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Why can't you download OSX upgrades via iTunes or the Apple Store

M

MrCatMan

macrumors member
Original poster
Sorry for the dull question but I have always wondered.

Same question for iLife and iWork.
 
Because the iTunes Store and the Apple Online Store are not responsible for that.

That's what SOFTWARE UPDATE is for (you don't even need to run iTunes*) and support.apple.com/downloads.

* one step less to update your Mac, just go to the :apple:, then go to Software Update.
With iTunes you might need another two or four clicks.

Btw, why should one use iTunes and the Apple Store for updating one's system or applications?
 
Cost of bandwidth and storage. Security of these images. Nobody here likely knows.

spinnerlys,

Software Update does not offer OS X upgrades and neither does support.apple.com.
 
belvdr said:
Cost of bandwidth and storage. Security of these images. Nobody here likely knows.

spinnerlys,

Software Update does not offer OS upgrades.
Click to expand...

Ah, I seem to have misunderstood the original question, as OS X upgrades are the point releases for me, as I always do a clean install with a new OS (since Panther anyway), thus I thought the OP meant 10.6.3 to 10.6.4 as Mac OS X updates.

Maybe Apple does want to make it easy for the customer, and making a DL-DVD out of a huge Mac OS X 10.7 download is more work than the average user and consumer is able to do in Apple's eyes.
 
spinnerlys said:
Ah, I seem to have misunderstood the original question, as OS X upgrades are the point releases for me, as I always do a clean install with a new OS (since Panther anyway), thus I thought the OP meant 10.6.3 to 10.6.4 as Mac OS X updates.

Maybe Apple does want to make it easy for the customer, and making a DL-DVD out of a huge Mac OS X 10.7 download is more work than the average user and consumer is able to do in Apple's eyes.
Click to expand...

Hmm, well I didn't think about that either. 🙂 I was thinking 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, etc. Either way, I think it's answered.
 
Thanks for the reply. I was talking about major releases like tiger, leopard etc. I was just thinking about why I had to wait to get a physical disc not just a download. I just think it is a waste of time, packaging etc.
 
MrCatMan said:
Thanks for the reply. I was talking about major releases like tiger, leopard etc. I was just thinking about why I had to wait to get a physical disc not just a download. I just think it is a waste of time, packaging etc.
Click to expand...

You already need a disc already and Apple really doesn't want to strain their servers by having people download multi-gigabyte (Even larger than HD movies!) discs images which have to be on disc anyway.

The bandwidth is just too much.
 
I highly doubt the reason is a bandwidth issue. But there certainly is a lot lacking in terms of an easy process for someone to install an OS update over the network at this point.
 
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