[just_switched]

Hi,

I signed up for 60 days trial membership of .Mac and planning to cancel it. I think the subscription cost is too steep. Y! provides exactly the same sets of features and even more than what .Mac offers. The only thing Y! doesn't provide is a seamless way to do iBackup. Are there any other reasons for having .Mac?

Please remember I am "just_switched" :-) If I am missing something, please point it out.

Thanks

[Big Mac]

It's definitely not a must have. iDisk can be convenient, however. The major reason why I have .Mac is I enjoy having my @mac.com email address.

[SciFrog]

Love it, just wish it would have 500+ MB for the price.

[Angus_D]

I don't have it.

[Maflynn]

I have it,
while its true that you can get all that .mac provides for less money, the aspect of one stop shopping and its intergration into osx was too much of a deciding factor for me. I also like the .mac as my email address.

Finally for me there's inertia, its just not worth the work to switch my email account and notify everyone.

Mike

[cpac]

not a must have, but it's worth the money if you think you'll use the services it provides.

[Turias]

Definitely not worth it for me. I would consider paying $100 a year if I would really use iSync and iPhoto publishing a lot, but even then, it's a lot of money for a piddly 150MB of space and a small array of features.

Using Dreamhost (referrer link alert! click it if you love me! ) I get 4.5GB of space, 264GB of bandwidth, unlimited e-mail addresses, full access to a login shell, mySQL, PHP, perl, and more, all for $10 a month.

It's not for the run-of-the-mill user who merely wants to shove their iPhoto photos out to the web, but for anyone who wants to do a little bit more with their web hosting, it's great. Plus, their support is top-notch and the monthly newsletters they send out are hilarious.

[cpac]

to break it out another way, you get:

email w/ web access
250MB of server space
super-easy photo sharing, movie sharing, file sharing via the web
free software
free tutorial type stuff (never really used it, but hey...)
sync services for multiple macs
convenient, automated backup
free antivirus software (if you're the type to use it)

+ all the crazy good stuff that's going to be integrated once Tiger comes out.

To me, it's worth the $100 a year (though it usually ends up being less than that, since you can buy on amazon and/or get discounted or bundled prices with purchases you'd be making anyway)

[zerock]

right now i dont have it, but looking forward to having it again.

[just_switched]

Thanks for the response. I too like [email protected] as my id. From what I am hearing, it is more of a premium for the brand name even though we can live without it. I wish Apple offers some kind of nice discount for this :-)

I am going to think about this and decide ....

Thanks

M

[Millennium]

I got .mac when it was free, and I've paid the last two times to maintain the e-mail address. I don't use the e-mail address much anymore, though, and I almost never use anything else. My advice: don't bother.

[ManOfSteal]

I love it and use most of the services all the time. I could live without it though and go elsewhere, but if I do that, I lose the "integration" with the OS and the iApps themselves...

[RevEvs]

have it for my email address which im using too mcuh to change, and for iSync and iDisk.

[zigzag]

First, you can usually find it for $80 at amazon or megamacs. Second, it's a huge convenience if you have more than one Mac and need to sync them - this is the key feature for me. Third, the integration is nice and should get even better. Fourth, you get a huge collection of royalty-free music, which I've used for video projects for clients. Fifth, well, there is no fifth.

Seriously, you can get more for the money elsewhere, but you won't get the convenience, and sometimes convenience is worth paying extra for.

[bbales]

I agree with zigzag about the convenience of syncing two macs. This is a major convenience for me for keeping calendars (ical) and bookmarks synced. I've not done too many web pages (OK, I've done 2!) but when I did one of my girls from Homecoming last fall, it took, oh, about 15 minutes. Then my whole family could see the photos. It is so easy. And I expect that someday, my kids will figure out how easy it is, too.

I paid only $79 for my renewal on amazon.com.

It's definitely NOT a must-have, but it is convenient.

[jamil5454]

I'm pretty sure you get a 60-day FREE trial with the purchase of a new Mac. At least I did with my iBook back in October. It was nice but not worth $100 to me.

