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How can we convince Apple to bring back AppleWorks?

I've been using OS 10.7 for a year and a half, and can only run AppleWorks on my old machine - once it gives up the ghost, I won't be able to use it at all. Numbers and Pages are adequate, but they don't have the ease of use and the flexibility of AppleWorks. Ditto for EZDraw (whose text function *****). AppleWorks is lean, efficient, multifaceted, and easy to use - for my money, it's one of the best apps that Apple has ever produced. I'd sure love to see it developed for 10.7 and beyond...

AppleWorks-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 7:24 PM

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Posted on Mar 26, 2013 12:34 AM

I agree with you about AppleWorks being one of the best programs ever written; I used it myself for many years and it's an impressive combination of power, simplicity and a small footprint - the text rendering is poor but that's the only real problem.


However I'm afraid there is absolutely no chance whatever of Apple bringing it back. They regard Pages and Numbers as replacements, and Bento for databases (though there is no comparison) - Filemaker Pro is the only substitute. The program has been unsupported and not sold for some years now and Apple certainly have no interest in reviving it: this would require rewriting it from the ground up (and I understand there are technical problems as to why the program can't just be upgraded).


There are possibilities to keep running it: you should be able to install Snow Leopard on an external hard disk and start from that (provided that the Mac did not come with anything higher than Snow Leopard originally installed); and success has been reported in running Snow Leopard under emulation in Parallels - the method is described here: it seems complex and I haven't tried it: use at your own discretion.


Otherwise I'm afraid you will just have to get used to using the modern alternatives. This article might give you the odd idea:


http://rfwilmut.net/aw

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Mar 26, 2013 12:34 AM in response to PMadryga

I agree with you about AppleWorks being one of the best programs ever written; I used it myself for many years and it's an impressive combination of power, simplicity and a small footprint - the text rendering is poor but that's the only real problem.


However I'm afraid there is absolutely no chance whatever of Apple bringing it back. They regard Pages and Numbers as replacements, and Bento for databases (though there is no comparison) - Filemaker Pro is the only substitute. The program has been unsupported and not sold for some years now and Apple certainly have no interest in reviving it: this would require rewriting it from the ground up (and I understand there are technical problems as to why the program can't just be upgraded).


There are possibilities to keep running it: you should be able to install Snow Leopard on an external hard disk and start from that (provided that the Mac did not come with anything higher than Snow Leopard originally installed); and success has been reported in running Snow Leopard under emulation in Parallels - the method is described here: it seems complex and I haven't tried it: use at your own discretion.


Otherwise I'm afraid you will just have to get used to using the modern alternatives. This article might give you the odd idea:


http://rfwilmut.net/aw

Mar 26, 2013 8:25 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Roger Wilmut1 wrote:


... and success has been reported in running Snow Leopard under emulation in Parallels - the method is described here: it seems complex and I haven't tried it: use at your own discretion.

Roger: since we spoke last the Apple Store has started selling Snow Leopard Server at a 95% reduction in price - $19.99 + sales tax & shipping! This allows for much easier installation into Parallels and VMWare Fusion (and some say VirtualBox, too) than originally described in my linked thread.


So, as noted in the first paragraph at that linked thread, you can obtain SLS from the Apple Store: 1.800.MYAPPLE (1.800.692.7753) - Apple Part Number: MC588Z/A (telephone orders only).


Here is Appleworks 6.2.9 running in Snow Leopard Server in Parallels 8 for use in Lion or Mt. Lion:


User uploaded file

[click on image to enlarge]

May 6, 2013 12:31 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

I agree with you all. There should be an upgrade. I find no use for Pages.

If I go to anything it will be to Word, yuk...


I never use 'Text edit' so why shouldn't Apple make AppleWorks the edit software. I will pay extra for a new version of AW that will allow me to upgrade the OS. I have far too many WP, SS and heavily rely on the Data Base as well. I am so disappointed that there is no upgrade for me anymore. I cannot and will not stop using the AW application. Two programs keep me on the OS10.6.8 and that is AW and iMovie6. The best WP app and the best Movie app.


Thanks for listening, Harold

May 6, 2013 12:38 PM in response to Harold Coates

Even so you should have some sort of strategy in place: one day your computer might go phut and you would have to buy a new one, which won't run AW directly. Michael's solution should work, but you should be aware that nothing other than AW will open its databases and there will be no other way of retrieving them.


You might find it worth looking at my article on 'Abandoning AppleWorks':


http://rfwilmut.net/aw


just as a bit of forward thinking.

