|
|
Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac delayed
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: ~/
Status:
Offline
|
|
Link: Macsimum News - Office 2008 for Mac delayed
Sounds like (yet another) 6 month delay for Office 2008.
Perhaps I'm just being paranoid, but I think Microsoft's paucity of Mac-centric resources is a purposeful move to weaken the Mac's increasing popularity.
Kind of a shame, too, because I may eventually have to bow to Microsoft's extorsion, since like so many other business users I am fairly dependent on Microsoft's cash-cow Office suite. Office 2004 works, but is dog slow on my Intel-based Macs. And the MS compatibility of other apps (Keynote, Pages, NeoOffice/OpenOffice, Nisus Writer, etc.) can only get me about 85% of the way.
I may have to be more aggressive about having people send me documents and attachments in PDF, RTF and other "open" file formats. May work for some individuals, but good luck getting some huge enterpises to make the change. And even then, I find most Windows people don't have an easy way to save Word files as a PDF.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Back in the Good Ole US of A
Status:
Offline
|
|
It would appear the MacBU has very limited resources and that their mandate is to produce barely passable software. If the pathetic RDC 2.0 beta is any indication of what's to come, I think I'll start seriously checking out alternatives to Office 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Status:
Offline
|
|
Listen, you gotta give 'em a break: They're probably just working on putting out a phone, you know?
Their phone may end up being brown and squarish and clunky, but they're entitled to pursue their dreams. Happens to the best of companies, after all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: yes
Status:
Offline
|
|
Cadaver: just use NeoOffice, Abiword, Textedit, or anything else that will read a MS Word file. Granted, you may have to tweak formatting a little bit here and there, but in my experience I have to do this anyway because people like to do dumb things like use manual spaces rather than tabs/tables to align things just so, and the slight differences in fonts can throw this sort of precise formatting off. At least in my work flow (and granted, I don't receive a ton of Word files), this sort of annoyance is minimal at best.
What I get in using a different product is not having to pay for the software (this will be nice when I can no longer get it for free), faster performance on my Intel Mac, not being locked into a file format, support of open source software, and trading one set of annoyances for another
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cambridge
Status:
Offline
|
|
Here it goes again. Office languishes. Microsoft deliberately lags the Mac feature set behind the Windows version (more than it is now). Hopefully this time, Apple will not have to cut a deal with MS to get Office going again. Maybe iWork will become more Office friendly. Maybe that's the real reason for the delay of iWork '07.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Polwaristan
Status:
Offline
|
|
Not surprising. MS has a history of failed deadlines. For whatever reason, they just can't stay on track.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cooperstown '09
Status:
Offline
|
|
Microsoft will go out of business because of this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Toronto
Status:
Offline
|
|
My opinion of this is the same as my opinion of the Leopard delay: as long as they get it right, I'm happy.
I didn't upgrade from Office X to Office 2004 because the new features didn't interest me. Office 2007 does. In other words, a 3 month delay on an update I've waited for since 2002 doesn't bother me. Not as much as a product loaded with bugs would.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Manchester,UK
Status:
Offline
|
|
The difference with MS Office and Leopard is that you aren't going to start getting 'Leopard' formatted files that you must read but can't open from a bunch of people.
You can save as the older format from the latest Win' Office, but I think it's in the 'Export' option (If I remember correctly) and comes with a dialogue about loosing options.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Status:
Offline
|
|
Just cross you fingers and hope that they're not working on an "ad-supported version" of Mac Office, like they're doing with iWorks. That'd be horrible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: London, UK
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Cadaver
Perhaps I'm just being paranoid, but I think Microsoft's paucity of Mac-centric resources is a purposeful move to weaken the Mac's increasing popularity.
When hasn't that been MSs probable modus operandi?
FWIW, if they can install their own software (e.g. if it is their own PC), get them to download and use PDF Creator (OSS freeware) and they'll be able to print to PDF from any app like we can. I've been using version 0.9.2 for over a year now on my work PC and haven't had a single issue with it and Word 2003.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Status:
Offline
|
|
Wow, version 2008 software that won't be released until the first month of 2008! I bet iLife '08 will be released about the same time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: FFM
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by amazing
Just cross you fingers and hope that they're not working on an "ad-supported version" of Mac Office, like they're doing with iWorks. That'd be horrible.
Where did you get the information that iWork will be "ad supported"?
(
Last edited by TETENAL; Aug 2, 2007 at 08:21 PM.
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: London, UK
Status:
Offline
|
|
He/she is confusing MS Works with iWork. It is MS Works that is going to be supported by ads.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Status:
Offline
|
|
Microsoft announced they going to offer an ad-supported version of Works (basic docs and spreadsheets) on some OEM's PCs in the next couple months. Works is Microsoft's lightweight docs-and-spreadsheets software. If it goes well they'll switch from $40 to free-with-ads for Works sometime next year.
