How many times will i pay for OS X ?

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zfmtzfmt
Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
Ok, so im getting a g5 imac tomorow and am curious what happens when the newer versions of osx arrive; do i have to pay for an upgrade or can i download them for free?



If you dont understand what i mean by new versions, im mean, like the OS 10.2 gets upgrades to 10.4.2



btw: if you cant already tell, im a noob to mac os.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 9
    zfmtzfmt Posts: 53member
    sorry bout the angry smilie. i put er in by accident
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  • Reply 2 of 9
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    OSX is a platform, just like MacOS was a platform, it breaks down this way - mac os 10 (the platform) .4 (the version of the platform which you pay for, think win 2k->xp) .2 (the patch/update - think service pack)
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  • Reply 3 of 9
    zfmtzfmt Posts: 53member
    oh, i didnt know about that. thats kind of a cool way to make an os. but is upgrading free? from my understanding of what you said it sounds like it isnt.
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  • Reply 4 of 9
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by zfmt

    oh, i didnt know about that. thats kind of a cool way to make an os. but is upgrading free? from my understanding of what you said it sounds like it isnt.



    The named upgredes, tiger, panther... are not free, the service releases are.



    OSX 10.4 $129 (in pretty retail box)



    OSX 10.4.2 Free to users of 10.4 (download via software update)





    th big releases will occur about every 18 months, you do not have to upgrade at all if you like what you have. Plenty of people still use Jaguar and are fine with it (IMHO they know not what they miss )
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  • Reply 5 of 9
    wingnutwingnut Posts: 197member
    Yeah, you will get free "upgrades" for any update that starts with "10.4." The next version you will have to pay for will start with "10.5" and is due about 18 months from now. Upgrading to it is optional, as Apple typically supports the previous OS for a while.
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  • Reply 6 of 9
    zfmtzfmt Posts: 53member
    i dont mean to bump the thread, but i think it is rude not to reply.

    thanks, now i understand.



    and btw you people are alot nicer to noobs than other forums!
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  • Reply 7 of 9
    wingnutwingnut Posts: 197member
    It all depends on how you ask your question, I guess.
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  • Reply 8 of 9
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,067member
    Didn't we hear awhile back that Apple was going to slow down it's major upgrade cycle?



    Personally, I think I may be done paying for upgrades. I bought OS 10.1, got Jaguar for free through the education program they had going, then bought a machine with Panther, and now I've purchased Tiger, also with ed. discount.
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  • Reply 9 of 9
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Yeah, it was 12 months, Tiger took 16, the next one may take 18-24.



    And as for not paying for any more... don't worry, they'll throw some neat new thing in there you're just going to *have* to have... and you'll pay. Oh yes, you'll pay.
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