You forgot under the 'Pros': Buy the software once, install on all your machines - at least for MAS. (not the same as family pack, but also big plus)
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Apple to Eliminate Retail Box Software Inventory
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You forgot under the 'Pros': Buy the software once, install on all your machines - at least for MAS. (not the same as family pack, but also big plus)
I hate to point out facts to that apple fanboy argument but, floppies were removed in order to reduce costs, increase profit, and because of the rise of cd drives.
Off topic: Just saw the "Mission Control" in Lion.
Holy crap does that look complicated. If that doesn't confuse the pants off of every consumer when they first open that, Apple will have really pulled off something magical.
Holy crap does that look complicated. If that doesn't confuse the pants off of every consumer when they first open that, Apple will have really pulled off something magical.
Dial up modems?
Anyways, I can at least understand why Apple would do this. However they should still keep a small software section in their physical stores for software not available on the Mac App Store: Adobe stuff, MS Office, & Mac OS X.
There is actually some good news in this announcement. When Apple opened their Apple Stores, a lot of the Mac shops (the independent stores that happened to sell Apple products) felt betrayed that Apple was directly competing with them. Many Mac shops closed up when they couldn't match the "buzz" of a nearby Apple Store.
However, if boxed software is eliminated (wholly or even just 'mostly') from Apple Stores, then for those people who need the boxed SW a Mac shop becomes a logical place to shop. It's good for the Mac shops to have a product that you can't get at the Apple Store.
However, if boxed software is eliminated (wholly or even just 'mostly') from Apple Stores, then for those people who need the boxed SW a Mac shop becomes a logical place to shop. It's good for the Mac shops to have a product that you can't get at the Apple Store.
it would not be fun to fist download all 46GB of Final Cut Studio then have to install
However, Final Cut Studio is extremely expensive (costs £800+) anyways has manuals, and also I reckon who uses it, needs a DVD burner anyways.
Similar story goes for Logic Pro.
That's not much cop if I'm on the road and need something quick-sharp. Only a couple months ago I had to pop into a store and buy CS5.
I'm sure Adobe won't cut off their retail tails in the near-term, but situations do arise. I also like physical media for more expensive (and larger filesize) stuff. I don't want to have to download 24gig of software from a coffee shop.
what if...
What do you do if your Mac conks out and what you need is the operating program disc to reinstall the OS? Walk or drive to an Apple store?
What do you do if your Mac conks out and what you need is the operating program disc to reinstall the OS? Walk or drive to an Apple store?
Ever heard of Amazon? Apple isn't restricting where you can buy the software. They just aren't paying rent for valuable retail space that they can use for something else. Want to buy it? Go somewhere else, or on the Mac Store if it's there. No one can demand that they carry every barely-selling third party piece of garbage available on their shelves.
I thought the licensing terms of the Mac App store means that pretty much all software becomes "family pack"?
+1 That could also be an issue.. I personally think removing a DVD Drive from a Mac is a stupid idea
I agree removing the DVD drive would be a dumb idea. While I use mine less and less, I still do work for many other people who prefer a physical CD rather than MP3, so they can listen to music or seminar in their car. Not every car maker has adapted to the AUX jacks yet. Some still have the CD player that will take a CD with MP3's on them.
Also, I make movies and slideshows for many of my relatives who do not have computers. They have a DVD player.
Many companies still distribute material on data CD / DVD. Also, if you work remotely - many ISP's frown on massive downloads. Mine reserves the right to throttle our speeds or permanately cut back the speed; if the volume of our activity would indicate "more than acceptable home casual use." this is heavily enforced with their "unlimited" plan. If the volume would give them the indication that you may be working from home - they reserve the right to switch you to a business plan without notice. Business plans are double or triple the price for the same speed.
Honestly, why should they? Adobe, MS, and everyone else can easily distribute electronically or sell through online retailers just as well. If they want to submit their products to the Mac Store, that's fine. I didn't hear that any of them were paying a cut for that shelf real estate (particularly Adobe with their gargantuan boxes).
Don't you understand that Mac App Store is the new "USB flash drive". Simply launch the app and download anything you want, including Lion, MobileMe activation key, iLife, iWork, etc, etc, etc.
About time. I've been buying all my software online for the last decade. I don't think I've bought a retail boxed version this century. So 1900's.
Yes, they should still offer CD/DVD sales for those with slow internet connections but no need for all that retail packaging. Just a cardboard slipcase and a small up charge for physical media of say $10. No paper manual needed - all online or PDF, etc.
Yes, they should still offer CD/DVD sales for those with slow internet connections but no need for all that retail packaging. Just a cardboard slipcase and a small up charge for physical media of say $10. No paper manual needed - all online or PDF, etc.
It does, you just buy it once - log on with your ID and download to every computer you own.
yup - i will miss the box - but probably the more better choice to go no box - going forward - i still sorta miss the whole music cd case and movie dvd boxes thing - oh well - cant stop progress - time marches on...
I don't mind them distributing their software over the internet, but getting rid of retail boxes are out of the question....
What do we do when we want to make a clean install...
We won't be able to do that if we don't have the Mac OS DVD install disc.
And re-installing iLife, do i need to download the whole thing all over again?
I'm lazy to burn it to a disc. I just want the retail box and the pressed DVD.
Apple is crazy.
And my ISP will be pi**ed off about this and restrict my bandwidth!!
What do we do when we want to make a clean install...
We won't be able to do that if we don't have the Mac OS DVD install disc.
And re-installing iLife, do i need to download the whole thing all over again?
I'm lazy to burn it to a disc. I just want the retail box and the pressed DVD.
Apple is crazy.
And my ISP will be pi**ed off about this and restrict my bandwidth!!
I guess the up side of this is that your software is always backed up via our store account. No worrying about loosing the disc or product key and such.
If Apple does do away with the optical drive - which they'll most likely do on the MacBooks - this would be just about the only way to get software (via a download).
I wonder what the difference is between their retail mark up and the 30% cut on the App Store?
If Apple does do away with the optical drive - which they'll most likely do on the MacBooks - this would be just about the only way to get software (via a download).
I wonder what the difference is between their retail mark up and the 30% cut on the App Store?