Apple to release office suite: iWorks '05

By Tim Dorr
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Grand Master

Tim Dorr Veteran

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Apple will launch its new iWork '05 productivity suite at Macworld Expo, Think Secret has learned. The software, code-named Sugar (as alluded to in our previous Expo report), will include Keynote 2 as well as a new application, Pages.

It's unclear whether Pages will simply encompass a word processing application or whether Apple will wrap spreadsheet functionality into it as well. Apple's new word processing software had been rumored to be called Document, but sources say it appears that name has been abandoned, possibly due to the confusion a user might encounter when being told "this document is a Document document."

Chatter surrounding iWork--then called iWorks, as it was speculated to be the successor to AppleWorks--first emerged almost two years ago. Since then, iWork has become a perennial rumor favorite, as AppleWorks 6 continues to show its age and lack of refinement associated with Apple's applications today. Steve Jobs introduced AppleWorks 6 during Macworld Expo San Francisco in 2000, making the application a dinosaur in software years by today's standards.

iWork '05 will require a 500MHz system and Mac OS X 10.3.6 , sources say. Additionally, the software will require a serial number. It's unclear whether the new iLife '05 will also require a serial number--previous versions have not. Also unknown is where iWork '05 pricing will fall. With Keynote currently selling for $99 and AppleWorks 6 costing $79, it seems unlikely that Apple will price iWork '05 at the same $49 price point as iLife.

What is almost certain, however, is that iWork will come bundled with most, if not all, of Apple's new systems, including the new $500 headless iMac. Such a move will enable Apple to market the affordable system as being ready-to-go out of the box with all the software most needed by users, including PC switchers.

Source: http://thinksecret.com/news/0412expo3.html

Sounds like we're *finally* getting an update to AppleWorks. Thank god!

Experienced

Senseotech

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Sadly, the only thing in iLife '04 I've used since I got my iBook a month ago has been the one free item, iTunes. That I like Office X a lot, but Keynote 2 may make it worth it, especially if theres a way to export it (3D transitions and all) to a format Windows can use.

Proficient

noyb

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Appleworks does indeed need an update but its going to be hard to top Office 2004, still if it continues to be given away free with the consumer grade machines it represents good value and a good alternative to those that don't need all that MS's software has to offer.

This is kind of reinforcing my theory about Apple trying to make waves in the corporate sector, massive developments in the server and storage areas with great reviews and endorsments from the likes of Oracle and now reliable rumors about a cheap Mac to fill the client side of things to top it off an Appleworks update, it just seems to fit.

Grand Master

jerry

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Sadly, the only thing in iLife '04 I've used since I got my iBook a month ago has been the one free item, iTunes.

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iLife is pretty useful; I use iCal very much especially since it helps in making schedules and planning. Moreover iPhoto pops up whenever I plug in my Canon Elph into my iBook.

That I like Office X a lot,.

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You should try Office 2004, probably one of the best software package ever.

Experienced

Senseotech

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iLife is pretty useful; I use iCal very much especially since it helps in making schedules and planning. Moreover iPhoto pops up whenever I plug in my Canon Elph into my iBook.

You should try Office 2004, probably one of the best software package ever.

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I'd like to use iCal, but never have got my lazy arse around to looking at it. I thought Office X and 2004 were the same, just different names... What are the differences anyway? My Word say Word X on its splash screen, and was included with excel, Entourage, and Powerpoint.

EDIT: Scratch that last bit, I just noticed I indeed have Office 2004, and now know that X is the older version of it.

Experienced

Senseotech

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Headless Mac? Eh?

I think Microsoft will get upset over this one, because they have a productivity suite called Microsoft Works

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That sorry excuse for software is still around? I thought they phased it out and Office was all that was left.

Grand Master

jerry

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I'd like to use iCal, but never have got my lazy arse around to looking at it. 

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It was the same for me in the beginning but once I got into a habit, it helps me out a lot. I've seen people even exporting their iCal schedules onto the Internet but I havent gotten around doing that yet.

I thought Office X and 2004 were the same, just different names...  What are the differences anyway?  My Word say Word X on its splash screen, and was included with excel, Entourage, and Powerpoint.

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Office 2004 is the latest Office suite from MS. I used the 30 day trial of Office X and when I bought Office 2004 (Students Edition) I found it a major overhaul. There's a notebook layout for Word; helps in taking notes. Plus some of the toolboxes dim and become transparent when not in use; this comes in real handy on the 12" screen of my iBook. Another difference I think is that Office 2004 somewhat faster than Office X. There are a whole lot of other new features, look here. The most major difference I'd say is that Office X looked like a ported software, Office 2004 feels native.

I have never used Keynote as Powerpoint did the job for me. Any Keynote users here mind letting us know which one is better ?

I don't hate any product made by Apple in particular, but I really hope they come up with some names other than "iSomething".

Since they made a hit with iPod everybody else started using that kind of name, and it's so unoriginal.  :p

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I think Apple started i naming scheme from the iMac, not from the iPod.

Edited by jerry
Grand Master

Steve

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iLife is pretty useful; I use iCal very much especially since it helps in making schedules and planning. Moreover iPhoto pops up whenever I plug in my Canon Elph into my iBook.

You should try Office 2004, probably one of the best software package ever.

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- Sounds great news, Keynote is refreshing to use and work with, after seeing so many generic works via Powerpoint.

Jerry, although iCal is indeed very handy, it isn't actually apart of iLife at all, it's just another app like Mail, Address Book, Calculator ... You get the idea...

Grand Master

jerry

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Jerry, although iCal is indeed very handy, it isn't actually apart of iLife at all, it's just another app like Mail, Address Book, Calculator ... You get the idea...

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:$ Thanks for clearing that up, I'm still only a year old to the world of mac. :D

Experienced

Senseotech

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Nope, it's still around. Check major OEMs, stores, etc ... they have it. Works 2004 babee

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I find my little respect for M$ disappearing a lot lately. That piece of software is the worst M$ product I've ever seen, even though thats not saying a lot.

Grand Master

OptiPlex

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I find my little respect for M$ disappearing a lot lately.? That piece of software is the worst M$ product I've ever seen, even though thats not saying a lot.

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Eh, it's not bad. I used only the Word 2000 component until 2002, when I got a copy of Office 2000.

And let's lay off the dollar signs!:oo

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