“Apple Inc.’s release of iWork ’08 this week is ’embarrassing,’ an analyst said today, not for its maker, but for rival Microsoft Corp.,” Gregg Keizer reports for Computerworld. “Tuesday, Apple rolled out a refreshed iWork that added a spreadsheet, dubbed Numbers, to the earlier mix of a word processor/page layout Pages and presentation maker Keynote. But it was iWork’s ability to handle the Open XML file format — the new native format for Microsoft’s own Office 2007 application suite — that Michael Gartenberg of JupiterResearch LLC talked about.”
“‘This was the ultimate insult to injury,’ Gartenberg said. ‘Not only has Microsoft not delivered the ability to read and write Open XML in its Mac Office, but at the end of the day, Apple was the one who delivered,'” Keizer reports.
“Gartenberg referred to Microsoft’s problems developing Office 2008 for Mac, which the company announced last week would be delayed until mid-January. Among the roadblocks, said Microsoft’s Macintosh Business Unit (MBU), is the shift to Open XML as Office 2008’s native file format… ‘This is embarrassing for MBU,’ Gartenberg said,”Keizer reports.
Keizer reports, “Ironically, one of those who praised iWork’s handling of the Microsoft file format was a program manager for Office 2007. “[iWork ’08] reads the Office Open XML files with very high fidelity,” said Brian Jones on his company blog… ‘What this really shows is Microsoft’s inability to ship software on time these days… It’s going to be hard for Microsoft to get those people who try and buy iWork back,’ Gartenberg said. ‘Microsoft’s let down its Mac customers.'”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s iWork ’08 should embarrass Microsoft for many more reasons beyond just being able to open up Open XML files, but we’re not so sure Microsoft is even capable of being embarrassed – just look the Zune or their flagship OS or their CEO; a huge embarrassment who, we pray, will continue to helm the ship all the way to the bottom.
Many Mac users — the majority, we believe — think they need Office, but really don’t. Give Apple’s free 30-day iWork ’08 trial a try and see for yourself.
So with iWork ’08 out now, whats the point of waiting for Office 2008 for Mac when it gets realeased next year?
As much as we like to make fun of Microsoft, I seriously doubt that the reason for the delay on Office 2008 for Mac is due to the ability to read the Office 2007 file format. I’m sure the delay was caused by the need to transition the code base from PPC native to Universal, incorporate new features, and test. Office is the last of the big applications using Carbon, I believe.
However, it is a bit embarrassing that Apple’s iWork suite was released first. iWork has most of the bases covered now. I’d say, if it works for you after trying the 30-day trial, make the switch.
Numbers opened ALL my Excel docs – Pages & Keynote do the rest of Office docs – SO – I’ve waited years for this, dragged Office to the trash and emptied. The MacPro is now so clean – and I’m sure a tiny bit quicker !!!!
@Spock:
For 90+% of Office users, there’s NO point waiting for O/2008. Remember, those same 90% use Excel primarily for … LISTS. The number of people I work with who even know that vlookup or hlookup exist, not to mention what they’re for: ZERO.
Magic word: ten, as in less than TEN percent of Office users use even half the functions that aren’t included in iWork 08.
It has been my pleasure to receive word docs, in various versions of word to type set, 64 to 160 pages. i used to try and do the edit and corrections to the text in word itself…. talk about tribulations. I import the doc into InDesign now, down two shots worth of canadian to calm my nerves, and preform what amounts to an exorcism to rid the doc’s style sheets, dink with the tables to get the page rolls right, etc… i get shivers just thinking about it… but the Canadian, good soft whiskey cetainly does the mind good… a requirement to work with modern word… 5.1 was fine though
The article states that iWork can *open* those Open XML files, but can’t save in that format. WTH! So if someone sends me such a file, I can’t mod it and send it back in that format. If that’s so, it’s not there yet.
That ‘MacDailyNews Take’ was hilarious!
…we’re not so sure Microsoft is even capable of being embarrassed—just look the Zune…
Here’s the ZuneTangDailyNews Take: The reason Microsoft doesn’t appear embarrassed by its Zune is because Microsoft has nothing to be embarrassed about! The Zune is a marvel and once you hold one in your hand it’s hard to put down. Magnificent features such as the awesome user interface to the FM radio to squirting your friends latest chart topper put the IPOD to shame. It’s Apple who should be embarrassed. The iTunes Store doens’t even have points! Losers.
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@SirROM:
I believe you may have hit the nail squarely on the head. People, don’t be surprised if Office 2008 never ships at all. The shot across the bow had been fired, and it’s gonna be interesting!
I’ll be buying iWork ’08 soon, but I would be more happy if Apple supported a real open format, Open Document Format, not the fake open format by Microsoft.
@Poppycock
I kind of agree with you, I wish Apple would combine iCal, Mail and Address Book into one app and industrialize it a bit. It’s sad when MS has a more elegant treatment of ANYTHING than Apple. As nice as iWork is, I’ll still buy the next version of Office just to get an updated Entourage.
MS Office was delete the moment I saw Stevie’s presentation of iWorks.
I bought iLife 08 and iWork 08 today and all I can say is “bye bye Microsoft”.
Numbers is fantastic!
I hate spreadsheets with a vengence and have never really learnt how to use Xcell properly, but with numbers I was up and doing stuff in spreadsheets that I never knew could be done.
