“Whether you’re a Windows or Mac user, you’ve probably paid the Microsoft Office toll — more than once,” Mike Himowitz reports for Newsday.
“Today, however, some powerful challengers are chipping away at the Office edifice. They have significant outside backing, they’re compatible with Office documents, and best of all, they’re free –something that Office definitely is not,” Himowitz reports.
Himowitz covers OpenOffice and Lotus Symphony in his full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Many Mac users think they need Office, but really don’t. Although Himowitz doesn’t mention Apple’s iWork ’08, we recommend that you give Apple’s free 30-day iWork ’08 trial a try and see how well it works for your needs.
AppleWorks all the way, baby!!!
I work isn’t even compatible with its last years release. That seems stupid that I have to save two different documents for older iWork versions!
Sorry the sentence should start with iWork not I work.
iWork’s three apps are among the best products – hard or soft ones – that Apple has ever done.
Wish they would do the same with all the rest and not allow the growing demand for their stuff – hard and soft – result in inferior quality such as iMac difficulties and a premature Leopard release.
HELLO!
What about NEOOFFICE?
somehow i think it’s easier and more intuitive to use office to take notes (I like their tabbed function), I don’t know if pages can do that. I tried, but so far sorting out bullets and spacing is a headache on pages
What’s the Microsoft Access equivalent for the Mac?
hmmm,
FileMaker:
http://www.filemaker.com/products/index.html
iWork is not a complete substitute right now. Funny, I can’t even view iWork files on the iPhone. And because I teach at a university, Word/Excel are the defacto standard.
iWork programs are a good alternate (with some caveats). They are not a good replacement YET.
Is FileMaker as easy to learn and use as Access, though? I’ve heard it’s pretty bulky, albeit more powerful.
Here’s how it goes: I’ve used office like all the other guinea pigs for many years now. I got my hand on the trial, used it for 30-days and found myself irritated to have to revert to office. I was distraught that my trial was over. Well, I’m buying it, I have to. It’s so much nicer, you just have to play the “get to know you” game for a couple weeks and loves sets in. Do the right thing and stop supporting an inferior word processing program created by an inferior software company.
The Microsoft Access equivalent for Mac (there is a Win version as well) is Filemaker Pro.
It’s made by Filemaker Inc. which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple Inc.
Does FileMaker allow for built-in coding, like Access does with VBA? If so, what language is it in?
I luv FREE stuff!
opensourcemac.org
freesmug.org
freemacware.com
One thing important to note about iWork is that it opens Office 2007 file formats, which these other free suites can’t do. I even downloaded Microsoft’s beta Office Open XML Converter, which only translates Word XML files and not Excel or PowerPoint files.
And the thought of the author that Office 2007 users will save their documents as older versions of Word, Excel, etc. is laughable. Most people have no idea what format they’re saving a document in, they just save it. Ask them to save as a different format and you get a deer in the headlights look.
It’s OpenOffice all the way for me. I like the freeness of it, something that iWork simply cannot offer. I agree that there needs to be a free option out there for Access, but I am fully aware that database programs are a bitch to construct – especially once you get into the hairy world of relational databases and queries. Maybe someday, but I can wait.
@ maddog:
NeoOffice *is* OpenOffice. It’s just a friendly wrapper for it that makes it into a native Mac app.
@ But
Yes Filemaker has it’s own built-in scripting language, which is actually very easy to use. It also integrates well with applescript, so you can create workflows across apps.
Filemaker is probably the easiest to use program for setting up complex databases. Access isn’t even in the same league.
I prefer for serious writing LaTeX. There is an excellent package for the Mac called Texshop. It’s free and compatible with almost any platform, Windows, Linux, Unix and OS X.
Thanks, TFB. I’ll have to look into it once I get my Mac.
Access is great in that you can create an entire database application for a business pretty easily using just its forms and VBA code for the GUI. If Filemaker has similar or better capabilities, that’d be awesome.
I’m with David Fraser … a) iWork isn’t yet 100% ready and b) many environments require – for reasons good or bad – the use of Office.
