Glimmers of hope and hype from Jobs...
Thought I'd pass this article on to all you miffed Apple loyalists...
<a href="http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,53952,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,53952,00.html</a>
Couple of quips:
On .Mac...
Jobs said that Apple doesn't expect significant profits from the service, but had opted to charge for it so that the company could afford to invest in developing new tools that will eventually be offered through the service.
"Now that we're out of the 'everything is free' mode, we can invest in developing great new things," Jobs said. "It's a good deal."
Possibilities include extending .Mac's offerings to allow subscribers access to products ranging from discounted software to movie tickets.
"Maybe we can eventually work out a deal where you can get everything we do for a flat monthly fee," Jobs said. "I think that's possible."
On Jaguar...
Jobs also defended the $129 pricing of Jaguar, the newly announced upgrade to OS X, saying that the upgrade contained new features, not just simple bug fixes.
"You're paying about $1 per each new feature. That seems fair," Jobs said.
I guess all good things come to those who wait...or spend their money...
<a href="http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,53952,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,53952,00.html</a>
Couple of quips:
On .Mac...
Jobs said that Apple doesn't expect significant profits from the service, but had opted to charge for it so that the company could afford to invest in developing new tools that will eventually be offered through the service.
"Now that we're out of the 'everything is free' mode, we can invest in developing great new things," Jobs said. "It's a good deal."
Possibilities include extending .Mac's offerings to allow subscribers access to products ranging from discounted software to movie tickets.
"Maybe we can eventually work out a deal where you can get everything we do for a flat monthly fee," Jobs said. "I think that's possible."
On Jaguar...
Jobs also defended the $129 pricing of Jaguar, the newly announced upgrade to OS X, saying that the upgrade contained new features, not just simple bug fixes.
"You're paying about $1 per each new feature. That seems fair," Jobs said.
I guess all good things come to those who wait...or spend their money...
Comments
You still have 73 days to decide.
Again, don't forget: no one here has to pay $100 this time out. I believe we're all eligible for the $49 fee, right? So take advantage of that and save your bitching about "$100" until next year.
As far as Jaguar, yeah it was a little more than I expected ($99 would've been ideal), BUT I also do see it as more than bug fixes and tweaks. It seems to be as much of a difference/improvement to 10.1 as 10.1 was to the public beta or the initial OS X release from last March.
I don't have a problem with it. Pretty significant enhancements, features and improvements. That's worth something, right?
I think everyone's been "Napsterized" to the point of no return.
<strong>So odd. I feel like I'm the only person who ISN'T upset about Jaguar or .mac. Maybe because I don't mind paying for things I consider useful and essential?
Again, don't forget: no one here has to pay $100 this time out. I believe we're all eligible for the $49 fee, right? So take advantage of that and save your bitching about "$100" until next year.
As far as Jaguar, yeah it was a little more than I expected ($99 would've been ideal), BUT I also do see it as more than bug fixes and tweaks. It seems to be as much of a difference/improvement to 10.1 as 10.1 was to the public beta or the initial OS X release from last March.
I don't have a problem with it. Pretty significant enhancements, features and improvements. That's worth something, right?
I think everyone's been "Napsterized" to the point of no return.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Nah, scates, you're not the only one. Some of us can see the big picture (and some of us can get a great ed discount on jag ). I'm really excited about .Mac (see my thread about future .mac services). And it is only $49 for us this year. If it's not worth it, just don't renew.
I guess some of us didn't grow up in the age where you could get any software you wanted for free. We're getting old
People can bitch about Jaguar's pricing all they want, but that doesn't change the fact that they were naive to think it was going to be anything other than full retail. I was wrong too...I thought full retail was going to be bumped back down to $99. I was incorrect.
I'm curious about what other services would be next for .mac. I guess you'd have to as what would be most important and make up some priorities. I'm weary of having too much of my own data moving online, especially of this idea in some people's heads of moving all my critical data onto someone else's servers exclusively (I have no problems with using it as backup). But it sounds like Jobs is thinking of services as conveniences and in some custodial role, not in a way that is essential for computer use and productivity.
Also, I'm too lazy to consider truly (or nearly truly free) alternatives. I'm willing to pay some dough to accommodate my lazy lifestyle and make my life a little easier. That's why I use a Mac -- the computer for lazy people.
