Office 2008 for Mac hits shelves

A long overdue update (in typical M$oft fashion?) but I'm not rushing out to get it just yet.
 
Well they could have been spiteful and discountinued it. IMHO the era of MS Office should be over soon hopefully. Maybe opensource will overcome the bloat.
 
PeterCH said:
Well they could have been spiteful and discountinued it. IMHO the era of MS Office should be over soon hopefully. Maybe opensource will overcome the bloat.
Click to expand...

Not where I work.
Opensource products will need to be able to replicate all of MS's VBA code and objects first.
Won't happen.
 
Good - for too long Mac users have been immune from the pain and suffering of a new M$ product.
 
Is it backwards compatible with older/other formats?

Doesn't mention it in this preview:http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/09/microsoft-previ.html#previouspost

This is what they did in MS Orifice 2003 SP3....
A note posted to the Microsoft Support Center says that “by default, these file formats are blocked because they are less secure,” and goes on to warn that “they may pose a risk to you.”
Click to expand...
http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2008/01/microsoft-offic.html
 
just loaded it. its sweet :) BUT battling to get entourage to work with our exchange 2007 gateway... go figure... *rollseyes* moved my mailbox to a exchange 2003 server and voila it works!
 
Office 2008 for Mac is backwards compatible. It however saves files as .docx (XML based). You can however set the default save back to .doc (which is the format of Office 2003 and Office 2004 for Mac). Apparently .docx will be the new standard, which is Office 2007 and Office 2008 for Mac. I think it will be years before most people will think about re-investing another R1.5K - R4K (depending on version) on an Office Suite.
 
I have been running 2008 for some time now..(yes, I know - don't ask..)...and have reverted back to mail as the integration to a exchange work environment is much better

Out of the complete 2008 bundle, Word is the only program I use - but I would not say it worth the extra money.

Excel is FULL of bugs and quits as soon as you start using more specialized functions - so Excel 2004 all the way at the moment.

Powerpoint still does not come close to Keynote (which is in any case fully compatible with M$ users)...

Hope this helps a bit before you spend a lot of money...:p
 
RE: Opensource Products

alf101 said:
Not where I work.
Opensource products will need to be able to replicate all of MS's VBA code and objects first.
Won't happen.
Click to expand...

Yes it is true that it will never have full interoperability with other formats. Just like Microsoft isn't fully inter operable with Corel Suite, or any other product out there. It only supports enough to get you to start converting your documents into their format, just like Microsoft. Except the difference is, it is free and the learning curve is just as low once you started working full time with open office.

Microsoft does however emphasize on Speed, yes it is true, but only up to a point where you will have to develop your own macro to do the job. I had to create on numerous times a VBA like macro for open office, but once I've done it you move on, even google's document online suite interprets the macros.

If you want to access COM objects, you will have to learn to do java, like everybody does on school these days. Will the sample animations and added on "example clip art" be as good. No, but who stops you from creating your own or with the help of google. If you don't have time to invest in a new learning curve. Then buy the Microsoft product. That's what they are betting on :)
 
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