PC market? Microsoft is trying to do too much. Dropping some software would allow them to focus their efforts.
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;">I believe they think of it as personal software, rather than “incomplete” enterprise software. And for most personal/home/small-office users (albeit not must techie forum-goers), iWork is made much better by its very simplicity.
An interesting thought, but iWorks weakest link (Numbers) wouldn't end up significantly more complex with added functions.
Apple wouldn’t make iWork “worse” in the market it was meant for, jut to serve additional markets; they’ll just leave those markets to 3rd party software, be that Word or Word clones.</p>
There is a difference between useful features and bloat. In that regards Numbers could use more features. Here is a list that pops into my head from time to time:
Really good scientific plotting and charting that works well. Numbers and Excel for that matter are terrible in this regard.
A function to export tables as HTML. Whole spread sheets could go that way but I'd prefer to be able to select a range of cells and export those cells as an HTML file. In my case I'd like to just have the data put into the tables but I could see value in embedding the formulas as JavaScript functions.
More support for science and engineering. Everything from more functions to more choices in formatting numbers.
A scripting language based on Python or at least Python like. Whatever is offered up it should have solid support for communicating with the rest of the world. That is it should not be difficult to communicate with instrumentation over RS232, Ethernet or whatever Mac supported protocol you might want to use. About the only thing I don't like about Python is the lack of braces or other block indemnification characters.
Integration with SQLlite. Traditional spreadsheet data handling has its limits of usefulness, functions to access, build and modify SQLlite databases would be very useful.
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;">I agree that there IS a need for more, for a sizable niche of people; I’m just not surprised that Apple hasn’t tried to shoehorn iWork in that direction. (That said, it will still grow over time.)</p>
I'm surprised at how little has been done with iWork. Pages and Keynote are pretty good already, it really is Numbers that lacks impact.
<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;">As for me—not an everyday user who should get iWork—OpenOffice does me just fine!</p>
Interesting I tried one of the OpenOffice variants a few years ago. Honestly I hated it, it actually motivated me to buy iWorks.
Microsoft should just drop the product for the Mac. How many copies do they sell anyway to such a small PC market? Microsoft is trying to do too much. Dropping some software would allow them to focus their efforts.
1) I'm not sure what you are calling small since Mac unit share and installed base has never been higher. The only factor that matters is if the effort expended can net them a profit. Since it could when Apple had a much, much smaller number of units sold per quarter and smaller installed base I assume that the development isn't costlier to the point that it wouldn't yield them even more profit than before.
2) You say they are doing to the much the way some posters make comment about how Apple's lawyers should get back to designing HW or coding SW or whatever other odd association they have with the number of employees and their respective roles. The fact is MS has developers that specifically work on Macs creating software for the Mac. Apple does this with Windows for their Safari, iTunes, QuickTime, Bootcamp drivers, etc. The team working on the iCloud Control Panel for Windows isn't also working on iPhoto for iOS.
Microsoft should just drop the product for the Mac. How many copies do they sell anyway to such a small PC market? Microsoft is trying to do too much. Dropping some software would allow them to focus their efforts.
They have around 200 people working in their Mac Office division so that might be an indication that they do make a profit. But I agree that MS has a habit of trying to be in every market while focus could be a better strategy.
Exactly. The Mac Version usually comes out the year after the Windows version, or at least it has the last few releases so hopefully they won't change it now.
I just wish Apple would be more open about what's happening to iWork. Is it dead or are they finally going to release a new version?
These version numbers don't mean anything. And the release cycle is, well, weird. They never had a version of Excel for Windows until 2.05 which was two years after the Mac version.
A new version of iWork would be great but I think Apple is all about simplicity and therefore simply don't want to add too much options to their office suite. Look at Aperture, apart from a few dot release updates, cosmic changes it is still the same version number 3, from Feb 2010. Now that could use additional options!
Do we even need an Office 2013 for Mac? I mean how much more can you cram into an already bloated product whose myriad features go unused by the vast majority of human beings using it?
Fully agree. But if they remove that ribbon I'll might want to upgrade. Although I hardly (need to) use it anyway. I send out pdf's anyway.
I don't give a fish if they don't come up with 2014 or 2015 version..........Windows don't be a cock for no reason.
Exclusive to only Windows 7 and 8. So? Do I care? No.
I am happy with 2011 which works well for me for the next few years to come.
