More .Mac Incentives

[arn]

MacMinute (http://www.macminute.com) notes that Apple is offering further incentives for .Mac subscribers.

100 Free Kodak Prints (via iPhoto)
Free Alchemy Deluxe Game
Save $5 on Bejeweled Deluxe

[idkew]

if apple can keep adding more to .mac, it may become worth the first year's $50. i would like to see a free 20 page iphoto book included with he $100 cost... or more stuff along those lines.

[jelloshotsrule]

i think the 100 prints is great...

i'll have to make sure to take advantage of that.

[Arcady]

Someone should write a program or script that hooks into all of the iApp and OS-level .Mac functions and allows you to set up an FTP account do do all the same stuff. I would never use .Mac for a web page, because I like to make things that can be looked at by more than 10 people before it is shut off due to "excessive bandwidth." At least iPhoto lets you save the slideshows as plain HTML so you can manually upload them to a real webhost.

:p

[stylum]

why arn is a god with 1855 posts
and jelloshotrule is a demi-god with 3324?
is it for the name?
why is there so much injustice in the ...

[pimentoLoaf]

100 photos are nice, but Alchemy?? Better if we all had a free copy of X-Plane (http://www.x-plane.com) -- you know, something of real value.

[scem0]

That really makes me want to spend $50/$100 on .Mac!!!! *note sarcasm. Im sorry, but the .Mac service is just not worth that much money if you dont have any money to begin with. :( , i like apple a lot - just not some of the things they do.

[jrbohorquezg]

I must say that .Mac is an excellent service. Also, maybe it's becasue I like a simple game every ince in a while, but Alchemy is really good. I use the webpage, the backup and the iDisk, and they are all very good.

[nuckinfutz]

Originally posted by scem0
That really makes me want to spend $50/$100 on .Mac!!!! *note sarcasm. Im sorry, but the .Mac service is just not worth that much money if you dont have any money to begin with. :( , i like apple a lot - just not some of the things they do.

Never forget that Apple is a business. That doesn't mean they're going to shaft you but they don't stay alive without generating revenue and profits.

I think by the time .mac expires for users who've paid 50.00 Apple will have rolled out a few more suprises and at least one of those will have to be indispensible for .mac users.

[3777]

Are one in the same....... lame..... I think Apple and Microsoft better get off this bandwagon fast and stick with operating systems, software, and hardware.......I haven't seen anything in either .Mac or .Net that you can't do or get for free or though 3rd party products that are far better and less expensive.

P.S. I can take 100 pics with my digital camera and load them in my computer in seconds..... so why do I need iKodak's iPrints? And paying for ie-mail accounts? You can get 1000 e-mail accounts anywhere for free? I just don't understand the .Mac or .net business models, though they seem to be aimed at the computer illiterate.

[Hawthorne]

Originally posted by 3777
Are one in the same[/I]

I missed the tags around that post.

....... lame.....
Now that I semi-agree with. But this new offer does sweeten the pot to go to .mac, no matter what you think.

P.S. I can take 100 pics with my digital camera and load them in my computer in seconds..... so why do I need iKodak's iPrints?


Quality. They're printed on actual photo paper, by a photo lab. And unless you spend a fair amount of time tweaking your ColorSync settings and calibrating your monitor, Photoshop (not Photoshop Elements, the real thing) and your ink jet printer, what you get back from the lab will be better than what you print out at home.
And paying for ie-mail accounts? You can get 1000 e-mail accounts anywhere for free? I just don't understand the .Mac or .net business models, though they seem to be aimed at the computer illiterate.
Semi-true. I've had a Yahoo! mail account for years which I've used thru thick and thin, it's been reliable, protects me from spam fairly well, and convienent. It always has splash ads on every single page and popups galore, something iTools never did. And sure, I can host at geocities or wherever, if I don't mind banner ads and popups galore.
The ease of use for changing content in an iDisk is simply unmatched. Sure, I can FTP up files to my host and set up directories and blahblahblah if I want to.

But some times, I don't want to. And that's where an iDisk came in.

Now, with all this being said, I'm still not upgrading from my old iTools account. At $50/100 a year, it ain't worth it to me. I have my own site, I have enough disk space on it. But there are new users/non-techies who bought an Apple because they didn't want to worry about it. And that's who .mac is for.

