Does Apple offer a cheap upgrade for consumer software?

[DaviDC.]

Why does Apple let some of its best software wither? Not only AppleWorks but HyperCard as well. At least they had the good sense to buy that kick ass music player (SoundJam?) way back when & turn it into iTunes.

[chas_m]

[quote DaviDC.]Why does Apple let some of its best software wither? Not only AppleWorks but HyperCard as well. At least they had the good sense to buy that kick ass music player (SoundJam?) way back when & turn it into iTunes.
Answer: they don't.

Hypercard died because the public decided they didn't want to be programmers. I can create a slideshow in iPhoto that blows the socks off anything anyone ever did in Hypercard. Feh.

AppleWorks is in fact still available for anyone that wants to buy it. People only complain now because they no longer get it for free. So maybe it's not as "valuable" as its champions would have us believe.

In point of fact, iWork IS the replacement for AppleWorks -- it's just that iWork isn't done yet. Apple focused on the parts people actually used the most -- the WP and the presentation modules. I don't know if they're going to "complete" the package, but I would imagine a drawing tool will eventually be in there -- don't hold your breath on the spreadsheet though.

Finally, if all the AppleWorks whiners would just take a look at NeoOffice 2.1 ... it's everything you want AppleWorks to be and then some. It's even free* for feck's sake.

*currently NOT free, but available on early preview for a measly $10 donation. Version 2.0b3 is available free, and 2.1 will be free when it's released officially. But would a $10 donation to such a worthy cause really kill ya?