It's not like each store gets their own switch port in some WAN closet plugged directly into the Cupertino LAN. The stores' connections get concentrated into far fewer than 300 individual pipes before they drop into the network there.
And to where are the millions of customers who want to download 10.7 going to connect?
If Apple have a network to support the 10.7 release, then it should be a minor blip on the network traffic to download stuff to the stores.
But instead, they're sending hot chicks in brown uniforms to deliver hard drives to the stores.
So people who disagree with you lack basic intelligence?
Not at all. I pointed out that people are replying "without" reading the discussion in context. Something far different.
I think Apple is reducing the risk of embarrassment should any of their stores screw up the download / imaging process, knowing it's a lot easier to just stick an HDD into a Mac. Plain and simple, it's both hypocrisy and image management. Apple knows people will forget these little details, and goo themselves over Lion in the long run.
They could screw up copying the files from the FedEx delivered images as well. Irrelevant whether the images come over the network or delivered by hot women in brown shorts.
The ultimate irony is that they normally do distribute these images electronically. Stores have downloaded and done the image process for years. Like I said, the images are usually done days in advance.
LOL
Sigh. Without knowing what is on the "hard drive" how can you even have an intelligent discussion on using a network vs. shipping media.
I can have a very intelligent discussion, because "bits is bits". If Apple puts DMG files on a hard drive and ships them by FedEx, it's no different than Apple putting the same DMG files on a network server and letting the stores download them.
People who understand that "bits is bits" aren't arguing with me - people who blindly defend Apple are. Simple, obvious, techniques like SIS and checksums take care of issues of duplicate files and network errors. (And checksums are needed with USB drives as well, ***** happens.)
Apple are sending a boatload of bits to the stores. Send the boatload over the net, or have hunky guys in brown shorts deliver hard drives. The same bits are in the stores either way.
If you claim that the "boatload" is too big, well do the math and figure out that the downloads for 10.7 from millions of customers will be far, far larger.
