They announce the up to date program when the announce the release date. That has always been the case. Before OS X was download only, they needed to do a longer lead time on the announcement so stores could prepare for the physical product.It could, but historically Apple has announced it beforehand. To me, the iMac update would have been the logical time to mention it because it would be nice for new iMac buyers to know--no pointless waiting till Mavericks.
Why do you think it will be free? The accounting rules Apple has used for Macs would have a problem if they made this update free. And we may not see something other than OS X for several years.I think it might be free and then OSXI would be back to pay. The average user would be hard pressed to tell any surface difference between ML and Mavericks.
And how would Macworld Magazine know? I bet they tossed that in without thinking.
Why?I have a suspicion it may be a free upgrade.
They announce the up to date program when the announce the release date. That has always been the case. Before OS X was download only, they needed to do a longer lead time on the announcement so stores could prepare for the physical product.
their competitors are offering their operating systems for free too.
@808?
Google, Microsoft (as long as you already own windows 8) and Linux...
Obviously Microsoft is the only real competitor here and windows 8.1 will only be free to windows 8 users but by making mavericks free apple will get more people to upgrade and they can tout X million people are running the most current version of osx.
And apart from a few thousand fanboys who will give a toss?
Do you really think impressing a few thousand people with a meaningless piece of trivia is more important to Apple than millions of dollars in revenue?
The best argument for it being free is that they haven't offered the "free upgrade with a new Mac" that they have offered almost every time before (that I can remember anyway).
This would be signaling the intention to make it free.
Is this accurate? Last years up to date program for Mountain Lion was for computers purchased almost two months before launch.
I can't see why Apple should've already announced the up to date program. It's not that it's the second time it happens.. once they announce Mavericks' release date, they say "And customers who bought any Mac up to 60 days prior to the release date are entitled to have the OS for free". Why shouldn't this happen? Why couldn't it?
It won't be 60 days, it will be 30. That number isn't pulled out of a hat. It's the length of their longest return policy period. They do it because once the software launches any computer bought during that time gets the new software. Either by being preloaded or a free update.
They don't want folks that bought a computer they can still return doing so to get the software. Since the system is based on the date of first sale of a serial they can't just return the serial and sell it back. They have to sell a new machine and thus now have one they just 'burned' for no reason other than the software. So they back date the qualifying period to cover that game and avoid the headaches
Then why don't they charge for iOS? Why did they just make iWork free for new iOS devices?
Apple, like any SANE company, does things that will benefit themselves the most. They couldn't care less about fanboy praise
Why do you think it will be free? The accounting rules Apple has used for Macs would have a problem if they made this update free.
Actually, I'm not just parroting what others have said. There are accounting rules that publicly traded companies have to follow. Apple would have had to defer a portion of the income for each Mac sale to allow for free OS X upgrades.Yet another reference to this silly-assed "accounting rule" nonsense. You're just repeating what you've read here with no explanation and blindly accept it.
I'd like to know what commerce rules exist that force a company to charge a fee for something? Go ahead... somebody "enlighten" me.
Do you truly not understand the difference between a massive market like iOS and a niche market like OS X? Apple is in the portable device business. The Mac is a small and ever dwindling sideline. Giving away OS X would send one message and one message only - that the Mac is dying and can't compete. That's not a true message and it isn't one they'd want to sent out.
Do you think they do it for silly bragging rights, or to make it easy for developers to target a single operating system? They do, you know, make money off the sales in the App Store. OS X software sales through the App store are minuscule in comparison and most apps are compatible with multiple versions. It doesn't matter nearly as much to them if people update Mac OS right away. And it's a lot harder to get someone who thinks they paid $99 for their phone to spend another $10 than it is to get someone who spent $1000-2500 to spend another $20.
Apple, like any SANE company, does things that will benefit themselves the most. They couldn't care less about fanboy praise
Yet another reference to this silly-assed "accounting rule" nonsense. You're just repeating what you've read here with no explanation and blindly accept it.
I'd like to know what commerce rules exist that force a company to charge a fee for something? Go ahead... somebody "enlighten" me.