RSSOffice 2008 for Mac hits store shelves
By Ed Oswald | Published January 16, 2008, 11:48 AM
After four years of waiting, Mac users are finally able to get their hands on a new version of Microsoft's productivity suite for the platform.
The suite is a major step forward for those who prefer to use the Redmond company's applications for the Mac platform. Since its last update in 2004, much has changed on the Windows side: this effectively brings Apple customers up to speed.
While the software borrows some from the recently released Windows version of Office, Microsoft also kept in mind the unique needs and features of Mac OS X. It also supports the company's Office OpenXML platform natively.
"We developed Office 2008 for Mac as a comprehensive productivity suite that also helps people simplify their work," Mac BU head Craig Eisler said. "At the core, we focused on delivering reliable compatibility so that users can confidently share documents across platforms."
Office 2008 will improve the cross-compatibility between Windows and Mac. Microsoft says documents will look the same when opened on either platform, and will run faster on Intel Macs due to its Universal Binary support.
Entourage also has received a significant retooling, catching it up with the Outlook client on Windows. The new UI of Office has also made its way into the OS X version, however with a decidedly Mac feel.
Microsoft said it also wanted to ensure that users could use any of its products without much worry for learning the ins and outs of each program. For example, applications that are harder to master like Excel will come with guides that assist in using the program more effectively.
As announced earlier, the suite will come in three options. The base version includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage, retailing for $239.95 for the upgrade and $399.95 for the full version.
Home and Student comes with three licenses, and includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and a non-Exchange enabled version of Entourage. Retail price there is $149.95.
Finally, Special Media Edition includes all the options of the base version, adding Expression Media. That retails for $499.95 for the full version, and $299.95 for the upgrade, Microsoft said.
I am not sure exactly how this works.
In one case Microsoft is selling its office suite to an alternative os that is gaining market share. An os which is a threat to Microsoft's harmony and monopoly.
So, are they encouraging support for the mac os? I mean having office for the mac invites it into the business arena, microsoft's bread and butter. When is the last time they released a version of ie for mac?
I am waiting for office for linux, that will be the day.
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|A good step forward. For businesses that want to keep up with compatibility, this is nice.
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|"Meanwhile, Apple's new iWork suite sells for $79, or $99 for a family license"
You pays for what you gets. :-)
And using the word failure in the context of Office is laughable given it's impact on computing generally and dominance in the market. Love it or hate it maybe but failure? I don't think so...
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|Telling the truth ain't flaming, unless you're a sensitive Microsoftie who has seen his company roll out one failure after another over the past eight years. I polled six of my Mac friends at work today and not a single one of them would ever touch MS Office — of any year. This one brings the crippling "feature" of the failed MS-OOXML format. Hey, but at least you're offered the privilege to throw away $500 to Redmond.
Meanwhile, Apple's new iWork suite sells for $79, or $99 for a family license.
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|Again, your definition of failure amuses me...
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|Personally, it's coming at a time when office has lost it's advantage for macs. The improved native ical, addressbook, mail apps and their interactivity with other programs knock out entourage.
Apple's Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps in iwork are a bit awkward to use opening some MS originated content, but they do most of it very well, and have some great advantages for most people creating content from scratch. This will only be for those who need tighter compatibility with win generated documents.
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|Yay, just what Mac users need... Microsuck programs to corrupt and crash everything.
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|If (big if, haven't seen it) Office 2008 for Mac is anything like Office 2007 for Windows it's easily the best product Microsoft have produced in the last 10 year.
I can't speak highly enough of Office 2007.
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|yup, office 2007 rocks. I cant wait to download office 2008 for my mac mini.
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|Just what this story needed, a boring MS flame out from nowhere.
Office for mac is a very slick suite.
Microsuck..how so very original.
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|Seems to me that you have yet to try this product. Only fools bash before trying.
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|Yup it sure does rock.
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|lol
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