Don’t think for a second that I don’t expect each of these good reasons to change … they very much will. While Pages is not up to snuff to replace Word for many uses, and while Numbers isn’t nearly ready to knock off Excel, Keynote is already there and Pages is making progress – Numbers … Numbers shows great promise.
but asks: “Does FileMaker allow for built-in coding, like Access does with VBA? If so, what language is it in?”
VBA is not so much a programming language as a security loophole. FileMaker can do whatever Access can do, and much more. Consider it the equivalent of SQL rather than the more-limited Access. That said, Apple needs something to replace the DB in AppleWorks and compete with Access. FileMaker is not that program, IMHO. Pages, Keynote, and – especially – Numbers are a generation ahead of the Office equivalents when it comes to presentation.
Real Deal, sometimes that’s a sad fact of life. Changes, significant changes, must be made. Changes that break what went before. Office does this all the time!
My View: I love iWork’08, as does my wife. I putz around with Pages and Numbers, she works with Pages a couple hours most days.
DLMeyer – the Voice of G.L.Horton’s Stage Page Pod-Cast
@DLMeyer
Equivalent of SQL Server?? Isn’t that, in turn, pretty much equivalent to Oracle? So you’re saying FileMaker is on par with Oracle?
I’m not familiar with the AppleWorks DB. Sounds like it’s pretty crappy, though, if it can’t compete with Access.
@but
Filemaker has not on par with Oracle regarding scale and speed. However, I have used Filemaker for several large database, and can guarantee that Access can not hold a candle to Filemaker for ease of use, extent of capabilities, speed, or cross platform compatability.
Keynote is my favourite application. Ever! Even pages is quite good now, BUT, why isn´t it WYSIWYG fonts in the font menu ?!?
Thats why I still use Word…
Pages won’t read some of the more complicated Word pages – NeoOffice will however.
I’m want to Dump Office and never have it on my Mac again.
For the database challenged, Access is a personal database. Do not use it for anything more than the simplest stuff. Its database engine is horrible. Yes, it does have a nice wizard for building a simple database. But don’t run your business on it. While I’ve never used Filemaker, it is similar to Access in that it incorporates a complete database system, i.e. server and client. OpenOffice.org also has a graphical tool for designing databases. Whats good about OpenOffice.org is that it allows you to use the database server of your choice.
Database servers are different than Filemaker or Access. These include MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MS SQL Server, and DB2. Right now, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle will work on OS X. I have heard that IBM is working on a developer’s version of DB2 for OS X as well. While I wouldn’t put my business on MySQL, I would have no problem storing my data on the others listed. I would still recommend running these on Linux servers instead of OS X for production as they have much better performance on Linux.
@but
Filemaker is so worth it – very powerful, yet very easy to get into and build on the basics right up to advanced web hosting; it is extremely flexible, allowing to you make changes on the fly in seconds that are instantly available to everyone sharing the database(s); get the free trial and spend the full 30-days seeing what you can do from scratch; it helped me get a job as a full-time Filemaker developer and I haven’t looked back.
Filemaker can also be extended in many ways including Applescript (also powerful and easy to use) and through the many, many plug-ins available.
Filemaker files also work flawlessly across Mac, Windows and online – give it a try.
Filemaker also has a large community of developers, so you’ll find plenty of support, sample files and ideas…
MW: ideas
@Jeff
For the database challenged,
Filemaker can be used as a database “server” also. I will not quibble with the semantics too much, however, regarding capabilities of each package you listed verses FileMaker, Filemaker can do anything that any one of the listed applications can do.
http://www.filemaker.com/solutions/business/index.html?homepage=1010
https://store.filemaker.com/product/viewfamily/family/FMSA
iWork will never do until something comparable to Entourage/Outlook is added. The anemic mail client and piecemeal approach to contacts, calendar, and information simply doesn’t cut it.
iWork is great. I use Numbers daily. It has replaced several other programs for me including MS Office in most cases. It gives me a lot more freedom in document layout and creativity, and saves time.
If you was working on someone elses advanced spreadsheets, you might need MS Excel (usually not). But if you are creating the spreadsheet, Numbers is great. Things that are too complicated for Numbers, but can be done in MS Excel, probably should have been done in something else anyway, like FileMaker Pro.
