Microsoft used the Macworld conference on Monday to release its much-anticipated Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac software suite. The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant promises the new suite will offer a unique and feature-rich Mac-like solution to Mac users for their personal, home office and business office needs. Han-Yi Shaw, lead program manager for Word in Microsoft’s Mac business unit, said the developers had four key goals in mind when developing the suite: discoverability, simplicity, professional output and compatibility. He added it was also important to Microsoft to create a product that would be Mac-like in its touch and feel.

Three different versions of Office 2008 for Mac are now available. The core suite is Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac and includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage, plus Microsoft Exchange Server support and Automator tools, at $539.95 for the full edition and $319.95 for upgrades. Microsoft Office 2008 for MacHome and Student edition includes up to three licenses for $199.95. And for the professional enthusiast, Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Special Media edition is $629.95, or $379.95 for the upgrade. Much like last year’s release of Microsoft’s Office 2007 for Windows, the Mac edition boasts a new user interface developers promise will be more intuitive for end users,along with an abundance of new features and capabilities. The only thing which needs to be fixed is obviously the price - I don’t know many people willing to pay so much for software…

Source: PC World

Behold: the thinnest laptop ever made (until today, at least), Apple MacBook Air

During the the Macworld Expo, Apple introduced their newest laptop: MacBook Air. According to the AppleMan himself (Jobs), MBA (macbook air) is the thinnest laptop in the world. Hey, I believe that. With 1,93 cm and 0,4 cm for the heights, and weighs no more than 1,3kg, I’d carry this around. Heck, I’m carrying at least 5 kilo on my back with my current A6 laptop; I’m afraid I’m gonna lose this one, due to it’s lightness… it’s gonna be like ‘I’m carrying no laptop’-feeling (even Vaio TZ is even heavier and bigger)

13,3 inch LED-backlit screen is a plus point, instant on, and presumably enhanced battery-life support. The multi touch-trackpad? I’m sold! Oh yeah, did I mentioned the built in camera.

1,8″ 80GB HDD is propped into the case, is the standard HDD. I’d go with the optional 64GB SSD (solid state drive, it’s like the compact flash / secure digital chips, I think)

I’m still wondering how the heck Apple can fit all the gadgets in such a thin case: 1,6GHz Core2 Duo, N-band wifi, bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (WOW!!), magsafe, microDVI, 2GB RAM, 3.5″ jack for the headphone (wow?).

Allright, no optical drive, but you can have one for less than €50, you know… the USB thingie… Or if you’re a Applenatic, there’s one superdrive, also USB, for US$99. They also this new Remote Disc feature, to use the optical drive of another computer (both Mac and PC). Pretty sweet, I’d say….

What sucks is: no replaceable battery. Heck… that was the case with the old iPod…. but nowadays you can buy the Do-It-Yourself iPod Battery Replacement kit for under the US$50 I won’t be surprised that in the near future, very near, you’d find one in your not-an-Apple-retailer: MacBook Air Battery Replacement Kit

Oh yeah, the going price for MacBook Air is starting from US$1800 (okay, Apple says it’s 1799, what’s the big fuzz about one freakin’ dollar anyways…)

*is there anyone getting horny with the MacBook Air?

Am I going to get one?
I dunno… I even don’t know where’s the Start-button of Mac OS/X

Comments are welcomed

Apple Inc.’s Bootcamp 1.4 (Beta) is no longer available for download, not for Tiger (OS/X 10.4.x) at least.

Apple has confirmed that Windows partitions created with Boot Camp will continue to work. However, the Boot Camp Assistant, software that sets up and manages Windows partitions, will not. Apple also has said that it will stop delivering driver updates to beta users.

Apple doesn’t have any plans to sell a separate Tiger-only version of Boot Camp!

The good thing is, the new cat of Apple, Leopard, scheduled to release today (Friday, Oct 26th, 2007) has the Bootcamp hardcoded

Something to cheer up? or something to be frowned about?

There’s the complete story at Computerworld