Next Mac Office, due by 2010's end, gets Outlook

Microsoft on Thursday said the next version of Office for Mac will arrive by the 2010 holiday buying season, and it added that the new version will include a version of Outlook.

Outlook for Mac will replace Entourage, the current e-mail and calendar program in the Mac Office suite. Although it will still differ from the Windows version of Outlook, it will add support for more Exchange features, such as public folders and rights management features.

Office for Mac had a version of Outlook in its pre-Mac OS X days, but Microsoft switched to the Entourage program with Office for Mac version X because that version lacked a good connection with Exchange.

The software maker has worked over the past several years to add better Exchange capabilities to the e-mail software.

Apple, too, has worked to support Exchange within its own mail program and has said it will add improved Exchange capabilities from within Mail as part of its forthcoming Snow Leopard operating system. Eric Wilfrid, general manager of Microsoft's Macintosh business unit, said on a conference call that he couldn't really talk about how Outlook for Mac will compare to Snow Leopard, in terms of Exchange support, since Apple hasn't yet released the new operating system or detailed how the Exchange support will work.

Wilfrid also said he had nothing to say about rumors that Microsoft might be working on mobile versions of Office for the iPhone.

"That's been a popular question," he said. "No, there is no news today about any iPhone work."

On Wednesday, Microsoft announced a partnership with Nokia that will see it creating mobile versions of the Office applications for Symbian phones.

Microsoft also plans to bring Visual Basic support back in the next version of Office for Mac, but it didn't share more about the features that will be part of Office for Mac. In addition, it said it will launch a new "business edition" of its Office for Mac product that adds improved connections to SharePoint and Exchange Server.

The new product is slated to join the existing Home and Student edition on retail shelves on September 15, reducing the number of versions Microsoft sells from three to two. The new business edition, which will sell for the same $399 as the standard edition of Office.

[Mr. Dee]

So the new edition of Office For Mac: Business will be replacing Special Edition? I personally believe Outlook for Mac will still be the choice for Mac users over Snow Leopards improved Calendar and Mail Programs simply because Outlook does it all in one program instead of Apples scattered approach. People don't want to spend precious moments having to switch and identify icons in a Dock. This is big news.

[ckh1272]

Mr. Dee sys-"People don't want to spend precious moments having to switch and identify icons in a Dock. This is big news."<br /><br />Only if you are too lazy. Of course the rule would apply to someone trying to switch and identify icons in Windows quick launch as well. They both require mousing over the icon to get the name, but you can easily resize the dock to make those icons as big or as small as you want. I will agree with you on one thing though. Apple should try an integrated approach with Mail and Calender. It would make complete sense.

[Get_a_life_Leo]

Apple's approach is hardly scattered. There are three apps instead of one. Makes independent backup easier and more reliable. Less eggs in one basket. iCal and Addressbook don't need to be open to by synced and updated. Exchange calendar requests received in Mail are automatically added to iCal and Addressbook lookups in Mail also don't require Addressbook to be open. It's just a different approach. Apple seems to have built its communication apps to allow someone with no Microsoft software participate in a Microsoft-dominated workplace. In fact, you no longer need Office to participate if you run iWork. It's good to have the choice and not to be dependent on one solution. Moreover, out of the box, Macs allow pretty good integration with Exchange without spending a penny.

[abcd9009]

@Mr. Dee <br /><br />I would have to agree with @ckh1272 on this one. If you would have made the same comment for Windows users, I might have agreed. What I mean is, people using Mac do so by their own choice - shelling out alot more than what they would if the use a PC to do the same thing. So if they are spending that much money, they are not very likely to be complaining about this minor detail.

[geekbully]

Wow you Apple fan boi's never cease to amaze me. As a Mac and PC user I can unbiasedly say that Office blows anything Apple or Google has to offer. There's nothing wrong with being a "lazy" computer user. That's the point of a computer. It's supposed to handle more tasks efficiently so we don't have to.<br /><br />As far as Office being improved on the Mac this is nice to see. Other things that would be nice is to see Access ported and the feature to make a slide show from photo album in Powerpoint. I know Access will likely depend on MS porting VBA to Mac which isn't likely but one can hope...

[geekbully]

Ah I misread the article, VBA is coming to Mac! That's huge!

