Apple to Eliminate Retail Box Software Inventory


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Apple web store isn't yet fully supported here and in most countries in the area btw

Does Apple have one of their retail stores in your area? That is what I was asking. If they don't, then this won't affect you anyway.

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This is a daft idea, consumers are always going to demand boxed software. Maybe the sensible thing to do would be to stop stocking it in apple stores, and just ship it out from their warehouses instead if they are going to stop doing it in stores. Whilst I personally rarely consume boxed software these days, Apple need to think of customers that have slow connections, or data caps.

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Maybe the sensible thing to do would be to stop stocking it in apple stores, and just ship it out from their warehouses instead if they are going to stop doing it in stores.

Which is probably what they are doing. We have a lot of people responding to the thread who don't seem to understand that this article is ONLY talking about Apple's retail stores, not other stores that stock Apple software and not the Apple web site.

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Which is probably what they are doing. We have a lot of people responding to the thread who don't seem to understand that this article is ONLY talking about Apple's retail stores, not other stores that stock Apple software and not the Apple web site.

Nope

With the success of the iTunes App Store and the launch of the Mac App Store, it seems clear that the long term future of software sales is going to be digital distribution. Based on what we've heard, however, Apple is planning on making the move to all digital sooner than expected at their retail stores. Apple is working towards eliminating boxed software and presumably focusing sales through the Mac App Store.

That article suggests that they will be making the switchover to ALL digital, just that it will happen sooner for their retail stores than it will through their online shipping channel.

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Agreed...to soon for this this to happen

Apple has always been the first to start the next way of doing this. They were the first to stop using floppy's and now they are cutting retail software sales.

They are eliminating this from THEIR stores, it does not mean that they will still not ship it or have other 3rd parties sell the software.

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The best would be to offer physical copies for the price of manufacturing and shipping only, for those that buy the digital versions. Something like what Telltale is doing.

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They are eliminating this from THEIR stores, it does not mean that they will still not ship it or have other 3rd parties sell the software.

I understand that...but again, I wouldnt put it past Apple to stop boxed software in all stores, including ones that are not theirs. This is the first step towards that, IMO. Apple doesnt care about leaving the consumer behind which was evident in the Flash/HTML5 fiasco.

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Apple has always been the first to start the next way of doing this. They were the first to stop using floppy's and now they are cutting retail software sales.

They are eliminating this from THEIR stores, it does not mean that they will still not ship it or have other 3rd parties sell the software.

Just wait and watch iMac '12 with revolutionary no dvd drive ! :p

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Like Protagonist said, Apple think that all their customers are in a 15 to 20MB connection speed that can download anything... Wake up Apple of your fantasy dream :laugh:

I'm on a 50meg connection and a Mac User

So they got it right in at least one case :p

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I'm sure you will still be able to grab a physical copy becuase a) some poeple don't have access the best internet plans in some countries therefore downloading 4gigs of software might take a day or so and b) nastalgia - some ppl are going to want hardc copies to add to their collection.

I think the hard copy version will cost a little more though.

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Yea can't see this working long term unless some major changes come to the app store with regards to software upgrades.

Upgrades in the app store really aren't supported just now beyond updating the existing app for free. What if a developer adds new features which would be worthy of a major upgrade (i.e. paid), you basically (as a customer) need to buy the whole product again at the moment because the developer can't say that if you have already purchased V4.0 of the product then you get 50% off V4.5 (for example).

Product maintenance is not an income stream on the app store at the moment, only new app sales - I think this needs to change before they can go removing dvds from the shelves completely....

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People here realize that Apple is not the sole distributor of Mac software...right?

Even if Apple made the crazy decision to not sell box software on their website, you can still go to Amazon or any other retail to order your software.

Actually, it's probably even cheaper if you order it from Amazon.

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People here realize that Apple is not the sole distributor of Mac software...right?

Even if Apple made the crazy decision to not sell box software on their website, you can still go to Amazon or any other retail to order your software.

Actually, it's probably even cheaper if you order it from Amazon.

You guys are talking like they will make a transition in one day. This is not going to happen. There are applications that aren’t worth putting on a DVD. As for the others (Adobe Suites, Final Cut, iLife, iWork, Office) maybe it deserves its own package. But it could be a really small display with 10 copies of each ;)

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Not sure if I like that... Applications like Aperture, Final Cut Studio etc. come with extras on the DVD the App Store versions lack (Aperture as an example).

I'm really wondering how this will work with something like Final Cut Studio. The suite is almost 50 GB in size. :/

They're probably just going to do it for their consumer products like iLife, iWork and some of the other stuff they sell which aren't heavy downloads.

Personally I like the fact that I can now purchase iMovie and iPhoto separately - why the heck should I be forced to pay for crap like garage band that I'll never use in my life time?

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I would love to have all of my software in the cloud. None of my computers have an optical drive anymore, replaced them all with harddisks :)

I have a cheap USB dvd drive to create iso files of every disk I buy, then I just store them.

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Wow... Pathetic stunt!

I hate digital-only...

I like my boxes and stuff!

Glassed Silver:ios

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Essentially what you have here is Apple monopolizing the distribution of Mac software. That's another thing I really don't like.

Before anyone starts: Yes I know the Mac App Store isn't the only way to install software, but at this rate that could soon change.

Not sure I understand your meaning.

Apple is going to take a cut of the purchase whether you buy it through an Apple Store or through the App Store. Not sure how trying to reclaim retail space is equivalent to the App Store being the only distribution method. You'll still be able to buy the software from the developer or from other stores.

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I honestly wonder for how many years to come yet.

Why is it bad? Because huge companies like Adobe wont get their full revenue? Because I don’t think Apple would disallow applications on a Desktop computer - or well I hope they won’t, unless it does not respect the interface guidelines. Then again, judging by what’s on both App Stores, they seem pretty flexible regarding this...

I wonder how much companies lose with the packaging + shipping fees + their bandwidth for updates + the profit stores do. Stores all do at least 20% on everything, that’s a given (stocking + handling fees + profit). I’m pretty sure it sums up to 25-35%. 30% isn’t a loss to the developers, but it is a win in Apple’s pockets.

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Why? It gives Apple full control over the platform which they can exploit any way they want. We've already seen this happen on iOS.

They can’t restrict things so much on a desktop platform.

Thus, I don’t think iOS’ App Store and the Mac App Store can be compared IMHO.

If it does happen, well we’re losing Flash, Porn apps, Spyware, Malware, Apps filled with viruses, and finally the only bad thing : apps equivalent to what Apple has built in the system. For all the developers the Mac App Store will interest, you will still end up gaining way more apps than you’ll lose them.

That whole issue makes me laugh. It’s like people have in their head that Apple blocks every application that gets posted. Hell, they’re way over 100 000 apps now. Built from scratch in less than 2-3 years. How many apps were refused, 50, 100? They are actually very flexible. But people hear about the apps that got refused, not those that got accepted. So that journalist bias ends up changing people’s opinions on things.

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