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Apple to Eliminate Retail Box Software Inventory
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MacBook Air really is the future
In a few years I'd expect most laptops to be like the MacBook Air is now. Ultra-thin, no optical drive. Other manufacturers could still offer the optical drive as an option, but not Apple.
In a few years I'd expect most laptops to be like the MacBook Air is now. Ultra-thin, no optical drive. Other manufacturers could still offer the optical drive as an option, but not Apple.
I can certainly understand the supporters of this idea.
But I am not one of them.
Apple..as usual...is forcing it's customers into new paradigms that some simply don't want to adopt.
Yeh I know...I should go buy a Windows box......but why can't I have choice? Why has it always got to be Steve's way or the highway?
I personally like the security of an original program disc...is this so wrong or old fashioned?
But I am not one of them.
Apple..as usual...is forcing it's customers into new paradigms that some simply don't want to adopt.
Yeh I know...I should go buy a Windows box......but why can't I have choice? Why has it always got to be Steve's way or the highway?
I personally like the security of an original program disc...is this so wrong or old fashioned?
Either people will have to purchase it through Apple's online store or this will be how Apple gets rid of iDVD and iWeb. My guess is Apple will not create another web design application to replace iWeb, so it will up to 3rd-parties to provide a solution.
Let's see Microsoft try this
Me too. The retail software shelves are near the Genius Bar at my local Apple Store, so that space serves as a waiting area. But I see precious few people impulse-buying software while they wait. And 3rd party software generates little revenue for Apple anyway.
So what, if anything, will Apple put in place of the software boxes? Probably more Apple products. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple stocks those shelves with NFC-equipped accessories for iPad 2. Supposedly the iPad 2 can react when NFC-equipped accessories are near it. It could power down when put inside a slip case, etc. I'm sure there are many other more interesting possibilities.
Agree. Flash memory costs have come down enough, and Apple wants optical drives to go away. The time is right.
Me too. The retail software shelves are near the Genius Bar at my local Apple Store, so that space serves as a waiting area. But I see precious few people impulse-buying software while they wait. And 3rd party software generates little revenue for Apple anyway.
So what, if anything, will Apple put in place of the software boxes? Probably more Apple products. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple stocks those shelves with NFC-equipped accessories for iPad 2. Supposedly the iPad 2 can react when NFC-equipped accessories are near it. It could power down when put inside a slip case, etc. I'm sure there are many other more interesting possibilities.
Agree. Flash memory costs have come down enough, and Apple wants optical drives to go away. The time is right.
I don't think is Steve's way or the highway, this is simply the future, maybe there are people who still like floppy disks, but is taking them away really limiting peoples choices? ... I personally think it is not. Apple is just betting in the future, Also this is not going to happen overnight, they'll start with iLife, iWork, maybe then OS X versions and heavier software, let's just not panic.
Your comment shows both your ignorance and your arrogance. There are places where broadband just isn't available, which includes our entire town outside the village. People outside the village only have access to dial-up or exorbitantly priced and very slow mobile broadband with significant caps on data usage.
People here don't need to evolve. Our ability to access broadband with adequate speed without extremely high costs needs to become a reality. If Apple does remove its boxed software from its retail stores and insists on forcing people into downloads only, I will have to rethink recommending OS X around where I live anymore.
Oh, and for those who suggest going to the Apple store for everything, the closest Apple store is an hour away. And for those who recommend everyone live in a city, I suggest you think about the fact that the food you eat comes from communities like ours.
I suppose authors and accountants and other professionals who are able to conduct work offline should sell their computers?
Perhaps I should also sell my television because I don't have cable service? It's wrong of me to watch all those shows and movies solely on disc.
Makes sense from a business and environmental perspective for consumer apps. Boxes take up space & are relatively low margin. They are also a waste of time and resources b/c the disc in the box is almost never the current version -- there is always some point update. And discs and packages always end up in the physical trash. So why not just d/l the entire package once rather than install and then update.
However, I hope Apple and other companies do not go this route exclusively for big pro packages like FCP. Mine mind goes numb thinking about having to d/l FCP -- and I have never bought FCP in-store, always have it shipped to me.
