![\"AppleWorks\"](\"mac\/claris_appleworks_iwork\/appleworks.gif\")
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\nThe other day, Apple, Inc introduced iWork ’08 along with a new version of iLife and new iMac models. iWork ’08 is an integrated software title from Apple with Pages ’08 (word processor), Keynote ’08 (presentation) and Numbers ’08 (spreadsheet). The introduction of iWork ’08 has finalized the termination of AppleWorks, which never made it to Universal. <\/p>\n
AppleWorks is in a way Apple’s response to Microsoft Office that came with a new purchase of a PC computer where Windows OS was installed. In the late 90s, Apple needed pre-installed applications. So they acquired ClarisWorks and transformed it into AppleWorks.<\/p>\n
Actually, I have never really used ClarisWorks or AppleWorks. I went to graduate school for Master’s degree in the early 90s. That’s when I first used Macintosh. I was so impressed with Claris’ MacWrite II and Microsoft’s Word. So I decided to buy either of them. Then I went to a Mac store in downtown (Clayton) St. Louis. They had Microsoft Word. It was quite expensive. I don’t remember exactly how much it was. It was probably around $250. Anyway, they said they had Microsoft Works, which came with word processor, spreadsheet, graphics and something else. So I bought Microsoft Works 3.0. It was about $210.<\/p>\n
If you remember those days, Mac products were all expensive. I purchased Packard Bell 486 SX II at Circuit City for some $1,250 in 1991, I think. A year after, I got Macintosh LCII with a 13-inch color monitor for more than $3,000. LCII was the cheapest color solution. Color Macs were very expensive. Then a couple of years after, Apple introduced Color Classic, Centris 610 and other models a lot cheaper.<\/p>\n
That was the time when Claris introduced ClarisWorks. It was an affordable solution for those who needed word processor and spreadsheet. Just as I bought Microsoft Works, ClarisWorks was a budget solution to students who needed word processor and spreadsheet to do homework. It had a great review on Mac magazines. There was, again, another integrated software package called Microsoft Office. There was another one called GreatWorks from Symantec for Mac. ClarisWorks put Microsoft Works to death. But that’s not necessarily because ClarisWorks was way superior to Microsoft Office. Microsoft was preparing a new product, so they didn’t really care about the Works war, I suppose.<\/p>\n
![\"Microsoft](\"mac\/claris_appleworks_iwork\/microsoft_office_42.jpg\")
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