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Apple to Eliminate Retail Box Software Inventory
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Not a good idea, not everyone has broadband.
I think the point is to not produce anymore boxes or discs period! That would defeat the purpose.
I know it will be controversial and I'm not sure I am ready for it, but I have been thinking for a while that this years update to the MacBook Pro will axe the optical drives!
So let it be written...If Hollywood would get their $&#@ together with digital distribution maybe I'd be ready. But I don't see that happening anytime soon!
I'm guessing they will still sell OSX there though
Ever since the MBA had the USB drive I have thought that OS X 10.7 Lion and the pro apps would come on USB drives from now on!
I know Aperture is in the Mac App Store but I don't see how they could do an OS update through there or Final Cut Studio through there. They are too big and too complex of installations!
Seriously?
Downloading software and purchasing it over the internet is nothing knew. It's been available a LOT longer than the App Store has been open. It's availability has not affected boxed software at all.
The only effect that I can see that digital downloads has had regarding purchasing software is that small time developers can get their software out there and make a buck.
This is a retarded article...
Downloading software and purchasing it over the internet is nothing knew. It's been available a LOT longer than the App Store has been open. It's availability has not affected boxed software at all.
The only effect that I can see that digital downloads has had regarding purchasing software is that small time developers can get their software out there and make a buck.
This is a retarded article...
The only small drawback is in those countries or areas in countries with crowded or sub-optimal internet connections. The time it takes to download larger software packages could prove to be a disadvantage. iLife is > 4GB. Plus, Apple leaves you no choice any more: download or bust. For a company that prides itself in being customer friendly this seems a bit odd. They could provide for a physical media kit service. It won't break their $51 billion bank. So, it is not inevitable, Apple just wants to make it so.
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Some people say its not easy for everyone to download, unpack, install etc.
I respectfully disagree. With the mac app store, you can buy, download and install with 1 click. And since they're offering a tour in the mac app store when u buynur mac, people who own macs can easily learn how to install software.
About the "not everyone has broadband" argument, come on, who doesnt? Apple doesnt care if the children in africa can download software instead of buying cds. And to make a stronger point, whoever has the money to BUY the software instead
Of pirating it, has also the money for a broadband connection.
Sent from my iPhone.
ericinboston said:
Some people say its not easy for everyone to download, unpack, install etc.
I respectfully disagree. With the mac app store, you can buy, download and install with 1 click. And since they're offering a tour in the mac app store when u buynur mac, people who own macs can easily learn how to install software.
About the "not everyone has broadband" argument, come on, who doesnt? Apple doesnt care if the children in africa can download software instead of buying cds. And to make a stronger point, whoever has the money to BUY the software instead
Of pirating it, has also the money for a broadband connection.
Sent from my iPhone.
OK, so maybe I shouldn't have used the trade name for a (cool looking, but highly problematic) storage solution. Perhaps I should have said, USB drive.
My first real job out of college was working for a plastic product manufacturer (selling to mass retail). The company had 2 computers at one point and I used a really old school technology for a calendar program, time scheduling and contact database - it was a paper calendar, a notebook and phone books. I had one of the first brick cell phones and then moved up to a sleek bag phone when they became available. The company issued laptops only after I left the company in the late 90's.
As drive space gets cheaper and cheaper I wouldn't be surprised if Macs come loaded with everything, and you just buy a key to unlock whatever you need.
Plus, have the option to delete stuff you'll never use.
If they also did this with MS and Adobe it would cover a pretty large chunk of most Mac software sales.
Upgrades could be via cable, USB sticks or in-store.
I'll miss the pretty boxes, but the convenience is a deal breaker.
One thing though, I'm not sure about losing optical drives - how would new purchasers put their CD/DVD collection on to a machine? It'll be a long time till they disappear IMHO.
Plus, have the option to delete stuff you'll never use.
If they also did this with MS and Adobe it would cover a pretty large chunk of most Mac software sales.
Upgrades could be via cable, USB sticks or in-store.
I'll miss the pretty boxes, but the convenience is a deal breaker.
One thing though, I'm not sure about losing optical drives - how would new purchasers put their CD/DVD collection on to a machine? It'll be a long time till they disappear IMHO.
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The thing is the way the Mac app Store works you don't need to keep a copy of the software as such. Your itms account keeps details of down loaded software. Jet reconnect and DL the software again. If you're using backups such as clones or time machine then you just need to reflash your boot drive.
If it was guaranteed that any DL'ed software from the MAS was available to DL and reinstall up to 10 years who needs physical disks to loose, break, get stolen or scratch!?
ericinboston said:
The thing is the way the Mac app Store works you don't need to keep a copy of the software as such. Your itms account keeps details of down loaded software. Jet reconnect and DL the software again. If you're using backups such as clones or time machine then you just need to reflash your boot drive.
If it was guaranteed that any DL'ed software from the MAS was available to DL and reinstall up to 10 years who needs physical disks to loose, break, get stolen or scratch!?
I got the impression that they were only stopping selling the physical media in their retail stores.
The article did not say that Apple were discontinuing it completely,
my take is that Apple will continue to offer physical media for some time to come either via their online store or third parties.
The article did not say that Apple were discontinuing it completely,
my take is that Apple will continue to offer physical media for some time to come either via their online store or third parties.
geee.. i cant wait....downloading final cut pro over my 1.5Mb DSL line.
