iwork '08 upgrade to iwork '09

I want to pay for an upgrade, but there is no option in the Apple store. Where can I buy an upgrade edition (iWork '08 to iWork '09)?

I agree, one of the reasons I never updated to MS Office 2008 was iWork '08. I got it but have never really used it because it lacked some key features which I need everyday. So do I now shell out for a MS upgrade at around £180 every 4 years or do I update iWork for £50 every year?

Seems like poor marketing to me. I would upgrade if it was say £30.

I have also just purchased iwork at the end of last year as there was no notice of a new version being released in 2009, which I searched for prior to ordering it online at the end of December 2008. I am quite annoyed that Apple does not allow you a free upgrade to iwork 09 even for new users who have just installed iwork 08 within the last few months.

I have only just opened and installed it and was notified on installation of the new version iwork 09 and the new features.

I must say I am not happy.

Ugh. I purchased iWork 08 on December 21st 2008. Any other normal company would have let me know that a new version was coming out in a few days. Since Apple needs to be super secret about these things I get a nice surprise.

Now as much as I would like a free upgrade, I would certainly accept a fair upgrade price as I did technically pay for iWork 08 and not 09.

But seriously, this is really stupid to keep products secret from your customers and not provide a grace period for an upgrade.


I am pretty unhappy about this.

I would expect an upgrade sooner or later, and for it to be a lot less than $99. I also got a new iMac desktop in December and would like the upgrade, and not have to pay full retail price.

It looks like there are a number of postings related to this "New Apple Product". I have a similar circumstance and have been told by Apple that no upgrade will be made available as iWorks 09 and iLife 09 are NEW products NOT upgrades from Apple's policy rules.

From my personal perspective, this is not very user customer friendly policy for recent purchases. I feel that purchases within 30 days should be a free upgrade as part of an Apple customer protection plan. Normally, this should not impact more than .1% of Apple's customers and I expect would provide better press and customer relations than the frustration we are all currently sharing with our friends.

I also bought my system for Xmas along with Final Cut Express, Aperture etc and was absolutely disgusted when I found out that I had bought out of date software. I do not subscribe to some of the views expressed in this forum that I should expect better treatment. I bought an Apple product after many years of pc use. My expectations have been fulfilled and I am thoroughly enjoying the new experience. Now I have a sour taste in the mouth after speaking to Customer Services and the After Sales Team to find out that Apple have a policy that a market stall trader wouldn't try to get away with. Even the dreaded Microsoft used to give 30 days leniency. What are Apple up to..? I just wish, when I had to make the choice between Office and iWorks that I had selected Office - at least I would have felt like I was doing business with an honest and much more transparent organization. Shame on you Apple and shame on all those who condone such shabby tactics.

A bit of a strange remark:
All software contains bugs. Bugfree software does not exist. Period. Software fixes exist to solve the most prominent ones though.
Some companies like Parallels desktop offer a free upgrade when you can prove you've purchaged the software just before the next version release, like they did with the recent upgrade from version 3 to 4.
While it is certainly not mandatory to do so, it usually is highly appreciated by customers.

Cheers.

I agree there should be a upgrade option. What the heck are the "coupons" for in the box? I was told by the sales person that it would entitle me for upgrades. The software is so basic you could get it for free (say open office or docs.google). I guess I will uninstall.

Of course for those who feel their lives blighted and their existence totally undone by Apple's releaasing an annual upgrade..... sorry new product..... there's always Neo Office. I must admit it took me time to like Iwork 08. Still haven't really got my head round the spreadsheet thing. In fact it wouldn't accept my league table and scores spread at all. This runs dreamlike in Neo Office.
Thinks hard, nice pretty Iworks or functional faithful Neo Office.
Hmmmmm, OK Keynote made a cool presetation for me - but had to take the MBP with me, had I not the PC at the University I was lecturing at would not have let me use my presentation. Upside Keynote rocked far better than any Power Point I have ever presented. That was Keynote 08 - why do I need 09 which appears a functional upgrade rather than a groundbreaking new package.
So my life is unblighted, I can go on living and I'm £40 better off. Now to the value Super Market to buy a month's groceries with the saving - Hey Credit Crunch Britain guys! Lol

So I don't buy the trial 08 version of iWork and wait then buy the 09 version?

I'm a long-term Apple user and I feel very disappointed with Apple on this matter (I got my copy of iWork '08 via AppleStore-EU on december, 30). In my opinion, if Apple decides to keep their software releases secret then it is unfaithful not to provide a way to upgrade them to the customers that had acquired the old version in the last 15-30 days (with or without a small upgrade fee). Why to provide software coupons if they cannot be used to get an upgrade that comes one week later and was not previously announced?

I would appreciate very much an "official" answer from Apple in this forum. Please, Apple, explain us why you don't do what other companies do routinely (and yes... even Microsoft does it).

"Why to provide software coupons if they cannot be used to get an upgrade that comes one week later and was not previously announced?"

Get this people... those coupons are not for upgrades... they are for updates. For those out there that have slow internet, downloading updates can be daunting, so Apple provides those "coupons" in the package so you can go to an Apple Store and get the updates burned to a CD. Is that so hard to understand. Is the nomenclature Apple uses not English? Can no one around here understand the difference?

Adam