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iWork improvements

cavi

cavi

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 19, 2010
151
28
Haifa, Israel
Hello friends,

I just wondering of Apple do intent to improve the iWork suite to be more "powerful" and less entry level tool as it is today (except Keynote which is very good competitor to Powerpoint).
For 3 years I sent more and more feedbacks to apple regarding the "power features" (that I think are basic) that I wish to add to Pages, but it's seems that Apple not really making big efforts to improve the iWork suite. for example, I requested:
  1. cross references
  2. document compare
  3. track changes in tables (this is a BASIC requirement)
  4. secondary font (you can't say that Pages is multilingual without secondary font option)
  5. better support for Office (page style and so on).
  6. outline mode
  7. ability to add files into a document which is not a media file.
  8. split view
  9. "fake" italic for fonts which doesn't have italic
  10. ability to track changes in iCloud
  11. footnote in iCloud
I really hope Apple will make a better effort for us and not send us to use MS Office (I just don't like Office...)
 
I wouldn't count on it: Apple has been dumbing-down it's software product line for the past several years, and the trend will only continue as they continue to "improve" software by making it "easier to use". The only product/office suite that offers "power-user" features (that I can think of) is Microsoft Office - which may or may not be a product you wish to consider.
 
BobertKennedy said:
I wouldn't count on it: Apple has been dumbing-down it's software product line for the past several years, and the trend will only continue as they continue to "improve" software by making it "easier to use". The only product/office suite that offers "power-user" features (that I can think of) is Microsoft Office - which may or may not be a product you wish to consider.
Click to expand...
It's very easy to make software "easier to use"; the trick is make "powerful" software which is easier to use.
I don't have any problem with Office, I just like the iWork suite and I wish apple will make it better (which mean add power features).
by the way, I really don't think that track changes in tables, cross references and document compare are "power features" for my use those are basic tools which Pages (which apple represent as a "powerful" word processor) just doesn't have...
 
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I agree that current iWork suite leaves a lot to be desired compared to iWork 09.

I intend to use iWork 09 as long as possible because I am sceptical Apple would improve iWork seriously. I have send numerous feedback about the issue.
 
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cavi said:
It's very easy to make software "easier to use"; the trick is make "powerful" software which is easier to use.
Click to expand...
But yet Apple seemed to go the dumbed down route, by removing features. Maybe eventually they'll be added back in, but I've already transitioned over to Office.

I also don't see Apple increasing its compatibility between office and its suite. Numbers for instance is lacking a fair amount of functions, features and abilities that you cannot really increase the compatibility because those features do not exist in Numbers.
 
Part, or all of the "dumb down" issue seems to be parity across the iOS/iCloud.com/OS X platform. That doesn't answer the question of, "Now that it's more or less leveled, will they all be brought up together?" However, I believe the answer is yes (I tend to be an optimist). I don't see a reason for further simplification, and very few products stand still.

Every wish list is a bit different, so in the end, some items will be often-requested, others less so. When everyone gets their wish, we end up with products like Office.
 
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maflynn said:
But yet Apple seemed to go the dumbed down route, by removing features. Maybe eventually they'll be added back in, but I've already transitioned over to Office.
Click to expand...

Granted, Office is the de facto standard in the business and educational world. But let's not forget that Apple now gives away the iWork suite for free to new Mac buyers and does the same for the iOS versions for new iOS device buyers. Free is hard to beat. I too am an Office user but don't ever remember getting anything for free from Microsoft. ;)
 
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chscag said:
But let's not forget that Apple now gives away the iWork suite for free to new Mac buyers
Click to expand...
What good is a free product that doesn't work as well?

The OP was looking for specific improvements that probably won't happen including increased Office compatibility. I provided one reason why its highly unlikely that we'll see that. Free or not, Numbers is pretty horrible in a number of ways. iWork was serviceable back before they "upgraded" it, now its gutted.

I mean with Office you can use it on the web, online and of course locally on a Mac. Apple seemed like they needed to strip all features to do that as well.

You're right I'm paying for Office365 for that ability but its a better product

Free doesn't equate to better ;)
 
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I think that the iWork suit isn't for free because if you want a suite that is compared to MS's Office you need to pay Apple for iCloud subscription, which eventually cost more or less the same like Office 365 subscription.

Regarding the iWork suite, as I wrote, the "trick" is to make software easy to use and also "powerful". I don't understand why Apple make so much effort and develop new version, that eventually isn't good as the old one...

I personally sent already a lot of feedbacks and if it will continue to be the same I'll switch to Office...
 
