Greg In The Desert

Does Microsoft want to make stuff for the Mac or not? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. With the announcement at MacWorld that Office would be made for at least another 5 years the answer would seem to be yes.

Speaking during Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ Macworld Expo keynote, MBU General Manager Roz Ho said the company had entered into an “official agreement” with Apple to “continue shipping new versions of Office for Mac for a minimum of five years”.

“This commitment should leave no doubt in your mind that we’re here to stay and in [this market] for the long term,” Ho told attendees.

Yet, they are no longer going to Make a mac version of the Windows Media Player

Despite pledging its support for Apple’s platform, Microsoft has backed out of future releases of Windows Media Player for Mac, and the company’s Web site now directs visitors to download a third-party application from developer Flip4Mac.

Yet, they are going to make a Mac only keyboard and mouse.

The wireless keyboard also will come with a mouse specially designed for the Mac. Slated to debut this summer, they will be sold for about $100. Prototypes are on display under glass at Microsoft’s booth at Macworld this week.

Microsoft clearly has no overall Mac strategy. Where there’s money to be made they will put out products. As the Mac market share increases (yes, I think it will increase) we will see more stuff from Microsoft. Good or bad.

News that Intel wants to rip off the Mac mini.

A new Wintel prototype that openly apes Apple Computer’s popular Mac mini is due out this week, sources told Wired News, giving Intel a showcase to prove its chips are a match for anyone when it comes to tiny PC designs.

Working prototypes of the Mac mini look-alike running Microsoft Windows and based on Intel’s Pentium M CPU have already been built by Taiwan PC maker AOpen at Intel’s request, according to two sources in Taiwan’s PC manufacturing industry who have seen them.