I won't die if you never have Microsoft Office in the first place. We have iWorks to standby on.
You are still relying on us to buy your softwares still. You will never manufacture a software and market it if there is no market. So, again don't come up with all those cock and bull story.
Don't forget, we still have Parellels which we can install Windows 7 and 8 and add on Microsoft Office 2013 easily. So we have a way to get around but you don't.
I don't give a fish if they don't come up with 2014 or 2015 version..........Windows don't be a cock for no reason.
Exclusive to only Windows 7 and 8. So? Do I care? No.
I am happy with 2011 which works well for me for the next few years to come.
I won't die if you never have Microsoft Office in the first place. We have iWorks to standby on.
You are still relying on us to buy your softwares still. You will never manufacture a software and market it if there is no market. So, again don't come up with all those bull and cock story.
Don't forget, we still have Parellels which we can install Windows 7 and 8 and add on Microsoft Office 2013 easily. So we have a way to get around but you don't.
you had me right up until the shitty english parts.
Comments
Ok.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
When Microsoft recently announced an Office for Mac 2011 update was in the works it also confirmed that OS X users would be able to take advantage of the newer Office 2013 as the software suite is reserved for Windows 7 and Windows 8 machines only.
[...]
The Office for Mac 2011 update is expected to ship early next year alongside the Windows-only Office 2013.
well thank buddha. i've been waiting forever for an upgrade,
oh ... huh ... what? the dumbasses at appleinsider can't be bothered to proof and edit their own copy and get it right? check.
Quote:
Originally Posted by macxpress
I'd rather they worked on an iOS version right now anyways. Office 2011 for Mac is fine.
I agree. I am not sure what the heck I get out of their updates anyway, to tell you the truth.
Do we even need an Office 2013 for Mac? I mean how much more can you cram into an already bloated product whose myriad features go unused by the vast majority of human beings using it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ash471
I understand that iWork probably can't break into the enterprise market. However, since Apple is making a product, why don't they make it suitable for business. It just seems odd to me that Apple would purposely keep selling an inferior product. It isn't that iWork is a bad product...it is an incomplete product. Why won't Apple finish it off? Give us features like reviewing and compare documents and better paragraph numbering...etc.
They've got 100 billion dollars, why not spend 10 million on office software?
Actually it's easy to work out the answer to that question because you answered it yourself.
Apple isn't aiming at businesses they aim for consumers. When you look at the needs for most consumers iWork is head and shoulders above Office. Why do I say that? Because unlike Office iWork is a very easy to use application. Unlike business users however most consumer's needs for office apps is basic. Office is too complex for most people's needs and so Apple gave what most consumers need... simplicity.
iWork isn't aimed at you... it's aimed at everyone else. If you need power you go to Office. If you just want to record data, write a document, make presentation with a degree of power but not all the tools that you'll never need iWork is perfect.
Apple doesn't care about business users because business users don't make them money. Go where the money is.
iWork has improved a lot over the years to the point where it is sufficient for most.
You know what would be an interesting idea? Apple making a Windows compatible version of iWork and promoting it as an easy to use creative office suite for all. Fight MS on their own turf and see what happens especially if they price it the same as the Mac version (ie far cheaper than MS Office).
Quote:
Originally Posted by anantksundaram
I agree. I am not sure what the heck I get out of their updates anyway, to tell you the truth.
I believe Microsoft would sell a shitload of copies of Office for iOS. They'd be stupid not to release it. I work for a school and get asked constantly when/if Word and Excel for iPad will be released.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lkrupp
Do we even need an Office 2013 for Mac? I mean how much more can you cram into an already bloated product whose myriad features go unused by the vast majority of human beings using it?
I don't know if we need Office 2013 for Mac, but we do need some version of Office on the Mac to be feature complete - I mean, Outlook still doesn't have feature parity with dearly departed Entourage.
Quote:
They've got 100 billion dollars, why not spend 10 million on office software?
This also galls me - the amount of cash they're sitting on and they can't even pony-up to keep advancing the software products they've already got out there. iWork is languishing...Final Cut Pro X anyone?...and when was the last substantial update to Aperture? (No, don't tell me iCloud photo streams represent any real advancement of the feature set.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by dagamer34
Because Mac releases of Office have never had the same year as the Windows release. Now if you had asked them when Office for Mac 2014 is coming out, PR might have given a slightly different answer.