[gotohamish]

Yeah, but OTHER people don't like banner ads AT ALL!

.Mac rules for this.

H

[thies]

cool, more stuff I pay for which is not available outside the US, great job.

[skunk]

Yeah, ditto. This is going to be a major weakness in the deal, if it persists: what do WE get, as foreigners? It's already MORE expensive for LESS benefit.:( :(

[peterjhill]

Originally posted by 3777

P.S. I can take 100 pics with my digital camera and load them in my computer in seconds..... so why do I need iKodak's iPrints? And paying for ie-mail accounts? You can get 1000 e-mail accounts anywhere for free?

To continue the lesson started above. Not only are the pictures on Kodak photo paper, but they are actually using photographic methods for producing the prints. They are not coming out of an inkjet printer, instead, they are are exposing the photo paper in the same manner a photo developer would, including fixing the image. They are very nice and completely indistinguishable from a photograph from your local Rx. I also printed out a photo onto a 16x20, and it came out beautifully, try that on your $99 printer. How about a 24x36 inch print.

As for email, all those free acounts will require a web browser to access. My one grip is the lack of security. Come on apple, how about some md5 or ssl. Hell, how about using Kerberos, it is built into the OS now. Set up a .mac KDC. I am tired of my email password flying through my company wireless network in clear text. Not only that, but the last time I was on the phone with apple, when my password was not working, I asked them about it, and the guy on the phone is like, "It is unlikely" that someone would steal my password that way. I work in a University, and I know how easy it is to install Ethereal and sniff a wireless network. Scoping up passwords is simple.

.mac isn't perfect, but I am happy that I have it. YMMV

[dhdave]

Originally posted by 3777
Are one in the same....... lame..... I think Apple and Microsoft better get off this bandwagon fast and stick with operating systems, software, and hardware.......
...I just don't understand the .Mac or .net business models, though they seem to be aimed at the computer illiterate.

Don't hold your breath. Your last sentence describes very accurately Apple's target market for .Mac: CONSUMERS. People who a.) have the money and b.) are more than willing to pay a reputable company to perform a service "better" than they could do it themselves. Make no mistake, web-services are here to stay and are going to become an ever increasing part of Apple's revenue stream. Jobs et al are absolutely correct to focus on this.

dh

[Mr. Anderson]

Originally posted by stylum
why arn is a god with 1855 posts
and jelloshotrule is a demi-god with 3324?
is it for the name?

Arn and Blakespot are the only Gods (they run the site) Anyone who contributes (buys a mug) is a demi god. Simple.

As for the topic - I would love to see more of these incentives, but it would take significantly more than a few pics and some silly games to make me pay the $100. And is there any guaranty that these extras will be available next year?

D

[DaveGee]

Originally posted by dukestreet
I would love to see more of these incentives, but it would take significantly more than a few pics and some silly games to make me pay the $100. And is there any guaranty that these extras will be available next year?

How much in retail dollars do you expect Apple to give away before this service is woth the $49 ($99) you'll be paying? :rolleyes:

Servers cost money
Bandwidth cost money
Employees cost money (these services don't maintain themselves)
100 Kodak Prints cost money (real money now that an external source is involved)

You do want Apple to say in business don't you? The way some of the people who have posted here sound they wouldn't be happy till Apple gave them a check for $200 to join this $99 service.

Life Lesson:

Ain't no such thing as a free lunch... Never has been never will be... Apple isn't a charity with an unlimited supply of cash to throw away. Apple is a corporation that needs a POSITIVE CASH FLOW or they will die. To satisfy that need they will sell goods and services at a PROFIT.

(speaking in general)

You don't have to like ALL the goods and services Apple sells. The ones you like you buy the ones you don't... you don't buy. But to expect Apple to loose money just to make you happy just makes you look greedy and selfish and in the end does nothing to keep Apple a successful company.

Example: I've never been in the market for an iBook or iMac. Do you see me trashing Apple because that product isn't something *I'm* interested in or something that I think is worth it? No! I understand that Apple has to cater to many different groups with their products and I'm never gonna like each and every one of them. I also don't go around pissing and moaning about Apple spending money on iMac or iBook R&D when they could have been using that money other places or other things that I'd like.

