Besides the point that most Mac customers that would have trouble finding the Applications folder will probably only ever use the applications that are already on the dock with you first install/create a user. Even iWorks and Office put icons on the dock.
The short of it: if you can't find the Applications folder, I don't think the interface is the problem.
Fair comment Pir8Bob. On a Mac there is enough screen real estate to store a beginner user's apps in the Dock. That does arguably render the new Launch Pad redundant.
I think I see what Apple is trying to do. While I find the Mac a heck of a lot more intuitive and logical than Windows, I still see people who struggle with the complexity of it, in a way they don't with iOS. It has long been the Apple way to make things as simple for new users as possible, while not getting in the way of experienced users.
Does anyone else remember the 'Simple Finder' from Mac OS 9 vintage? Oh, I just Googled it and discovered that something called 'Simple Finder' still exists in OS X. How had I not noticed that?!
I'm not excited about a Mac App store. I don't think Microsoft or Adobe are going to buy giving 30% of their software sales to Apple (or any other worthwhile developer). While a phone app can sell for $2.99, software I usually buy for my computer runs a little pricier. I think all we're going to see on this Apple app store are developers who don't want to bother putting up a website to sell their product. I don't expect anything of quality to sell through this app store (except Apple's software--they like to jump on their own bandwagon more than anyone).
Again, you make a good point. Adobe isn't going to give 30% of CS sales to Apple. Perhaps the Mac platform would have been better served with some kind of sliding scale, where a $3 app attracts a 30% fee, and a $1000 app 5% or something.
I don't see a market for cheap programs on a computer platform. Not while Flash games are around. And I'm not going to start buying $3.99 programs for my desktop when there's already free options abounding.
There already is a market, but it depends on what you call 'cheap' I guess. I would call $30 relatively cheap, because I remember the day when half decent apps cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. I have plenty of very useful and relatively cheap apps, typically downloaded from VersionTracker or MacUpdate.
Will Apple's app store push software prices down even more? Developers can only justify cheaper prices when there is substantial volume, and this is what we've seen with iOS. With Mac market share increasing, and a new simple way to purchase and install apps, perhaps the volume will be there on the Mac too?
However, for every success story where a developer has sold a million copies of their $1 app, there's bound to be hundreds who lose out. And some apps will always have a niche market, and therefore require a higher price. The Mac as a platform would be well served to avoid a situation where developers give up writing quality niche apps, and turn their thoughts to five-minute-amusement titles.