[Randman]

As you see, people either love it or hate it.
I'm in the love category. I don't need my own domain but it is nice having a site where I can uploads photos and movies for the folks back home as well as having a section where I can keep my professional stuff, design samples, writing clips, etc.
I also like the ease of use, and being able to access my stuff and bookmarks from any computer, even one running XP. Backup is also a decent app, able to take use of the iDisk, an iPod an external HD or discs.
The mail integration is good. I have my gmail for Internet usage set to forward to .Mac, then I use that address as my "real" e-mail addy.
And finally, the extras as nice, the extra loops, games and application give value for the money.

[DigitalEl]

For me, iSync is the most valuable feature. That alone is worth the price each year.

Question for y'all, though. If when my renewal comes up, I go the discount route through Amazon or whatever... Can I keep the same username or would it be like registering a completely new account?

[Randman]

As long as you renew it before it expires (I think you get a little leeway), you should be all right.

[naphtali]

I've been a .Mac subscriber for ages now, and I love it!

I know there are cheaper/faster services available, and for some time I'd even subscribed to .Mac and other hosts.

My first motivation for keeping with .Mac all this while is the email address (what can possibly be more spiffy than @mac.com?) - blind brand loyalty and of course convenience.

Lately, however, I've switched my mail from POP to IMAP, and started storing my address book and bookmarks online as well, just to try out the other services.

I was skeptical at first, thinking that it'd just be as slow as iDisk in Finder (grr), but all this have dramatically made my life easier!

These days, when I do a complete reinstall, I simply run iSync, set my mail and mail directory to download in Mail and I'm mostly set!

My main gripes with the service (and reasons for paying for other services at the same time) are:
1) No spiffy blogging interface
2) No database/PHP/server-side scripting features
3) Slow iDisk in Finder (reasonably ok with Goliath)
4) Rather slow upload with iPhoto (YMMV)

So, if you don't mind hosting your blog elsewhere, don't need complex server stuff and all that, .Mac is a pretty nice thing!

I'm sure Apple will continue to add value to the service too

[cpac]

Originally posted by naphtali:

My main gripes with the service (and reasons for paying for other services at the same time) are:
1) No spiffy blogging interface

Apple gave a free copy of iBlog away - which integrates with .Mac nicely.

[Randman]

iBlog plays nicely with .Mac. and iPhoto5 does the same for photos. You can choose a page template right in iPhoto, pick your photos and it'll upload right to .mac. Much faster than the drag and drop method as well.

[JLL]

Originally posted by zigzag:
Second, it's a huge convenience if you have more than one Mac and need to sync them - this is the key feature for me.

That's the number 1 feature for me too.

[Wiskedjak]

I much prefer the free 1,000mb email accounts from gmail. Perhaps not as many options for use of that space as .mac, but giving people a free email address and then charging them for use of it after they're hooked on it is just a little too Microsoft like for me.

[Randman]

Originally posted by Wiskedjak:
I much prefer the free 1,000mb email accounts from gmail.

But gmail is as common as hotmail these days. While I like having a @mac.com address for personal reasons, it does show (imo) a little more professionalism than a gmail account for my freelance work.

[OsakaBill]

Originally posted by jamil5454:
I'm pretty sure you get a 60-day FREE trial with the purchase of a new Mac. At least I did with my iBook back in October. It was nice but not worth $100 to me.

You can get a 60 day free trail at any time buy signing up with .Mac on Apple's web site. You can buy .Mac for $69 when you purchase a new Mac.

[OsakaBill]

Originally posted by Wiskedjak:
I much prefer the free 1,000mb email accounts from gmail. Perhaps not as many options for use of that space as .mac, but giving people a free email address and then charging them for use of it after they're hooked on it is just a little too Microsoft like for me.

Apple was forced into this situation by people who abused their free .Mac accounts. Like the person who had over 200 .Mac accounts and used the separate e-mail addresses for spamming people. Or the dozens of people who used their .Mac homepage for porn sites and other illegal activities. It cost Apple far too much money to support iTools for because of these low-lifes. Apple was forced to charge for iTools to weed these cretins out and to make sure the system did not go broke.

Personally, I think every new Apple computer should come with one free year of .Mac, and all renewals should be priced at $69. But that's just me.

