Apple kills off boxed versions of software in favor of App Store alternative

By Jake Rosati July 20, 2011 2:38 pm EST Comments

Apple sent out an email today toÂ resellers, Apple consultant Network, and others with some very interesting information. It seems as though, after today, shelves in Apple stores are about to get a lot clearer. That’s because Apple is discontinuing many physical software discs in favor of a digital App Store download.

Software titles making the jump to digital-only include Snow Leopard, iLife, iWork, and Aperture.

Pair this news with the Macs released today Â - none of which have an optical drive – and it is abundantly clear that Apple is looking to put an end to physical software discs. It certainly makes sense that, with the success of the iOS App Store, the company would look to adopt a similar distribution model for its computers.

However, I’m not sure this is such a great idea. An iPhone app is one thing, but with computer software costing $500+ (sometimes significantly more), a physical disc is a nice thing to have. It ensures that, should anything happen to your computer, your software purchase is safe. It will certainly be interesting to see how this move is received by customers, but I predict many will not be pleased when they go to the Apple store to purchase Aperture and walk out with a link instead of a disc.

How do you feel about this? Are you cool with an all-digital software market, or are you still partial to physical discs? Comment below or let me know on twitter.

Via: 9to5 Mac

Guitars4god86

This all-digital move is terrible in my opinion. Â I have fast internet (10MB) and it took me over 2 hrs to download and install Lion this morning. Â I don't want to have to wait that long again. Â Plus, what if I'm not anywhere where I get internet access - too bad for me I guess... Â Apple!.... with the exception of the iPhone, all of your products are going downhill. Â Macbook Air - pointless. Â FCPX - asinine. Â Lion - just a shiny new face on the same OS. Â Now only downloadable apps - poor form. Â What's next? Â Why don't you just slap a square with 4 quadrants in 4 colors because you're getting to be worse than Windows if you continue this pattern...

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Matt16L

I agree with the MacBook Air pointless thing

Craig

It seems the world is run by urban 20-somethings who have never known life without an Internet connection. Â Software installs, data storage, even programs themselves are all being moved to 'the cloud.' Â But, how beneficial is 'the cloud' when the Net isn't there? Â How do I write the great American novel at my cottage when the software is cloud-based? Â How do I access my data when a wind-storm knocks out my internet connection for a week? Â Idealism never matches the reality on the ground, but when your 20-ish and nothing has ever happened to you I suppose that's hard to grasp.

Robert

The only issue I see is that if you have a slow internet connection and you try to download say an OS update like Snow Leopard...it is going to take forever yet, a disk is instant. But I know that Apple is a company that have vision but I still am not going to buy one because it just cost too much money.Â