[Dave_Wilbur]

wow - a lot of haters here (both sides)... maybe everyone should just settle down and realize that you choose a platform for personal reasons, and just stop hating so much. I'm a system architect and a mac user. I've used every OS around, from BeOS to Linux to Windows and Mac. I used to be tech support for my entire family when they were on windows, and things would randomly break. I converted most of them to mac, and rarely if ever have to talk to them about tech stuff anymore... 'It just works' is more than just a tagline. I've run mixed environments too, and BY FAR the most problems were on the windows side. Before you come back with the "I run windows and I never have problems" argument, I run real environments, not some at-home network. I also do quite a bit of video editing, and quite frankly nothing else even comes close to macs in this realm. That's my experience. <br /> <br />BUT - I don't hate windows users, nor do I chide them for their decisions... just don't quote BS to me. The common 'comeback' is that macs are more expensive, but they just put out less cheap s**t than a Dell or others. I'm still using a mac laptop I bought in 2000 for daily use, and it has been beat to hell and back. How many laptops last 9 years? Mac towers are built like true workstations, not the plastic stuff you get from everything else. Yes, you pay for that, and Yes, you can build something cheaper with the same parts. I've done it, and would rather get down to working than tinkering anymore. Besides, Dell came up with a 'competitor' to the mac air and it's $500+ more, so 'apples-to-apples' comparisons aren't that clear cut when you take EVERYTHING into account. <br /> <br />And you mac fans need to knock it down a notch too. Apple has some pretty stupid corporate policies that show the bad side of the control-freak nature that are is beneficial with the design end of things. Like partnering with the worst wireless network possible for their iphone, byzantine policies for app acceptance on the app store, and on and on. Apple isn't god, there are plenty of holes in the armor and they aren't virus proof. Get over it, nothing will ever be. <br /> <br />So stop hating on each other and get back to work for a change.

[geekbully]

@ Dave<br /><br />Glad to see there are some REAL fellow technology enthusiasts on here. I guess it takes people of higher technology caliber to see outside the "Brand" box. The rest are just brand loyal followers.<br /><br />This message was written on my Mac. I'm going back to my PC to manage VOIP, Network and Databases now...

[Renegade Knight]

@ckh1272 <br /> <br />A better mousetrap is always a good thing. As much as I'd love to get rid ouf outlook, it does what it does well. Better than anything else out there. That includes Mac's native approach. <br /> <br />I wouldn't be proud of your ability to use three applications where one will do. Nor would I tell you to change if what you are doing works for you.

[ccbc65]

I agree with Dave. I'm a software engineer &#38; I've worked in every OS there is, DOS, every Windows vers, many Unix varieties, Linux &#38; Mac OS. At home, I have a MAC and that's all I've had for 5 years now. Why? Because they just work! No Macs aren't perfect, but they just work right out of the box. I got fed up with the constant problems with windows &#38; switched. I currently have nothing Microsoft in my house. I have a 2004 20" G5 Imac that works great &#38; a 15" G4 Powerbook. I use both daily with the latest MAC OS and apps and they work better than most new PCs. I just don't like how troublesome windows is and it always is. ie. at work we have PCs &#38; a printer for our group. Every couple of days, for no apparent reason, I can't print to the printer. It's there and working but I just can't print to it. Nothing has changed on my PC or the network. This has happened to most in my group, just not all at the same time. It seems to be completely random. The only way to print again is it delete the printer and completely re-install it, which takes about 40 minutes due to HPs very poor installer. What a waste of time! One day I brought my Mac in. I hooked it up to the network, it found the printer without me even asking it to. I was able to print without any problems what so ever. That's the difference. Another example: if you look at C-Net's top 10 downloads for Windows, its mostly (it not all) anti-virus and anti-adware/malware programs. If you look at C-Net's top 10 downloads for Mac, it's mostly productive stuff, Video editing, file sharing, etc., not maintenance/protection stuff. That says it all. I can just use my MAC without having to always be doing maintenance/protection stuff. Installing software is just drag and drop, no complicated wizards with lots of questions. Apple OS and apps were designed. Microsoft's OS and apps were just thrown together until they worked enough to release them. As a software engineer, I appreciate a program that works right the first time and every time. That's the way I write them. <br /><br />While Macs cost more up front, over the life of the computer they are way cheaper. You don't have to spend lots of money on hardware &#38; software upgrades with MACs like you do with PCs. My Powerbook is a 2002 model and it still works well, as well as any of my friend's new PC laptops. It's still going strong 7+ years later. That's value. <br /><br />As much as I hate microsoft (and I do, I just don't bash people who use it, I bash microsoft), there isn't a mail program out there that competes with Outlook. It pains me to say that but I have looked and Outlook is the best. It has its problems still but it has more usable features than any others and it has a very intuitive interface. I don't think Apple having mail and calendar in separate apps is a problem cause their apps work well together. I just don' think either has the capabilities of Outlook. I wish they did. <br /><br />And the only other Microsoft application I actually like is Visio but it could use a little improvement too. But for free or cheap drawing programs, anything short of truly professional stuff, Visio is the best. Funny, I don't think Microsoft made that one... They just bought it. <br /><br />Why do I hate microsoft? Cause none of their products work as they are supposed to, especially windows. And they never will! Microsoft will never sell a product that works wonderfully cause they want you to run out and buy their latest version of everything as soon as it comes out. If windows 2000 worked well, would you have been in a hurry to get XP? No. If XP worked well, would you have been in a hurry to get Vista? No. Etc. Microsoft sells disappointment &#38; frustration knowing most people will just keep buying &#38; hoping the next product will be better. It won't, it will just have different problems and frustrations. <br /><br />The other thing I really hate about microsoft is how they take more &#38; more control away from the user. Maybe most people like that but I hate it. It's harder &#38; harder to find where things are set in windows and there are less &#38; less ways to control your environment. I could probably live with that but why do their apps think they know what I want to do better than I do? Why when I change some formatting on part of a paragraph in Word why does Word then go and change other formatting options? If I wanted to do that, I would. And why do microsoft applications try to link themselves with every other application on my PC? That's what makes them so slow &#38; such memory hogs. They should only provide interfaces and let the user control the data sharing. <br /><br />But now that Intel Macs can run windows, I can have the best of both. I can have my reliable and durable MAC and switch to windows to do email &#38; visio if I need it &#38; to run they many work related programs that just aren't available on MAC. So I'll have all the functionality of windows, without all the headaches...

