I think it's a great idea. It's 2011 for christ sake! Stop wasting material. Put those into the jetpacks and make those mainstream!
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Apple to Eliminate Retail Box Software Inventory
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MBA was just the beginning - soon no new MacBook/iMac will have DVD drives, probably an external one for limited time.
I am lucky and have fast internet. I buy 100% digital downloads. The DVD drives in my MacBook were never ever used.
I might see the need for those with 'dial-up' that can't download big things or for people watching movie-DVDs on the MacBook, but those can get an external drive to install/rip stuff - it is not that the DVD drive is needed on a day to day basis. Dial-up will soon disappear, movies go more and more to digital distribution.
Apple was always rather 'early' in terminating outdated stuff, but the rest of the industry always followed.
One more step closer to eliminating optical drives from all of the Macs.
Would be totally awesome to be able to simply download Lion.
Would be totally awesome to be able to simply download Lion.
So what happens if I have no internet connection? Only way to get online is via a public place. Cmon apple not everyone is rich like you
Also MANY people dont know how to download and install... they 100% trust cds to do the job for them.
If you cut out boxing and distribution, the software may end up being less expensive to the consumer. Which is a good thing.
So, you can take the extra savings and hang out at Barnes & Noble, drink a latte, and download to your heart's content.
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Oh my gods!
Did no one see Robot Chicken last night?
I'm crying from laughter!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGEtXQIXFJE
Oh my gods!
Did no one see Robot Chicken last night?
I'm crying from laughter!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGEtXQIXFJE
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Eliminating physical interaction
Remember, the ultimate goal that we are all working toward is to eliminate all physical interaction.
We've eliminated buttons with touch surfaces. Soon we will use gestures so you do not have to touch anything.
Ideally, we will be suspended in midair or a liquid and control things with out thoughts and not touch anything or anyone.
Remember, the ultimate goal that we are all working toward is to eliminate all physical interaction.
We've eliminated buttons with touch surfaces. Soon we will use gestures so you do not have to touch anything.
Ideally, we will be suspended in midair or a liquid and control things with out thoughts and not touch anything or anyone.
i think i just looked at the situation from my own perspective. i have no need for software on optical media. But reading your argument makes sense a "newbie" may be chocked when he sees the expensive price tags on the boxes unaware of the fact tat iwork costs only ≈$45 in the mac app store. as i said i don't need to have the box and the dvd/cd but for many people its just more comfortable to know that if their computer crash they can install the programs again without going thru the re-downloading thing on the app store.So wouldn't that make the problem even worse? Your newbie almost-about-to-buy-a-Mac guy walks into the Apple store, sees the software shelf, which contains a few titles from Adobe and Microsoft, maybe Final Cut Studio, and NOTHING ELSE, and says "Geez... that's it???" and "Holy cow, look at these prices?! Apple software costs a fortune!"
There's something to be said about a shelf full of an array of colorful boxes of low-priced, high-function software. "Oh, it's all downloadable online now" doesn't look cool.
What about them? It's up to the manufacture of those products to decide how they sell.
But most you can already get as a download. No need to waste time to drive to the store, just punch in your credit card number and download.
I'm for it(with pro and cons), but anyway people, you are rushing into this news.
If Apple will adopt this strategy, will adopt on its own software. They cannot deny third party software to not be sold in a retail version, that's up to the developers.
What you may not find on the shelf will be:
iLife
iWork
Aperture
Final Cut
Logic Studio
Mac OSX
Remote Desktop
I don't think this will make any major problem.
If Apple will adopt this strategy, will adopt on its own software. They cannot deny third party software to not be sold in a retail version, that's up to the developers.
What you may not find on the shelf will be:
iLife
iWork
Aperture
Final Cut
Logic Studio
Mac OSX
Remote Desktop
I don't think this will make any major problem.
I think its safe to say that most of North America is using either DSL or Cable.. But places outside of North America, and even smaller communities in North America will likely not have Cable or DSL.. which may pose a problem if you can't buy it retail..
Haven't used the App. Store yet.
I still like having a physical copy. USB sticks would work, just bring in your own 16gig stick and an Apple employee will put the software on it for you. Then take it home and burn it onto a dvd if you like. That would work in my eyes.
What happens if ones hard drive crashes and most of your applications were downloaded and you have no backup? I know I have read it but I forgot where and what I read. Will start searching again.
I still like having a physical copy. USB sticks would work, just bring in your own 16gig stick and an Apple employee will put the software on it for you. Then take it home and burn it onto a dvd if you like. That would work in my eyes.