Keynote is GREAT. Pages is now wonderful. I have been using Apple software exclusively for business applications where I have occasional document exchanges with my clients, and mostly email pdf’s or print things out, and I have been very happy with it.
Neo Office is terrific
iWork ’08 is simply AMAZING. Each program alone is worth more than the 79 dollars it cost for the entire suite.
It’s the best software product Apple has done since Safari.
I tried the iWork 08 Trial for 30 days and quite frankly didn’t care for it much. However, I stil bought the full package when my trial period ended and continued using it. I am now addicted.
I have used Excel (aka, Multiplan) and Word since they first came out for the Mac, so I can manuever them in my sleep. But, Pages and Numbers require you to forget what Word and Excel have taught you. Everything is intuitive. Pages and Numbers make me realize how damn complex Word and Excel are. And MS is just adding more complexity in Office 08 for the Mac. Just look at all the f__king toolbars at the top of the screen. Pretty soon half the screen will be filled with Office toolbars.
In any case, iWork is much better than Office for 95% of the population. Filemaker beats the hell out of Access. The only missing link is Outlook, but the the new server based calendars (and hopefully Address Book) in Leopard, Outlook will not be necessary except for big business who are sucking off the MS tit.
What did it for me was Filemaker 2.0.
The best way to explain it to others was telling them it was a database that was as easy to design with as using PageMaker back in the day. Just drag stuff around and make it look any way you want. Very intuitive. One of the few programs I actually enjoy creating stuff with.
I remember using dbase on a PC way back and then Filemaker on a Mac. I thought, this is what PC users think is great?
Filemaker is and has been a sleeper hit, just quietly gaining ground and expanding it’s reach.
@Doc,
Filemaker 9 Server costs $2500. I’ll stick with using PostgreSQL. If I want a commercial package, I can use DB2 Express-C for free as long as I’m using no more than 4 processors or 4 GB’s of memory.
Here is what got me to make the jump from Word to Pages:
I was working on a 30 page research paper last year in Word. At one point, the footnote numbering started to fritz with the footnote after 3 being numbered 5. etc. The more I added images and edited, the more out of sync the numbering got.
I finally opened the doc in Pages – all the numbering was perfect. I exported the Pages doc as Word and it opened in Word perfectly with the numbers fixed.
Of course, I just returned to the Pages version and never looked back. Now I have my system set to always open Word docs in Pages. When I send files to people I export them as PDFs (which Pages makes so easy) or, if I know they need a Word file, I export as Word. I have also set it so that all PowerPoint docs open in Keynote.
It is great being Office free!
iWork is nice for the home user. It’s not even worth considering in a corporate environment – and I doubt it was intended for use their either. Pages doesn’t hold a candle to Word when it comes to writing complex documents – no equation editor, no proper cross-referencing, ability to split a document into sub-documents, use of macros, etc, etc, etc. Keynote is pretty, but useless. 100% of the places I brief at have computers running Windows and Powerpoint and expect me to come armed with a CD or memory stick with a PPT briefing. Sure, I could save a Pages briefing in PPT format – but what’s the point? PPT does PPT far better than Pages. WIthout support for pivot tables, Numbers is 10 years behind the spreadsheet curve too.
iWork is great for letters to Aunty Mo and doing your church newsletter or accounts. Forget it for commercial use.
@numlock
Alternatively you could have right-clicked on the footnote and asked Word to refresh the numbering.
@Jeff & but…
The statement, ” I’ll stick with using PostgreSQL. If I want a commercial package, I can use DB2 Express-C for free as long as I’m using no more than 4 processors or 4 GB’s of memory.” doesn’t typically come up in a conversation about MS Access. And that is ‘but’s’ original question. Neither Access or FileMaker Pro are designed for enterprise application. But of the two, FileMaker Pro far closer in capabilities to enterprise ready DBs than is Access. FileMaker can easily run small, medium, and even some large companies.
but… If you were okay with Access you will love FileMaker Pro.
“What about NEOOFFICE?”
It’s a nice try, but lacking in polish.
-jcr
“Keynote is pretty, but useless”
Unless you care about visual quality. I’ve used Keynote for presentations to thousands of people at WWDC.
-jcr
The free online Google Docs is SPLENDID.