Precisely. This is a non-story. They haven't discontinued Office for Mac. It's just that the versions aren't in lock-step.
This is a bizarre thread, and it wasn't started by a newbie.
Nobody was ever expecting Office for Mac 2013. And has been pointed out many times over, the Mac version is due in 2014.
It's an iWork upgrade we're all waiting on.
Microsoft should just drop the product for the Mac. How many copies do they sell anyway to such a small PC market? Microsoft is trying to do too much. Dropping some software would allow them to focus their efforts.
- Really good scientific plotting and charting that works well. Numbers and Excel for that matter are terrible in this regard.
- A function to export tables as HTML. Whole spread sheets could go that way but I'd prefer to be able to select a range of cells and export those cells as an HTML file. In my case I'd like to just have the data put into the tables but I could see value in embedding the formulas as JavaScript functions.
- More support for science and engineering. Everything from more functions to more choices in formatting numbers.
- A scripting language based on Python or at least Python like. Whatever is offered up it should have solid support for communicating with the rest of the world. That is it should not be difficult to communicate with instrumentation over RS232, Ethernet or whatever Mac supported protocol you might want to use. About the only thing I don't like about Python is the lack of braces or other block indemnification characters.
- Integration with SQLlite. Traditional spreadsheet data handling has its limits of usefulness, functions to access, build and modify SQLlite databases would be very useful.
I'm surprised at how little has been done with iWork. Pages and Keynote are pretty good already, it really is Numbers that lacks impact.Interesting I tried one of the OpenOffice variants a few years ago. Honestly I hated it, it actually motivated me to buy iWorks.
1) I'm not sure what you are calling small since Mac unit share and installed base has never been higher. The only factor that matters is if the effort expended can net them a profit. Since it could when Apple had a much, much smaller number of units sold per quarter and smaller installed base I assume that the development isn't costlier to the point that it wouldn't yield them even more profit than before.
2) You say they are doing to the much the way some posters make comment about how Apple's lawyers should get back to designing HW or coding SW or whatever other odd association they have with the number of employees and their respective roles. The fact is MS has developers that specifically work on Macs creating software for the Mac. Apple does this with Windows for their Safari, iTunes, QuickTime, Bootcamp drivers, etc. The team working on the iCloud Control Panel for Windows isn't also working on iPhoto for iOS.
They have around 200 people working in their Mac Office division so that might be an indication that they do make a profit. But I agree that MS has a habit of trying to be in every market while focus could be a better strategy.
These version numbers don't mean anything. And the release cycle is, well, weird. They never had a version of Excel for Windows until 2.05 which was two years after the Mac version.
A new version of iWork would be great but I think Apple is all about simplicity and therefore simply don't want to add too much options to their office suite. Look at Aperture, apart from a few dot release updates, cosmic changes it is still the same version number 3, from Feb 2010. Now that could use additional options!
Fully agree. But if they remove that ribbon I'll might want to upgrade. Although I hardly (need to) use it anyway. I send out pdf's anyway.
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/
http://www.libreoffice.org/
problem solved
I don't give a fish if they don't come up with 2014 or 2015 version..........Windows don't be a cock for no reason.
Exclusive to only Windows 7 and 8. So? Do I care? No.
I am happy with 2011 which works well for me for the next few years to come.
I won't die if you never have Microsoft Office in the first place. We have iWorks to standby on.
You are still relying on us to buy your softwares still. You will never manufacture a software and market it if there is no market. So, again don't come up with all those cock and bull story.
Don't forget, we still have Parellels which we can install Windows 7 and 8 and add on Microsoft Office 2013 easily. So we have a way to get around but you don't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chairman Mao
I don't give a fish if they don't come up with 2014 or 2015 version..........Windows don't be a cock for no reason.
Exclusive to only Windows 7 and 8. So? Do I care? No.
I am happy with 2011 which works well for me for the next few years to come.
I won't die if you never have Microsoft Office in the first place. We have iWorks to standby on.
You are still relying on us to buy your softwares still. You will never manufacture a software and market it if there is no market. So, again don't come up with all those bull and cock story.
Don't forget, we still have Parellels which we can install Windows 7 and 8 and add on Microsoft Office 2013 easily. So we have a way to get around but you don't.
you had me right up until the shitty english parts.
Those apps can also be filed under: Problem created.