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Keynote Discount ($30) and Free Themes for .Mac
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johnnyjibbs
macrumors 68030
I have currently signed up for the 60 day free trial and I have to say that .Mac sucks.
It's useless on a slow connection and it doesn't seem to even work properly anyway (I have broadband at uni). The webpage is outdated and websites created using HomePage look outdated. I get lots of emails from Apple explaining features that were in Jaguar and haven't been updated for Panther.
The whole thing needs an overhaul and the price tag is too expensive. It sounds good in theory but it just costs too much for what little you get.
It's useless on a slow connection and it doesn't seem to even work properly anyway (I have broadband at uni). The webpage is outdated and websites created using HomePage look outdated. I get lots of emails from Apple explaining features that were in Jaguar and haven't been updated for Panther.
The whole thing needs an overhaul and the price tag is too expensive. It sounds good in theory but it just costs too much for what little you get.
Keynote Themes & .Mac
I've been using .Mac for a while now. I find it well worth the money. And these new features with iLife '04 make it even better.
And I like the themes, I already have Keynote so the discount doesn't do anything to me. Themes as part of $99 .Mac, it's a good deal.
So far I've gotten some games, Backup, Virex, Photostudio, Themes, iDisk. @mac.com email etc. And still some people say it's not worth the money. And Macs are too expensive anyway, right?
I've been using .Mac for a while now. I find it well worth the money. And these new features with iLife '04 make it even better.
And I like the themes, I already have Keynote so the discount doesn't do anything to me. Themes as part of $99 .Mac, it's a good deal.
So far I've gotten some games, Backup, Virex, Photostudio, Themes, iDisk. @mac.com email etc. And still some people say it's not worth the money. And Macs are too expensive anyway, right?
I kinda have to agree...
This is a pretty safe bet for Apple. This deal is attrative to those who have been wanting to buy Keynote but haven't gotten around to it yet. It probably won't attract impulse buyers to buy keynote. A better deal would have eather been:
1) Keynote for $30 ($69 off) OR
2) $30 off any Apple software (could help ease the cost of iLife for some .Mac subscribers)
I would think that the most popular thing Apple could do is offer some unique add-ons (tracks I think they're called) for Garage Band. I personally wouldn't get any use out of it, but it seems like alot of .Mac subscribers probably would.
I would like to see Apple start leaning in this direction where you can get things that nobody else can through .Mac (i.e. unique Garage Band tracks). Most of the free software Apple gave away last year was over all pretty worthless. I think the next step (instead of free software) is to start offering more and better discounts on Apple software and unique goodies.
This is a pretty safe bet for Apple. This deal is attrative to those who have been wanting to buy Keynote but haven't gotten around to it yet. It probably won't attract impulse buyers to buy keynote. A better deal would have eather been:
1) Keynote for $30 ($69 off) OR
2) $30 off any Apple software (could help ease the cost of iLife for some .Mac subscribers)
I would think that the most popular thing Apple could do is offer some unique add-ons (tracks I think they're called) for Garage Band. I personally wouldn't get any use out of it, but it seems like alot of .Mac subscribers probably would.
I would like to see Apple start leaning in this direction where you can get things that nobody else can through .Mac (i.e. unique Garage Band tracks). Most of the free software Apple gave away last year was over all pretty worthless. I think the next step (instead of free software) is to start offering more and better discounts on Apple software and unique goodies.
srobert
macrumors 68020
Well, I have been a member since day one (when it used to be free) and I can say I don't know how I could live without it. I just love I sync and the auto synching on my .mac hardrive.
It's pure freedom to be able to work on some file at work on my local idisk and then go home and having all those files up to date on my mac at home, without having to press a single button button.
I also use idisk to share some files with PC friends beside pictures. Simply give them the URL and if you want, a password too.
It's also nice to have all your computers in synch on your address book, bookmarks and calendar. I just love to have my "@mac.com" email and be able to access it from a PC too.
We're in no way obligated to use the .mac templates for a web page. You can host any web page on .mac. you can host your dream weaver made page on .mac. It works flawlessly.
I have to say that I find the backup app very usefull when the times comes to upgrade/install my OS from scratch. Install, start backup, restore and everything is just the way you left it, even yout itunes playlists.
Concerning the price. It's actually 30$ less than you think. You get a 30$ gift certificate for anything on the online apple store for renewing your subscription. I hope it'll still be there next year.