[BogusBasin]

@ccbc65<br /><br />Uh oh, now you've done it! Here come the MicroWolves! How dare you speak the truth!?<br /><br />Amen

[stokedawg]

Finally VBA support! Yay!

[slickuser]

this could mean virus for mac will be easier

[BogusBasin]

This is a big deal. Returning some sense of cross-platform compatibility for things like Excel Macros.

[bbabadu]

Agreed, this is a big deal - about time.

[BogusBasin]

@bbabadu<br /><br />I only have a problem with one of your words. You said macs are just as PRONE to a virus as Windows. If you had said they are SUSCEPTIBLE to a virus, I would agree. But they are not prone to them for the reason you stated among others; Virus writers haven't bothered to attack them. The fact remains, that unprotected Windows computers are many many more times more likely to get a virus than an unprotected Mac. Up to this point anyway.<br /><br />Amen

[bbabadu]

@BogusBasin <br /> <br />My only problem is that I didn't say what you had quoted me as saying :) <br /> <br />Halleluja

[viper396]

@BogusBasin, SUSCEPTIBLE vs PRONE ...whatever. If you have to split hairs and arguing semantics over a couple words that in most conversations are interchangable then you're argument is trivial at best. You 've changed nothing.

[BogusBasin]

@Viper<br /><br />If one word leads people to believe their Mac is as likely to get a virus than a PC, then it is worth mentioning. Having used a Mac for the past 15 years with no virus protection and no viruses, I think it is safe to say they are less prone. I really don't care if you like it. Actually, I hope you don't. Choosing a Mac means choosing an experience that is very likely to be free from viruses. It's a fact. <br /><br />Having said that, I will admit I could get my first virus today. It might cause me to lose all my data and have to buy a new Mac. I would be okay with that. It would be a small price to pay for all the trouble free times I've enjoyed over the past 15 years. And I have a backup. <br /><br />Amen

[Seaspray0]

@bogusbasin. That's like saying, "I flipped a coin 50 times and it came up heads ever time... therefore my chances of not getting tails on the next flip is better than yours." <br /> <br />It doesn't fly.

[ccbc65]

Hey Dano, <br /><br />While it is true there have been a couple MAC viruses, there are new PC viruses weekly. I don' t mind having to deal with a virus every year or two. I will not accept having to deal with a new virus every week. I use my computer to be productive, not to do maintanence and anti-virus. <br /><br />And the reasons there are so few Mac viruses is not cause there aren't enough Macs, its because Macs aren't nearly as vunerable to viruses as windows are.

[BogusBasin]

@Seaspray<br /><br />Whatever. You can talk hypotheticals all day long. Real world experience trumps. Sorry. Thanks for playing.<br /><br />Amen

[myles taylor]

It's about time! Microsoft needs to quit screwing around and offering a stripped down version of Office for Mac. With the market share growing, they need to offer a solid program for people to run on a Mac.

[ywkhgqo]

They didn't HAVE to do anything. Be happy they're selling office at all.