Its so simple to use and im amazed Microsoft never designed Xcell like this years ago!
On another note – the new version of keynote is incredible too!
Everyone is missing the real reason why M$ is shipping Office 2008 late.
It’s not about programing, it’s not about file compatibilities.
The idiots at M$ figured users waited to buy the new Intel Macs because there wasn’t a universal Photo Shop program available and the higher ups at M$ figured they could delay the public from purchasing new Macs until next year – by delaying the release of MS Office 2008.
What knuckle heads, what arrogance at M$ – they see the adoption rate of Vista is slow and they hope to get their service pack out by Fall’07 and hope this will give a reason for the public to stay with M$. They are playing with fire, all they’ll end up doing is causing the adoption rate of MS Office 2008 to a fraction of what is could have been.
The delay was a huge miscalculation on the part of Gates and Balmer.
My 2 cents!
I have bought and installed iWork 08. The first thing I tried was to import an Excel spreadsheet that I made for tracking my stocks. Just two columns, date and amount, and a chart. The Numbers version was excruciatingly slow, even just to move the chart around the canvas. I figured something was wrong with the import, so rebuilt the spreadsheet in native Numbers. Still just as slow. Also had a bug in specifying the minimum value in one of the axes. I normally use a PowerMac G5, so tried it all on a recent model MacBook Pro. Same result.
I am a total Apple bigot, but obviously, Numbers has a long way to go before it is as useful as Excel. I won’t be deleting my MS Office anytime soon.
re: I have bought and installed iWork 08. The first thing I tried was to import an Excel spreadsheet that I made for tracking my stocks. Just two columns, date and amount, and a chart. The Numbers version was excruciatingly slow, even just to move the chart around the canvas. I figured something was wrong with the import, so rebuilt the spreadsheet in native Numbers. Still just as slow. Also had a bug in specifying the minimum value in one of the axes. I normally use a PowerMac G5, so tried it all on a recent model MacBook Pro. Same result.
I am a total Apple bigot, but obviously, Numbers has a long way to go before it is as useful as Excel. I won’t be deleting my MS Office anytime soon.
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If numbers is slow then it must be your machine!
I use a basic mac mini and it whizzes – no slow performance here – and thats with many apps open too!
I’ve been learning my Numbers for the past couple of days, and wouldn’t you know it, the one thing I wanted to do with it caused it to crash. Other than that one item everything else I’ve tried with it runs like a breeze. I’ve heard people say that it can choke on really big “tables” but so far not for me. I think Numbers will follow the history of Keynote – a little rusty at first then it gets polished to a high luster after a couple of updates.
Oh, and a customer of mine sent me several Excel files, and I imported them into Numbers, then exported back to Excel and sent them back. Other than the table of contents that Numbers adds to an Excel export, and password protection being removed, he couldn’t tell the difference.
I stick with Office for Entourage too!
It is a much better email client than Apple Mail, especially if you need to manage multiple accounts and connect to an Exchange server.
If Apple mail offered a similar feature list and the same type of display options, I would never need to use Office, even though I always get it for free from my company.
@ Zune Tang
BEFORE you throw up your usual bullshit, go out and buy a mac and use the software before you post anything here.
I love the way you try to rip to shreds Apples iWork and other products and yet, surprise surprise you have never even used it.
A word of advice – you want credibility?… then ACTUALLY try using a mac and the software.
If not – THEN JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP.
QuadCore:
“Everyone” I work with uses algebraic equations, logarithms, exponents, and simple statistics. This includes undergraduate and graduate students, academicians, and administrative staff. In otherwords, educated people in university systems.
What demographic group do you belong?
What groups do you suppose that Numbers is intended to be used?
What features of spreadsheets do you think are (i) important and (ii) unimportant?
re: I stick with Office for Entourage too!
It is a much better email client than Apple Mail, especially if you need to manage multiple accounts and connect to an Exchange server.
If Apple mail offered a similar feature list and the same type of display options, I would never need to use Office, even though I always get it for free from my company.
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My company only uses mac mail and we have no problems what-so-ever with exchange servers.
I avoid office like it’s the Oxygen channel.
ZuneTang never fails to make us laugh.
I hope the iWork will be able in Finland during next week. It’s family pack time…
Well, I have just ordered iWork 08. I am transitioning back to the Mac. I’ve resurrected my PowerBook G4 that is still handling tasks remarkably well and plan on purchasing a new iMac in a couple days.
As of fall (September), I will begin allowing my students to submit assignments via the University’s “Blackboard” in either Word/Excel or Pages/Numbers format. Unless we begin to seriously look at alternatives to MS products and actually use them in the business settings, the monopoly will continue.
That said, Apple has to be prepared to support well these new users who will make the transition. For me, I don’t want to run Windows on my Mac. I want good Mac programs without having to buy and run Windows. iWork 08 is a great start. Now we just need a good finance program like Quicken for Windows. The Mac version is Intuit’s embarassment.
last time I looked, open office was free and actually embraces the ‘true’ open XML standard, not Microsh*t’s attempt thereof. I use OO on my mac (Writer- think Word, Impress- think Powerpoint and Calc- think Excel) and find it (them) good enough for the price! It even comes with a database Base that is pretty damn good and it undergoes regular updates. So why even pay for iWork…
Develop a sense of humor. Zune Tang has one.
I really wish Apple would develop iHumor so the dour douchebags around here would finally get the joke.