[ryaxnb]

I see a bright future. I think I can make a bold prediction; Office 2011 (or whatever they call it), if they make it, will be the last version of Office for Mac. After that, they will cancel ALL Mac compatibility. It's not worth it. The Mac is not a Microsoft-friendly platform. They will refer you to VMWare Fusion if you want to run Office. Crossover (for 2003 and XP) will also be an option. As well as an outdated Office 2008/2011 copy. But most will go for the obvious; iWork will become popular with people who need an office suite. Very few people use a Mac for extensive office work (other than page layout and online design those who do will either defect to windows full-time, or use Boot Camp/VmWare/Parallels/CrossOver. For those who need other capabilities, Mariner, Papyrus, Nisus, Google, NeoOffice, OOo, and Mellel offer solutions. I predict this based off MS's downsizing of the Mac division, Apple's launching of iWork, and other factors.

[Nodnarb]

I think iWork is there for Apple as a backup incase that ever does happen.

Do you have any info of how long MS is contractually obliged to make Office for mac?

I definitely could see that in ~5 years, with Macs getting a much bigger home/student market-share, MS just ceasing development all together no matter how profitable office for mac is, or how many people would be dependent on it. Seems like something they'd do.

But, in ~5 years, iWork could be a true competitor to office, and work SEAMLESSLY with it on windows comps (still too many bugs when transferring docs/keynotes/spreadsheets back and forth).

It will be very interesting, to say the least.

[Big Mac]

AFAIK M$ was only under obligation to produce Office Mac for four or so years after the 1997 agreement. They haven't be contractually obligated for quite some time. If Office on OS X is profitable M$ will continue to produce it, unless M$ really wants to screw over Apple.

[Nodnarb]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

If Office on OS X is profitable M$ will continue to produce it, unless M$ really wants to screw over Apple.

That's exactly my line of thought: as of now, they're making a ton off of it ($400 for the standard edition!!!) but in a few years, if Apple becomes a "serious" (in MS's eyes) threat to the home/consumer market, they could be total dicks and stop making it. It really would hurt Apple, unless as I said they really really improve iWork to prepare for that.

[adamfishercox]

Adding Numbers to iWork was an obvious move to making iWork on par with Office. Apple knows that sooner or later, Office for Mac will be gone.

[lpkmckenna]

I don't think MS has any plans to leave the Mac.

Incidentally, I tried Office 2008 at the Apple Store today. Very nice.

[philm]

I reckon by 2012 most apps will be web-based anyway.

[Sherman Homan]

Microsoft used to brag that they made more money off of every Mac than Apple did. I don't think it costs MS much to make Office, and they make a boatload of money off of it. That said, MS is having no fun in the Zune/Vista era and 2012 is a long way off in computer years.

[Cold Warrior]

Right now, Office 2008 is probably going to be a nice addition to the bottom line, while they're going to be eating the R&D costs of the Vista debacle for years to come.

[Wiskedjak]

Ummm ... MS through virtual machine or Bootcamp is still Apple with MS.

[Nodnarb]

Yeah but that way they have to buy windows AND office. Seems like a great business plan to me!

[Cadaver]

The saving grace is that Microsoft makes money on Office for the Mac, all the while keeping feature parity to a minimum, thus 'encouraging' Mac business users to migrate to Windows + Win Office.

However, if the open-format document movement continues to gain traction, Microsoft Office may eventually no longer be a necessity for many. We can hope!

[driven]

I think as the Windows platform shrinks, Microsoft will be looking to the Mac more and more as a way to generate revenue.

Office and Windows have been their two big money makers. If (when actually) Windows starts to lose share to Linux and OSX Microsoft will still want to maintain a revenue stream on whatever replaces Windows. Since they already have a good foothold in the Mac market I suspect they will really start to push Mac-Office. They might even create a Linux version .... who knows?

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Cadaver 

The saving grace is that Microsoft makes money on Office for the Mac, all the while keeping feature parity to a minimum, thus 'encouraging' Mac business users to migrate to Windows + Win Office.

However, if the open-format document movement continues to gain traction, Microsoft Office may eventually no longer be a necessity for many. We can hope!

Count on Microsoft to pervert any standard it touches enough that any idea of cross-platform compatibility flies right out the window. This is a large part of how Explorer has managed to keep such a solid foothold in so many places despite sucking so much for so long.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan 

Microsoft used to brag that they made more money off of every Mac than Apple did. I don't think it costs MS much to make Office, and they make a boatload of money off of it. That said, MS is having no fun in the Zune/Vista era and 2012 is a long way off in computer years.

Record setting quarters for M$ equals no fun? I wish I could have fun like that.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Count on Microsoft to pervert any standard it touches enough that any idea of cross-platform compatibility flies right out the window. This is a large part of how Explorer has managed to keep such a solid foothold in so many places despite sucking so much for so long.

Actually, count on any proprietary company to do that (Apple included)