[BelkyB]

I would love to see Microsoft RESTORE the GRAMMAR CHECK DEFINITIONS in WORD too!!!<br /><br />They took this out of Office 2008. It is still in Office 2007.<br /><br />Are you listening Eric Wilfrid? Eric Wilfrid please bring back the Grammar check definitions/explanations that are in Office 2007!

[chabig83]

Microsoft had to offer Outlook to Mac Users. They couldn't let Apple offer better Exchange support. So, Microsoft responds to competition when they're forced to.

[heygeo]

huh? *** are you talking about? Apple offerring better exchange support?! why because they licensed activsync? and implemented 8 out of the 220 security policies... Apple is woefully behind in enterprise supporting features.. they are and will remain by choice a consumer product company, MS didnt have to do crap... there are plenty of other email providers out there for mac users to pretend to be productive with.

[The_happy_switcher]

Just say no to Microsoft products on your Mac.

[Rolker]

why?

[ckh1272]

I personally don't have a problem with Office for Mac but they could stand to unify the look a bit.

[bbabadu]

You're so bitter.

[Seaspray0]

The truth about happy switcher... <br /> <br />by The_happy_switcher August 3, 2009 10:49 PM PDT <br />" Why do you feel the need to belittle everything about Microsoft?" Gee Dan, you sound like you might be in tears. To answer your question: 'Cause it's fun?!--DUH. <br /> <br />Amen

[The_happy_switcher]

@sea: I'm glad you find me quote-worthy. Remember, friends don't let friends use Windows products.

[El_Segfaulto]

@switcher<br /><br />For all of your anti-Microsoft angst, you still don't realize that the bigger d-bag you are, the worse you make Apple products look. I would wager that there are a ton of people on the fence, unsatisfied with Windows, but not wanting to become what they see as a smug Apple user.

[The_happy_switcher]

"I would wager that there are a ton of people on the fence, unsatisfied with Windows, but not wanting to become what they see as a smug Apple user." If you base your decisions on what someone posts on a MB that I submit you've got self-esteem issues and need a life coach or something.

[viper396]

@The_happy_switcher, what exactly are you trying to accomplish with your blatantly juvenile posts? There's a better chance at winning the lottery then of any Windows user switching because of the garbage you post. You're influencing nothing and changing nobody's opinion. You're even embarrassing to Mac users. Grow up.

[monkeyfun14]

@everyone<br /><br />Just ignore him.. He's obviously trying to convince himself that he made the right product decision because if he was absolutely content he would actually enjoy it instead of sitting here trying to justify why his Mac is better than PC's

[The_happy_switcher]

@vapor396 and monkey: Not sure why you think I'm trying to switch anyone. Is it because of my name? Should I assume you are both 'vipers' and 'monkey's' who can magically talk, too?

[JessicaInPink]

I am a Mac user, and I have been dreaming about this day for many, many years!<br /><br />FINALLY! No more need to run Windows on Boot Camp for Outlook.<br /><br />Okay Microsoft, I am starting to love you guys again. I think that my panties are wet!

[El_Segfaulto]

I cannot wait to see what the response will be when Microsoft ports Freecell over!<br /><br />:)

[TechnoMan475392]

Bootcamp?! Parallels is where it's at...windows XP right there. Of course, I upgraded to 4 gigs of ram because it takes a decent chunk, but it works! It's sort of putzy though.

[Get_a_life_Leo]

It's good to see Microsoft keeping their cash cow alive through updates but with iWork there are fewer and fewer reasons to need Office. I work in a mixed environment (lot more PCs than Macs) and I rarely need to open Excel or Word and never bother with Powerpoint anymore. I can send compatible files to my PC friends by saving in an Office-readable format. Obviously, you need to run Office if that what your workplace has standardized on but in that case, you really need a PC because Office for Mac is not a true peer of Office for Windows. Over the past 3 years I use Office less and less to the point where its now there just for legacy reasons. I doubt I'll buy the next version but I am glad Microsoft continues to develop it.

[pithenumber]

Office is far more powerful than iWork<br /><br />if you are fine with iWork, that means you don't need the extras that come with Office<br />but there are still many people who do

[acabtp]

"The new business edition, which will sell for the same $399 as the standard edition of Office."<br /><br />That sentence fragment, which is not a complete sentence...

[krosafcheg]

Unless Outlook has PST support and speaks MAPI, I'm not particularly interested.

[JessicaInPink]

Why wouldn't Outlook have PST support. Read the article. It says it will.

