I realize there's nothing wrong with it, per se. I just think I'd be more comfortable if Apple had a "Click here to create a bootable Lion flash drive" button. What if I want to sell my Mac, but I want to sell it with Lion installed? (This will actually happen next month.) If I need to authorize that Mac under SL, then install Lion, can I deauthorize my account and Lion will still function? There are still some questions that need to be answered, for sure.
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Apple to Sell Lion on USB Thumb Drive Starting in August for $69
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I realize there's nothing wrong with it, per se. I just think I'd be more comfortable if Apple had a "Click here to create a bootable Lion flash drive" button. What if I want to sell my Mac, but I want to sell it with Lion installed? (This will actually happen next month.) If I need to authorize that Mac under SL, then install Lion, can I deauthorize my account and Lion will still function? There are still some questions that need to be answered, for sure.
The answer is yes. There is no restriction on the installer itself, all restrictions are licensed based, just like it was for all other versions of OS X. Apple very much goes by the honor system.
If you have downloaded Lion you can put the installation files onto a flash drive and boot from it. It will allow you to do a clean install without installing Snow. I did this today. I wiped out my harddrive and installed Lion with no previous versions installed.
Sanity prevails (at a price).
Presumably you'll be able to make a DVD from the USB drive if you wanted to as well.
Obviously the price is intended to encourage people to use the MAS if possible. But I think a lot of people who have to deal with terrible internet speeds will gladly pay the premium for this option. A lost of them would gladly pay more for their internet speeds to be improved too - it's not always about the actual price (within reason), it's about what value it has to you.
Presumably you'll be able to make a DVD from the USB drive if you wanted to as well.
Obviously the price is intended to encourage people to use the MAS if possible. But I think a lot of people who have to deal with terrible internet speeds will gladly pay the premium for this option. A lost of them would gladly pay more for their internet speeds to be improved too - it's not always about the actual price (within reason), it's about what value it has to you.
I don't know about anyone else but the stuff I download from the app store is seriously slow as a download. I have a fast connection and just buying iMovie because I needed to was painful. I tried once again with another app and the same thing so I'm glad there is another option but as others have said, way to steep of a price for something that is on cheap media regardless of trying to push the app store 
Why do you dread using the Mac App Store? Especially in the case of Lion, it's essentially a download manager.
I'm guessing not, because the price is so much lower and because they give you a license to install Lion and other Mac App Store purchases on every computer that shares your account.
We can assume that from the pricing on the thumb drive, big maybe. The press release does not actually say that you don't need to apply the thumb drive upgrade to a machine with Snow Leopard on it.
Yes, it's nice that it will be available, assuming you can upgrade Leopard or SL with it. But, they could have saved themselves some of the blowback in the interim if they'd said that to begin with. I think sometimes they're just in a bubble out there. Didn't occur to them that not everyone with a Mac has fast internet access at home, and not everyone lives spitting distance from a retail store? Would cost me $23 in gas to drive 180 miles round trip and that's in a vehicle getting 30mpg. Then add on the upgrade cost? BUBBLE HEADS. Makes them look more elitist than ever.
Bah. (takes off fangirl scarf). I will do the upgrade myself, some morning around 4:30am when my DSL is usually half-decent. I hope you can pause and resume the Lion download as you can with a movie, otherwise I'll be hard pressed to find a good time to get the thing.
I won't give Apple the satisfaction of counting me as a "registered user with a saved CC" in their earnings number just because I wanted to upgrade to Lion. They can get their registered users elsewhere.
Conidering you can by 4GB thumb drives for $10 now yeah quite a rip.
Sorry but that argumetn is kind of weak. Comparing it to other verson of OSX is not exactly the same. It is a marked up over what you can buy online and the $40 marked up is a rip.
Add the windows part is a $100 but which is cheaper over time than what it generally cost to keep updating OSX over the same time span.
Ok, I don't think that's so terrible, but you can buy an iTunes gift card with cash and then use it to buy Lion. You'll still need an Apple ID. Do you have a problem with that?
If I can not register at all, that would be best. The USB thumb drive is the best solution and the one I think I'll use.
If you don't like their products then don't buy it. They have plenty of other people that will register their CC. You are a grain of sand to them, but to think that you are making a statement is sad and pathetic.
I like their products, hence why I want to upgrade to Lion. Otherwise, why would I ? Why would I even own a MBA, an iPhone a few other Apple tidbits ? why would I even hang out on this forum ?
I don't like the MAS's policies and requirements. I don't care what you think of my statement, it is mine to make and it seems Apple has just given me a chance to make it with this USB option.
So you can stop raging now.
Do you not see the difference between not liking a product and not liking the method of its distribution?
I like ice-cream, but if I had to order it in a paper envelope that came through my letter-box I'd probably not be so keen on buying it.
Personally I have no problem with Apple having card details, I just think downloading an OS will cause me more hassle than buying it on the USB option will, so I'll be doing that I think.
I've not read anywhere that buying the USB Stick will enable you leap straight from Leopard to Lion. Hope there's more info to come on this because so far everything i've read suggests Snow Leopard is required to be able to install Lion and not just because of the App Store.
Ok. You trust arn more than Steve Jobs, I think I get it: your Apple ID registration needn't be anymore accurate than the one for MacRumors.
Also, I think this might be of interest to you: there is a check box in System Preferences - Security & Privacy that let's you disable sending diagnostic and usage data to Apple. You've been advised.
