[iDriveX]

So .mac 3.0 is soon to be released. Will we see features that actually make it "worth it"? Well, I for one already think it is worth it, but I think these next updates will just add more fuel to the flames of discontent for the product. Things that I've heard through the grapevine:

- .Mac Exclusive Widgets! - I don't know how they plan on making these exclusive to .mac. My first thought is that you have to login to download them and that's it. SO they'll be exclusive for about 15 minutes before everyone sends them to their buddies on IM. THe next thought is that they'll actually be built into .mac and query your login/password everytime you activate the dashboard. No legit .mac account, no go. As if the Dashboard updating wasn't slow enough, potentially our widgets have to log in somewhere. Also, I haven't heard if these widgets will actually be .mac tools or if they will just be random.

- Backup 3.0 - Backing up multiple computers to one iDisk. This will be good for my folks. As of right now they have one .mac account and three of those e-mail only accounts (one for my mom, dad and brother). But only one of them can backup to their iDisk.

- Encrypted iChats! - Yeah, I don't know how many .mac members have the security needs to have encrypted iChats, but supposedly it's going to work like this. If you've upgraded to the latest version of iChat AND You're using your .mac name to chat on iChat, and you have someone else doing the same thing, then the iChat will be encrypted through the .Mac servers. For one, I have two people on my buddy list that actually use their .mac name to chat. And secondly, why in God's name do I need to encrypt my iChat? Has anyone ever had anything "stolen" from an iChat over a network?

Personally, I just wish they could make my iDisk and iCal sync correctly. But that's another story for another thread.

[OAW]

My .Mac subscription is coming up for renewal in a few months and I'm seriously considering ditching it. And I've had it since its inception! Thus far, I've really only used email, iDisk, .Mac syncing, and Backup. Since I hardly ever use my iMac anymore since getting a PowerBook a year or so ago ... keeping both machines synced is no longer a priority for me. And while Backup is nice there is nothing it does that I can't do for free with SilverKeeper from Lacie other than backup to my iDisk which I rarely do. I use the iDisk ... but infrequently. Mainly just to host images that I link to on these boards or to transfer a file too large for an attachment every now and again. So the main that I use it for consistently is email. And since I recently heard that GMail is offering free POP access (I really prefer to use Mail instead of a web interface) AND has way more storage .... why continue to pay $100 per year? Unless I start using the Homepage feature or some really cool, must have .Mac Widgets are released ... there really isn't much reason to. Of course, there is the hassle of changing your email address ... but I may just do it to save the money this time around.

OAW

[rickey939]

I look forward to whatever changes come!

[JKT]

Originally Posted by iDriveX

- .Mac Exclusive Widgets! - I don't know how they plan on making these exclusive to .mac.

IMO, they will be widgets that are specifically for doing .Mac things and would therefore be useless to anyone who does not have a .Mac account. E.g. they could be widgets that show you how many hits you have had on your Homepage sites, how much free/used space you have on your iDisk, the status of the various services, for searching the .Mac support forums, etc.

[dark3lf]

What keeps me from using my .Mac account is that it's HORRIBLY SLOW and tends to crash the Finder more often than not. I would also like to see them increase the storage space. All other features I couldn't care less about.

[wataru]

I'm thinking about ditching .Mac, but at the moment I'm too tied to my email address. If I can migrate away to something else by next year, maybe.

[DigitalEl]

What keeps me from using my .Mac account is that it's HORRIBLY SLOW and tends to crash the Finder more often than not. I would also like to see them increase the storage space. All other features I couldn't care less about.

What he said.

iDisk is still damn near unusable, even with broadband on my two-month-old G5 iMac.

[Krusty]

My .Mac services seem to work fine (most of the time .. but there is the occasional glitch). iDisk speed with 10.4 has been pretty good. It IS starting to get to the point that its not worth $99 + tax to me anymore to purchase online from Apple. So I'm just going to be resourceful and buy it for $78 + no tax + free shipping from Amazon this year (well in advance, like in the next week or two). I'm still tied to the utter convenience of everything, my .mac email address, all the web pages I'd have to find a new home for, etc. The hassle of finding piecemeal alternatives just isn't really that appealing to me when I can have it all (albeit in smaller quantities for web space, etc) for one simple $78 fee each October with virtually zero setup time or maintenance headaches.

[Cadaver]

I agree with Crusty. I'm happy to have all the .mac services integrated into all the various apps (iPhoto, Mail, iDisk/Finder, iSync, etc).

[Randman]

I found Transmit to be invaluable when uploading and managing the iDisk.