[OptimusG4]

If Apple offered that renewal price a few years ago, I wouldn't have let it lapsed. I just didn't see the justification of $100/year for something I can get half price with more space and advanced features. I know I don't have the sync feature or anything else specific to .Mac, but I have my own gallery, blog and forum setup so that I don't need anything like that. But the email address would have been nice

[brettcamp]

I agree: buy a Mac, get a year of .mac. But also: buy AppleCare, get .mac for as long as you have AppleCare. Also, .mac members should get free OSX upgrades whenever a new cat is born, i.e., if you buy .mac and you have Panther, you should be able to download Tiger free. Those two changes would really add value to the service, and I bet Apple would wind up making more money from new .mac and AppleCare signups than it would lose from lower sales of Tiger.
Getting an upgrade to Tiger certainly would have encouraged me to renew my .mac subscription; I let it go because the Backup software frequently failed and I already have email, a host for my web page, etc. via my university.

[chris v]

iSync is cool. I have three machines that I keep synched, and it's been a real timesaver. The web space is nice. I like being able to drag and drop files to a web server in the finder.

[zigzag]

Originally posted by DigitalEl:
For me, iSync is the most valuable feature. That alone is worth the price each year.

Question for y'all, though. If when my renewal comes up, I go the discount route through Amazon or whatever... Can I keep the same username or would it be like registering a completely new account?

Yes, you can renew with the discount. Just buy the software and follow the instructions for renewing. I've done it twice.

[naphtali]

Originally posted by cpac:
Apple gave a free copy of iBlog away - which integrates with .Mac nicely.

Yep I'm aware of that. I actually tried iBlog in it's earlier days, before the bundle as well. Didn't quite like it's file structure, lack of commenting system etc. Sounds like I'm nitpicking but I guess it's an issue of personal preference and need - I'm used to the flexibility and power of stuff I used to run on my other server, like MovableType, WordPress etc.

On the issue of need, I find that 250MB for files/email is more than enough for me, even though I keep all my email and attachments online with IMAP. If you use POP, then the need probably drops even further of course.

I'm glad iPhoto 5 moves a lot faster! Might get iLife 05 then! .Mac sounds better yet already!

And as for the codes you get in the retail .Mac packs - you can enter them in your .Mac account page and store them for future renewals.

[Randman]

And don't forget that with Tiger, Backup and iSync are merged to create .Mac Sync. While still optional, Apple will likely do something more than what's on tap already to sweeten .mac as a result.

[waffffffle]

I agree that syncing is the best part of .Mac. Being able to access all of my data from anywhere has been great. I just wish they would create Windows conduits so that I can sync my info from Windows apps like IE and Outlook. Despite that, syncing looks like it will get even better in Tiger. To me it is worth the $99 just for syncing. I barely use iDisk because it is a bit slow and I have a hosting account for my personal web site and domain. I use my .mac email now as my primary email since it is easy to spell to people, especially over the phone.

[Kool_Aid_Man]

It lets you sync your entire 120 gb hard drive on their servers? And you can access it from anywhere? Meaning there is a server somewhere holding my harddrive with backup? Couldn't you use that as like a space to put 1TB of stuff if your harddrive is like 120GB? Is there a limit to this backup?

[Cadaver]

I'm also a happy .Mac user. I've got the extra 1GB of iDisk space, too, and I use it all the time. Great for moving things between my various machines (drop an item in my iDisk at home, its waiting for me at work when I get there). Someone has file to send me that's too big for certain email systems... send it to my iDisk public drop box.

I also use the HomePage feature to send pics of the kids via iPhoto to the relatives. They all love it. Sure there are other ways to make HomePage-like photo templates, but its just so damn slick to be able to do it straight from iPhoto.

The syncing of iCal calendars, Safari bookmarks and Address Book is also a huge time saver; all the same info available across all three of my Macs (home, work, laptop), my bluetooth cellphone, my iPod and via any machine with a web browser. Brilliant.

And it'll get even better with OS X 10.4 - synced Mail smart-folders, etc.

For me, someone who uses all the services, its worth the yearly price. If you're not going to use all the services, then you can probably find a cheaper package of just the services you need elsewhere.

