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I agree that fewer editions is the way to go, but note that OS X has always had multiple SKUs as well: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-lion/id444303913

by dewitt 14y ago

I agree that fewer editions is the way to go, but note that OS X has always had multiple SKUs as well: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-lion/id444303913 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-lion-server/id444376097 And customers first need to buy Snow Leopard separately, because you can't install Lion on its own, you can only upgrade to it (somewhat amazingly): http://www.apple.com/macosx/how-to-buy/ On a related note, over the weekend I tried to install Lion on a 5-year-old iMac. Was surprised to find out it's not supported on hardware even that far back. I hope they don't continue either trend with Mountain Lion. (And a footnote, Windows RT is for an entirely different architecture—ARM—and an entirely different class of devices, so no surprise there's a separate SKU for it.)

2muchcoffeeman 14y ago
Legally, i.e. according to the TOS, you need Snow Leopard. You can install Lion on it's own http://www.macworld.com/article/1161087/install_lion_over_leopard.html http://www.macworld.com/article/1161087/install_lion_over_le... But it's a bit silly.
endlessvoid94 14y ago
It's far less of a big deal, though, with a $30 price tag. I don't dislike upgrading from Windows 7 to windows 8 because I think it will be hard. I don't want to pay upwards of $100 to install an OS on another machine. I'll definitely pay $30 though. That's the equivalent of beer money on a night out with a few other friends.
beagle3 14y ago
Apple officially supports 4-year old hardware but not older (or at least, did in the past). All Apple software produced 4 years after the last PPC apple was sold had still supported PPC, and only then it stopped. I think that's reasonable. While it's technically easier to support a 5-year old Intel Mac compared to a 5-year old PPC Mac, I still think Apple is reasonable in not doing that. It's not like your 4-year old hardware or software stops working. It's just that newer software gradually stops being available for your old hardware.

by dewitt 14y ago

2muchcoffeeman 14y ago

Legally, i.e. according to the TOS, you need Snow Leopard. You can install Lion on it's own http://www.macworld.com/article/1161087/install_lion_over_leopard.html http://www.macworld.com/article/1161087/install_lion_over_le... But it's a bit silly.

endlessvoid94 14y ago

It's far less of a big deal, though, with a $30 price tag. I don't dislike upgrading from Windows 7 to windows 8 because I think it will be hard. I don't want to pay upwards of $100 to install an OS on another machine. I'll definitely pay $30 though. That's the equivalent of beer money on a night out with a few other friends.

beagle3 14y ago

Apple officially supports 4-year old hardware but not older (or at least, did in the past). All Apple software produced 4 years after the last PPC apple was sold had still supported PPC, and only then it stopped. I think that's reasonable. While it's technically easier to support a 5-year old Intel Mac compared to a 5-year old PPC Mac, I still think Apple is reasonable in not doing that. It's not like your 4-year old hardware or software stops working. It's just that newer software gradually stops being available for your old hardware.