Disclaimer:

Yes .mac *IS* worth the $49 I've paid for this year. Fact is $50 bucks doesn't really mean a heck of a lot for me. Will it be worth $99? I think it WILL be with stuff like iCal and iSync (and other rumors) but either way I'll cross that bridge NEXT year and not stress about it now.

Dave

[obeygiant]

I was considering getting a .mac account because I have to show a ton of pictures to clients and I don't have time to make a picture web site. But I'm concerned about what someone said about .mac shutting off when there is too much traffic, is that really the case? Also, is .mac compatible with all PCs and Web browsers?
The biggest reason I like iPhoto is because it takes like 5 minutes to post 50+ pictures in a nice web site, is there any other program that will do that? I mean I can make a site like that, but it takes me like two hours, why should I spend that kind of time when iPhoto is kickin out those pages.

Signed.. "on the fence about .mac"

[DaveGee]

Originally posted by 3777
Are one in the same....... lame..... I think Apple and Microsoft better get off this bandwagon fast and stick with operating systems, software, and hardware.......I haven't seen anything in either .Mac or .Net that you can't do or get for free or though 3rd party products that are far better and less expensive.

P.S. I can take 100 pics with my digital camera and load them in my computer in seconds..... so why do I need iKodak's iPrints? And paying for ie-mail accounts? You can get 1000 e-mail accounts anywhere for free? I just don't understand the .Mac or .net business models, though they seem to be aimed at the computer illiterate.

Yea but I'm not getting your point...

Ever buy a lunch from a deli instead of brown bagging your own? Well you my friend MUST be illiterate since everyone knows that you can do it on the cheap. Same goes for a 12oz can of soda... Heck buy the 2liter it's WAY cheaper. Not as easy you say... hmmm you might be right. You can also go to the store and buy fabric, needle and thread and make your own shirts and pants. Do you? It would be so MUCH cheaper... What's that you say? The stuff in you buy in the store are better, easier and look much nicer? Well then that is the price you're willing to pay isn't it. Heck why buy a car when you can walk or take the bus?

Just like the examples above... .Mac isn't for illiterates.

.mac is turning into an easy / elegant way to do so many things on the net all under one roof and in most cases with the push of one button or less. Sorry but I don't know of anyone else providing that level of service (at any price - let alone free)!

Sites that provide free or at a cost...

Now:

E-Mail that I can use with MY email client (and no ads)
Quick web page design and one button uploading of my photos
Simple one button (no button) backups - up to 100MB

Very Soon:

Web Calendar Services linked into an App that runs native in X
AutoSync my important info with one push of the button (iSync)

Dave

[scem0]

Originally posted by nuckinfutz


Never forget that Apple is a business. That doesn't mean they're going to shaft you but they don't stay alive without generating revenue and profits.

I think by the time .mac expires for users who've paid 50.00 Apple will have rolled out a few more suprises and at least one of those will have to be indispensible for .mac users.

I realize this... That is why I am not sending complaint letters into apple, or complaining about it at all. I just think that it isnt worth $100. I understand that apple has to make money off this and I hope they do, but I know that it won't be my money,

[skunk]

There's no harm complaining to Apple: I wrote to them because I want .mac to be worth $100 by the time I have to pay that much. I paid the $50, but I certainly wouldn't be happy having to pay $100, and I think that new Mac users are getting a very raw deal: this is the very group for whom Apple should be differentiating themselves clearly from MS, at least by making sure they offer good value for money. It's surely not yet the best way to spend $100 for most people.

[Backtothemac]

I understand the desire to complain about .Mac. Heck the day they announced it I was rather unhappy. The fact is though that it is a great feature that compliments the Mac, especially OS X and the iApps. This is going to migrate into something really special that seperated Mac users from PC clones. Patience my young padawans, it will come together to form a very nice set of services.

I think it is worth it just for the mail, iDisk, and because it is easy enough that my wife can make a webpage.

Nuff said.
;)

[nero007]

There are plenty more features in store for .MAC from what I heard. I think it's already worth the $50 price tag and with the new features will be well worth the $100 a year. Keep in mind even the cheapest hosting space costs more than $100 a year.

[3777]

Originally posted by DaveGee


Yea but I'm not getting your point...

