Shouldn't Apple give a free upgrade to the Leopard OS for new buyers ??

[IJ Reilly]

Usually after the shipping date announcement, the last one gave people 2 weeks before the new OS started shipping.

So if it is similar this time, the OS will be announced mid-April (aka Tiger shipping announced April 12th 2005) and ship at the end of the month (Tiger ship date April 29, 2005).

Everyone who buys after the shipping date announcement (or gets a Leopardless machine after this date) would get a S&H upgrade under the up-to-date program (Tiger Up-to-Date was for purchases on or After 12th 2005).

Right, as I tried to clarify above, if the OS is announced before it ships, then Apple has a short grace period to take advantage of the "up-to-date" program. This program also always applies to Macs purchased at any time after the shipping announcement which came with the older version of the OS installed.

 

[FFTT]

Many Windows users are in for a rude awakening with Vista and what they will suddenly face when Microsoft's new DRM program prevents them from sharing everything they've been used to sharing in the past.

Not only will they actually have to pay for their software, but they'll need
to either upgrade their current system or buy a newer more powerful one.

Or just stay with XP.

 

[charkshark]

Many Windows users are in for a rude awakening with Vista and what they will suddenly face when Microsoft's new DRM program prevents them from sharing everything they've been used to sharing in the past.

Not only will they actually have to pay for their software, but they'll need
to either upgrade their current system or buy a newer more powerful one.

Or just stay with XP.

Exactly. I really don't see the use in vista, but this thread is about LEOPARD, snap out of it. Otherwise I believe apple should offer the free upgrade to anyone purchasing a mac within 30 days of release.

As they have done in the past with Tiger and Jaguar, an S&H upgrade.

 

[FFTT]

My G5 came with the Tiger drop in upgrade, so I saved having to buy it for
$19.95.

The $129.00 wouldn't have bothered me, but it was nice to get it free
since they had already released it on their new models.

 

[paintballer]

I don't think it should be free. But what would be nice is if there was an update version that is cheaper for people running Tiger. Maybe have it be around $60.

 

[gothiquegirrl]

Maybe not free..

Maybe they shouldn't give it free.. but yeah maybe at a more reduced rate. I keep reading about how they make their money on hardware, anyway.

I have to say that buying a new mac is going to be a large purchase for me... and my biggest hold up is waiting for the new OS to come out. After I purchase the new iMac I won't be able to shell out another 120+ dollars on the New OS. I mean Call me stupid.. but If I am paying for a new system.. shouldn't i get the new OS? And I do mean purchase the new system reasonably around the time of the new OS's shipdate. Maybe 30 to 60 days before?

Yes.. I am switching over from the PC world.. That doesn't mean I have the "cheap" mindset... Willing to spend 3K on a Computer isn't exactly a "cheap" mindset.. I just want the most "bang" for my buck. I don't make a million dollars a year so it would be foolish of me to not WISH that I could get as much as i can for my money .. WITHOUT having to wait so long to get it.

My WinBox just died.. and so now my work horse computer is my G3 500mhz imac. It's great an all.. but it's not exactly effecient when it comes to photoshop cs or macromedia studio 8... or watching streams from CBS, NBC or ABC...Or even downloads of my favorite shows on itunes. So I really need a new mac!! However, It would be dumb of me to not try to wait it out and get not only the new OS.. but see what other options i may beable to have next year... you know with the itv thing coming out and it being the year of HD and all... But I have to say.. the biggest reason is waiting on the new OS... After deling with XP all those years.. i want to blow my friends away with my AWESOME Mac OS.

Anyway..

ang

 

[sandy44]

Well if not free, I agree with some of you guys about some incentives which would help create a more loyal user base; A strategy that any other vendor hasnt tried yet ...

Also I recently ordered a MBP after a lot of debate about this issue (Leopard coming out in spring) .. the only reason was that I could not wait anymore ... I was mostly interested in the release version of Boot Camp which is supposed to work the best with Leopard .. Correct me guys if I am mistaken .. am in the process of switching ..

But when one spends 3 grand of a laptop .. a free or discounted OS upgrade sounds reasonable...

 

[robbieduncan]

I don't think it should be free. But what would be nice is if there was an update version that is cheaper for people running Tiger. Maybe have it be around $60.

