News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

August 15, 2007

software

AppleWorks rides off into the sunset

Posted Aug. 15, ’07, 8:16 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Software

AppleWorksI had the pleasure of knowing AppleWorks (née ClarisWorks) for quite some time. You could say we grew up together, frolicking over the colorful screens of my Macintosh LC, Performa 6300CD, PowerMac G3, PowerBook G3, iBook, and finally, my MacBook. AppleWorks was always there for me: in the early hours of the morning when I was trying to get that term paper done; on those sunny afternoons when I was typing away at my latest attempt at a novel; even in those darkest nights, when I just needed to vent some feelings.

As the years wore on, AppleWorks started to show signs of its age. It wasn’t as nimble as it used to be, and its complexion was faded, wan. The transition to OS X was just tough for old AW—sometimes you can’t teach an old dogcow new tricks. An attempt at spicing itself up by learning how to do presentations never really caught on, and more and more people turned to flashier, shinier alternatives like Office and, later, iWork.

When Apple last week announced a brand new version of iWork, complete with a spreadsheet program, AppleWorks took it pretty hard. The worst was yet to come, though, as Apple had to break the news to its old office suite that it was being discontinued. Its URL was redirected, its prominent status of shipping with all new Macs rescinded. The shock, frankly, was just too much for AppleWorks to bear/. the last anybody saw of the program, it was nestled deep within the Applications folder, curled up into a little ball.

Adieu, AppleWorks. As long as Pages can read your file format, a little part of you will always live on inside my Mac. So long, and thanks for all the fish.


3 Comments

KateGM Author Profile Page said:

AppleWorks: the little suite that could.

August 15, 2007 8:23 AM
George said:

Didn't they stop putting AppleWorks on new Macs long before last week? I don't believe it's on the iMac I bought back in December.

August 15, 2007 10:43 AM
pdkoenig Author Profile Page said:

Sigh. I feel nostalgic thinking about using the terminal module to log on to the occasional BBS.

It was a great software package that served well. In the days when Microsoft Office was bundled with RamDoubler, Clarisworks was the salvation of all those with low end machines still in use.

August 15, 2007 11:46 AM

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