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For iWork '09? Impossible.

Possible, actually. It's just for the download. The boxed version is good to go after the download. I suspect it's because you have to have some way to let the downloaded software know that you paid for it. Whereas, when installing off the disk, the assumption is that, if you have the disk, it's yours and you legally paid for it.
 
Apple is really trusting its customers on this one.

Nah, they probably realized that serial numbers don't work all that well outside of the gaming community. Good for extra idea in theory, but in reality customers are less likely to buy if they have to get a different copy for every computer in the house and it actually hurts adoption. No serial protection or multiple serial numbers in consumer versions of software (as in home version of MS office) actually benefit software companies. You can then nickel and dime business and educational customers since they can't afford to be using unlicensed software.
 
Can someone confirm this?

If you run Trial version of iWork '09 and not register, the third time it will give you a "never register" option? Does this mean I can run the trial version, forever?

Don't think so. The trial has an expiration date. Once you get to it, it stops working.


At least it did in iWork '08.
 
Meh, I just pirated Office for my ever so small word processing needs.

Why didn't you just download NeoOffice or OpenOffice? Both are free and you wouldn't have been stealing and making it harder for us who choose to pay for software.

I hate to sound judgmental, but that's not cool.

Just my 2 cents, though I'm sure you could care less.
 
Thanks for the "little snitch" report. Previous versions of iWork requested registration but this could be postponed indefinitely. I presume this is also true with iWork '09.

Apple has never included Apple stickers with their software products, for as long as I can recall. They've surely never included them with iLife or iWork.

Apple did include stickers with the boxed version of the .Mac subscription service serial number. That could sort of be considered software.

What bugged me was that the stickers were not included with my 23-inch Apple Cinema Screen, which cost me aroiund 150,000 yen ($1,500) when I bought it three years ago. I posted about it on the apple.com forums under the subject "Sticker Shock." :rolleyes:
 
well, i downloaded the trial and i will but the OS X, ilfe, iwork combo. i even thing about buying the family pack so that i can have clean installs on my macs. (and my GF's MB that we buy hopefully soon). Yes most people do not steal.

btw: i maybe very naive but i couldn't imagine that there are already serial numbers for iwork 09 on the web. where do they come from? who gives out his serial minutes after buying software so that others can steal it?

I payed for iWork, but as far as I know from a friend who got a serial off the internet, with Apple, they just go into an Apple Store, open up pages and go to about Pages. Then they wrte the serial number down.

It's too easy, but the people who steal will steal regardless, right?
 
Can someone confirm this?

If you run Trial version of iWork '09 and not register, the third time it will give you a "never register" option? Does this mean I can run the trial version, forever?


Doubt it. Registering it is different then "activating it".
 
Apple probably doesn't think that you will pirate it but I think they have made this move simply because they've already made their money off of you. If you own a Mac, you've already paid the Apple Tax. The proceeds from small purchases like this and the Apple Stores go to 'the steves' private jet. It eats alot of gas.

Companies like Adobe and MS are different. Their sole business (with few exceptions) is software. Both companies have sizable, very powerful anti-piracy teams, but why go after individuals. In most cases, these teams go for compliance of big companies where serious infraction occurs. If someone pirates photoshop, 9 times out of 10 they aren't very good at it and don't use it for a living. If that were the case, they would more than likely, when they could, pony up the funds so that they can participate in upgrades, beta tests and customer relations. Most college students probably 0dayed CS4 for bragging rights and probably won't have the time to harness the capability of the entire suite when used in a design house.

Same way with MS, more or less. All OEM boxes come with a copy of Winblows anyway, and of the small number of those who build their own boxen, an even smaller percentage of those will put fourth the time and effort to pirate the goods.

When Apple removes their anti piracy mechanism from Aperture or any other Pro apps, then I will be impressed.

Bingo!!!

I applaud Apple's approach, but let's wait until they implement with pro applications.

Comparing Apple's approach to MSFT's is ridiculous. Gates' & Co. do not sell hardware where they can recoup their investments. If they relied solely on software sales, best believe they would be just as vigilant
 
If someone wants to pay for software they will, if they don't they won't - simple as that. I'm convinced that piracy doesn't cost the software industry anywhere near the vast sums they quote, as most of the people running cracked copies just wouldn't pay for it no matter what.

All the money they spend on protection systems is just a waste, people will crack it no matter what they do. Though no one has cracked the protection on the Mac version of Ableton Live yet, god knows how they've managed that.
 
Honesty is the best policy :) I am a film-maker and getting into software and am proud to not pirate any movies or software. I know how much work and money goes into it!

I have ZERO Microsoft products on my Mac and and happy to keep it that way :) Here's to iWork gaining ground :) I LOVE iWork!
 
My guess is Apple is secretly hoping that all of those Mac users who will not buy iWork will install an "illegal" copy. There's nothing like a massive user base to give a product momentum.

I paid for Office for Mac, but no other private person I know actually paid for Office. Sometimes I think most average Windows users think it comes free with Windows. Office is the de facto standard because everyone uses it.

Once *every* Mac user uses iWork, and iWork.com gets its bugs ironed out, then I expect Apple will release it for Windows.
 
Ha. What if iwork.com requires a serial once they drop the 'beta' & start charging for their online services?

Regardless, serials are so 2008... :p
 
Apple is really trusting its customers on this one.
Not really. I think it's more of a "who cares?" issue. Apple has a small market share as it is. Even smaller would be those who use iWork. I think the idea is that Apple profits most from its hardware, and far less from its software. So, whether you buy the software or not, it won't make a large difference on Apple's bottom line. Therefore, let's cut the small number of iWork users a break and just make installing the software that much easier. And isn't "simple and easy" how Apple likes to market everything it makes?
 
Thank you, Apple.

I think that most of Apple's customers are more than willing to pay the rather nominal fee to use iWork legally and honestly. Usually the few dishonest people out there ruin things for the rest of us. It's nice to see Apple deciding to cater to their loyal and honest customers rather than trying to catch a few jerks. As someone else said earlier, it's apparently not that hard to steal software even with a serial number, so it really was just an annoyance for the average honest user who wouldn't steal anyway.

Just wanted to say thanks, Apple, for treating your customers with a little trust and respect. :)
 
Yeah I just picked up a copy for 40 here @ my schools bookstore, no serial required which makes me quite happy.
Im trying to make myself buy products now instead of.. *going down the dark path*
 
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