The versions on the shop shelves are update versions. They are only licensed to run on a Mac. All Macs come with Mac OS. So all retail copies of OS are update versions for people already running OSX.

If Apple were to sell non-update licenses they would be more.

 

[lord patton]

it will be free to everyone

Perhaps Apple has so many wonderful improvements in Leopard that they can't stand every Mac user not having them. So they'll give OS X 10.5 away free to every Mac user who wants it.

Will that happen? err, no. But wouldn't there be some benefit to the programmers and developers if suddenly all the Mac users were running the same OS?

 

[ready2switch]

Personally I don't think $129 is too much to ask for for an upgrade to OS X. As many others have said, Vista is YEARS late and so an offer for free upgrade during the last few months before a release is almost obligatory (and it wasn't since September, more like late October when they began the "Vista Express Upgrade" push). In my opinion, I would much rather pay $129 on (what I trust will be) a stable upgrade than take any brand new Microsoft product for free. Besides, by the time Vista is stable enough to start using en masse it will cost users $299 for an upgrade and $499 for the "full" version. Now who's ridiculous?

 

[aristobrat]

You'll probably get the lowest version of Vista with those deals, which, rumor has it, isn't even as good as the current XP Pro.

It's supposed to be a cross-grade. Buy Windows XP Pro now and you get a cross-grade to the equiv. Vista edition. Home -> Home. Media Center -> Media Center.

Well if not free, I agree with some of you guys about some incentives which would help create a more loyal user base; A strategy that any other vendor hasnt tried yet ...

That's cute. The Apple community is known for being uber-loyal and you're proposing a solution to make them even MORE loyal?

But when one spends 3 grand of a laptop .. a free or discounted OS upgrade sounds reasonable...

I'm sure the Windows folks who bought $3K+ Alienware laptops 3 months ago (before the upgrade vouchers went out) are thinking the same thing about the upcoming Vista upgrade.

Personally I don't think $129 is too much to ask for for an upgrade to OS X.

I don't either. Going back up to Sandy's point about loyalty, the fact that Apple offers FAMILY OS/iLife upgrades (up to 5 machines in the same house) for not much more than the regular price makes me "loyal enough" to want to pay for OS/iLife upgrades vs. pirating them.

 

[savar]

In the past, Apple has only provided "free"* OS upgrades on Macs purchased after the shipping date of the new OS, on which the new OS was not preloaded. Everybody else pays full freight.

*For $20 s/h.

Ehh?? If you purchase a Mac after the shipping date, they should be giving you the new install discs at the store -- for free.

The discount is for people with Macs purchased shortly before the new OS came out. I suppose that even Apple thinks it's gauche to charge another $120 to somebody who just plonked down $2000 two weeks ago.

 

[huck500]

That's the difference between a BMW or Audi and a Honda or Toyota.

I have to disagree with this analogy... as far as build quality goes, both Toyotas and Hondas are much better than BMWs and Audis in my experience. If a BMW was as inexpensive as a Toyota, I'd still buy the Toyota. A more apt comparison might be Lexus=Mac and Toyota=PC...although I'd still have my Prius.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Ehh?? If you purchase a Mac after the shipping date, they should be giving you the new install discs at the store -- for free.

The discount is for people with Macs purchased shortly before the new OS came out. I suppose that even Apple thinks it's gauche to charge another $120 to somebody who just plonked down $2000 two weeks ago.

From what I'm hearing, if you buy a new Mac at an Apple Store (or presumably directly from Apple), you get the free "drop-in" upgrade. I've never had this experience myself. If you buy from an independent dealer, you have to pay the shipping and handling charge of $20 to get your free upgrade. I have had this experience. Neither amounts to a "discount." Unfortunately, nobody gets any credit from Apple for having purchased previous OSX upgrades.

 

[jmsait19]

Usually after the shipping date announcement, the last one gave people 2 weeks before the new OS started shipping.

So if it is similar this time, the OS will be announced mid-April (aka Tiger shipping announced April 12th 2005) and ship at the end of the month (Tiger ship date April 29, 2005).

Everyone who buys after the shipping date announcement (or gets a Leopardless machine after this date) would get a S&H upgrade under the up-to-date program (Tiger Up-to-Date was for purchases on or After 12th 2005).

