January 7th, 2000

[Show Floor] MACWORLD Expo - SPSS Statistics Returns for The Mac after 5 Year Abandonment by John F. Braun Statistics fans will be happy to know that SPSS will be releasing SPSS version 10.0 for the Mac some time in summer 2000. This update is long overdue, with SPSS all but abandoning the Mac platform with their last release of version 6.1 back in 1995. But, as Susan Kalell from SPSS noted, the increased popularity of the Mac platform has increased the number of requests from Mac users needing serious statistics software. This prompted SPSS to partner with Software MacKiev, an expert in the conversion of software from Windows to the Mac, to offer version 10.0. This is also welcome since the PC version of SPSS was released in September 1999. SPSS 10.0 for the Mac will reportedly support about 90% of the feature set available in the Windows version. It will be in English only, and initially support the Base, Regression and Advanced add-on modules. Unfortunately, there will be no support for scripting, and no cross-platform support between the Mac client and other SPSS server versions. This is in contrast to the PC version client, which can connect to the server component of other platforms. The Mac Observer Spin: Although this upcoming Mac version is not quite up to par to its Windows cousin, the fact that the product is coming back to the Mac at all should get Mac digit-heads excited. And SPSS plans to keep the PC and Mac version in sync from version 10.0 on. We are glad to welcome SPSS back to the Mac family! SPSS - MACWORLD Expo SF Special Report