[tgage]

I don't suppose Microsoft will give me a significant discount on this "new", "better" Mac Office suite. I have been alpha testing Mac Office 2008 for several months after paying big $$$ for the privilege.<br /><br />I am on the latest patch and still see frequent crashes in Entourage and Word. For any non-trivial task I have to run Word 2007 under VMWare Fusion. Word 2008 crashes every five minutes when editing a non-trivial (250+ page) document. Microsoft support has proven useless.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Tim Gage

[Seaspray0]

Maybe that's why it's not being released until the 2010 holiday buying season. It's not ready yet.

[wesrhherald]

How much you want to bet MS will bring Outlook over, but it will only work well with Exchange 07 but not 03. That's why I'm not jumping for joy over the Exchange "support" in Snow Leopard. If MS ports Outlook and makes it feature-compatible with the Win version then I'll be satisfied. Otherwise, I'll stick with Outlook in Parallels.

[MaggieRed]

It's pretty good news, but consider this is about 16 months out still.<br /><br />Scattered approach. So explain how it is a scattered approach when you get an email through exchange from a Outlook colleague and you click the icon for the calendar appointment to accept it and it automatically sends an email of acceptance to the originator while at the same time entering the appointment into iCal? In addition the data is also automatically linked to any relevant data regarding a contact that would allow you access to that data with a point and click. Excellent separate applications can and are easily integrated without having them all in one user interface. If you ask me, I think it is much more advanced to have the application operate stand alone as well as integrated whereas with MS you have no choice. <br /><br />To each their own.

[heygeo]

What you just described is in fact a truly scattered approach, not in that you cant get the same result by using 3 different apps to accomplish what 1 can do now. And ultimately its really not about doing simple calendaring its about unifying communications so they become more than the sum of their parts... its really hard to create a unified messaging platform that has to negotiate so many apps to get your IM conversations to have historical entries tied to email and calendar changes update attachements with the latest file update or dynamically shift conference call #s due to timezone or dateline impact... again.. I've said this many times Apple is not enterprise.. they are by design a consumer company and will remain so.. thats why MS owns this market.. so you should be excited because this is truly one of the things that will actually add some legitimacy to using it for work.

[dataJONBOY]

office on my iphone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh please oh please oh please oh please

[BelkyB]

+1

[Neal_Saferstein]

I wish, google DOCS was better. I have been trying to migrate to it. <br /><br />Neal Saferstein<br /><br /><br />[CNET editors' note: Promotional link deleted]

[papa_bear]

Entourage for Mac is far superior to Outlook, I hope they don't make it suck the way Outlook does.

[BelkyB]

Whatcha ya talking 'bout Willis?

[drbyte]

Nice, although I still don't get why Apple doesn't create it's own office suite.

[BogusBasin]

It's called iWork. BTW, their keynote application spanks PowerPoint in an embarrassing way.<br /><br />Amen

[lazycat202]

try the new PowerPoint 2010 yet? It spanks KeyNote is an embrassing way.<br /><br />Amen!<br /><br />BTW, It's just a limited technical preview version (beta)

[lazycat202]

LOL most Apple fans hate Microsoft to their guts. Now they're begging for Outlook. Gezz!

[renGek]

sooo if mac users hate microsoft so much, why are they wanting or "needing" to use microsoft products?<br /><br />Next thing you know hordes of fanbois will be writing c# .net code.

[lazycat202]

that's the way they are.<br /><br />As part of my job, I help Apple and Win people with internet issues. However, I never own any Apple products. Apple products are well design and they look nice. But ...I don't like to spend tons of $$ to own toys. Please don't ask me WHY!!

[MrRetardo]

As far as I can see, other than Software &#38; the OS, there is Zero difference between a Mac &#38; PC in hardware. But I'm still waiting to encounter a single office where every computer is a Mac. In these bad financial times, I can't think any single Company is going to blow wads of cash for an All-Mac office even with Mac finally getting Outlook. Considering how these office &#38; college computers get treated.....

[shycelticwitch]

I own an ad agency, and you are right... we are not all Macs. We have 29 (just added 3 more) Macs and 1 Windows PC. The PC is for opening Publisher files and playing music on the network. It works just fine at those tasks. As long as we don't ask it to do anything to complicated. We make wads of cash with those Macs, so we don't feel "cheated" blowing wads of cash to upgrade the equipment that supplies the profit.<br /><br />Any other words of wisdom?

[shellcodes_coder]

One of the best selling software for Apple iCraps is written by Microsoft LOL

[pairof9s--2008]

Ha! Ha! Ha!...good one!! Yeah...it's just like one of the most popular programs on a PC is Apple's iTunes! No, wait...

[lazycat202]

I just don't get it! Why is iTune the only way to purchase software and music? Do you have the choices or you don't?