Apple office software seems likely

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with the debut in January 2003 of Keynote. The presentation tool, which is able to import and export documents in Microsoft's PowerPoint format, has fewer features than the Microsoft program, but it aims to provide snazzier graphics and transitions. Still, the program has gotten only modest tweaks since its debut.

The name iWork may seem a natural for Apple, which already bills its iLife suite as being "like Microsoft Office for the rest of your life." But the term is already used by many others. Sun Microsystems, for instance, uses the name for a program that allows its employees to work remotely.

IGG Software applied for a trademark of the term in March 2003. In August 2004, Apple also filed for a trademark on "iWork." IGG's application is currently suspended, while Apple's is listed as newly filed and not yet assigned to an examiner. Other trademark applications are also pending for both "iWork" and "iWorks."

It is unclear what effect an Apple product might have on Microsoft's long-term support for the Mac version of Office. The company, which at one time had a five-year pact with Apple to provide Mac versions of Office and Internet Explorer, now says that it evaluates new products one version at a time.

"We'll continue this business as long as the business case makes sense," former Macintosh Business Unit head Kevin Browne said at an April 2002 event.

Indeed, Microsoft announced it was halting development on the Macintosh version of Internet Explorer in June 2003, after Apple released a final version of its rival browser, Safari.

Microsoft still offers Mac versions of its MSN Messenger and Windows Media Player, though both programs lack some of the advanced features of their Windows counterparts. For example, Microsoft does not sell music through the Mac media player, as it does on the PC side.

Microsoft released its latest OS X version of Office--Office 2004 for Mac--in April. The company was among the quickest of the large software makers to move its products to Mac OS X--readying an OS-X-only version of Office not long after Apple released the first version of Mac OS X.

Initially, Microsoft executives expressed some disappointment with sales of the Mac OS X version of Office, but more recently the company has said it is pleased with Mac Office sales.

"We've seen stronger sales in the past year than in the first year," project manager Jessica Sommer said last April. "That's pretty obviously due to OS X adoption."

Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg said that although iWork is still just a rumor at this point, it would not be surprising if Apple released such a product, "once again trying to make sure that their desitny is in their own hands and not in that of a third party."

That said, Gartenberg said Apple likely would not want to lose Microsoft Office for the Mac as a result.

"There's no doubt having a version of genuine Microsoft Office available for the Mac that is regularly updated is one of the reasons that Apple is still popular in a number of markets," he said. "I don't think Apple wants to do anything that would affect that relationship."

One of the key questions would be how Apple positions such a product--whether it is pitched as a low-end successor to AppleWorks or as a high-end product that can rival Microsoft's Office. Gartenberg noted that other rivals to Windows, such as Linux, suffer from not having a program that's fully Office-compatible.

[Jonathan]

understand this is NOT a MS Office competitor

If true this isn't intended to take on MS Office. Its going to be a low cost solution for Mac users and will prob ship with new Mac systems. Windows has MS Works that comes with a scaled down version of Word. The only good solution out there for the Mac (Other then a hand full of one off apps that from what I've read have had mixed results.) is either then $500 MS Office or the ancient Appleworks. I've played with AW on a friends system. Simply: it sucks. And for an average consumer $500 is way to much to get a simple word processing app. Consequently Apple is filling the gap here.

True: it'll be far superior like everything else Apple does

NM

[Jonathan]

understand this is NOT a MS Office competitor

If true this isn't intended to take on MS Office. Its going to be a low cost solution for Mac users and will prob ship with new Mac systems. Windows has MS Works that comes with a scaled down version of Word. The only good solution out there for the Mac (Other then a hand full of one off apps that from what I've read have had mixed results.) is either then $500 MS Office or the ancient Appleworks. I've played with AW on a friends system. Simply: it sucks. And for an average consumer $500 is way to much to get a simple word processing app. Consequently Apple is filling the gap here.

True: it'll be far superior like everything else Apple does

NM

AW doesn't suck

I agree with the comments, with one exception: AW does not
suck. It's limited, but it's more useful, in many ways, than Word,
which I also use. It's certainly easier to use. Within its limitations,
it's excellent. Is it the right tool for a book project? No.

I will be glad to see an updated replacement, however, as AW is
showing its age. If the new app is done with Apple's usual skill,
it will be a delight to use.

[Al Johnsons]

agree with the comments

http://www.analogstereo.com/mazda_truck_b_series_owners_manual.htm

AW doesn't suck

I agree with the comments, with one exception: AW does not
suck. It's limited, but it's more useful, in many ways, than Word,
which I also use. It's certainly easier to use. Within its limitations,
it's excellent. Is it the right tool for a book project? No.

I will be glad to see an updated replacement, however, as AW is
showing its age. If the new app is done with Apple's usual skill,
it will be a delight to use.

[Al Johnsons]

agree with the comments

http://www.analogstereo.com/mazda_truck_b_series_owners_manual.htm

[kieranmullen]

My question... WHY?

You have Appleworks.. Where did that go? Will this new product be a new product or an upgrade for appleworks? What about Open Office (free) for the mac? http://porting.openoffice.org/mac/ooo-osx_downloads.html#download

Why Safari for the Mac when there is FireFox for the Mac? http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/all.html

They are putting money down the drain... again...

Repeat...

[dejo]

Safari is not new

"Why Safari for the Mac when there is FireFox for the Mac?"

Because Safari was introduced long before Firefox even existed.

Yes why... OpenOffice works and is free

I have been using OpenOffice - and while an Aqua version is still in the works, the current version does all I need, and is free. I would need compelling reasons to pay for a product.

[kieranmullen]

My question... WHY?

