Apple's OSX Upgrade Troubles Worsen

By Tony Celeste, published on November 2, 2007
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: , | Themes: Software
Contents
  • 2. Apple's OSX Upgrade Troubles Worsen

2. Apple's OSX Upgrade Troubles Worsen

Everything’s fine over at Apple, with absolutely no one complaining about the company’s decision to exclude new Mac purchasers from a low cost upgrade to Mac OSX Leopard. At least, that’s the impression you’d get if you were to read about subject on the

You may recall that customers who bought new Macs in August, when they were initially released, or just thereafter in September, were denied upgrade pricing, and had to pay full price for Leopard. However, customers that waited to buy their new Macs until October, at least 7 weeks after the new Macs were initially released, were rewarded by Apple with special $9.95 Leopard upgrade pricing.

When I questioned moderators as to why complaints about the upgrade pricing policy were being deleted, actually, let’s use the correct term here, censored, I was told it was because the questions were not "support oriented". When I asked follow-up questions as to why posts praising Apple’s upgrade policy, from customers that bought new Macs in October, were not also being deleted, as they also were not "support oriented", my own posts were censored.

The lone survivor of the many threads I saw is located This was my first visit to the official Apple support forums. I’ve always found the help I’ve needed elsewhere. One thing I found particularly disturbing while surfing through dozens of Apple discussion pages was the attitude of the most hardcore Apple and Steve Jobs supporters. This included outright lying when asked whether Apple uses a Microsoft like validation scheme to prevent installing a given copy of Leopard on more than one Mac. The question arose repeatedly in the context of whether it’s really necessary to buy the $199 Leopard "Family Pack", versus the $129 "Single User" edition.

And in thread after thread, posters were repeatedly told by the Apple faithful that you can only install a given copy of Leopard on one Mac. A statement that simply is not true. I don’t condone software piracy, that’s an issue between you and your conscience (and Apple’s legal staff, should you get caught). I also don’t condone the wholesale spread of outright lies. Of course, when anyone set the record straight on this point, again, the threads were censored.

Censorship at Apple? In its infamous 1984 Super Bowl commercial, based on George Orwell’s book "1984", Apple attacked the boring and gray IBM and its fledgling PC. For Apple 1984 was nothing at all like "1984". In that year, Apple changed the way we worked with computers. But, given 2007 Apple-style, perhaps the commercial was right, just 23 years too early and focused on the wrong company.

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Comments


Deleted profile 11/28/2007 5:25 AM
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Everything's fine over at Apple, with absolutely no one complaining about the company's decision

Mac OSX Cracked for PCs/More Update Woes : Read more
Deleted profile 11/30/2007 4:41 AM
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For God's sake! give it up!!!
Deleted profile 12/01/2007 1:13 AM
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Censorship is not right if the do it so one side as apple always has. To be an american company how to the not want to uphold free speak ann the fact that i should be able to write or say what ever i want as long as i am not defacing there site or fibbing about the facts that i have written
Deleted profile 12/04/2007 12:19 PM
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I understand the agrevation users may have about not being able to get a discount on leopard for computers purchased in August or September. However, it has been a long time practice of Apple's to offer discounted upgrades of the lates OS to customers who purchase new computer within a month of release of the New OS. Apple could have extended it out to folks who purchased new computers in August and September and they would have had folks crying foul because they purchased their new computers in June or July. This is not Apples problem, the problem lies with the customer.

Concerning the other matter, I believe that the apple representitives were reiterating the contents of Apple SLA and not commenting on whether or in it is physically possible to install the software on an x86 computer or to install the software on a second Mac. I do not consider this to be spreading lies, but rather re-iterating policy.
Deleted profile 12/05/2007 3:36 AM
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What works for apple, with it custom OS tailored for specific hardware is still no different than going to a vendor, such as BOXX tech for example, and getting a custom PC designed for a specific set of tasks.

You pay extra in return for a more stable system. However, make changes by adding untested hardware and software and you risk losing that guarantee. Even so, a simple OS update or software upgrade can cause issues. Technically, you should never change or update such a machine to maitain it's factory intregity, (which is ok if it's an edit suite and not a shared system or accessing the internet).

However, not all macs are task specific, and are used for general purpose. Which works in large part because your average user won't bother with changing the machine much. They will just use it as is.

So when you pay extra and expect stability in return, and it fails... especially when your the kind of person whose snubbed everything MS windows is for the very same reason...

Yeah, I'd would be angry too. Now I use both platforms, and I have XP boxes that have run for years without fail and macs that have not. What's good from all of this (and this also includes Vista), is that the high and mighty are capable of error, and will have to eat humble pie, get serious, and get back on track. (Even if that means they 'censor' some things or do a little PR work, and still have to eat their humble pie in the closet).

PC: "Mac, what happened?"
MAC: "Ah, it's just a scratch."
PC: "Just a Scratch? A body cast and in a wheel chair?"
MAC: "Dude, it's nothing, I had a little problem with an update...I'll be ok."
PC: "Look, if you want to talk about it, I fully understand..."
MAC: "PC, I don't want to talk about it-"
PC: "It's OK, I do understand-"
MAC: "Just drop it PC."
PC: "Hey, I-"
MAC: "I didn't make fun of you when you ugraded to Vista! Not drop it!"
PC: "Ok, ok. Take it easy. I'll give you some space and we'll chat later."

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