Hi everybody, I'm sure that no one on this list is ignorant of the fact that since switching to the Intel processor and riding on the success of iPods and iTunes, Apple computers have grown tremendously in popularity over the last 12 months. Well, recently Microsoft accounced a new version of MS Officefor the Mac due to come out later this year, it will be a Universal Binary, and completely built for the Mac.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jan07/01-09MacworldPR.mspx FTA: ---- It's Coming: Mac BU Announces Intent to Deliver Office 2008 for Mac New version brings enhanced compatibility and Mac-first, Mac-only capabilities. SAN FRANCISCO — Jan. 9, 2007 — Microsoft Corp.'s Macintosh Business Unit (Mac BU) today revealed at Macworld Conference & Expo 2007 the news Mac fans have been waiting to hear: A new version of Office for Mac is on its way. The Mac BU announced its intent to deliver the first Universal version of Office for Mac for PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs — Microsoft(r) Office 2008 for Mac. Scheduled to be available in the second half of 2007, Office 2008 for Mac will allow Mac users to work smarter and more efficiently with new and enhanced tools that are simple, intuitive and easily discovered. ---- New Mac-First, Mac-Only Features Microsoft continues to deliver new Mac-first, Mac-only features aimed at providing customers with a unique, engaging and definitively Mac experience. Office 2008 for Mac will carry on the tradition of Mac BU's productivity software, helping users get organized and work smarter through these features: Publishing Layout View lets users create incredibly layout-rich documents such as newsletters, fliers and brochures by uncovering desktop publishing layout tools and providing text box entry. Ledger Sheets enable anyone to use Excel to handle common financial management tasks. Home and small-business users can balance checkbooks, track accounts or manage investment portfolios more easily than ever. My Day allows users to track priorities and stay on top of daily activities no matter what application they're currently working in. My Day is a stand-alone application that doesn't take up much screen space, offers at-a-glance schedule and task viewing without launching Entourage, and lets users color-code everything for visualizing daily priorities. -- Why does this matter to the OOo marketing list? Well, it would be very good if OpenOffice.org could release a Mac-native Universal Binary version before MS Office 2008. Imagine the marketing possiblities.... "Why wait for Microsoft to get around to us Mac users? Switch to the latest Mac-native Universal Binary office suite today. - OpenOffice.org 2.2" Of course - to be able to market for that - we'd actually have to *be* Mac native - which has been "in the works" for months - but with no sign of when they will actually catch up with NeoOffice. What can be done to speed up the release of a Mac-Native (ie - no X11 needed) Unversial Binary version of OpenOffice.org proper? -- - Chad Smith http://www.chadwsmith.com/