You have Appleworks.. Where did that go? Will this new product be a new product or an upgrade for appleworks? What about Open Office (free) for the mac? http://porting.openoffice.org/mac/ooo-osx_downloads.html#download

Why Safari for the Mac when there is FireFox for the Mac? http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/all.html

They are putting money down the drain... again...

Repeat...

[dejo]

Safari is not new

"Why Safari for the Mac when there is FireFox for the Mac?"

Because Safari was introduced long before Firefox even existed.

Yes why... OpenOffice works and is free

I have been using OpenOffice - and while an Aqua version is still in the works, the current version does all I need, and is free. I would need compelling reasons to pay for a product.

Not another over priced under featured prod

Great. Another over priced and under featured product from Apple. Anybody care to bet that this will be priced near MicroShaft's Office's price?

Just use Open Office and ignore it. Given Apple's history of software releases, this is most likly a portent of a new Apple OS to be coming out soon. An OS that, of course, does not support legacy products like this iWork.

[Jonathan]

*sniffs* Still no deodorant for the troll?

Come on oom you can do better then that. You have a rep to maintain as a troll. I see that you never bothered to respond to my posts. Hit a little to close to the mark on a couple of fronts didn?t I?

Not another over priced under featured prod

Great. Another over priced and under featured product from Apple. Anybody care to bet that this will be priced near MicroShaft's Office's price?

Just use Open Office and ignore it. Given Apple's history of software releases, this is most likly a portent of a new Apple OS to be coming out soon. An OS that, of course, does not support legacy products like this iWork.

[Jonathan]

*sniffs* Still no deodorant for the troll?

Come on oom you can do better then that. You have a rep to maintain as a troll. I see that you never bothered to respond to my posts. Hit a little to close to the mark on a couple of fronts didn?t I?

[David Arbogast]

A passionate market

I'm not sure this is a bad idea. Mac fans tend to be fanatics about all things Mac. Assuming Apple can offer file compatibility with current and future versions of Office (which should be simple since Microsoft releases the necessary information), I would bet that a large percentage of Mac users would purchase the software. If Mac users were interested in free software (as in zero acquisition cost), then they would probably already be running Linux or FreeBSD on cheap hardware. They certainly would not have already paid Apple prices for Apple hardware and software. Customer dedication could make this a profitable product.

I agree.

Apple has phenominal customer dedication. That's how they're able to grossly mark up their slower (compared to PCs) products. It's not the customer dedication (or psychosis) that I have a problem with, it's the customer shafting I have a problem with. Apple's well known to shaft their customers over and over again. Most of the world understands this and avoid Apple. Others....

hmmm.... come to think of it. I DON'T have a problem with Apple now. If people likes to get shafted, they deserve it.

[David Arbogast]

A passionate market

I'm not sure this is a bad idea. Mac fans tend to be fanatics about all things Mac. Assuming Apple can offer file compatibility with current and future versions of Office (which should be simple since Microsoft releases the necessary information), I would bet that a large percentage of Mac users would purchase the software. If Mac users were interested in free software (as in zero acquisition cost), then they would probably already be running Linux or FreeBSD on cheap hardware. They certainly would not have already paid Apple prices for Apple hardware and software. Customer dedication could make this a profitable product.

I agree.

Apple has phenominal customer dedication. That's how they're able to grossly mark up their slower (compared to PCs) products. It's not the customer dedication (or psychosis) that I have a problem with, it's the customer shafting I have a problem with. Apple's well known to shaft their customers over and over again. Most of the world understands this and avoid Apple. Others....

hmmm.... come to think of it. I DON'T have a problem with Apple now. If people likes to get shafted, they deserve it.

[Stan Johnson]

Apple is a music company now anyway

An Apple Office Suite is a stupid idea. The reason for MS Office on a Mac is that the majority of computer users use MS Office. If MS stops supporting office for the Mac Apple will be the loser.

Apple is now more of a music company now anyway. Computers seem so secondary to the iPod when speaking of Apple. Maybe it is time to switch to PC?

[Al Johnsons]

office for the Mac

http://www.analogstereo.com/acura_vigor_owners_manual.htm

[Stan Johnson]

Apple is a music company now anyway

An Apple Office Suite is a stupid idea. The reason for MS Office on a Mac is that the majority of computer users use MS Office. If MS stops supporting office for the Mac Apple will be the loser.

Apple is now more of a music company now anyway. Computers seem so secondary to the iPod when speaking of Apple. Maybe it is time to switch to PC?

[Al Johnsons]

office for the Mac

http://www.analogstereo.com/acura_vigor_owners_manual.htm

[Llib Setag]

Just wait & see. Then decide for yourself...

Wait for the MacWorld Convention Keynote speech by Steve Jobs. IF the "iWorksapp" IS actually announced, then check it out, then either use MS Office OSX,FreeOffice, Appleworks or other OpenSource Office apps out there.
It's just a tool & it is up to you. This is what freedom of choice in the marketplace is about.
Enjoy it!
StarOffice from Sun is soon to port over from Solaris to OSX Unix... worth a try, or stay with MSF-OSX.
It's up to Jobs & it's up to you.

[Llib Setag]

Just wait & see. Then decide for yourself...

Wait for the MacWorld Convention Keynote speech by Steve Jobs. IF the "iWorksapp" IS actually announced, then check it out, then either use MS Office OSX,FreeOffice, Appleworks or other OpenSource Office apps out there.
It's just a tool & it is up to you. This is what freedom of choice in the marketplace is about.
Enjoy it!
StarOffice from Sun is soon to port over from Solaris to OSX Unix... worth a try, or stay with MSF-OSX.
It's up to Jobs & it's up to you.