Ever buy a lunch from a deli instead of brown bagging your own? Well you my friend MUST be illiterate since everyone knows that you can do it on the cheap. Same goes for a 12oz can of soda... Heck buy the 2liter it's WAY cheaper. Not as easy you say... hmmm you might be right. You can also go to the store and buy fabric, needle and thread and make your own shirts and pants. Do you? It would be so MUCH cheaper... What's that you say? The stuff in you buy in the store are better, easier and look much nicer? Well then that is the price you're willing to pay isn't it. Heck why buy a car when you can walk or take the bus?

Just like the examples above... .Mac isn't for illiterates.

.mac is turning into an easy / elegant way to do so many things on the net all under one roof and in most cases with the push of one button or less. Sorry but I don't know of anyone else providing that level of service (at any price - let alone free)!

Sites that provide free or at a cost...

Now:

E-Mail that I can use with MY email client (and no ads)
Quick web page design and one button uploading of my photos
Simple one button (no button) backups - up to 100MB

Very Soon:

Web Calendar Services linked into an App that runs native in X
AutoSync my important info with one push of the button (iSync)

Dave


Ugh........ I don't need to pay a $100 fee for an online calendar........ and I don't have to look at banner ads either, my ISP provides up to 7 e-mail accounts free. Apple is clearly targeting people who don't know any better with this lame service. Sure they'll find hundreds of thousands of people willing to needlessly hand over their money, thinking there getting something great, but it's still noting but icrap.

P.S. regarding the other posters "lesson" .....ugh digital pictures printed out of my computer look simply incredible....... so regarding all the "ikodakian professional standards" .....how anal retentive do people have to be? Pictures printed out of my computer are flawless.......they look incredible?! No fees!

P.P.S. I would hardly equate not paying a $100 fee for an online calendar or an email account with knitting your own t-shirts.....
:rolleyes:

[3777]

they're

[Hawthorne]

Originally posted by 3777


P.S. regarding the other posters "lesson" .....ugh digital pictures printed out of my computer look simply incredible....... so regarding all the "ikodakian professional standards" .....how anal retentive do people have to be? Pictures printed out of my computer are flawless.......they look incredible?! No fees!
[/I]

Nope, just $30 an inkjet cartridge, less if you're willing to risk a generic cartridge. Plus your time, waiting for them to print. 100 4x6 prints on an inkjet printing at 1440+ ppi take a long time to churn out, how much is that time worth to you?

And how anal do you have to be? I used to shoot commercially for a living, so my standards are quite high. But for anyone, once all those lovely inkjets they made start fading, the benefits of photo paper become apparent. Sure, there are inkjets out there that are archival, but their cartridges cost even more.

[DaveGee]

Originally posted by 3777
Ugh........ I don't need to pay a $100 fee for an online calendar........ and I don't have to look at banner ads either, my ISP provides up to 7 e-mail accounts free. Apple is clearly targeting people who don't know any better with this lame service. Sure they'll find hundreds of thousands of people willing to needlessly hand over their money, thinking there getting something great, but it's still noting but icrap.

P.S. regarding the other posters "lesson" .....ugh digital pictures printed out of my computer look simply incredible....... so regarding all the "ikodakian professional standards" .....how anal retentive do people have to be? Pictures printed out of my computer are flawless.......they look incredible?! No fees!

P.P.S. I would hardly equate not paying a $100 fee for an online calendar or an email account with knitting your own t-shirts.....
:rolleyes:

You make my point so much better than I ever could...

This post tells me that you CAN'T name any sites that provide the services that Apple does (a lie you posted above) and just because YOU don't have a need for the .mac service you think Apple is stupid for trying to sell it to those who DO see a value in it.

You are a selfish child no matter what your real age might be.

P.S. 'No Fees' to print 100 photos? Really?!? Oh do you steal your photo quality injet paper and ink too or does the ink and paper fairy make regular visits?

P.S.S. Finally no matter what you say photos from Kodak are a much better then anything you could ever produce on a $99 (or $399) color injet. Oh and that free paper and ink it is archive quality ink and photo paper right?