I don't see them doing the same with Office, or porting Works to OS X, so I don't see how it could affect OS X users.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Status:
Offline
|
|
You actually expected office 08 to be out before 2008, I'm shocked
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Status:
Offline
|
|
Yep, sorry, meant MS Works...oops...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2005
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Cadaver
And the MS compatibility of other apps (Keynote, Pages, NeoOffice/OpenOffice, Nisus Writer, etc.) can only get me about 85% of the way.
I may have to be more aggressive about having people send me documents and attachments in PDF, RTF and other "open" file formats. May work for some individuals, but good luck getting some huge enterpises to make the change. And even then, I find most Windows people don't have an easy way to save Word files as a PDF.
If more PC users started using OpenOffice then your problem is solved because these files are fully compatible from PC to Mac and vice versa. I'm actually surprised that OpenOffice isn't that popular on PCs since it is a good alternative to MS Office suites and the biggest seller is that it's free. OpenOffice also works very similar to MS Office so there isn't much of a learning curve.
I've actually been telling my PC friends and family about it in hopes that it becomes more popular. If you are going to be aggressive about people sending you certain types of files then it would be a good to recommend OpenOffice to them. For my needs NeoOffice works perfectly so there is no need for me to buy Office 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Regular
Join Date: May 2007
Status:
Offline
|
|
I have used Office 2008 for windows for a brief time at work, energizer is the first company to have it, and have to say am not impressed a whole lot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Status:
Offline
|
|
^^^ you mean office 2007
I have office 2007 which I use within VMware's Fusion and I think its light years ahead in functionality over the current office for the Mac which is sad M$ continues to give mac users the short end of the stick. I like/hate the ribbon, at times it's really helpful and speeds me along, and other times its so $#%$ frustrating trying to do something and I cannot figure out where it is now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Calgary
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Cadaver
Perhaps I'm just being paranoid, but I think Microsoft's paucity of Mac-centric resources is a purposeful move to weaken the Mac's increasing popularity.
Yes, you're just being paranoid. Apple does not compete directly with Microsoft. Apple competes with computer manufacturers such as Dell, Sony and Acer. Microsoft's product are installed as frequently on Macs as they are on Dells, Sonys and Acers. If Microsoft appears to not be putting as much effort into the Mac versions of their software, it's probably because the Mac user base represents such a small percentage of Microsoft's entire customer base, giving the non-Mac products a higher priority.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Atheist
I think I'll start seriously checking out alternatives to Office 2008.
Well, how do think it will stack up against its major competitor, Office 2004?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status:
Offline
|
|
I don't think it's the MacBU, it's Microsoft itself. They did it with Vista, they'll do it with Office, and probably the next Xbox.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SoIn
Status:
Offline
|
|
I couldn't care less if MS Office 2008 is delayed.
The less Microsoft in my life the happier I am.
I use TextEdit and am just fine. Sometimes I use AppleWorks too.
When I must use Microsoft Windows at work I log onto my Gmail account and use it's Documents program.
If people need an office suite I recommend OpenOffice.org for PC and NeoOffice for Mac, though I haven't tried the latter. IMO though as long as Microsoft isn't being paid, I'm gonna recommend it. There are so many viable alternatives, and free ones too, it just doesn't pay to pay Microsoft.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Regular
Join Date: May 2007
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by MacosNerd
^^^ you mean office 2007
I have office 2007 which I use within VMware's Fusion and I think its light years ahead in functionality over the current office for the Mac which is sad M$ continues to give mac users the short end of the stick. I like/hate the ribbon, at times it's really helpful and speeds me along, and other times its so $#%$ frustrating trying to do something and I cannot figure out where it is now.
Yes 2007, little slip of the mind there haha.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by mduell
Wow, version 2008 software that won't be released until the first month of 2008! I bet iLife '08 will be released about the same time.
*grovels and eats his crow*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Los Angeles, California
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by mduell
*grovels and eats his crow*
Beat me there.
|
Linkinus is king.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Status:
Offline
|
|
Especially with Numbers now out, I don't know why anyone would bother with MS Office now. I think Microsoft has probably lost some customers because of this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status:
Offline
|
|
The reason is to have 99.9% compatibility with colleagues who use Word or Excel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Status:
Offline
|
|
Who needs Colleagues! I'm a lone wolf haha...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: FFM
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by Salty
Especially with Numbers now out, I don't know why anyone would bother with MS Office now. I think Microsoft has probably lost some customers because of this.
Microsoft Office for Mac is dead. With Numbers out Office 2008 will be the last version they make.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by TETENAL
Microsoft Office for Mac is dead. With Numbers out Office 2008 will be the last version they make.
