What's with the new version of numbers?

I can't open any of my numbers spreadsheets

How are you trying to open them? What error message are you getting?

Apple is telling me that to open them that I have to get the latest version for $19.99.

How is Apple "telling you" you need to pay $19.99? If you have been using Numbers 2.3 on your Mac, downloading Numbers 3.0 is free.

SG

Did you modify any of these spreadsheets on an iPad or iPhone? That, I believe, will render them unreadable by older versions on your Mac. But if they have been on your Mac and only on your Mac and you have been using Numbers '08 all this time and no other version, I don't know why you would be getting this message.

jb,

When you upgrade to OS X 10.9, you will be able to installed Numbers 3.0 for free. If you have not updated then you may need to solicit the help of someone who has to open the newer version and export it back to Numbers '09.

I'm using Numbers '09...does that make a difference?

Numbers '09 (a.k.a. 2.3) cannot open documents modified in Numbers 2 on the iPad or iPhone. If you want to sync between devices then you need the latest versions of Numbers on all of them.

SG