On another note, I agree that the extra idisk storage (beyond the first 100 megs) is overpriced. It must also be next to useless on anything but a broadband connection. I used to find that i ttook to long to copy files but the local copy and auto synching features solved everything. Now everything is ultra responsive.
I'm sure they can come up with more cool features in the future.
My personnal wish list:
More space for less $$$. And for Pete's sake!
Update the file sharing templates! The most recent still looks like my 3 years old graphite tower.
I'd also love for a way to design custom templates by myself.
Re: I kinda have to agree...
Apple already did something very similar to this a few months ago... they had free music loops for Soundtrack (there were a lot of them, something like 2-3GB worth). Very cool.
.Mac is a great value, IMO. Well worth the money for me. 🙂
Apple already did something very similar to this a few months ago... they had free music loops for Soundtrack (there were a lot of them, something like 2-3GB worth). Very cool.
.Mac is a great value, IMO. Well worth the money for me. 🙂
digitalbiker
macrumors 65816
To .Mac or Not to .Mac?
.Mac is fair to midland for me. I have been a user since it was a free service and have kind of tagged along for the ride.
For me the canned web pages suck, and don't usually work correctly. However you always have the option of creating your own homepage and maintaining it yourself.
The email service works but it is not nearly as reliable as most other commercial services I use. It seems .Mac is down a fair amount of time and connecting to the email server from a PC results in Outlook complaining about not connecting 1 in every 5 times it connects.
I have used iDisk to allow others to get files that were too large to email. This has been the most useful part of the service for me. But it is a little slow and windows users have to go through a bit of monkeying around with network connection settings to get it to work smoothly. Other services support PC users more smoothly with less fuss.
I have used some of the free software provided through .Mac but all combined they have not been worth the service just for the software.
Having said all that I will probably renew my .Mac service next year because all of these services combined do make the service worth the cost. I just wish Apple would put more effort into improving the service end of .Mac. Making it better to integrate with PC users who I have to deal with a lot. Improving the speed, improving the reliability, and improving support. Currently support is a nightmare! Apple doesn't provide phone support and the FAQ's are too limited. Bulletin board support is extremely slow. One time I had to wait 4 weeks for a response from an Apple rep on the bulletin board for a reply to and email issue I was having.
Ridiculous!
.Mac is fair to midland for me. I have been a user since it was a free service and have kind of tagged along for the ride.
For me the canned web pages suck, and don't usually work correctly. However you always have the option of creating your own homepage and maintaining it yourself.
The email service works but it is not nearly as reliable as most other commercial services I use. It seems .Mac is down a fair amount of time and connecting to the email server from a PC results in Outlook complaining about not connecting 1 in every 5 times it connects.
I have used iDisk to allow others to get files that were too large to email. This has been the most useful part of the service for me. But it is a little slow and windows users have to go through a bit of monkeying around with network connection settings to get it to work smoothly. Other services support PC users more smoothly with less fuss.
I have used some of the free software provided through .Mac but all combined they have not been worth the service just for the software.
Having said all that I will probably renew my .Mac service next year because all of these services combined do make the service worth the cost. I just wish Apple would put more effort into improving the service end of .Mac. Making it better to integrate with PC users who I have to deal with a lot. Improving the speed, improving the reliability, and improving support. Currently support is a nightmare! Apple doesn't provide phone support and the FAQ's are too limited. Bulletin board support is extremely slow. One time I had to wait 4 weeks for a response from an Apple rep on the bulletin board for a reply to and email issue I was having.
Ridiculous!
Feature I Want in dotMac
A feature I would love to have, since I am always using WiFi in public, would be VPN. I think it would be great since I don't have access to a VPN as it is. More encryption is good encryption, esp. whe everything is going over radio waves.
A feature I would love to have, since I am always using WiFi in public, would be VPN. I think it would be great since I don't have access to a VPN as it is. More encryption is good encryption, esp. whe everything is going over radio waves.
Here's a totally out in left field thought...
What if they upgraded .Mac and included an ISP solution, either through broadband or through dial-up? That way, novice customers would have another "all-in-one" package, just like the Mac.
I know that would be a big change in the whole .Mac scheme, but I think that would be pretty cool. Plus, the consumer would know that their ISP is Mac supported.