Loads MS Office files. Yes, Excel, Word, Powerpoint.
And it SHARES these files if you like.
So others can work on the same FILE or simply let others see it.
Presently I use it to do my TIMESHEETS and INVOICING – where ever I am… it’s the CLOUD SERVER app.
So no INSTALLATION
no UPGRADES
no PURCHASE
Hmmmm wonder if it downloads files to me as backup.
Duh!
TRY Google DOCs.
Create, edit and upload quickly
Import your existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations, or create new ones from scratch.
Access and edit from anywhere
All you need is a Web browser.
Your documents are stored securely online.
Share changes in real time
Invite people to your documents and make changes together, at the same time.
It’s free — you don’t pay a nickel
I do not have iPHONE (canada) PLS someone let me know if it WORKS on iPhone!!!!!
Google Docs is great!!!! Holy what a find!!!!
thx who ever
Could this be the Office Killer app!
I don’t mean MSOffice – I mean the app for all the office.
U r right – holy crap – what potential. Even for Students and teachers – this is so cool.
I’m freak’d – gonna test it all out.
office = orifice
What are you talking about Reality Check.
iWork is becoming sophisticated enough for 90% of day to day corporate use.
It’s the old 80/20 rule at work, except in the case of iWork/Office, its 95/5.
My biz is doing all it needs very effectively with iWork, and suspect many other small/medium companies are doing the same today.
No I have NEVER paid the toll, I have always refused. No money to M$ I have never contributed to BG’s obscene wealth. Happy Mac owner since 1994. (user since 1987)
“Keynote is pretty, but useless”
Yeah, Steve looks pretty lame at those presentations using Keynote. Its definitely not ready for prime time.
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So Reality Check is back, when will we hear from ITGuy about “the real world”, I think these two and Zune Tang are all the same person.
@Spark
Thank you. I’m thinking “Jeff & but” are trolls.
Check out Zoho Apps for all those surprised with Google Docs:
http://www.zoho.com
– Mail
– Documents
– Spreadsheets
– Presentations
– Organizer
– Web conferencing
– Project management
– Customer relationship management (CRM)
– Database Application Creator
– Database Creator and Reports
– Poll Creator
– Test Creator
– Collaboration wiki
And it’s all online. All web-based. My company uses the CRM, so it got me started checking out their other offerings. They need a serious face-lift (they look a little like Windows 98), and some more integration, but the functionality is there. It will be interesting to see where this company goes.
Pages 08 is truly extraordinary. Almost all the power of Word and InDesign rolled into one program. I *love* it.
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
Microsoft Office 2008 – MAC! – Preview
I have to give it to the my pet iTards down in the Mac Business Unit, they can do a lot with a little! I personally never go over there, but as I was browsing the web I ran across the preview of MacOff’08 that they have been feverishly laboring over, day and night for the past 3 years and WOW! Anyone unfortunate enough to have a Mac as their primary computer would be crazy not to buy this, it is definitely the most sophisticated and beautiful software ever to come out of Microsoft for any platform! I was impressed! This thing looks twice as good as the Vista version and can do even more!
Too Bad!
You see we only develop Mac Office for one reason; to use as a weapon against Apple!
Lately they have been misbehaving: releasing iPhones, new iPods, iWork, new iMacs, getting all of the good press, stock has tripled, … etc
Why in the world should we release something like this when they have been embarrassing us and our other products? NO WAY HOSEA!
MacBU, prepare for another “quality assurance” delay to the Feburary release date. lol …
it’s good to be CEO!
My company only uses iWork08.
We got rid of M$ Office as soon as iwork 08 came out.
Keynote is a phenominal app and makes Powerpoint look like a beta app.
We have created interactive portfolios in keynote as well as just presentations and they look fantastic.
Who needs Office? – We sure dont.
I likes Google Docs.
Google Docs would be great, except they don’t seem to like Safari. Why the heck not, I wonder…?
@Reality Check
Why even right click to refresh footnote numbering in Word when I can just work in Pages where the numbers never get out of sync to begin with? It is so typical of MS software to have the user jump jump through clicking hoops to make up for their sloppy programming.
Great info and testimonials, everyone. Thanks!
Ready to cast MS to the wayside….
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