iPad Pro How are you guys using Microsoft Office on the 10.5” Pro ?

[RevTEG]

I guess everyone's forgotten buying Excel 4.0 / Word 3.02 and paying $300-399 EACH back in 1989. (Mac SE, SE/30 days) SuperLaserSpool was a must and cost $99. $7/month seems fine.

Operating systemswere on lease model for mainframes. And an IBM PC/AT was $6500 + couple thousand in applications, $495 ea. for Lotus Notes and others.

Everyone’s forgotten? I’m 40 years old, which isn’t young, but your 1989 example date puts me at like 11 or 12 years old. I haven’t forgotten cause I wasn’t old enough to know. Lol there’s probally a ton of people on this forum that don’t fit your date profile.

 

[Synergie]

The problem is when you have multiple different software that ALL want to charge subscription fees. For example, I do a lot of photo editing and want full functionality for Lightroom. The cheapest subscription to get that functionality is about 15.00 a month CAD for the photography plan (it includes full desktop photoshop and Lightroom which I don’t need... I only use iPad Pro so just the mobile apps are all I need but I don’t have a choice), then I have several other apps which also charge fees, plus cloud storage fees and MS office is just too expensive. Nobody has like 100.00 a month just for subscription fees for apps. Oh weather apps are now going the subscription model in order to get rid of ads. I refuse to use ad supported apps as I can’t stand 2 mins of functionality then a 30+ second commercial for some game I’ll never play or product I’ll never use.

 

[sparksd]

The problem is when you have multiple different software that ALL want to charge subscription fees. For example, I do a lot of photo editing and want full functionality for Lightroom. The cheapest subscription to get that functionality is about 15.00 a month CAD for the photography plan (it includes full desktop photoshop and Lightroom which I don’t need... I only use iPad Pro so just the mobile apps are all I need but I don’t have a choice), then I have several other apps which also charge fees, plus cloud storage fees and MS office is just too expensive. Nobody has like 100.00 a month just for subscription fees for apps. Oh weather apps are now going the subscription model in order to get rid of ads. I refuse to use ad supported apps as I can’t stand 2 mins of functionality then a 30+ second commercial for some game I’ll never play or product I’ll never use.

Yeah, I have Office 365 Home and Adobe Photo CC subscriptions and don't mind too much as I and my wife make extensive use of all the tools across multiple platform. As an alternative to Lightroom on the iPad, check out Affinity. I picked it up and while I prefer and use Lightroom, Affinity is pretty nice and getting better (I process Canon RAW images).

 

[ActionableMango]

If you're able to use Excel on a tablet and actually get stuff done without a keyboard and mouse, I'm in awe of your superhuman abilities.

 

[Eric5273]

If you're able to use Excel on a tablet and actually get stuff done without a keyboard and mouse, I'm in awe of your superhuman abilities.

I use it without the mouse just fine. Even when I used to use Excel on a Windows PC, I rarely used the mouse. There are keyboard shortcuts for almost everything, and they tend to be much quicker and easier to use, you just have to get used to them. Remember that spreadsheet programs pre-date the mouse.

 

[Synergie]

I use it without the mouse just fine. Even when I used to use Excel on a Windows PC, I rarely used the mouse. There are keyboard shortcuts for almost everything, and they tend to be much quicker and easier to use, you just have to get used to them. Remember that spreadsheet programs pre-date the mouse.

Yup, I remember the ORIGINAL MS DOS Word The one you had to load outside Windows and was basically ASCII with that blue and red screen. No mouse.

Agree on keyboard shortcuts, and using the Apple BT Magic keyboard gives you the exact same keyboard that the iMac has. So you can’t complain LOL. Though the Smart Keyboard lots of people like. I just like the real keys feel more (and the option to NOT have a bulky cover).

 

[elf69]

I actually use an old A1016 bluetooth keyboard with my iPad Pro when at my desk.

yes very bulky but I'm used to it as have the usb wired version on my iMac so it feels right to me to type on.

 

[PKoz]

In the old days (1990s-2000s), Microsoft Office Professional sold for around $300. At $5 per month, it takes more than 5 years before you end up paying more than that. I think the subscription model they have now is cheaper.

Yes, it's true people don't mind paying for software, as long as the fee is less than $10. Charge $50 or $100 for software, and I doubt many people will buy it. And that is why there are very few professional apps for iOS.

I don't like the subscription model. As as far as I am concerned, I paid for it, I ought to be able to install it on as many machines as I want as long as I am not allowing others to use it. Moreover, I am happy to pay for ongoing maintenance, however, the right to install it must not be impeded in any way. You can impede the updates under a subscription model, but nothing else in my opinion.