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See Full StoryNearly six years have passed since Microsoft agreed to invest $150 million in Apple Computer and continue developing Mac versions of its Office application suite for at least five years. In the intervening period, both companies have experienced many changes, and after the agreement between the two companies expired in August 2002, a new pact was not signed. Is Apple seeking independence from the Redmond, Washington-based superpower?
I haven't read any other responses, nor do I know if this idea has already been picked up... but what about OpenOffice.org? (http://www.openoffice.org/)
I mean, it has nearly the same functions as Micro$oft's Office Suite, and can save as any of them (without being illegal). It's Open Source and under the GPL, ported for OS X.2
I mean, it has nearly the same functions as Micro$oft's Office Suite, and can save as any of them (without being illegal). It's Open Source and under the GPL, ported for OS X.2
Re: Does Apple Still Need Microsoft?
Posted by: BaddSectorr 2003-04-16 02:22:58 In reply to: Robyn Weisman
Apple does not need Microsoft. they are in a different market. why does everyone think that if Microsoft stops making Office for the mac that Apple will dive into oblivion?
Apple makes better software then microsoft and Apple is a hardware company.
The world does not evolve around Office software or didn't anyone tell you?
One last thing, OpenOffice is free, pass it on.
Apple makes better software then microsoft and Apple is a hardware company.
The world does not evolve around Office software or didn't anyone tell you?
One last thing, OpenOffice is free, pass it on.
Re: Does Apple Still Need Microsoft?
Posted by: jbellew 2003-04-15 00:30:28 In reply to: Robyn Weisman
I've left Micro$oft years ago for Linux. Then I left Linux this past year for Mac OS X. I use AppleWorks and so far I haven't had any problems. Apple needs to take the inventive road and redo AppleWorks for Mac OS X, not just a Carbonized Version, and create something that uses an XML file format. The Open Sourcers would love that and they could gain compatibility with a lot of Linux users. Become dominant and force M$ to open its file formats to XML to compete. But do it before M$ does and tries to corrupt XML.
Re: Does Apple Still Need Microsoft?
Posted by: tazznb 2003-04-14 14:41:28 In reply to: Robyn Weisman
I believe Apple no longer has need of Microsoft.
The quality of their software is leaps and bounds ahead of them.
The quality of their software is leaps and bounds ahead of them.
"The quality of their software is leaps and bounds ahead of them." tazznb you must be kidding me and the rest of the readers of these posts. Look, I am no lover of Bill and the gang and I have just ended support for MS Office at our school, however, to say that AppleWorks is better than MS Office is simply wrong.
The only way you are going to push Mac OS X forward is to be honest with people. AppleWorks is a nice product when you consider it as a bundled solution. However, loving Mac does not mean not being honest. The time for Mac-in-love is over. Steve is back and pushing the company forward, be as honest as Steve is. AppleWorks is a good software solution that needs work.
-G
The only way you are going to push Mac OS X forward is to be honest with people. AppleWorks is a nice product when you consider it as a bundled solution. However, loving Mac does not mean not being honest. The time for Mac-in-love is over. Steve is back and pushing the company forward, be as honest as Steve is. AppleWorks is a good software solution that needs work.
-G
ggreen_az said "...to say that AppleWorks is better than MS Office is simply wrong."
You mistakenly thought I was talking of Office when I was making a general statement.
Office is presently years ahead of Appleworks. I was actually taking about the OS, and iApps.
I have no love for Microsoft, but am not an Apple zealot; My home system is a Dell Precision.
Windows 2K which is my favorite system (the best windows system they produced to date) but, can be a pain in the @$$.
My brother owns OSX, and uses his computer blissfully unaware of how much of a headache it can be, due to Apple taking time to see to its customers' needs; Apple has OS problems, but not nearly as problematic as windows.
You mistakenly thought I was talking of Office when I was making a general statement.
Office is presently years ahead of Appleworks. I was actually taking about the OS, and iApps.
I have no love for Microsoft, but am not an Apple zealot; My home system is a Dell Precision.
Windows 2K which is my favorite system (the best windows system they produced to date) but, can be a pain in the @$$.
My brother owns OSX, and uses his computer blissfully unaware of how much of a headache it can be, due to Apple taking time to see to its customers' needs; Apple has OS problems, but not nearly as problematic as windows.
unfortunately for apple, even though they have some nice software, its hardware despite looking pretty is far behind the PC in most areas. And so it's hard to take the niche luxury car statement seriously. It might be a new VW bug with a pretty exterior, fair reliability but not much get up and go, unfortunately :( they also lack many of the nice features that even low-end PC systems favor at a fraction of the price of apple's aging components that are as much as 2 years behind the latest PC innovations (nothing to do with Microsoft). And although microsoft's software is far from perfect, you can do a lot more with it, and it generally gives a trouble-free experience on par with what apple offers, only with a far more diverse and interesting range of hardware and software.
Apple will always sell ok to the few, and they are welcome to it, but these days even people like adobe have been admitting that their software runs better on the PC. apart from a couple of music apps and final cut pro, there is little with which to commend apple.
Apple will always sell ok to the few, and they are welcome to it, but these days even people like adobe have been admitting that their software runs better on the PC. apart from a couple of music apps and final cut pro, there is little with which to commend apple.
PS, No apple doesn't need Microsoft's software, But it needs microsoft in more subtle, indirect ways. As the majority of cutting-edge hardware is designed for mainly win-based PCs, it's useful to have them around because Apple don't get anywhere near the same industry support, and for the most part introduce these new technologies somewhere down the line. About the best thing apple has given the PC is firewire and not an awful lot else. The PC has given apple a hell of a lot more (but this has nothing to do with Microsoft).
