<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000932112</issuerCik><issuerName>APPLIX INC /MA/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>APLX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001184792</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GYENES PETER</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O APPLIX, INC. 289 TURNPIKE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>WESTBOROUGH</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>01581</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2137</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.51</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15832</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.53</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2005-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The stock option award vests on the first anniversary of the date of the grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Milton A. Alpern (As Power of Attorney)</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

