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Apple to Charge Upgrade Fees?

Apple positions the OS itself as the digital hub and uses the iApps to show examples. If I have to purchase these Apps seperatly (meaning the updates aren't included with an OS upgrade) then the OS is not a digital hub...you have to upgrade to these apps seperatly. I'm not complaining about them charging for them but it kinda messes up their strategy. Then again...all new macs will still ship with them...but when an os upgrade comes out and new iapps as well to take advatage of the technology in the new os...I'll have to shell out money for the OS upgreade ($129.00) plus extra money to update all the iApps to take advatage of it (another $50.00 or more). That's nearly $180.00 just to realize Apples vision of the digital hub which used to realize itself.
 
(1) I don't think you'll be able to buy iDVD, only upgrade it as part of an upgrade pack. External firewire DVD burners will still not burn DVDs.

(2) When the 10.2.4 or 10.3 update comes out, the old versions of the iApps will likely stop working. It won't be deliberate, but the APIs of Aqua keep changing, and programs get broken on each revision.

(3) iTunes is a pretty nice program; iPhoto is too limited to be of much use; iMovie is only useful if you have a firewire camcorder, I've never used it; iCal is a toy in need of much work; iSync I haven't tried and probably never will, now. It seems to me that these programs were not designed to compete with full-blown commercial apps.

(4) Medea, I love your new avatar!
 
#1 Whiner and Penny Pincher

Here we go again, $100 plus OS upgrade a year, free to $100 .mac a year, and now iapp upgrade charges probably $19 a year. to be fair Apple has lowered some Hardware prices and maybe this is how they plan to recoup sompe of that lost profit. imovie and maybe idvd probably isnt too bad but apple is getting close to out fleecing Microsoft.
Apple's software is expensive to make and worth it and always has been but that does not mean we should have to pay for it every time its updated in addition to the first 2 items mention.
" And please people let's not encourage them to do so."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I can't believe the replies that actually do this, it is like buying a new car and telling the salesman Gee I like all of those "standard features" and you really ought to charge me more for those seperately. I am sure the research and devlopement was huge so here is some extra money. Please!!!

It is precisely those "standard features why I am buying the car. OS or whatever.
Peace Out
 
As long as the iApps still come with new Macs I'll be happy. I think it's fairto charge for upgrades, but if they start to do more like Microsoft and ship a bare OS and charge for the middleware(or at least noncrippled versions) , then my nex computer purchase would likely be a cheap x86 box to install Linux.
 
Re: seems to me...

Originally posted by achmafooma
Seems a smarter way to do this would be to roll it all into .Mac. I like the stuff in .Mac, but I can't justify the expense (since I get most of what it has for free).

Now if .Mac came with what it has now, plus iApps, plus Mac OS and AppleWorks updates for free as long as you're a member - HEY, count me in :)

I don't particularly mind them charging for some of the iApps - particularly iMovie and iDVD, but iPhoto?! Man, I actually use that one! lol.

That said, since I use Final Cut for my DV work and don't have a DVD burner, I'm not sure I'd pay $50 for what is - effectively - iPhoto alone.
Click to expand...

Essentially what you're advocating is one LARGE fee for the whole enchilada. For those of us who don't want .Mac, AppleWorks and most of the iApps, this would kinda suck. It would be something north of about $300 for all of this, and for me, it would only mean getting the value of iTunes and the new Mac OS, since I don't have a use for anything else (AppleWorks -> Office, iPhoto->iView Media Pro, iMovie->FinalCut/Premiere, .Mac->my own servers, iChat->Proteus, Mail/iCal -> Entourage).

It would be one thing if Apple offered a "Gold Pass" or something as an option, but I hope they also offer everything ala cart.

More importantly, I hope they include all updated apps with new Macs as well as with each new major (full priced) OS upgrade.
 
I'm just getting interested in making my own DVDs so I'm willing to pay for iMovie and iDVD, but iPhoto crashes every time I try to import my digital photos so I hope they make it work for me, if I'm going to pay for it.
 
I willing to wait and see what Steve Jobs actually says on Tuesday, can't really complain till we know the facts. We might be pleasantly suprised!
 
