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Apple Targeting Mac App Store as 'Preferred' Mac OS X Lion Distribution Mechanism

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AppleInsider reports that it has learned that Apple is planning to utilize the Mac App Store as the "preferred" mechanism for distribution of Mac OS X Lion when it is released to the public later this year.
The Mac App Store, available to all users running the most recent version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, will become the de facto method for obtaining the Lion upgrade, people familiar with the matter have revealed. Users will be able to upgrade instantly without the need for physical media by purchasing Lion through the Mac App Store.
Click to expand...
Apple is said to presumably be planning to also release Mac OS X Lion on physical media to support users who are running older Mac OS X versions incompatible with the Mac App Store or who have slow Internet connections that would make downloading the large update unwieldy.

Distribution of Mac OS X Lion through the Mac App Store would of course not be a surprise, as Apple has been working to position the marketplace as the future of app distribution on the Mac platform and has even been distributing developer builds of Lion through the store.

Options for physical media distribution could include the traditional optical disc or even USB keys such as those that ship with the MacBook Air for providing system software. The lack of an optical drive on the popular new MacBook Air provides an opportunity for Apple to push alternative distribution methods such as direct download or USB keys, although the MacBook Air is also capable of wirelessly using optical drives on nearby Macs and PCs for software installation.

Article Link: Apple Targeting Mac App Store as 'Preferred' Mac OS X Lion Distribution Mechanism
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/05/04/apple-targeting-mac-app-store-as-preferred-mac-os-x-lion-distribution-mechanism/
Fact: The App Store was my idea.

Fact: All my ideas rule.

Conclusion: This will go swimmingly.
 
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How would one do a "complete fresh reinstall" by this method? Or will we be able to burn to a disc/USB key?
 
While I think Apple should make Mac OS X available as a download, I'd rather that it was done as a .iso that customers could burn to a DVD.

I don't like the idea of having to install Snow Leopard first before installing Lion in the event of needing to restore.

Putting it on the Mac App Store raises an interesting issue about licencing - they said that purchases could be used on any Mac that you use.

That opens them up to a lot of abuse.
 
I wish Apple would sell the USB key + Lion. I think their Key is nifty...
 
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I'm outraged.

OK, not really, just wary of not having an OS disk in case of problems. It'd have to be followed by the merest physical back-up device in the mail, just in case. The current packaging of OSX is ridiculous; it might be good for the noobs, but I throw away everything but the disk the moment the box opens. I'd rather get a tiny USB key in a plain, brown rapper.
 
That makes sense, while not incredibly expensive, the cost of manufacturing is still overhead if they can reduce it by providing a mechanism for the consumer to d/l it why not.
 
pro: one less disc to keep track of. my family already lost my iWork disc.

cons: what if i want to format the hard drive and restart from scratch? or even just archive and install? what if i completely replace my hard drive? what if i want to sell my mac and get a new one, would i retain the license or would the buyer get it? how would they reinstall the OS after I wipe the hard drive? how long is this going to take to download? will we be able and authorized to burn our own install DVDs from the downloaded software?
 
Daveoc64 said:
Putting it on the Mac App Store raises an interesting issue about licencing - they said that purchases could be used on any Mac that you use.

That opens them up to a lot of abuse.
Click to expand...

How so?

The current method is "the OS DVD you buy can be used anywhere, as often as you like, forever."

How could it be worse than that?
 
Fine. Seems like a logical move, but if Apple wants me to foot part of the bill for distributing their software (via my paid Internet connection) then I certainly expect a significant cut in the cost of the upgrade.
 
The big question now is, what is the price going to be?

Will people be more hesitant to buy something that costs over $100 that they receive no copy of? (Though Apple is typically good with allowing you to re-download apps).
 
Kilamite said:
How would one do a "complete fresh reinstall" by this method? Or will we be able to burn to a disc/USB key?
Click to expand...

I would hope that creating a bootable DVD/flash drive would be part of the installation process.

How is it handled now for developers with the Lion preview?
 
I see this as fine for the majority of Apple users but for those that "tinker" or need/want to reinstall OS X after a new hard drive install or just for the hell of it, it means reinstalling Snow Leopard first then re-downloading Lion from the App Store then upgrading.
Very time consuming.

There are times when I need to pop in the disc to fix a problem.
I'll just drive to the local Apple store and pick up a hard copy myself.
 
I think I'll go with the App store method. I don't like discs lying around. I don't forsee having to ever have to install the OS from scratch however I do wonder how one would restore their backup from Time Machine in the event that their disk gets borked.
 
Small White Car said:
How so?

The current method is "the OS DVD you buy can be used anywhere, as often as you like, forever."

How could it be worse than that?
Click to expand...

The licence is only for one computer.

If you want to install it on a different machine you must uninstall the original copy first.

The Mac App Store says:

"You can install apps on every Mac you use and even download them again."

That implies that if I go on a friend's computer for 5 minutes once a year I could install Lion on it for no charge.
 
I wonder if Apple will start selling an 'App Store USB Drive' in the future.

Much like you can launch Disk Utility from a DVD, you could perhaps launch the app store from this drive. Log in and download the OS you need. If you've already paid for it, it's free. If not, buy it now.

Perhaps all Macs will come with one soon. You'll never have to worry about WHICH software you have...just use the drive. Download 10.7 with it soon or 10.8 later...doesn't matter, you just use the same drive to download anything.

Daveoc64 said:
The licence is only for one computer.

If you want to install it on a different machine you must install the original copy first.

The Mac App Store says:

"You can install apps on every Mac you use and even download them again."

That implies that if I go on a friend's computer for 5 minutes once a year I could install Lion on it for no charge.
Click to expand...

It's only Macs you've logged into using your iTunes account. In theory this is MORE restrictive. In the past I could buy 1 Tiger disk and put it anywhere and everywhere. No one would know.

With now with Lion and this app-store method, I've gotta be logged in to my friend's computer, giving him access to download apps using my name...and using my gift-card money I've inputted. Hmm...doesn't sound like such a good deal anymore.
 
The nice thing is it sort of makes each purchase of Lion a Family Pack, by default, since you can install App Store purchase on all machines using the same ID.
 
I like the idea. Hopefully the App Store purchase will be versatile. I'd like to see:

- Buy on the App Store and perform a local upgrade
- Buy on the App Store and upgrade or fresh install another machine on the network
- Buy on the App Store and burn a disk to fresh install the local machine, or any other machine I want to

- Get a free copy of the above for a Mac purchased within X days of the Lion release.

The pricing also needs to be fair. The price should not be greater than what I could obtain the disk for, including any discounts retailers may provide.
 
I would get a new iMac now if I knew that Lion would run SL pricing at $29. Otherwise I will wait for a preload. But obviously pricing and a release date won't be forthcoming prior to WWDC at the earliest. Guess we will know more in about 5 weeks.
 
BaldiMac said:
I would hope that creating a bootable DVD/flash drive would be part of the installation process.

How is it handled now for developers with the Lion preview?
Click to expand...

So far you must enter a redemption code in the app store which allows you to download Lion.
If you want to install it on multiple computers you can copy the install file to another Mac but it needs to use the same app store account info.
I haven't found a way to burn or make it bootable since they don't offer a full dmg file on the developer page like they did with SL.
 
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