Is MobileMe worth $100? To renew or not to renew...

[badlydrawnboy]

...that is the question.

I'm thinking about canceling my MobileMe account. The only features I really use are iDisk and email/bookmarks/calendar/contacts sync. I'm using Dropbox now instead of iDisk (much faster), and Spanning Sync to keep my Google calendar and contacts in sync. I'm using Xmarks to synchronize my bookmarks. That means I'm now paying $100/year for email, which seems excessive.

Yes, I'm aware of MM's upcoming "locate my phone" and "remote wipe" service, and that's one thing tempting me to renew.

The other thing is that the last time I tried Gmail IMAP with my iPhone & Mail it was funky and inconsistent, and there were strange things about Google's IMAP implementation. I've heard it has improved since then with some new features in Labs.

What do you all think?

[UngratefulNinja]

I don't think it's worth $100. BUT it's on sale on amazon.com for $61 or so. I do think it's worth that :D

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says...really, I think there have been countless "is mobile me / dot mac worth it" threads and you should have a search and maybe read through a few of those....and also stop and ask if it is worth it to *you* - not anyone else....oh yeah!

[badlydrawnboy]

Yes, shame on me it's true. There are a lot of threads about this. I'll dig in. In the meantime, here are my thoughts:

Here's where I'm at trying to replace MM's services.

Email: Gmail

Calendar & Contacts: Spanning Sync

Bookmarks: Xmarks

iDisk: Dropbox

The other services, such as websites and gallery for photos, can also be easily replicated with free services. (I don't really need them, so I haven't chosen one over the other).

The only service MM will soon have that can't be easily replicated seems to be the "find my phone" and "remote wipe" feature.

Is it worth $70? I'm not sure. But I do know that for me, the free (or very cheap, in the case of Spanning Sync) services above work better at their particular tasks than the MM equivalents. I'm using them now even though I still have a MM account.

The main thing holding me back is the potential headache of migrating to Gmail IMAP from MM without losing or duplicating too much data. If anyone has tips on how to make this transition, I'd appreciate it.

[Primejimbo]

I can get a family pack from Amazon for $100.00, now when I renew next year can I get it from Amazon for $100.00 again or do I have to "click" a renew button or something and pay full price from Apple?

[TehBest]

Definitely buy it on amazon. I went through the same dilemma. 100 is too much, but the $65 I spent was worth it!

[Galley]

I can get a family pack from Amazon for $100.00, now when I renew next year can I get it from Amazon for $100.00 again or do I have to "click" a renew button or something and pay full price from Apple?

When it comes time to renew, you can enter the code from the retail box you purchase from Amazon.

[Blue Fox]

I think it would be worth it strictly for the "Find my iPhone" feature, but, to be honest, shouldn't be a subscription service, but they have to sell the Mobile-Me, what better way than to include that awesome feature?

[robo456]

I saw this posted on a deal forum I hit daily...

http://store.purplus.net/apmofapa.html

the family pack (FIVE accounts) is going for 79.95 with free shipping...

they were saying that you might be able to use a single license for 5 years? Is that the way family packs work? if so, that's slick.

--rob

[nuckinfutz]

SpanningSynce is not free
DropBox is free to 2TB

Im sure if given enough elbow grease and time you can replicate MobileMe's services with free or low cost solutions but there is convenience and comfort in having one provider (on neck to choke) if something goes wrong.

Me...I know I'll need MobileMe when I get iPod Touch for me and the lady.

[BroadcastDoc]

I saw this posted on a deal forum I hit daily...

http://store.purplus.net/apmofapa.html

the family pack (FIVE accounts) is going for 79.95 with free shipping...

they were saying that you might be able to use a single license for 5 years? Is that the way family packs work? if so, that's slick.

--rob

Two things:

Purplus is sold out. (They canceled my order from the other day)

You can't use a single family pack license for five years. Five accounts for one year only. Even if you only use one of the five.

[wayland1985]

Subscribed...


I'm considering mobile me for a new email Client. G-Mail works very well (Great spam protection.... very rare downtime), but I think Push email is something missing from my phone.

The "find-my-phone" feature is appealing too... kind of an insurance feature I'd say...


The iDisk seems somewhat appealing too, but I'm not sure how much use I'll get out of it now, being finished with school....

[rhett7660]

Duff-Man says...really, I think there have been countless "is mobile me / dot mac worth it" threads and you should have a search and maybe read through a few of those....and also stop and ask if it is worth it to *you* - not anyone else....oh yeah!

What the Duff-Man said... a little searching goes along way...............

[eh270]

First, I'll make the argument that you should use Google for contacts & calendars instead of Spanning sync and sugarsync for data.

Second, I'll encourage you to buy it on amazon

Third, I'd suggest asking as many iPhone-toting friends as you can if they would be interested in 1 year of mobileme for $25 -- this is the cost you can pay per member if you get a family plan and split it five ways.

[badlydrawnboy]

It's about time to renew and you folks had convinced me it was worth it at $61 on Amazon.

But when I went to Amazon to renew, I see that there is a "MobileMe [Old Version]" selling for $75 and a "MobileMe 2009 Version" (which is the one I assume I need) for $95:

http://img.skitch.com/20090811-mxn6iayx42s159h9h6k1gd1tkm.png

What's the deal with the [Old Version] and [2009 Version]?

Where can I get a better price for MobileMe these days?

[Emmanuel]

The problem with having your email with MobileMe is that, unless you use a domain name email address that redirects to your MobileMe mail, you'd be stuck with all of those subscriptions, memberships, friends, family, etc until you notify all of them.

For me, it'd just be easier to go with the Amazon purchase and renew it that way.