If that's the case, then Apple would really need to make iWork into a true Office replacement. For most people, iWork is great but there are still people out there that need fully compatibility with Office. Microsoft will continue to make Office for Mac as long as it is financially viable for them. They make good revenue on Mac Office. Unless that changes, I don't see any reason for them to discontinue making it. Now if iWork begins to substantially cut into their profits, they might decide to pull the plug, but people who truly need Office will continue to buy it regardless of iWork 08.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Canada.
Status:
Offline
|
|
Why don't you just use Office 2007 via Crossover? I use Crossover for a couple apps and the odd game, works like a charm.
I still wish Office 2008 would be out by now though since having a native Office suite just make the Mac OS more homey.
|
..13" MacBook Pro | 2.53gHz | 4gb RAM | 320gb Seagate Momentus XT | OSX.6.6.. // iPhone 4 32gb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: yes
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by passmaster16
If that's the case, then Apple would really need to make iWork into a true Office replacement. For most people, iWork is great but there are still people out there that need fully compatibility with Office. Microsoft will continue to make Office for Mac as long as it is financially viable for them. They make good revenue on Mac Office. Unless that changes, I don't see any reason for them to discontinue making it. Now if iWork begins to substantially cut into their profits, they might decide to pull the plug, but people who truly need Office will continue to buy it regardless of iWork 08.
I just don't think that the vast majority of people need MS Office. I also think that the idea that many need 99% compatibility is overrated, as these compatibility problems are minor formatting issues that are simply a small annoyance, if that. These same problems could exist regardless, given the differences in fonts between OS X and Windows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Elite
Join Date: Jan 2001
Status:
Offline
|
|
I just started trying iWorks 8, and so far so good. Im hoping it will eventually replace officvce for me.
numbers is nice but does not yet have as much 'flexibility' as Exel, and Office 2004 does not seem to open Numbers 8.
N'8 might have an export to exel though
lets keep our fingers crossed;
cheers
|
MacPro 2.66 dual 3GB RAM 1.5 TB HD's
24" + 21" Samsung flat panels
Miglia mini HD (Great!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status:
Offline
|
|
FYI - Microsoft is sending Mac Office 2008 beta invites out now. Your MS rep has to request your name be added to the invite list *I think*.
Release of beta is Oct 1st.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: England | San Francisco
Status:
Offline
|
|
I hope i get invited, we have so many VBscript applications running off Office..
|
we don't have time to stop for gas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Chicago
Status:
Offline
|
|
I'm going to need to get in contact with mine to see if I can get a hold of it legitimately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mac Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Status:
Offline
|
|
<>I hope i get invited, we have so many VBscript applications running off Office.
Which of course makes you just the type of user MS needs to beta test Office.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by besson3c
Cadaver: just use NeoOffice, Abiword, Textedit, or anything else that will read a MS Word file. Granted, you may have to tweak formatting a little bit here and there, but in my experience I have to do this anyway because people like to do dumb things like use manual spaces rather than tabs/tables to align things just so, and the slight differences in fonts can throw this sort of precise formatting off. At least in my work flow (and granted, I don't receive a ton of Word files), this sort of annoyance is minimal at best.
Good for you - for me, my entire business pretty much is dealing with people with Word files. I've ended up (when I'm writing something from scratch) writing it in Pages, then exporting, and tidying up in Word, but that's a pain. I still need Word for compatibility with my clients. Exporting from something else is unreliable, and makes me look flakey when files I send people don't work the way they want them to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Polwaristan
Status:
Offline
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: yes
Status:
Offline
|
|
So if all you want is the basic Office suite + Exchange support, you have to pony up $500! Wow, what a pile of suck... Basically, the Exchange support in Entourage is like paying for the home edition three times!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status:
Offline
|
|
If I want to stick with 2004, how much is this going to affect me? I mean, 2008 can read 2004 files still, right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Toronto
Status:
Offline
|
|
I have no problem with this pricing scheme. Home users don't need Exchange support.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cooperstown '09
Status:
Offline
|
|
The $400 "Standard" version supports Exchange as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Polwaristan
Status:
Offline
|
|
What's the difference between them then? Maybe it's just a case of the news release being confusing... ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: 888500128
Status:
Offline
|
|
According to the article you linked, "Office 2008 for Mac Special Media Edition, features the Office 2008 applications and adds the Microsoft Expression Media digital asset management system. This edition also includes Exchange support and Automator tools."
Apparently, the Microsoft Expression Media digital asset managemet is something they bought from the iView guys.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clinically Insane
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: yes
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by lpkmckenna
I have no problem with this pricing scheme. Home users don't need Exchange support.
What about education and small business? $400 a seat is a pretty hefty price for an email client, and a pretty shitty one at that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Mar 2006
Status:
Offline
|
|
Originally Posted by besson3c
$400 a seat is a pretty hefty price for an email client, and a pretty shitty one at that.
Duh?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Status:
Offline
|
|
January 15? Well.. At least they got the 6 month delay claim correct...
Oh well, I'll keep suffering with 2004...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Rules
|
|
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|