InfoManager_TM

I have not had a chance to test out Apple’s new iWork beyond a cursory look. On that first skim however, it doesn’t look like a program to rival the functionality of AppleWorks. Ted Bade also will miss Appleworks, as he writes in his latest column in “MacCompanion” …

Gone are the days

Pretty pictures and cute sounds, video, etc., don’t make a productivity product. Then again, Apple is no longer touting productivity in any of their products — glitz and bling seem to have overtaken the mantra.

I’m searching for a good Mac database that offers the functionality of HyperCard, the ease of use of the AppleWorks database module, with the layout and reporting functionality of FileMaker, say, version 4 or 5. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to bring myself to upgrading FileMaker, simply because of the price, the alarming bloat, and the ever-confusing array of plug-ins and add-ons. What was once a powerful and easy-to-use database engine has become a nightmare career requiring a doctorate degree in computer science. Until I find that Mac (Tiger friendly) database, I’m forever held hostage by the PPC Mac and its corresponding version of OS X running Classic.

The good news is, AppleWorks still runs just fine on my machine, as does FileMaker versions 4 and HyperCard under Classic. I know, you’re probably saying to yourself that Fred is just an old man, stick-in-the-mud. Well, maybe I am. You’re probably thinking that no one needs a ‘real’ database but the geeks, and Fred should just get on his boat in Ft. Lauderdale and sail away. I’d love to do that. But I’m still heavily dependant on a half-dozen FileMaker systems I’ve developed over the past ten years — and — I just cannot bring myself to dump them and go hunting for replacements to do the same thing. When I dump them, I probably will dump it all and sail away.

Ted Bade writes in his latest column in “MacCompanion” …

“Wow this has been a very busy period for Apple fans… FileMaker was so popular that Claris dumped the ClarisWorks suite of programs to be come FileMaker Corporation. Apple took the ClarisWorks suite of software back into the fold and changed its name to AppleWorks… Well in mid August Apple quietly killed this product. Announcing to vendors that it would no longer be supported.”

So if you run across something particularly powerful, which runs on the new Macs, let me know.

Speaking of MacCompanion, I think you’ll enjoy the September edition — don’t know when October will launch, but here’s an overview and download links to the current MacCompanion