Not saying that you couldn't get .Mac a la carte, though. Choice is good.
Just a thought...🙂
What if they upgraded .Mac and included an ISP solution, either through broadband or through dial-up? That way, novice customers would have another "all-in-one" package, just like the Mac.
I know that would be a big change in the whole .Mac scheme, but I think that would be pretty cool. Plus, the consumer would know that their ISP is Mac supported.
Not saying that you couldn't get .Mac a la carte, though. Choice is good.
Just a thought...🙂
Eniregnat
macrumors 68000
I also started when the service was free. I lived through the "free" extension that they offered to users who were pissed off about loosing their email address. I didn't pay to keep the service up.
It's like AOL (similar but not the same). It's good for people who want a number of options and what other people to think about providing them. They are offering a Swiss army knife and it works for some.
It's like AOL (similar but not the same). It's good for people who want a number of options and what other people to think about providing them. They are offering a Swiss army knife and it works for some.
wordmunger
macrumors 603
Two things before I renew again
.mac has been pretty good, but they'll need to upgrade two things before I renew again.
1. Allow .mac e-mail replies to reflect my .com e-mail address.
2. Increase iDisc space.
.mac has been pretty good, but they'll need to upgrade two things before I renew again.
1. Allow .mac e-mail replies to reflect my .com e-mail address.
2. Increase iDisc space.
Dale Sorel
macrumors 6502a
Maybe I was dreaming, but I thought I heard/read a rumor that Apple was working on a feature for .Mac subscribers that would enable them to access their Mac desktop remotely via the internet (similar to "go to my pc"). If Apple offered something like that I might strongly consider keeping my .Mac subscription.
digitalbiker
macrumors 65816
RE: iDisk
OK so what is new about iDisk in Panther. I have Panther and iDisk is basically the same as it always was. In fact, I don't think anything has changed functionally with .Mac since it's conversion from the free iTools.
OK so what is new about iDisk in Panther. I have Panther and iDisk is basically the same as it always was. In fact, I don't think anything has changed functionally with .Mac since it's conversion from the free iTools.
Re: You know it's a slow news day when...
Since last night actually, and this site has been dead for a week. With the 20th birthday of Mac fast approaching, you would think we'd be getting some juicy bits.
Since last night actually, and this site has been dead for a week. With the 20th birthday of Mac fast approaching, you would think we'd be getting some juicy bits.
Squire
macrumors 68000
Alas, Korea's not on the list of Apple stores offering this. I don't really care, though. The educational price is lower than this offer and, according to the Terms and Conditions, they can't be used together.
I just downloaded the templates. They'll come in handy once I do buy Keynote.
My .Mac subscription is okay. The email is great and the integrated iPhoto part is good for sharing pics of my kids. However, I would like to see a better Homepage. I used to subscribe to a service called Homestead that let me build pretty decent sites. It was completely idiot-proof, too, and gave me my own domain. The Homepage sites are still too limited.
I mentioned how I like Mail but I can't check it on my PC at work. In fact, I get an error every time I log into .Mac. It's an old PC with Windows 98 installed. Anyone know what the problem might be?
Squire
I just downloaded the templates. They'll come in handy once I do buy Keynote.
My .Mac subscription is okay. The email is great and the integrated iPhoto part is good for sharing pics of my kids. However, I would like to see a better Homepage. I used to subscribe to a service called Homestead that let me build pretty decent sites. It was completely idiot-proof, too, and gave me my own domain. The Homepage sites are still too limited.
I mentioned how I like Mail but I can't check it on my PC at work. In fact, I get an error every time I log into .Mac. It's an old PC with Windows 98 installed. Anyone know what the problem might be?
Squire
SeaFox
macrumors 68030
Re: Re: Re: RE: iDisk
You're nitpiking now. Using that line of logic, the major updates to Backup and mutiple updates to iSync and iCal are not .Mac improvements either. Even though you must have .Mac to use them.
I agree .Mac would be overpriced if not for the free software, but only by $35 or so.
What we need is a spell-checker in Webmail.
You're nitpiking now. Using that line of logic, the major updates to Backup and mutiple updates to iSync and iCal are not .Mac improvements either. Even though you must have .Mac to use them.
I agree .Mac would be overpriced if not for the free software, but only by $35 or so.
What we need is a spell-checker in Webmail.
