Microsoft Should Support Publisher Files on The Mac
By
Staten Island, NY Posted: 1/16/2015 1:00:00 AM
Microsoft Office has been available on the Mac since the 80s. Somehow, they still don't include Publisher.
Desktop publishing started on the Mac, so you understand why Microsoft didn't think Mac users would want to use Microsoft Publisher, their low end desktop publishing program. I think they are missing the bigger picture. Lack of Mac support killed Publisher's acceptance in both the Mac and Windows marketplace.
To justify the fact that Office For Mac doesn't include Publisher, Microsoft likes to point out that the latest version of Word includes desktop publishing features. The trouble is, although those features can do a lot of the things Publisher does, it doesn't read or write Publisher files.
So, if you design something on a Windows PC, then try to open it on a Mac, it won't load. Since a large number of print shops, graphic design and advertising agencies traditionally use a Mac, that means they won't accept Publisher files... hence they not only lost the Mac market, but it limits the Windows market because Windows users can't send Publisher files to Mac users. The only workaround is to send them PDFs. That's fine, unless you call the printer up and ask them to change something.
The fact is, it's very strange that Office for Mac still doesn't read or write Publisher files. It shouldn't surprise me. They made the same mistake by deciding not to include a Mac version of Access too. File interchangeability between Mac and Windows users is vital to creating industry standards. When a company makes a product that only works on one platform, it's doomed to fail in the long run.
If nothing else, if they won't release a Mac version of Publisher, why not at least include the a converter program?
Joe Crescenzi, Founder
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