Multiple installs
I think Apple is saying that for US$29 you must buy one copy per AppleID, but for US$69, the know that it will be installed multiple times.
If you have a household with a number of people, US$69 may not be such a bad deal.
I think Apple is saying that for US$29 you must buy one copy per AppleID, but for US$69, the know that it will be installed multiple times.
If you have a household with a number of people, US$69 may not be such a bad deal.
just finished reading these post and i must say, very interesting opinions.
so here is my take on all this...
first off, anyone who thinks apple is in their own bubble, or is oblivious to the outside world is in a bubble of their own. steve jobs once said something to the affect that "apple isn't a software company, they are a hardware company". i would even go so far to say that apple is neither. they are a marketing company. and a damn good one at that. they just happen to manufacture all the stuff they market. the fact everyone is reading this attests to that. they like to throw out little tidbits of info and sees how the market reacts before doing anything major that may tarnish their matte aluminum and glossy glass finish. we are essentially their guinea pigs. this is why they have "announcements" on major products so they can listen to the chatter on what people think. i do wish they would break out of their "do it the apple way...cuz we said so." mentality though. how about "do it the apple way, cuz its the best way"?
second of all, for anyone in the know in other venues of software technology. we knew this was bound to happen. for people like myself who are vm (virtual machine) junkies. this device is a must for virtualizing lion under the new license agreement. (note: i said license agreement, not that its not technologically possible via other means). the new versions of vmware vsphere and fusion will be supporting lion, but snow leopard is not supported (except for server). so the catch, how does one install lion as a vm if they need snow leopard first? you know have your answer.
as far as the cost. anyone trying to justify the price tag is wasting their time. i mean apple has been know to charge $400 - $500 for hard drive upgrades in the bto macs, for the same item that can be bought online or best buy for $100 - $200. like other said, the $29 for 10.6 + $29 for 10.7 and then of course the marvelous marketing packaging and design of the key. which all must admit, will be the coolest looking usb around. apple motto = truly amazing form + a pretty good amount of function.
about the download from the mac app store. if anyone thinks apple does this as a "service" to its customers is in another bubble. this is strictly an anti-piracy tactic. several years ago, i had said the only way to mitigate piracy or bridle it back would be to eliminate physical media and digitally sign every single copy for specific users. now technology has come far enough that this is possible without being a hindrance to the consumer. this is how apple can justify the $29 cost. this again is all marketing, sell one for $1,000,000 or 1,000,000 for $2?
lastly about the guy who thinks the mac app store is apples evil plot to control the world. are we to believe he has no ipod, no iphone, no ipad, or apple tv or has ever used itunes in anyway shape or form? i don't like the mac app store concept much either, but its all the same apple-id / itunes database and follows the same process. as far as i know, it requires at least two clicks to buy something from either app store. three if you count actually needing to "open" the app store to begin with.
i think thats about it. didn't realize this post was gonna be so long winded...
so here is my take on all this...
first off, anyone who thinks apple is in their own bubble, or is oblivious to the outside world is in a bubble of their own. steve jobs once said something to the affect that "apple isn't a software company, they are a hardware company". i would even go so far to say that apple is neither. they are a marketing company. and a damn good one at that. they just happen to manufacture all the stuff they market. the fact everyone is reading this attests to that. they like to throw out little tidbits of info and sees how the market reacts before doing anything major that may tarnish their matte aluminum and glossy glass finish. we are essentially their guinea pigs. this is why they have "announcements" on major products so they can listen to the chatter on what people think. i do wish they would break out of their "do it the apple way...cuz we said so." mentality though. how about "do it the apple way, cuz its the best way"?
second of all, for anyone in the know in other venues of software technology. we knew this was bound to happen. for people like myself who are vm (virtual machine) junkies. this device is a must for virtualizing lion under the new license agreement. (note: i said license agreement, not that its not technologically possible via other means). the new versions of vmware vsphere and fusion will be supporting lion, but snow leopard is not supported (except for server). so the catch, how does one install lion as a vm if they need snow leopard first? you know have your answer.
as far as the cost. anyone trying to justify the price tag is wasting their time. i mean apple has been know to charge $400 - $500 for hard drive upgrades in the bto macs, for the same item that can be bought online or best buy for $100 - $200. like other said, the $29 for 10.6 + $29 for 10.7 and then of course the marvelous marketing packaging and design of the key. which all must admit, will be the coolest looking usb around. apple motto = truly amazing form + a pretty good amount of function.
about the download from the mac app store. if anyone thinks apple does this as a "service" to its customers is in another bubble. this is strictly an anti-piracy tactic. several years ago, i had said the only way to mitigate piracy or bridle it back would be to eliminate physical media and digitally sign every single copy for specific users. now technology has come far enough that this is possible without being a hindrance to the consumer. this is how apple can justify the $29 cost. this again is all marketing, sell one for $1,000,000 or 1,000,000 for $2?
lastly about the guy who thinks the mac app store is apples evil plot to control the world. are we to believe he has no ipod, no iphone, no ipad, or apple tv or has ever used itunes in anyway shape or form? i don't like the mac app store concept much either, but its all the same apple-id / itunes database and follows the same process. as far as i know, it requires at least two clicks to buy something from either app store. three if you count actually needing to "open" the app store to begin with.
i think thats about it. didn't realize this post was gonna be so long winded...