God forbid you live in a place with slower internet access and limited transfers (~4GB/mo).
God forbid you live in a place with slower internet access and limited transfers (~4GB/mo).
If you look at the software section in any store, it's gotten a lot smaller.
I think this is one of those, hmm, we have no news so lets spit this out. I doubt they'll do this as soon as the article tries to frenzy people into thinking. I mean only Snow Leopard users can even access it, and Lion is still down the road.
Eventually this is how it's going to be. I do like all the comments about USB drives, though I'd rather have a DVD. Thumb drives fail. DVD's are a bit more reliable if you don't scratch them and even then can be doctored at times.
What I hate about the Mac App store and this idea is Apple's increasing control and restrictions on everything. The Xoom ad while clever yet dull did make a nice pun on Apple. Apple kind of has become what their 1984 ad spoke against. How many great apps will never see the light of day in the App store? Lots. As long as you can redownload anything you buy till you're hearts content it won't be that bad.
This also kind of puts pressure on 3rd party vendors to place their products in the Mac App store. Sure you can navigate to their own sites, but the average person won't do that.
I think this is one of those, hmm, we have no news so lets spit this out. I doubt they'll do this as soon as the article tries to frenzy people into thinking. I mean only Snow Leopard users can even access it, and Lion is still down the road.
Eventually this is how it's going to be. I do like all the comments about USB drives, though I'd rather have a DVD. Thumb drives fail. DVD's are a bit more reliable if you don't scratch them and even then can be doctored at times.
What I hate about the Mac App store and this idea is Apple's increasing control and restrictions on everything. The Xoom ad while clever yet dull did make a nice pun on Apple. Apple kind of has become what their 1984 ad spoke against. How many great apps will never see the light of day in the App store? Lots. As long as you can redownload anything you buy till you're hearts content it won't be that bad.
This also kind of puts pressure on 3rd party vendors to place their products in the Mac App store. Sure you can navigate to their own sites, but the average person won't do that.
Photo by QiFei
With the success of the iTunes App Store and the launch of the Mac App Store, it seems clear that the long term future of software sales is going to be digital distribution. Based on what we've heard, however, Apple is planning on making the move to all digital sooner than expected at their retail stores. Apple is working towards eliminating boxed software and presumably focusing sales through the Mac App Store.
Apple's recent plans to start offering Personal Setup for Mac seems to be in line with that goal.Boxed software also takes up retail space that could be used for higher profit items such as iPad or iPhone accessories. It's not clear how Apple will deal with prominent titles such as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop which aren't yet available through the Mac App Store.
While the Mac App Store has been launched for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, it is also one of the key new components in Mac OS X Lion due out this summer. We expect to hear more about Lion during this year's Worldwide Developer's Conference.
Article Link: Apple to Eliminate Retail Box Software Inventory
This may very well be the worst reported MacRumors story ever. For one, it's "based on what we've heard..." and not at all "According to ::insert name of source here::...". Second, the Mac App Store can't supplant all other methods of Mac app distribution as several legitimate apps would be left out to dry given Apple's rules for distributing on the App Store. Apple would be stupid to eliminate boxed copies of any software from its retail stores sooner than necessary. Also, simply quoting the one use of "Mac App Store" from the Personal Setup description gives no weight to the claim either.
No offense, arn, this had no bearing on the huge respect I have for you and this site.
I hope this means they'll drop the superdrive from the upcoming MacBook Pros. That would really suit me, since I have a 100 mbps internet connection at home and haven't used my optical drive for 3 years.
Indeed. Apple doesn't control where third parties decide to sell their software and what other retailers decide to carry in stock.
Best post in this whole thread. Luckily comcast has not cared about my hijinx yet, but there is a 250 gb a month cap I'm running something along the lines of SETI, seeding two pioneer one torrents, and watching a little hulu. Today is the 7th I've used 122 gb this month, I'd hate to have to download all my software too.
edit: by hijinx I mean going over the cap not pirating via torrent, pioneer one is a free legal series.
Some people don't want even LightPeak because they are afraid of not using USB anymore
..and what was wrong with floppies anyway?
Much ado about nothing, as a lot of users are already and have been just downloading dmgs IMO for a long time.
For those who cannot click on a button that says download, see the dl window,
and follow the instructions (another click or drag action) LEARN IT!
You did get a computer and had to figure out things.
Everybody has different needs, so NOT having cd's and dvd's to file (and find later)is a blessing for some and the loss of a security blanket for others.
So, for a while most likely you can keep on buying via retail outlets or the apple store.
But, everybody has now been put on notice that the end of the retail package is coming.
The how to best replace it is still open.
I could see internet sites popping up doing downloads for those who want cd or dvd media.
They would download the software from Apple, get a cut , burn the DVD etc. put into a generic mailer and send them to consumers.
For all that I know Apple may come up with that idea themselves.
Solved
Is this better?
"With the success of the iTunes App Store and the launch of the Mac App Store, it seems clear that the long term future of software sales is going to be digital distribution. According to a source who doesn't want to get fired, however, Apple is planning on making the move to all digital sooner than expected at their retail stores. Apple is working towards eliminating boxed software and presumably focusing sales through the Mac App Store."