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Why is Mavericks free?
- Thread starter pilkenton
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. . . why is Mavericks plural?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavericks_(location)
it's named after a place
Here's the best explanation why: http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/25/5028610/apple-free-os-x-upgrade-what-it-means-for-microsoft
Nutshell:
- it's inevitable since we already don't expect to pay for OS on many devices.
- to attack Microsoft.
Nutshell:
- it's inevitable since we already don't expect to pay for OS on many devices.
- to attack Microsoft.
Who's complaining?
I think I was really good business decision for them to make a lot of their software free. It allows software developers to have a higher adoption rate for newest OS. One interesting thing about it is Microsoft can't copy them as the Windows division only makes money on software.
Agree, it's a nice differentiator to MS windows 8 upgrades which cost some solid money (and that not in a family pack). Of course Apple makes enough money with hardware and they need new OS for that anyways.
So giving it for free cost them nothing more, it only reduce a bit the top line.
To be fair: MS also gave us the "Start" button back for free
So giving it for free cost them nothing more, it only reduce a bit the top line.
To be fair: MS also gave us the "Start" button back for free
It is quite perplexing. No complaints from me either, but it seems like apple is missing out on making money from a purchase many of us would make anyway. Maybe its just to try and get everyone on the same OS for some reason. Its definitely a jab at microsoft and their expensive OS, but i don't see them making it free for that reason.
The price speculation thread that was started before it dropped. Lot's of complaints in there.
compared to their revenue from hardware sources, software makes them a pittance.
there are a lot of advantages to apple to keeping people up to date on software for free. it means they don't have to develop as many legacy updates for old apps and OSes and it also keeps people's computers working the fastest and best that they can.
I not complaining about it being free at all I just made those observations it's not a super huge update. Still the best operating system there is.
Agreed... aside from the battery usage improvement under Mavs, sometimes I think on downgrading back to Snow Leopard.
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. . . why is Mavericks plural?
Isn't it singular? The Mavericks beach is blablabla, so the Mavericks operating system has blabablbla...
No one knows why. As the saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. My guess is that it's probably part of Apple's new business model. Maybe the OS will be free but we will pay for the features we want in the future.
The current model of selling notebooks and desktops has been dying for years as PC sales continue to struggle.
The current model of selling notebooks and desktops has been dying for years as PC sales continue to struggle.
Why it's free?
All contacts and calendars now have to be synced via iCloud (aka NSA) via US servers. This is an absolute no-go for many european businesses.
Our company already decided to sell all Macs and iPhones and I assume many EU businesses will follow.
After 10 years working exclusively with macs this is the end of the journey.
Now I'm also considering to return my privately owned brand new i7 iMac as long as I still can (and this one has a perfect screen with no issues - damn)
All contacts and calendars now have to be synced via iCloud (aka NSA) via US servers. This is an absolute no-go for many european businesses.
Our company already decided to sell all Macs and iPhones and I assume many EU businesses will follow.
After 10 years working exclusively with macs this is the end of the journey.
Now I'm also considering to return my privately owned brand new i7 iMac as long as I still can (and this one has a perfect screen with no issues - damn)
Not true. You may choose to use iCloud sync on a granular basis for contacts and calendars. But you don't have to.
Unfortunately it is true.
Connect your iPhone or iPad via USB or WLAN to your Mac and open iTunes.
There is no more syncing without iCloud.
The only way to go around this new forced iCloud sync is to run your own CalDAV/CardDAV-server or using a 3rd party cloud software solution.
While I'm no expert in this field I'm confident my company doesn't sell all Apple equipment (after 10 years!) based on a hunch. German tech magazines also advice business owners not to upgrade to Mavericks...but maybe they are all wrong.
Connect your iPhone or iPad via USB or WLAN to your Mac and open iTunes.
There is no more syncing without iCloud.
The only way to go around this new forced iCloud sync is to run your own CalDAV/CardDAV-server or using a 3rd party cloud software solution.
While I'm no expert in this field I'm confident my company doesn't sell all Apple equipment (after 10 years!) based on a hunch. German tech magazines also advice business owners not to upgrade to Mavericks...but maybe they are all wrong.
You just use OS X Server to run a CalDAV and CardDAV server and maybe VPN. Problem solved.
lost some one time revenue, probably gain more long time
While it will take time to bear out success or not with this new strategy, i think it's a pretty good strategic plan.
My estimation of what apple COULD have generated from a mavericks 20$ upgrade price was MAYBE 500-600 million all in, over time which could be a couple years to realize if at all. they could have probably gotten 200-300 million in the next 90 days, the rest over the following 18-24 months.
Now, with the upgrade to mavericks, it enables a number of things that just might drive users to subscribe to other apple services and would most likely remain subscribers over time.
things like itunes radio, via music match mostly. 25$ a year
increased storage for icloud, for either music syncing or overall backup and storage that starts at 20$ a year and quickly goes to 40/50$ a year.
The integration of apps (which are pretty much being given away for free now) icloud reminders, settings, safari etc across devices could even enhance the halo effect that apple already gets for people to buy ipads/iphones/minis, etc..
So, it's probably a short term loss of revenue (which honestly for apple is a rounding error) but an higher possibility of LONG TERM revenue enhancements
AND they get all that media attention "It's FREE, FREE FREE!" and good will from customers.
While it will take time to bear out success or not with this new strategy, i think it's a pretty good strategic plan.
My estimation of what apple COULD have generated from a mavericks 20$ upgrade price was MAYBE 500-600 million all in, over time which could be a couple years to realize if at all. they could have probably gotten 200-300 million in the next 90 days, the rest over the following 18-24 months.
Now, with the upgrade to mavericks, it enables a number of things that just might drive users to subscribe to other apple services and would most likely remain subscribers over time.
things like itunes radio, via music match mostly. 25$ a year
increased storage for icloud, for either music syncing or overall backup and storage that starts at 20$ a year and quickly goes to 40/50$ a year.
The integration of apps (which are pretty much being given away for free now) icloud reminders, settings, safari etc across devices could even enhance the halo effect that apple already gets for people to buy ipads/iphones/minis, etc..
So, it's probably a short term loss of revenue (which honestly for apple is a rounding error) but an higher possibility of LONG TERM revenue enhancements
AND they get all that media attention "It's FREE, FREE FREE!" and good will from customers.
Or so you don't think so. Give it away free to the slaves (fka Americans). Everybody installs it and it data mines their systems whether iCloud is on or not. The key is the iTunes ID. Everyone has one of those!
Hopefully even though they know that I know they don't know how much I know and because I know their ways they won't know where to find me.
Maybe it's because they're getting a kickback from folks like Adobe where old versions of their software don't work quite right with Mavericks. ;-)
E.g., Photoshop Elements 8 (yes, sort of old, but come on...) complains about saving files - says "...the file is already in use or was left open". Sigh...
Granted I haven't looked for a free Elements 8-specific patch. ;-)))))
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And, of course...
Apple is a hardware company; Microsoft is a software company. The MacOS started with no copy protection, but has evolved in that direction recently (Lion+), while Windows has (always?) had copy protection - e.g., license codes.
Have I missed something?
E.g., Photoshop Elements 8 (yes, sort of old, but come on...) complains about saving files - says "...the file is already in use or was left open". Sigh...
Granted I haven't looked for a free Elements 8-specific patch. ;-)))))
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And, of course...
Apple is a hardware company; Microsoft is a software company. The MacOS started with no copy protection, but has evolved in that direction recently (Lion+), while Windows has (always?) had copy protection - e.g., license codes.
Have I missed something?