It's very useful to me, and hence, I have no problem ponying up the dough.
If you want to leave Apple fine..spare us from your constant pissin' and moaning.
Those who a bitching and moaning? I'd say at least 1/2 a decade younger, at least. Of course, I have no way of knowing for sure, but it sure seems that way...
<strong>I wonder what the average age of the people see that .Mac is not a bad thing is.... I'm thinking at least up in the 20's, maybe higher.
Those who a bitching and moaning? I'd say at least 1/2 a decade younger, at least. Of course, I have no way of knowing for sure, but it sure seems that way...</strong><hr></blockquote>
Probably. I was a broke youngster one day also. It isn't easy for some of them but at the same time that's life. You have to outlay the cash because experience is what you need
<hr></blockquote>
Right on.
I didn't even touch on this in my initial post: DO NOT FORGET (or sell short) all the incredible FREE things we do get from Apple. Hell, I'd pay $50-100 (shhh...don't tell anyone) for iTunes alone! And iPhoto also. iCal is going to be a free download as well.
Apple could easily charge $50 or more for each of those incredible apps (and they'd be worth it, IMO), but they give them away for free.
.mac and Jaguar STILL don't bother me in the least.
I think 10.2 is going to be the dam-breaker. Now that most of the critical, essential apps are OS X native (well, a huge number of them, anyway), and if 10.2 is a nimble and quick as everyone says (plus all the cool new features and tweaks), I think by year's end, the OS X-using Mac community will increase DRAMATICALLY.
Personally, there's no way I could (or would) EVER go back to OS 9. If I never see OS 9 or have to launch Classic, that would be fine with me.
Thank goodness I'm in a position/profession where the stuff I need to do what I do, both for work AND play, is available for OS X.
And you know what? I'm STILL on record as saying that I don't think this $129 is exactly carved-in-stone either.
We'll see.
I tend to agree with the notion that the older people (not across the board, but in general) have less of a problem with these two things.
Think about it: if you're under 25 and are a computer user, you grew up (and cut your teeth) in the era of online file-sharing, Napster, Hotline, etc. It's just a common, everyday fact and it's been around as long as you've been using a computer. It probably just feels "right" and expected.
I'd like to see some sort of poll or hard numbers, but I would be willing to bet that most of the hand-wringing and screaming about .mac and Jaguar since Wednesday HAS indeed been mostly from the under-25 crowd.
Not ENTIRELY (if you're 44 and pissed off, I don't really need to hear about it, okay? I get it...). But it seems the majority. The really stupid ones, trying to form half-ass boycotts and petitions and so forth, and you can tell from their writing and phrasing (and sucky spelling/sentence structure) that they're young and, no doubt, in the public school system.
Just kidding. A little.
In any case, I'm going to have a hard time signing ANY petition written by sOMeonE Who wriTEZ liK ThiS (and is a flaming dipshit on wheels, to boot).
Put down the Nintendo and go mow a few yards, puddinghead. Learn what it's like to earn the money and actually PAY for something for once.
<steps off soapbox and sets megaphone down...>
They can play Nintendo AND mow the lawn at the <a href="http://www.nintendo.com/streetteam/index.jsp" target="_blank">same time</a> now.
I am just a bit perturbed that I bought a new Mac on June 15 and have to pay in "full".
They should have at least a 90 day grace period.
The little mac users that I go to school with all agree that it is well worth it to buy software you love. I buy all the games I like and I probably would pay for .Mac if they allowed you to send a check. :cool:
As for Jaguar, I've got the dough put away. As for .Mac, ha. I have the money...I just need the means.
.Mac, well I don't see the use for it, so I won't purchase it. It's that simple. I already have enough free e-mail addresses, and I can get web space through my university stuff, so .Mac doesn't offer a lot for me. It is worth it though, and everything will be moving to web services very soon, so for those short-sighted enough not to see it, well too bad. In a couple years when Microsoft figures out just what .NET actually is (I still have yet to get a clear understanding of it), I won't want to see what they're charging for stuff.
I should probably sign up for ADC, cause if I can get Jaguar that way, it'd be really nice. I was planning to get an ADC student membership soon anyway... yeah I'll probably get it when I go back to college in August.