Wow... just ..... well, wow ....
I don't think you could get much further off the mark than with this nonsense below!
First off, how many digital software purchases have you made online? I've made quite a few, and I can tell you one thing. The Mac App Store provides a great solution to a problem in that area. So often, if you try to purchase an app online, you're put through a process where the developer outsources the purchasing process to a 3rd. party who takes your credit card info and emails you a registration key. If that registration key fails to work? Good luck! You're now stuck working with at least 3 parties to resolve the problem; the software developer, the merchant who sold you the key code, and your credit card company (or PayPal). 3 times now in the last 6 months or so, I've been screwed over when I paid to register a program in this manner and was either not ever sent the registration key I paid for, or was sent a non-functional one! 2 of those 3 times, it turned out the software developer didn't even speak English, so I was unable to communicate my problem successfully -- and the 3rd. party who processed the funds kept directing me back to the developer for assistance. My only resolution amounted to doing chargebacks and waiting 30 days or so to get my money back.
With the Mac App Store as a central site for these online purchases, backed by a solid company (Apple) who has a vested interest in making sure it processes orders correctly -- it's a far better bet to just buy through it than taking chances with these other online options.
And sure, as others have already pointed out, it has direct competition by way of such things as Valve's "Steam". In fact, I'd say Steam may turn out to be the "go to" guys for your OS X games if they continue to offer better prices and selection in that area. But it raises the bar for online software purchases, so serious competition has to meet certain expectations now. Good for everyone involved!
And as for all this "Mac vs. PC" stuff you're going on about? WHEN did Jobs ever say the "war is lost on the PC front" anyway? I recall several speeches of his where his point was always that "For Apple to win, it's not necessary that Windows PCs lose". Apple has NEVER really had any illusions that they'd surpass the total volume of Windows PC sales. In order to accomplish such a thing, they'd have to make a lot of BIG changes that don't fit their business plan whatsoever -- like cranking out lines of low-cost, relatively low-quality boxes available at discount stores. They thrive by offering sleek alternatives that cost a little bit more, but promise a better user experience all-around (with better support after the initial sale).
In that respect, nothing has changed. The Windows PC vendors haven't suddenly gotten a lot better at providing support after the sale. (Can you even name ONE who completely reversed a policy of using outsourced call centers for customer support in the last year or two?) When I call in to Apple, I still get native English speakers without horrendously long hold times. And unlike HP, Dell, Toshiba or most other brands, I can walk right into Apple retail stores for local support.
The iOS devices are surely a big profit center for Apple and have been opening up the Internet world to a whole segment of the population who never really used full-blown computers before. But that doesn't mean Apple will throw away the idea of desktop systems! The Mac Pro is getting a refresh in August, for example, and you can't simply "offer an equivalent on some portable device with iOS".
Obviously, as so many have already pointed out, Apple is distributing Lion this way to get apple IDs and credit card numbers - essentially forcing the Mac App Store into viability and (from Apple's perspective) necessity for all Mac app makers.
Not so much to prevent piracy, but rather to get 30% revenue from every sold app *and* control the Mac experience. It is the walled garden the zealots claimed would never happen (and now claim is pretty neat!)
It is obviously a headache for IT and honestly no wonder. Apple (Steve Jobs specifically) has lost all interest in IT. He's not into growing into a market, he believes in quick fixes.
The Mac/PC "war" was lost, so milk the Mac for what it is worth and go to the next big thing. Apple is going 100% mobile. Everything from iPhones, through iPads to MacBook Airs, but anything heavier will be dropped.
And why not? According to the philosophy of Steve Jobs, the war is lost on the PC front and no particular growth potential there anyway, while a new and lucrative, highly controlled and high-margin market has opened.
The Macintosh is, for all intents and purposes, dead in the eyes of Steve Jobs.
A position I consider nothing short of insane. But then.. perhaps he has lost it. Apparently he thinks everyone has high-speed internet, a credit card and more money than common sense.
The axing of the XServe was an incredibly stupid move and ensured Apple will never become viable in the IT world.. The slow Mac Pro upgrades and the maintenance upgrades of the iMac demonstrate the downward spiraling path of the desktop machines.
As a Macintosh fan, I can't wait until Steve Jobs retires - just hope it won't be too late.