[chris v]

Originally posted by Kool_Aid_Man:
It lets you sync your entire 120 gb hard drive on their servers? And you can access it from anywhere? Meaning there is a server somewhere holding my harddrive with backup? Couldn't you use that as like a space to put 1TB of stuff if your harddrive is like 120GB? Is there a limit to this backup?

A standard account is 250 mb. Obviously, you can't back up your entire drive to a remote .mac server. You can, however, back up your documents, mail, bookmarks and address book without too much trouble. The great thing about iSync is that you can go to France for a week, and if your French friend is running OS X, you can sit down at his machine, create a new account, log into it, and in two or three minutes, have all your bookmarks, calendars and contacts.

I only use it for bookmarks, iCal calendars and Address Book contacts, but with a work machine, home machine and a portable, it's a major convenience for me to be able to just know they're all kept up to date automatically. I move large files back and forth on my iPod, and back my entire system up to an external drive.

[Randman]

You could do a backup of your entire hard drive to an external though. Or to DVDs. I back stuff up regularly to my external so I don't use it much. But I do backup to the iDisk my Safari bookmarks, my iTunes playlists (very, very helpful), my address book info and all the files in my "Text" folder, passwords, notes, clips, etc.

[paul w]

Originally posted by chris v:
A standard account is 250 mb. Obviously, you can't back up your entire drive to a remote .mac server. You can, however, back up your documents, mail, bookmarks and address book without too much trouble. The great thing about iSync is that you can go to France for a week, and if your French friend is running OS X, you can sit down at his machine, create a new account, log into it, and in two or three minutes, have all your bookmarks, calendars and contacts.

I only use it for bookmarks, iCal calendars and Address Book contacts, but with a work machine, home machine and a portable, it's a major convenience for me to be able to just know they're all kept up to date automatically. I move large files back and forth on my iPod, and back my entire system up to an external drive.

Dude, who says I'll let you mess with my powerbook?


But seriously the best argument seems to be for those with more than one mac. For those of us one-powerbook-having fools who travel with it and have their own web space, external hard drive and email adresses I just don't see the use.

I may - may - get it if I break down and buy a mini this summer, thus syncing the mini, the powerbook and the little lady's iBook.

And chances are your French friend is still running OS 9.2.2 on an old blue powermac. Seriously.

[driven]

Must have? No. (There isn't much in life that falls in this category really)

I enjoy having it though. I like it for the seemless integration with the iApps ... especially iPhoto.

I kinda of enjoy my Mail account too, even though it's not my primary mail account.

[chris v]

Originally posted by paul w:
Dude, who says I'll let you mess with my powerbook?

Oh, I won't .... so far as you know...

And chances are your French friend is still running OS 9.2.2 on an old blue powermac. Seriously.

I feel for my French Friend. Err, umm, I mean...

[hadocon]

Originally posted by zerock:
right now i dont have it, but looking forward to having it again.

Your sig is too big.

[ryaxnb]

.Mac is not a must have, but I'd recommend it.
Y! Does not give you 100 MB of reliable, free, easy-to-use web space, a beautiful web page designer, iCards, a Mail account that can be used from most e-mail clients as well as online, all the .Mac discounts and free bonuses, like VersionTracker Pro and free GarageBand loops, Safari bookmarking syncing, address book, to-do list, and calendar syncing, and more.

[zerostar]

I recommend .mac but ONLY if you are going to use the services.

The main ones I use are:

1) email - use this daily for business and personal use, I have an additional 10 mail accounts for business purposes, my main personal one is the main account.

2) iSync - I use almost every sync feature, my office mac and my home machines are all synced, bookmarks calendars and some files on the iDisk. (not to mention my cell phone syncs over bluetooth as well.)

3) Backup - I backup my entire computer to DVD once a quarter and I use Backup daily in between for the changing files. (about 10-15MB in a year worth of word/excel files)

4) Home page - we have a new baby and my wife being home and able to update the web-page with new photos right inside of iPhoto is a time saver for me, no more (honey do the HTML so I can upload this) Its easy and looks great.

5) Virex - For me working with 3rd part word files, they have TONS of macro viruses and being able to drop-scan these is great.