OS versions-Does Apple do Upgrade vs Full?

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aflaaakaflaaak
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Just wondered if Apple discounts their new OS for people who want to upgrade similarly to Microsoft, I.E. when I switched from Windows ME to XP I paid less for the new OS (Upgrade version) than if I was starting from scratch (Full version), since I had already paid for the old one. Could be another reason for me to wait until Leopard is released before purchasing my first Mac.

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  • Reply 1 of 12
    baygbmbaygbm Posts: 147member
    If you can wait, then wait. There are no discounts.
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  • Reply 2 of 12
    aflaaakaflaaak Posts: 210member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by baygbm


    There are no discounts.



    That's kinda uncool
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  • Reply 3 of 12
    chuckerchucker Posts: 5,089member
    That's because it's technically always an upgrade price anyway, since you can only install it on machines that already run Mac OS.
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  • Reply 4 of 12
    brussellbrussell Posts: 9,812member
    Remember that a Mac OS X ($129) is cheaper than a Windows upgrade ($100-$200 or so, depending on the version). But the other issue is that OS X gets upgraded more frequently than Windows, so you probably end up paying more for OS X.
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  • Reply 5 of 12
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    OTOH, it *does* get upgraded, and you aren't *forced* to upgrade, so... I'd call it an even call.



    And that's not even getting into support costs, and how they offset any added MacOS X OS purchasing expense easily for most people...
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  • Reply 6 of 12
    aflaaakaflaaak Posts: 210member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Chucker


    That's because it's technically always an upgrade price anyway, since you can only install it on machines that already run Mac OS.



    Technically, the same is true for MS. I guess the difference is that you'll never find an Mac that someone built from scratch needing an full OS.
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  • Reply 7 of 12
    aflaaakaflaaak Posts: 210member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BRussell


    Remember that a Mac OS X ($129) is cheaper than a Windows upgrade ($100-$200 or so, depending on the version). But the other issue is that OS X gets upgraded more frequently than Windows, so you probably end up paying more for OS X.



    I hadn't bothered to check the price, but $129 isn't that steep. I think I paid something like $75 for XP on sale. It makes waiting $125 cheaper though, that is if there aren't any other increases in price for a similar iMac. Plus the updates to iLife, FrontRow, etc.
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  • Reply 8 of 12
    bmyers2bmyers2 Posts: 12member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Aflaaak


    Just wondered if Apple discounts their new OS for people who want to upgrade similarly to Microsoft, I.E. when I switched from Windows ME to XP I paid less for the new OS (Upgrade version) than if I was starting from scratch (Full version), since I had already paid for the old one. Could be another reason for me to wait until Leopard is released before purchasing my first Mac.



    Sorry this may be off topic as well as already discussed in another thread...



    I wonder if Apple will offer one DVD that will install either PPC/Intel code base or if there will be designations on the box to indicate which is included?



    That said, it would be nice if I could purchase Leopard for my Intel iMac and 'upgrade' the OS for my DP 1.8Ghz G5.



    As discussed already though, we know Apple doesn't price or offer their OS this way and I might be stuck buying two copies: 1 PPC 1 Intel.



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  • Reply 9 of 12
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Nope. That's the whole point behind Universal Binaries: one package, one installer, one price, multiple architectures.



    Don't worry about it.
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  • Reply 10 of 12
    brussellbrussell Posts: 9,812member
    Yeah you'll only need one OS, but on the other hand what bmyers2 is suggesting is against Apple's terms. You're supposed to buy a new OS for each machine you upgrade. I'm sure not everyone does that, but to complain about it - inaccurately at that - is a bit much.
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  • Reply 11 of 12
    bmyers2bmyers2 Posts: 12member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BRussell


    Yeah you'll only need one OS, but on the other hand what bmyers2 is suggesting is against Apple's terms. You're supposed to buy a new OS for each machine you upgrade. I'm sure not everyone does that, but to complain about it - inaccurately at that - is a bit much.



    I apologize if my post left room to assume I would install a single purchsed copy of Leopard onto both of my machines. I can see how that could be assumed by what I said. Although I still wonder if there will be hybrid DVD that will install onto either architecture, I would buy two copies. Considering the theme of this post is in regard to whether one can buy an upgraded version of OS X at a discounted price, I thought I was being clear. Considering I have a PB G4 sitting here too, I might just buy a family pack! LOL
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  • Reply 12 of 12
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Yes, assume a hybrid product. It makes ZERO sense for Apple to incur the overhead of two sets of product in the inventory channel, the headaches involved, etc, when they've put all of the engineering effort into ensuring that that sort of customer confusion doesn't happen for *any* Mac developer.
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