This is correct. I bought my first PowerBook on Sept. 27, 2003 and it got delivered Oct. 9th... Panthers ship date was announced the day before I recieved my computer, however I was not eligible for the program. I probably could've complained and gotten, but I get it EDU anyways...

enough side story. The quoted post is correct. Discount after they announce the ship date.

 

[iW00t]

I have to disagree with this analogy... as far as build quality goes, both Toyotas and Hondas are much better than BMWs and Audis in my experience. If a BMW was as inexpensive as a Toyota, I'd still buy the Toyota. A more apt comparison might be Lexus=Mac and Toyota=PC...although I'd still have my Prius.

A bit off topic... but you can keep your lousy BMW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD0UVI99R8Q&eurl=

 

[bankshot]

People, 30 days is a MYTH!

Let me repeat it again: 30 days is a myth and has never been true.

What Apple has done in the past is offered upgrades at a nominal fee (around $20) IF you purchased your Mac AFTER the new OS release date was announced.

Tiger was released on April 29, 2005. The release date was announced on April 12, 2005. Thus you had roughly 17 days before release to get in on the Up-To-Date program. Not 30!

Panther was released on October 24, 2003. The release date was announced on October 8, 2003, giving about a 16-day window on the cheap upgrade. There was an exception with Panther where all G5 owners got it regardless of purchase date, but that's not been done for any other release.

If getting Leopard for free (or "cheap") is very important to you, wait until after the official release date is announced. Furthermore, check to make sure that Apple is continuing this policy, because technically they are under no obligation to do so. Otherwise you'll be an unhappy camper!

 

[bankshot]

I have to say that buying a new mac is going to be a large purchase for me... and my biggest hold up is waiting for the new OS to come out. After I purchase the new iMac I won't be able to shell out another 120+ dollars on the New OS. I mean Call me stupid.. but If I am paying for a new system.. shouldn't i get the new OS? And I do mean purchase the new system reasonably around the time of the new OS's shipdate. Maybe 30 to 60 days before?

Well, technically, you should get exactly what you paid for. If you wait until you have confirmation that new machines are shipping with the new OS, then that's what you'll get. If you buy, knowing that your new machine will ship with the current OS, that is exactly what you are paying for - a new Mac equipped with Tiger. To get something more than that, you either need to pay more (when Leopard comes out, because remember, you didn't pay for it before) or wait until Apple offers it preinstalled.

From that point of view, it's pretty simple. No company is under any legal or moral obligation to offer a free or cheap upgrade to a customer who bought an existing product late in the product's lifecycle. The customer got exactly what they paid for, and if they didn't want that, they shouldn't have made the transaction.

On the other hand, I do agree that widening the window to more like 30-60 days would generate a lot of good will from customers. Apple may find that it's very beneficial to do so for that reason alone, and I'd love to see them do it.

 

[paintballer]

The versions on the shop shelves are update versions. They are only licensed to run on a Mac. All Macs come with Mac OS. So all retail copies of OS are update versions for people already running OSX.

If Apple were to sell non-update licenses they would be more.

Well what I meant is they sale the same thing they are now at the same price but also have a version that is only for people that have Tiger installed and is cheaper. So for example if you were running Panther and you want to go to leopard then you have to buy the regular $130 one but if you are running Tiger then you can use the other one that is like $60-$100.

 

[gothiquegirrl]

From that point of view, it's pretty simple. No company is under any legal or moral obligation to offer a free or cheap upgrade to a customer who bought an existing product late in the product's lifecycle. The customer got exactly what they paid for, and if they didn't want that, they shouldn't have made the transaction.

I agree with this way of thinking.. I NEVER said they were under any obligation to do so. I said It was a WISH I had.

On the other hand, I do agree that widening the window to more like 30-60 days would generate a lot of good will from customers. Apple may find that it's very beneficial to do so for that reason alone, and I'd love to see them do it.

Absolutely, "good will". It would just be a generally "nice" thing to do. Mac users are generally "uber-loyal" ( as someone put it) and seem often not "mind" spending more money on what they feel to be a better product. I really don't "mind" spending the money...as I said in my post... It may just be an issue of me not being able to spend the money IMMEDIATELY after such a large purchase.

For mac lovers who spend a small fortune every year.. and who stand behind Apple with such loyalty and gusto... It would be a nice break. Right?
Not to mention that it would free up some money to make other Apple purchases...such as the iTV.. a new iPod.. ect...

Ang