[smitty825]

I was thinking the other day (this usually is dangerous)... Is Apple planning on offering any upgrade path from Panther to Tiger?

As an Apple User, I've become accustomed to having to pay for a full OS upgrade every time a major OS is released... (If I like it or not, is a completely different discussion )

That being said, Apple is about to start shipping their first Mac Minis. I personally know of at least 3 people that are purchasing their first Mac because of the new Mini, and I'm sure that many people here know others in the same position. (Hopefully this is the item that helps Apple bring their market share up to double-digits)

With all of these first time "switchers" joining the Mac platform, I'm personally worried that a bunch of these people will be upset with Apple for charging them the full upgrade amount, and start their experience with the Mac platform with a bad taste in their mouth.

(For the sake of this argument, I'm assuming most people pick up Mac Minis in the month of Feb. and that Tiger is released sometime in late March)

Does anyone know if Apple is planning some sort of OS upgrade for these folks? Am I the only one who is worried about this? (Sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum...)

[TETENAL]

Originally posted by smitty825:
Is Apple planning on offering any upgrade path from Panther to Tiger?

No.

[yukon]

I see the Mini as a way of getting into the homes of computer users. I mean, 256mb of RAM, that's the minimum for OS X IMHO, I've got 768 and I get good use out of my swap partition. By seeing OS X in all of it's glory, but on a slow machine, they'll want to upgrade. Then they'll start spending money on hardware and software.

Just a theory, perhaps an obvious one though. But it fits in with your question about the OS X upgrade. After a while, when people realize they like OS X, they'll want to upgrade. I'd bet a good number of people would be pissed off that they're already "obsolete", at least if Apple doesn't get the word out to them and they realize 6 months later that many applications don't "support" them anymore.

[Millennium]

Apple has only once offered a special upgrade price: from 10.0 to 10.1 (which was actually a free upgrade). They haven't done it since, and it seems unlikely that they'll start again now.

I don't like this any more than you do. Apple has taken quite an interesting road of nickel-and-diming its users to death (witness QuickTime Pro). I suppose it's their prerogative, but that doesn't mean we have to like it.

[SS3 GokouX]

When I bought my G5 when they were first released, it came pre-installed with Jaguar, but Apple offered a "free" upgrade to Panther ($19.95 shipping and handling). I forget when Apple first announced the upgrade.

There's a chance I made all of this up in my mind, but my Panther CDs are "upgrade-only" discs and I don't recall using my student discount to purchase it either.

[mrgaskell]

Usually those "free" upgrades are only available to those who buy a computer after Apple announces a new software package or OS upgrade.

[Ruahrc]

I was under the impression that if you bought a computer just prior to the release of an OS update, you would recieve a coupon or voucher that would enable you to get the upgrade for free. Usually it comes after the official release date of the software- so that Apple can say "buy this computer and on XXXX date redeem this coupon for a free upgrade to OS X"?

But then again I just got my first apple back in Sept so I am not speaking from experience...

Ruahrc

PS I think the Mac mini is a smart thing, for the biggest gripe/most common argument I hear against Apple computers is their price. Now you can get an Apple for about the same money as a Windows PC.

[cambro]

Originally posted by yukon:
Just a theory,

More like a hunch....


Anyway, at least this time around the price will be sub $100. I think Apple is starting to feel guilty.

[Superchicken]

I think for those buying the Mac mini now if OS X ships before April they should offer a free or at least 20 dollar upgrade. That said I'll be buying one copy of Tiger for both my mom's Mac mini and my PowerBook

[Big Mac]

Originally posted by Millennium:
Apple has only once offered a special upgrade price: from 10.0 to 10.1 (which was actually a free upgrade). They haven't done it since, and it seems unlikely that they'll start again now.

I don't like this any more than you do. Apple has taken quite an interesting road of nickel-and-diming its users to death (witness QuickTime Pro). I suppose it's their prerogative, but that doesn't mean we have to like it.

I understand your perspective, but in context Apple's pricing is reasonable. There were more frequent updates to OS X since it was immature, but now the releases are slowing down. The expense of keeping OS X current will now be lower. Secondly, we used to pay full price for much less substantial classic Mac OS upgrades. Finally, as someone else pointed out, XP upgrades alone are $92 - we always get the full version for a comparable price.

[smitty825]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
I think for those buying the Mac mini now if OS X ships before April they should offer a free or at least 20 dollar upgrade. That said I'll be buying one copy of Tiger for both my mom's Mac mini and my PowerBook

I agree that Apple should really try and pull something like this off. Offer anyone who buys any Mac after the MacWorld Expo a $20 upgrade to Tiger.

My primary concern with this is Apple potentially alienating a bunch of users who are first time Apple Buyers. IMHO, the Mac Mini is an opportunity for them to open themselves up to a much larger piece of the computing universe. It seems if these people have good experiences, then they will recommend this to their friends.

(Note...I certainly didn't want to make this conversation into an "Apple is charging us too much" type conversation. Personally, if (when?) I end up purchasing a Mac Mini, Apple's policy won't affect me at all...I already own 3 Macs, and I will be purchasing the "Family Pack" for Tiger, where I can install it onto 5 machines)

[chabig]

Originally posted by smitty825:
Is Apple planning on offering any upgrade path from Panther to Tiger?

I disagree with the poster who said no. I think they'll have an upgrade available for $129.

Chris