This is what I think.

Here is my feeling:

Apple will charge $49 for iDVD (Pro?) iPhoto (2?) and iMovie 3, they will contain many new features and be really cool.

These apps will be included for free in new macs, but if you wanted to upgrade to the next version like for example in the future, to iMovie 4, iDVD3 iPhoto3, then you would probably need to pay 49 dollars. Or if you upgraded to the next OS like 10.3/10.4 you also get these for free.

I think if apple stopped giving them for free with new computers, then it is a little pointless to buy a mac, and I beleive they understand this...I mean if you bought a mac with superdrive, would they be that stupid to make you pay another 49 dollars just so you can use it???

Has anyone ever thought that if they charged more for iDVD, they might let it work with external DVD burners?? Just a thought.
 
I swear on EVERYTHING HOLY...

No godamn way will I pay for an iApp update. The Mac advantages are dwindling by the second. If I have to buy a damn update to iMovie 3.0 after its languished for well almost 2 years (maybe more). Fix the bugs in the current software before trying to scrape me for more money.

If this is the petty nickel & diming from Apple , then I'm gonna start breaking stuff.

This is a losing idea-No good will come of it.
 
We pay and pay and pay some more. First we get charged for .mac after buying iTools with OS 9 and OSX. The one advantage the mac platform has is these iApps and that they are free. iTools used to be a nice advantage, but now it's gone. Looks like it's Carracho for me. I can't imagine paying for a version of iPhoto after dealing with it's glacial interface for the past year. Apple ought to be paying me!
 
just a rumor as far as we know...

Well, no need to get really into discussion about it since it is just a rumor as of now. But if we do see charges put on iApp's it is fine with me, as long as they can make the older versions work with new updates to the OS for those that do not choose to purchase the update. For some reason...i doubt they will be able to make that happen.
 
just a rumor as far as we know...

Well, no need to get really into discussion about it since it is just a rumor as of now. But if we do see charges put on iApp's it is fine with me, as long as they can make the older versions work with new updates to the OS for those that do not choose to purchase the update. For some reason...i doubt they will be able to make that happen. I think the best bet for Apple is what many here have said .... integrate it somehow into .Mac, this way they get more .mac purchasers, while keeping people up to date with the latest iapp updates.
 
Have you ever thought about Apple one day not being there?? I know....it's scary.
I wouldn't mind paying the upgrade fee for iApps. Apple needs this money, I love my Mac and I'm willing to contribute within reasonable. Although I was against .mac, I think this time Apple is right, I need my iApps and I'm willing to pay for them.
I can think of any of us grabing Office X from Carracho or whatever, but Apple iApps???...
 
I agree with all the folks that say its ok to charge for updates. Free when you by the machine, and a modest $50 charge for the integer updates.

These are great programs (iMovie, iTunes) that work well with our machines, much worse software can cost much more. All software is buggy/work-in-progress to complain that you have been an <insert iapp name here> beta tester is a non sequitur.

$50 for some great vid editing software that allows me to create powerfull videos of my family? Sign me up, I'll take two. Allow me to organize and rearrange my 5000 mp3? Sure I'd pay $50 for that as well.

Not sure I would put iCal into the same catagory just yet. It's publish and subscribe features are an interesting "webservices" twist to calendars... There are lots of even more interesting things that could be done with this model.

Free is not all ways a good thing, Look at Andy Ihnatko's Column in this months (Feb) MacWorld for the argument against free software.
 
What I'm thinking is how can something like a school possible justify buying a Mac anymore? They are just so much more expensive than a Windows system and you now have to pay more and more for any advantage they can have. Surely it would be better to have five $200 Lindows PCs than a single highly over-priced iMac?
 
Oh no im shaking

Originally posted by thecure
Have you ever thought about Apple one day not being there?? I know....it's scary.
I wouldn't mind paying the upgrade fee for iApps. Apple needs this money, I love my Mac and I'm willing to contribute within reasonable. Although I was against .mac, I think this time Apple is right, I need my iApps and I'm willing to pay for them.
I can think of any of us grabing Office X from Carracho or whatever, but Apple iApps???...
Click to expand...
If they keep doing this junk then maybe we will be better off with out them. i will start a company called orange or banana and hire all of apples employees and with 2 billion in the bank I wont use the buy me or i am going out of business crap.
 
