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Microsoft has one, so where’s Apple’s online Mac software store?

Friday, November 14, 2008 · 5:06 pm · 46 Comments

“Microsoft today launched a new U.S. online store, allowing anyone to buy software direct from the company,” Eric Krangel writes for Silicon Alley Insider.

MacDailyNews Take: Bloated spaghetti code. Now disc-free!

Krangel asks, “So Apple, where’s your online Mac software store?”

“Apple has obviously figured out Internet software delivery for its iPhones and iPods. Yet Apple only sells its Mac software — Final Cut, Garage Band jam packs, iWork, Aperture, OS X, etc. — on discs,” Krangel reports.

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "macminiuser" for the heads up.]

MacDailyNews Take: Now all Microsoft has to do is convince the cheap Windows sufferers to actually pay for software.*

*In 2005, even before the recent explosive Mac market share gains, according to US News and World Report, Macintosh owners bought 30% more software than their Windows counterparts. Further, Macintosh software comprised over 18% of all software sold, according to the Software and Information Industry Association. In addition, the Software Publishers Association (SPA) estimated that 16 percent of computer users were on Macs.

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Comment Feed

46 Comments

1 2 3 Next »

Ian

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:10 pm · Reply

Ya know…I have no problem spending a shitload of money on something and having a physical disc to go along with it. And it’s not like Microsoft is the first one on the boat here…Steam’s been doing it for how long?

I still have an issue on downloading software and having it be just that…a download and nothing else (particularly with a large price point). And lets see how valid that is as more ISPs throttle speeds after certain bandwidth limits.

I’ll continue to enjoy the iPhone App Store, thanks. Oh, and my Half-Life 2 Orange Box DVDs that are neatly stored in an easy-to-locate binder.
Olternaut

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:12 pm · Reply

*MacDailyNews Take: Bloated spaghetti code. Now disc-free!*

Childish and awkward response MDN. So where is Apple’s online software store? Well?

Quiet now aren’t MDN.
me

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:16 pm · Reply

I don’t understand why MobileMe needs a box and physical product at all. It’s just an activation code. Why can’t i do that entirely online?
Rob

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:21 pm · Reply

Yeah, right, like I really want to buy >10G software (FCP) via internet and burn dual layer backups.
Hm...

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:22 pm · Reply

A number of years ago, I bought some software via a download with money from a government grant. The bean-counters showed up a month later demanding to put an inventory-control sticker on it. I finally ended up pulling out a file folder that had the invoice so they could put the sticker on the folder… They went away happy. I still have to keep that folder until I can get the software removed from inventory—the software that long ago stopped working when Apple switched to PowerPC …
Loru

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:24 pm · Reply

I was actually thinking about this idea alot. They REALLY NEED an online software store because of the MacBook Air. I assumed that it would have come at WWDC with AppStore announcements. I personally think that Apple should release a new program iStore, that lets you purchase Mac Apps, iPhone apps, music, movies, whatever, and it imports into the correct iPrograms ie iTunes.
uh duh

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:27 pm · Reply

hey idiots, check out http://store.apple.com/us
It’s an online, Mac software store plus lots more.
Wow, imagine that.
tb

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:28 pm · Reply

Please Apple, put up a software store, so I can download 8 Dual-Layer DVDS worth of Final Cut Studio Installs! Then if I have to re-install or move to another machine, let me do it all over again. Yeah sign me up for that! I stick with physical media, thanks! Pure logic from a PC user who doesn’t think.
treestman

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:30 pm · Reply

Um, I bought Aperture via download. No discs involved.
bob

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:31 pm · Reply

apple menu > mac osx software
almux

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:31 pm · Reply

Of course, one can download and burn one’s soft on a DVD for security and prompt fresh reinstall… Yet, i still love Apple’s real boxes. It make me feel better with having disks and books ready in my office.
All that online stuff still sounds lousy and filled with data loss to me.
pr

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:38 pm · Reply

HELLO!!!

As has been mentioned…what the hell is this guy talking about?

http://www.apple.com/downloads/

and/or

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB624Z/A

Are they referring to a DOWNLOADS ONLY store?
treestman

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:40 pm · Reply

As an addendum to my comment above, Aperture and iWorks can be downloaded as trials and then purchased, so no discs are involved.

I do not see an option to download any of Apple’s other apps as trials, however.
Olternaut

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:42 pm · Reply

Nope. I still don’t see any downloads of full applications on Apple’s site. You need to give us a direct link.
Cubert

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:44 pm · Reply

pr,
Yeah. That’s what this hit whore is referring to.

Too bad he’s completely wrong.
BC Kelly

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:49 pm · Reply

For anyone downloading Microsoft Software

You’ll probably need this at some point:

windows-kb890830-v2.1.exe [mininova].torrent
galt's gulch

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 6:50 pm · Reply

“Childish and awkward response MDN.”

On the contrary, I thought it was rather witty and succinct. Why should people be excited that they now have easier access to substandard MS products?
uh duh

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 7:00 pm · Reply

yeah, downloading logic or final cut studio is the stupidest thing ive heard today. hope you have some big hard drives, fast internet connection and blu-ray for your backups. GET REAL PEOPLE!!!
Logic Studio is 46Gb, Fianl Cut Studio is 59Gb.
What happens when your hard drive dies and that has your only downloaded copy on it?
Great idea, really.
BSOD

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 7:08 pm · Reply

The Steam model is by far the best. I love having all my games online and downloadable to any machine I use. I wish that Apple would do the same with iTunes.
AAPLguy

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 7:13 pm · Reply

“I don’t understand why MobileMe needs a box and physical product at all. It’s just an activation code. Why can’t i do that entirely online?”

It does not require the box. Anyone can go to me.com and sign up online.