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brainchild2b · Mar 14, 2003, 08:54 PM

I see that windows will be coming out with office 2003 soon. Does microsoft have plans in the works for the next mac version of office? And if so, what will it be called?

::maroma:: · Mar 14, 2003, 09:28 PM

I thought I heard somewhere that the next Mac version would be closer to the feature set of the PC version or something. I could be way off here though.

passmaster16 · Mar 14, 2003, 09:31 PM

Do you think they'll even make another Mac version considering how they haven't exacctly been getting along with Apple. That combined with the dismal Office v.X sales, I'm not so sure that they will. I actually hope they do though because unfortunately that's one M$ suite I actually use. I just hope they speed up Word. Word X still runs horribly slow compared to Word XP.

Terri · Mar 14, 2003, 09:41 PM

But we have Appleworks.

Wait what am I saying, oh never mind�

CheesePuff · Mar 14, 2003, 10:12 PM

Yes, the Microsoft Mac Business Unit said that they will be making another major update to the Office version for the Mac. But I remember hearing it will be released months after the PC version.

t_hah · Mar 15, 2003, 12:26 AM

Months meaning a few...or more like in 2005? Anyhow...there seem to be a few other Office-type packages out there surfacing, such as OpenOffice. Apple is also coming up with their own sw (Keynote)...
Time will tell what will happen with Office on Mac.

I do use Office X, but only because I have to. As soon as there will be something out there that reads and writes all the Office files without any problems, I will be switching.

t

Nonsuch · Mar 15, 2003, 02:01 AM

Last I heard, the MacBU was much happier with the sales of Office vX, so that particular crisis is passed.

[APi]TheMan · Mar 15, 2003, 02:49 AM

I was going to start this post ranting about how it really sucks that we are stuck having to use OfficeX... but then I realized, I don't work in an environment where everyone uses Word (I don't work), and I don't get sent .doc files very often at all... and if I do, they're not very complex (something that utilities like AntiWord could do very easily)...

Maybe we're not as bad off as we may think... hmmm. I guess I could start using something like OpenOffice, but then I guess if more people stop using Microsoft products then Mac support dies. Those that DO rely on Microsoft document compatability might suffer if M$ starts to cut or slack on support of Mac solutions...

Nice dilemma, eh?

suthercd · Mar 15, 2003, 05:20 AM

Beta for Office 11 for XP and 2000 is circulating. There is pretty strong debate about the data being in XML and the formatting in XSLT. From some of the comments, it seems like Office docs will be only read by the new version of Office.

Working away from familiar cell type references in Excel to named objects is one "feature".

InfoWorld had an article on this.

Hmmmm

Craig

mbryda · Mar 15, 2003, 07:31 AM

MS has said they will make another version of Office. Most likely it will be next year. Historically, Office comes out for the PC one year and then the Mac the next.

And, yes, we need Office. At least for right now. It's one of many things people who are making the switch are very interested in, as they don't want to be out in the cold with transferring docs and such. What MS should do is put more stuff in Office (Access is very much asked for, as is Visio) to make it a beter value. Right now, it's insane in cost if you don't buy a Mac or qualif for an education discount.

pliny · 10:10 AM

Office X came out around the same time as Office XP. Office XP hit the shelves perhaps one month sooner IIRC. The MacBU bears most of the blame for early "lackluster" sales of Office X, it took them a while to offer bundles with the purchase of a Mac computer, which is very very common on the PC end. Duh.

Cadaver · Mar 16, 2003, 02:41 PM

I've heard rumors that the next version of Office for the Mac will be Cocoa-based. Complete rewrite. Don't know if it's true, but I recall seeing this rumor on thinksecret.com (whom I find often correct).

In any event, MS tends to alternate PC-Mac office releases. Once Office 2003 (aka Office 11) for PC comes out, expect more work to be done on the next version of Mac Office.

Cipher13 · Mar 16, 2003, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by passmaster16:
Do you think they'll even make another Mac version considering how they haven't exacctly been getting along with Apple. That combined with the dismal Office v.X sales, I'm not so sure that they will. I actually hope they do though because unfortunately that's one M$ suite I actually use. I just hope they speed up Word. Word X still runs horribly slow compared to Word XP.