I'll pay, you don't have to.

That's all. I'll pay. I figure Apple needs the money. If they offer a pay-for upgrade I don't want, then I won't pay. Otherwise, I'll pay.
And for all of you who are up in arms about this, let me make a point: no amount of screaming will stop this, and it isn't fair to start screaming until you know the facts.
Shut up until the keynote. Maybe we'll find out there's a plesant catch. This isn't the first time Apple has charged for upgrades (iMovie 2 and iDVD both had price tags).
Even after the keynote, I say shut up. There are better things to do, and if .mac taught us anything, it taught us that if Steve Jobs wants us to fork over some cash, we either fork it over or we don't. All the complaining in the world didn't stop .mac. I think paying for decent big upgrades is worth it, especially if it keeps computer prices from going up (that's the last thing Apple needs).
Can I just make a note that people like NHMac have the right attitude here. People like MDiddy, on the other hand, should shut up. You don't want to pay, fine. Don't pay. I started using a Mac over ten years ago, I sure as hell wasn't in it for the free software then. You need perspective. Things are so much better for Apple now then they were before (even if they had a bigger market share ten years ago). I'll gladly pay to continue having this good Apple we have today (not that there's anything wrong with my Mac Classic II :) ).
 
Re: Re: Doesn't Bother Me!

Originally posted by bretm


I thought we were already paying for these apps. Isn't that supposed to be a good portion of the added value in paying an extra grand or two for a slower machine?

[snip]

But it's not going to help them win over more switchers!
Click to expand...

I tried explaining this on another thread... , however I think you sum it up quite well.

And not only switchers, but families with budgets.
 
Apple is better, remember that.

Maybe it was a mistake for Apple to ever offer these things for free...
We're spoiled. When asked to pay a reasonable sum for quality apps, we whine and cry.
Apple is better. We pay a premium sometimes, but Apple is better. That's why just about everybody bad-mouthing this will still watch the keynote intently and rave to their friends about how much they love using their Mac.
PCs are cheap. Apple is good.
PCs are copiers. Apple is an innovator.
See where I'm going?
If Apple had asked $20 for the original iTunes, we'd all be willing to pay $20 for iTunes 2, 3, and eventually 4. But it was free. It still is, let's not forget that.
I say good for you when you offer constructive feedback in a forum, good or bad. But when you whine, when you complain like a spoiled six year old, then I say shut up.
 
If this actualy happens and it is a low cost this liek $9.99 for a bundle or $9.99 for each pair of apps it would be good but I won't pay for a buddle that comes with apps I don't use... I think Apple isn't thinking straight lately.............:rolleyes:
 
Re: Apple is better, remember that.

Originally posted by pyrotoaster
[snip
... offer constructive feedback in a forum...
Click to expand...

LOL Why? Who are you offering criticism to?

Isn't this one big circle-jerk?

:eek:
 
Codemonkey:
I believe I said: " I say good for you when you offer constructive feedback in a forum, good or bad. But when you whine, when you complain like a spoiled six year old, then I say shut up."
Call me crazy, but weren't you whining?
I have no problem with you, you're probably a great person, but it isn't nice to mangle somebody else's words.
Am I offering constructive feedback now? No, not really. But at least I'm not whining, and I certainly wouldn't take a person's posts out of context for my own gain. That isn't nice.
But who am I offering criticism to? Right now, you.
 
Umm. Try to sell me an OS w/o the iApps.

Pay-for-updates of OS features is gouging any way you want to slice it. Some don't seem to mind and that's fine, but imagine if the pay for update is successful.
We can only expect more of the same practices that didn't sell a cheaper OS upgrade version for Jag and then the whole .mac thing.

The cost is only part of the issue, it's the practice that's the problem. This paying for iApps actually isn't nearly as bad as the iTool/.mac (because you retain a working iApp version whereas iTools was completely stripped), but I doubt it will stop here.

We'll see.
Three more days.
 
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