What happens if ones hard drive crashes and most of your applications were downloaded and you have no backup? I know I have read it but I forgot where and what I read. Will start searching again.
+1 That could also be an issue.. I personally think removing a DVD Drive from a Mac is a stupid idea
. Although digital downloads are great, I just don't see how I could live without one, at least when it comes to installing things like Windows or Office, it really becomes a burden having to using remote sharing.. especially if you have the other computer upstairs or something..Ugh!
How the hell am I supposed to buy a specific piece of software as a Christmas or birthday gift when there isn't anything physical anymore? Sure I can buy the person a "gift card" but what if I wanted to get them something specific? Oooo, here's a hand made coupon with a redeemable code? Bah.
How the hell am I supposed to buy a specific piece of software as a Christmas or birthday gift when there isn't anything physical anymore? Sure I can buy the person a "gift card" but what if I wanted to get them something specific? Oooo, here's a hand made coupon with a redeemable code? Bah.
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goodbye physical media
I think apps like iDVD and the like are a dying breed. Apple certainly wouldn't hold back on giving an app that uses physical media as it's backbone the axe in this scenario. I know, I get frustrated too when people ask for a deeveedee but egh. Apple's always been a little premature on getting rid of things (ports, media, ect. ) but they still seem to come out ok.
I think apps like iDVD and the like are a dying breed. Apple certainly wouldn't hold back on giving an app that uses physical media as it's backbone the axe in this scenario. I know, I get frustrated too when people ask for a deeveedee but egh. Apple's always been a little premature on getting rid of things (ports, media, ect. ) but they still seem to come out ok.
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Oh Jobs, you crafty bastard. You can't force app store only policies on OS X, so you go for the next best thing: Push the app store and get rid of boxes. Give it a couple of years and too many people won't realize that there is anything but the app store. You don't have to lock the platform down. Enough users are ignorant that you won't have to.
Meanwhile, developers who don't want to abide by Apple's ludicrous standards for inclusion in the app store get screwed.
Oh Jobs, you crafty bastard. You can't force app store only policies on OS X, so you go for the next best thing: Push the app store and get rid of boxes. Give it a couple of years and too many people won't realize that there is anything but the app store. You don't have to lock the platform down. Enough users are ignorant that you won't have to.
Meanwhile, developers who don't want to abide by Apple's ludicrous standards for inclusion in the app store get screwed.
This would further push laptops to not have a CD drive. While it does make sense for Apple software (as they don't care about the 30% / 70% split for profits), many companies may decide that they don't want to join the App Store.
Lots of software, such as Photoshop, will probably never make it into the App Store as it has a custom installer, loads of bugs, and doesn't make proper use of GUI elements. And as we know Adobe, they will not change their software just to suit Apple's requirements.
However, even Photoshop can be bought and downloaded online from Adobe's site, so even that doesn't justify the need of a CD drive.
Of course, for students like me, we have to submit everything on CDs and DVDs, we definitely need a CD drive, because I'm not buying a new USB pendrive each time I want to give data to someone. Once uploading data to official places becomes commonplace, I'm ready to live without the optical drive. Or if I could just have cheap a USB optical drive next to my computer, that would do the job just as well.
Lots of software, such as Photoshop, will probably never make it into the App Store as it has a custom installer, loads of bugs, and doesn't make proper use of GUI elements. And as we know Adobe, they will not change their software just to suit Apple's requirements.
However, even Photoshop can be bought and downloaded online from Adobe's site, so even that doesn't justify the need of a CD drive.
Of course, for students like me, we have to submit everything on CDs and DVDs, we definitely need a CD drive, because I'm not buying a new USB pendrive each time I want to give data to someone. Once uploading data to official places becomes commonplace, I'm ready to live without the optical drive. Or if I could just have cheap a USB optical drive next to my computer, that would do the job just as well.
1) So you buy your software in a public place, same way you buy your jeans or groceries. So what?
2) You haven't noticed that Apple's software upgrades install themselves? (Oh, wait. They install themselves... so you haven't noticed.)
This is where it is all going within 4 years. USB keys will take over, but online is good enough for much. I think it is just a hassle that a person downloads expensive software and might have to buy it again if something goes wrong.
Hope they still offer a "hardcopy" option for an extra $10 or so. I'd purchase all my stuff online for 1/2 price and just get a very plain, unceremonious or undesigned USB key in the mail for a few extra bucks. Unless there is a great way to burn off what is offered online.
MAS: keeps record for you what you bought -> just open MAS, go to your purchases and reinstall for free.
All other downloads: Usually you can go the the webpage where you bought it and re-download (and you hopefully have kept your emails with all the registration info)