You do know that term (archive quality) means don't you? If not print a photo on your inkjet and take a normal photo and hang em both in a sunny room for 6 months or so... Report back with what you find. :p

Dave

[jelloshotsrule]

for people who have their own domain name, this is most likely not for them. they get more web space (often) at less cost (often). with several (sometimes unlimited) email addresses... but they don't get the ease of a few clicks and a movie or picture album is online for the world (friends and family probably) to see. now, the type of people who have their own domains are also not likely the type who would wnat the simple/template websites that .mac provides. that said, that's not the target. it's not for you, so move on.

and yeah, of course the quality of the kodak prints will be far beyond a cheap inkjet. i agree, for most people the inkjet quality is fine, especially for the target market of .mac... but then again, having 100 free very high quality prints isn't something most people would turn down...

also, i have heard that the bandwidth problem seen by some people using itools doesn't exist with .mac (or if you had paid for more itools stuff) as your bandwidth is increased....

[3777]

Originally posted by DaveGee



You are a selfish child no matter what your real age might be.


Dave

Listen dave, I don't mind other posters who want to argue points, but re: the way you do it........ you can kiss my ass.

[macsurfer]

Just see my signiture below....

[pwfletcher]

The freebies are crap ... coupons to get you to spend more money and a couple of photos ... woopdey doo ... a $129 OS upgrade that should still be a beta ... typical big compnay bs ... I know that i will get flamed for this statement, but Apple has become no better than M$.

[DaveGee]

Originally posted by 3777
Listen dave, I don't mind other posters who want to argue points, but re: the way you do it........ you can kiss my ass.

Nice language. Do you always resort to off the cuff remarks like that when you can't prove your point. You aren't doing any arguing nor are you debating... You're just trashing something you don't like and flip-floping on the reasons why you don't like it.

You: I can get all of those services FREE on the net
Me: Gives a list of services and requested you to provide your list of free/low cost alternatives.
You: Can't or wont provide a list of free/low cost sites but instead say 'I wont use most of that stuff anyway'

So what is it? Is .mac too expensive and free options that are just as good/easy already exist (if so please show us the way) *or* is it something you just wouldn't use no matter what the cost. If you want to argue / debate an issue you first need pick a side and then stick with it.

Why don't you just either admit that .mac isn't something YOU need and thus no matter what the cost it wouldn't really matter since you wouldn't use it anyway *or* you are just mad because you have to pay for a service that you would use but expect to use for free or at a lower price!

I guess you could like to complain just for the heck of it but that seems pretty self destructive.

Dave

[Thirteenva]

Originally posted by 3777



Ugh........ I don't need to pay a $100 fee for an online calendar........ and I don't have to look at banner ads either, my ISP provides up to 7 e-mail accounts free. Apple is clearly targeting people who don't know any better with this lame service. Sure they'll find hundreds of thousands of people willing to needlessly hand over their money, thinking there getting something great, but it's still noting but icrap.

P.S. regarding the other posters "lesson" .....ugh digital pictures printed out of my computer look simply incredible....... so regarding all the "ikodakian professional standards" .....how anal retentive do people have to be? Pictures printed out of my computer are flawless.......they look incredible?! No fees!

P.P.S. I would hardly equate not paying a $100 fee for an online calendar or an email account with knitting your own t-shirts.....
:rolleyes:

1)There are plenty of services similar to .mac, just not all of them can be found in a nice little package and seamlessly integrated into your operating system for daily use. I am a webdesigner/developer with a ton of webspace and services and i've dealt with alot of hosts both quality and not so quality. Yet i still purchased .mac to use for various things and find it quite usefull and convenient. It can't replace my web hosts, but its integration with OS X makes it very convienent for some personal projects. I don't find anything "crappy" about it. I dont think apple is trying to trick people to "needlessly fork over there money" i think they're simply providing a service to mac users (that integrates with there current hardware and software) at a somewhat reasonable price. People are CHOOSING to use .mac no one is being forced or coerced. You either want it or don't. No need to start flaming .mac users insinuating that they are morons and being tricked into buying crappy services. People simply decide if the service is right for them or not. Obviously its not right for you.

2)Some people can print good quality prints at home. If you have the right combination of patience, time and tools/skills. I do not have the time or the patience for such things despite having the skills. Also my printer, like many other home printers is sub-par, which is why i send clients print work to a trusted printer when i need stuff done. I find that this is an easy/economical solution in both my business and personal projects. So i see the kodak prints as a good selling point. Especially to alot of people who may be buying a digital camera for the first time and are used to dropping off film, they can now just click a button in iphoto and have prints mailed to them.