Aug 19, 2013 1:36 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Appleworks has been the best software I've used for creating spreadsheets for my business over many years. This past year I finally had to face facts that my accountant was struggling to convert my spreadsheets into versions of Excel that he could read. I've had to start to use Excel now, and despite several tutorials I can't get the hang of it. I am too spoiled because Appleworks was the most intuitive, intelligent, sensible, easy program and now I feel I have been forced back into then naughty, dark ages.


Yes, I would pay considerably for a rewrite of this program that is as superb, as easy and self-intelligent - and that promises to be kept up for at least 15 years, ideally twenty. With support.


We need to be able to trust the producers of the things that make our worlds go round - if they fail us, we fail, and that can impact a nation. I exaggerate, but to make a point - we need longevity, faithfulness and trust in the products that serve us, and computer technology should not be immune to this. It has become the bedrock of how we do business but it is constantly changing,faster and faster with each year that goes by, causing great stress and loss of productive time for re-learning. MS Dos cerebral types have no problem with Excel and its ilk but Mac intuitive, visual types need a new Appleworks - isn't there some genius out there who can rewrite this for intel macs?

Aug 19, 2013 5:19 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

But Roger,

Not many folks use iWorks. Even if I were able to move from AWorks I would not use iWorks. Most folks use MSworks which I have but don't like at all. I use AW daily and have far too many documents to convert even if it converted globely, meaning mass conversion of thousands of documents at once.


Even if everything was moved to MSworks I would still have to learn another program. My data bases alone would have to be reformatted for another DB program. I have mailing lists that I mass mail on occassions and MSworks doesn't have a DB program. (neither does iWorks) I bought Bento but it was a joke then I bought FileMaker Pro. I could clearly see that I would have to spend a year reformatting just to migrate to it.


I have used the AW program when it was Claris Works then Apple bought the rights and began to update as they should then..... well, you know the rest of the story.

Bottom line is Apple came out with a program that we all loved and then left us to the wild winds.


Change for the sake of change just to put some geeks name on the change doesn't make sense.


Harold

Aug 19, 2013 9:23 PM in response to Harold Coates

Harold Coates wrote:


I have used the AW program when it was Claris Works then Apple bought the rights and began to update as they should then..... well, you know the rest of the story.


Apple never purchased Appleworks from anybody; it was always their program. It was a very popular application on their mainstay computer of its time -- the Apple II platform.


For a while, Apple experimented with placing all of their software in a wholely owned subsidiary, Claris, but then quit that experiment and dissolved Claris and brought the remaining software back in house.


Apple brought a similar multi-module program over to the Mac; known as ClarisWorks. When Claris was dissolved in the late 1990s, the package became known as AppleWorks.


The lack of graphics and database modules in iWorks is sorely missed!


I purchased my first Mac in 1985 for my parents' business and told my mother she would only have to type her semi-annual mailing labels one more time: into her new 512K Mac (with the then only internal hard drive available, the Hyperdrive 10MB). I purchased Overvue software (which was a fast database with all data placed into RAM) for her to use as a flat database and it served her well for years.

Aug 20, 2013 2:18 AM in response to MlchaelLAX

So there must be many tales of how Apple / Mac folk came to use ClarisWorks, then AppleWorks - and to rely on them. I hugely sympathize with Harold's cri de coeur -


"Change for the sake of change just to put some geeks name on the change doesn't make sense."


This change for the sake of change panders to egotism and creates wastefulness for those who use and rely on the products.


I also understand that this forum is not for venting or complaining, but rather to try to solve problems. I have been fascinated to read this thread, and to understand that others have been working to find the best ways forward.


For me, I have to switch to Excel, and am considering abandoning Mac for accounting purposes because Excel works better on, say, a Dell. What my accountant can do with Excel 2008 on his computer is more than I seem to be able to do with it on either my old Mac or MacBook Pro bought last year. I just can't get it to accept a number with a minus in front of it - AW spreadsheet was phenonmenal - I could add and subtract in a column so easily - no formulas, no complex listing of column letters and row numbers. But my accountant does seem to be able to do this with his Excel. I wish there was a way world wide forum members could put their threads together and present them directly to Apple - to be heard, and to be listened to.


Thank you all for your suggestions, apologies for venting, sorry to double

post earlier - I made a mistake being a novice at posting.

Aug 20, 2013 12:41 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

The National Great Geek award would go to the person who creates iWork2 using AppleWorks as a base with adaptation of the WP, SS, and DB on the Intell platform. Make it transportable and a clean sweep from the original AW to the Intell Mac. Is there anyone out there who is smart enough to do this?


That is the only chance Apple has for eventually taking over the business application market.


THERE! I’ve wanted to get that off my chest for 7 years.


Harold

How can we convince Apple to bring back AppleWorks?

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