As does Photoshop X, as does Bryce X, as does...

Originally posted by ::maroma:::
I thought I heard somewhere that the next Mac version would be closer to the feature set of the PC version or something. I could be way off here though.

"New, Microsoft Word v.X.I - now with all the bloat of the Windows version!"

I hate MS Office.

passmaster16 · Mar 16, 2003, 09:20 PM

Originally posted by Cipher13:

I hate MS Office.

Oh I hate it with a passion too, but when my company and university both use it, it's kinda hard to avoid. Like I said, I can't wait for the openoffice port to be done. Maybe then I can rid my self of M$ Office.

Truepop · Mar 16, 2003, 09:32 PM

My friend just got his $24 (shipping) copy of Office 11.

I will say as much as I don't like MS and their crashing it ran quick and did what I wanted it to do.

Is there anything like that note taking app for the mac? omnigroup has a few nice apps but not like that. though paper is much much easier and faster. I will say the app is a waste of time for notes but would be a great scrapbook.

WHOA what happened to scap book?

SMacSteve · Mar 16, 2003, 11:16 PM

I spoke with a MS tech specialist yesterday and he said for a fact that Office 11 for the Mac is nearing beta stages. I should be out shortly after the Windows version.
I'm hoping to be on the beta list.

Cypher13, your a pycho. I know because I know someone who knows you and says so. Get a life. with over 14K in post it's obvious you don't have one.

SMacSteve · Mar 16, 2003, 11:19 PM

Originally posted by Truepop:
My friend just got his $24 (shipping) copy of Office 11.

I will say as much as I don't like MS and their crashing it ran quick and did what I wanted it to do.

Is there anything like that note taking app for the mac? omnigroup has a few nice apps but not like that. though paper is much much easier and faster. I will say the app is a waste of time for notes but would be a great scrapbook.

WHOA what happened to scap book?

Is that the Mac version your talking about? I was led to beleive it wasn't ready yet.

jetta_gt · Mar 17, 2003, 01:30 AM

I'm not a fan of the MS empire, but I must say Entourage for OSX is one of the nicest peieces of software I've ever used... And use it i do!!! I pretty much plan and run my life with this program, scheduling, contacts, to-do lists, notes, and of course email. I don't understand why Apple doesn't see the benefit of combining Mail, Addressbook, and iCal into something like this... I haven't used these programs much, but, they seem underpowered, and not very well connected to each other. In entourage, everything can be linked, I can link an email to an event, or a contact to a to-do list item, it's great.

My only two request for Entourage X:

1. Spend some serious time and effort building a handheld sychro system based on not just on Palm, but SyncML and other standards as well. Make it robust and scriptable, my dream is to be able to sync my SE T608 (Sprint gets bluetooth!!!) with entourage as painlessly as possible...

2. I'd like to be able to "lock" or make invisible, personal emails... I don't want to have to log in to Entouarge everytime, just give me an option to lock emails case by case...

Any other Entourage junkies out there???

CharlesS · Mar 17, 2003, 02:12 AM

Originally posted by Truepop:
My friend just got his $24 (shipping) copy of Office 11.

I will say as much as I don't like MS and their crashing it ran quick and did what I wanted it to do.

Is there anything like that note taking app for the mac? omnigroup has a few nice apps but not like that. though paper is much much easier and faster. I will say the app is a waste of time for notes but would be a great scrapbook.

WHOA what happened to scap book?

Did the file format change? If so, save a document and post it.

Truepop · Mar 17, 2003, 05:25 AM

No not mac compatible.

My friend who has yet to see the light is a Microsoft Freak.

When he was 14 he had his picture taken in front of the HQ way back when.. so he is now known as Tim lover of Microsoft.

Does anyone have friends or know people like that? maybe in the mac community. "hey lets take our picture in front of an Apple"

I don't know too much about the file format but I will ask him about it and maybe get an link to a doc for yous guys.