Perhaps it's worth mentioning that iWork '09 still runs fine under El Capitan ...
 
cavi said:
Regarding the iWork suite, as I wrote, the "trick" is to make software easy to use and also "powerful". I don't understand why Apple make so much effort and develop new version, that eventually isn't good as the old one...
Click to expand...
Because they want feature parity with ios and web-version. Microsoft is doing the same with office 2016, which is why I stick with 2011.
 
Significant1 said:
Because they want feature parity with ios and web-version. Microsoft is doing the same with office 2016, which is why I stick with 2011.
Click to expand...
For me the 2011 version isn't good because the lack of RTL support.
I have no problem to "wait" to more powerful iWork, but there are some rumors which says that Apple isn't going to add power features... Apple did not update the iWork suite for few months now while MS adding more and more features.
 
cavi said:
For me the 2011 version isn't good because the lack of RTL support.
Click to expand...
Ok, I don't speak a RTL language, so was not aware of that. Did a quick google and it seems Word 2011 kan edit an existing document with RTL. There is a work around video here, where is create an RTL document in google-docs and open it in Word 2011.
 
Significant1 said:
Ok, I don't speak a RTL language, so was not aware of that. Did a quick google and it seems Word 2011 kan edit an existing document with RTL. There is a work around video here, where is create an RTL document in google-docs and open it in Word 2011.
Click to expand...
Hi =]
I aware to all the "tricks" to make Office 2011 edit RTL documents. you can make basic edit but there are a lot of things that will not work: you can't Bold or Italic without the (actually you can Bold with the bold shortcut: *Bold*); you can't edit Heb and Eng (for example) in the same document etc'.

the point is that I really want to use Apple software (because the integration with the system and because I really like iWork in general) but it's just not good enough...
 
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Todor said:
True, I use Word instead of Pages, too.
Click to expand...
I use Pages 4.3 (of iWork 09) for the advanced functionality, and only use Pages 5.6 for when I need cross-compatibility with my iPad. I only use MS Word when I'm working with files that I received from someone else, or will be sending them to others who use it.

The latest updates to OSX El Cap resolved the single minor issue I had when using Pages 4.3.
 
sracer said:
I use Pages 4.3 (of iWork 09) for the advanced functionality, and only use Pages 5.6 for when I need cross-compatibility with my iPad. I only use MS Word when I'm working with files that I received from someone else, or will be sending them to others who use it.

The latest updates to OSX El Cap resolved the single minor issue I had when using Pages 4.3.
Click to expand...

I think I'd stick to Word for some time, and maybe turn back to Page for its newest updates.
 
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I think one has to differentiate. I prefer Keynote greatly over Powerpoint, find Pages adequate for my needs (and prefer the simpler interface), but Numbers is no real competition for Excel, at least for professional use.
 
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Todor said:
I think I'd stick to Word for some time, and maybe turn back to Page for its newest updates.
Click to expand...
I can understand that. For my workflow and use cases, I have found Pages 4.3 to be an outstanding tool for documents that I originate. Although I am equally proficient in Word, Pages, and LibreOffice, I find efficiency differs. In order of efficiency of working, I find the order to be: 1. Pages, 2. LibreOffice, 3. Word.

But there are certain tasks where one is a better tool for the job than others.
For example: Although I'm a big Pages fan, LibreOffice has a slight edge when producing booklets of greater than 4 pages (the kind where you take a Letter sized page, orient it landscape and fold it left-to-right). Pages is terrific for 4 pagers and it CAN do larger booklets, but LibreOffice can do it easier (my largest booklet was 36 pages).
 
cavi said:
Hello friends,

I just wondering of Apple do intent to improve the iWork suite to be more "powerful" and less entry level tool as it is today (except Keynote which is very good competitor to Powerpoint).
For 3 years I sent more and more feedbacks to apple regarding the "power features" (that I think are basic) that I wish to add to Pages, but it's seems that Apple not really making big efforts to improve the iWork suite. for example, I requested:
  1. cross references
  2. document compare
  3. track changes in tables (this is a BASIC requirement)
  4. secondary font (you can't say that Pages is multilingual without secondary font option)
  5. better support for Office (page style and so on).
  6. outline mode
  7. ability to add files into a document which is not a media file.
  8. split view
  9. "fake" italic for fonts which doesn't have italic
  10. ability to track changes in iCloud
  11. footnote in iCloud
I really hope Apple will make a better effort for us and not send us to use MS Office (I just don't like Office...)
Click to expand...

Apple has moved away from its Macintosh software business which new features and products we used to look forward to each year. Now its watches and self-driving cars. Photos and iPhotos are examples of how much this division has changed. What a shame as this was something Apple used to be proud of.
 
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