1) Accountants work offline? How to they efile for their clients then? Sorry guy, accts use the Internet like everyone else.
2) Many professional s/w packages require online activation. If an Internet connection isn't available you can phone activate but it's worse than hell.
3) Your analogy of computer to Internet and TV to cable isn't all that air tight. In 2011 not having an Internet connection for a computer isn't practical b/c that is how most communication is done. OTOH cable is not essential to a TV. There is over the air, computer based media players, and set top boxes to feed content to a TV.
However, I hope Apple and other companies do not go this route exclusively for big pro packages like FCP. Mine mind goes numb thinking about having to d/l FCP -- and I have never bought FCP in-store, always have it shipped to me.
1) Accountants work offline? How to they efile for their clients then? Sorry guy, accts use the Internet like everyone else.
2) Many professional s/w packages require online activation. If an Internet connection isn't available you can phone activate but it's worse than hell.
3) Your analogy of computer to Internet and TV to cable isn't all that air tight. In 2011 not having an Internet connection for a computer isn't practical b/c that is how most communication is done. OTOH cable is not essential to a TV. There is over the air, computer based media players, and set top boxes to feed content to a TV.
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They can get a USB DVD drive, plug it in, and install the software they purchased from an online retailer who ships them a hard disk.
Problem solved.
I was going to complain that this is stupid. Then I thought and realized I have never purchased a software box from a b&m Apple Store.
Other b&m stores, yes, but not recently.
Apple online, yes.
Mac Appstore, yes.
Other various online stores, yes.
Apple b&m, no.
So, I guess I don't care. Seems weird, though.
Other b&m stores, yes, but not recently.
Apple online, yes.
Mac Appstore, yes.
Other various online stores, yes.
Apple b&m, no.
So, I guess I don't care. Seems weird, though.
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They should have trial software for everything then. Otherwise how else would you exchange it if you didn't like it.
They should have trial software for everything then. Otherwise how else would you exchange it if you didn't like it.
I still say you are - AppleInsider labeled this exact story as a rumor and you can still buy Apple software outside of the App Store.And everyone said I was FOS that this would never happen, especially after the OS X App Store launch. HA!
This article only covers 2 things:
1) Their own retail store.
2) Their own software.
Of course we need to point out that Apple still only sells less than half of their software items on the App store, and software discs are still available as of this date at Apple retail and on other websites.
Apple is not downing digital only. There is no proof whatsoever that this is the case.
If I can't own a physical copy of it I'm not buying it. Sorry if that is too old school for Apple.
Apple has never offered trial software for their iLife software and many of their programs. iWork and Aperture are their only trial software programs and they still remain available today.
Well, wouldn't it make since to change all of their software to have a trial version for download? I can still return a hard copy of iLife and any of their other software if I don't like it right?
yebo gogo!
........... fanfare of vuvuzelas..............!!!!!
verdi or donizetti? i forget.........
I cannot see this happening anytime soon. As not all external usb drives ork here in Oz.
Also with no CD/DVD drive how is one to burn a music CD made with itunes or a dvd with iDVD?
I like the idea of the pen drives with the System on them and this could also happen to iLife as the file size of these is way to big for downloading for a lot of people.
If apple went with pen drives that would also reduce the packing required for them as well.
As for MobileMe I buy a family pack yearly and purchase it online as I cannot see the sense of buying a small box with an activation number in it.
just my 2¢
Also with no CD/DVD drive how is one to burn a music CD made with itunes or a dvd with iDVD?
I like the idea of the pen drives with the System on them and this could also happen to iLife as the file size of these is way to big for downloading for a lot of people.
If apple went with pen drives that would also reduce the packing required for them as well.
As for MobileMe I buy a family pack yearly and purchase it online as I cannot see the sense of buying a small box with an activation number in it.
just my 2¢
i do support this, somehow, no more inbuilt opt. drives........... xpensive to replace........ time out without computer...
thinner form factor, more energy space........ third part dvd drives are inexpensive/ugly & easily replaceable................
I didn't know you were being funny. See, this is why you gotta use the Emoticons. They're for humor-challenged people like me.