In closing...

Your situation obviously differs and your entitled to your opinion. However coming and trashing the service because it doesnt fill your needs is just a waste of time. Some people will have a use for it some won't. If not for the $49 first year offer, I may not have signed up. I think it was worth $49 at least. Next year i'll evaluate it and see if its worth $99 to me, if not, i will choose not to renew.

[amnesiac1984]

well i just signed up, literally just now. :D

[Thirteenva]

Originally posted by pwfletcher
The freebies are crap ... coupons to get you to spend more money and a couple of photos ... woopdey doo ... a $129 OS upgrade that should still be a beta ... typical big compnay bs ... I know that i will get flamed for this statement, but Apple has become no better than M$.

100 prints is hardly "a couple of photos"...

10.2 is far from a beta. It's stable and fast, with enhanced services and features... hell the seamless file sharing between mac and windows environments alone is worth the price. Also its hardly just "an upgrade" use it and you'll see.

Of course you'll get flamed for your post, your just talking trash, no facts at all...

[onemoof]

I would hardly consider printing out photographs to be free. A single 4x6 print probably costs an average of at least $.50-.75 for both the cost of photo paper and the cost of color ink. 100 free pictures is a good deal (do they charge $19.95 s/h for those free photos?).

[xmad]

Shipping and Handling is 7 bucks for the photos, well that's what I just paid.

I just ordered 120 photos and it took forever to upload (on cable) it also made my ibook (600) crawl. My processor usage was at a 100% the whole time the photos were uploading even when I wasn't using the computer, does this happen to anyone else.

[xmad]

I just uploaded my photos last night and I just got an email that they shipped. It took Walmart over two weeks to get them out of the door, sure Walmart charges about 26 cents, but I hate waiting. They also screwed up my order, half of the pics weren't printed and the other half were doubles when I only ordered singles.

[phe]

Originally posted by nero007
Keep in mind even the cheapest hosting space costs more than $100 a year.

Now... technically..... :)
I know of at least one hosting service that provides great service for $7.77/month, which comes out to $93.24 (I point most of my clients to them... cheaper than providing hosting myself). Plenty of space/bandwidth, and email accounts. But that's splitting hairs.

Anyhow... to touch on the theme of ".Mac is for newbies & grandmas" (paraphrasing), I'd rather throw $50 or $100 at .Mac & take the ease, convenience, & elegance of the service, and get back to doing the real web-work for billable hours for my clients (making money) or spending time with my son & taking more photos (more valuable than money).

Additionally, my wife just bought more than $60 in photos over iPhoto anyhow... wish we would have waited a couple of days to submit the order & could have taken advantage of this offer. That more than covers the cost of the .Mac upgrade. I'm sure we'll use the 100 photos really soon.

[Hawthorne]

but would increase the value of .Mac considerably if possible.

Can you point a separate domain name, i.e. www.dellpcssuck.com, to a .Mac aaccount, as with a regular web host?

[MacKenzie999]

Do you need to order all 100 photos at one time?

[etabong]

How about .Mac user outside US? Do we have a chance for any special treats after paying same amount ?

[peterjhill]

Originally posted by MacKenzie999
Do you need to order all 100 photos at one time?

I don't think so, since when you activate the bonus, it says that only the first tens and hundreds column, of the number of free pictures that you have remaining will show.

examples

pics remaining amount iPhoto show free remaining
76 7
100 10
15 1

I would guess that you will still need to pay for postage for the free pictures.

I think that it is a good deal. I am going to a wedding soon, and will probably pick some of the pictures from it to give the bride and groom as an extra gift.

[RowdyFROG]

Forgive me for saying so, as I understand Apple originated as a US corporation, but you Americans all seem to be so caught up in your own self importance that you ignore the rest of the world.

Apple is now a global corporation. Heck, a large chunk of its market is non-American, and could be even larger, potentially. Yet Apple refuses to think outside the North American continent other than "bah we'll just charge them even more and give them access to less".

In short, .Mac, like every single apple product, is not worth what you pay for it if you did not live in the US. You would do well to consider this a little more often.