sdbeck@mac.cc.macalstr.edu (04/26/91)
In article <41947@netnews.upenn.edu>, eck@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Hangnail Whipperwill) writes: > > Can anyone in a position to do so please confirm or deny MacWeek's > quote of "The single-user upgrade (to System 7.0), to be priced at > *$99*, includes 90 days of free technical support via a toll-free > number"? > > A HUNDRED DOLLARS? Yeah, that's going to help Apple dispel their > overpriced image REAL fast. Especially if they charge people who buy > new systems after May 13 for the upgrade as well [...] > I sincerely hope the article is hype, as most of MacWeek usually is. > Sorry if I sound a little upset, but I AM. Sure, Apple has a right > to make money (or at least break even) on this new system; I've seen the > betas, and I'll gladly pay for the software and documentation. But a > hundred dollars (and no educational discount)? Forget it. > > Just my opinion. > Brian Eck Apparently, Brian, you think that MacWeek's so full of "hype" that you didn't bother to read the second half of the article, which I think should dispel most of the questions about us "normal" folks getting System 7 on our Macs. So here's a few choice bits: Apple spokeswoman Brooke Cohan: "Our current policy is that resellers, bulletin boards and user groups are among the groups that can license the right from Apple to make additional copies of the software." (This doesn't make clear whether Apple plans to continue the policy, though.) Unnamed Apple dealer: "It has been common practice to make floppy copies of the latest system software and give them to clients ether for free or for [cost of floppies]. " and he added that he expected the practice to continue. "The perception is that clients were entitled to 'free system upgrades' based on their ownership of the machine--after all, you can't run it on anyone else's computer." The article continues.... "As part of its recognition that unauthorized copies of the System will exist, Apple plans to offer technical support to users who do not purchase the upgrade kit" [via a 900 number]. To me, instituting tech. support for "pirates" says that Apple is going to continue to allow "free" system software updates. But when you go to your dealer/user-group, watch out....System 7 comes on 8 floppies. I'm sure the whole thing will be turning up on ftp if your dealer is being annoying. Also, remember what happened with HyperCard 2.0? It was distributed in software-only form (albiet stripped down) months before the full documentation and the upgrade kit were availible, and the user groups were told they could continue to distribute it in that form. Admittedly, the situation was a bit more complicated, but on the whole, I think Apple will be pursuing pretty much the same policy as before. Personally, I'd advise waiting till summer to install 7; if Apple's going to wait until then to put it on its new CPU's shouldn't you? I can't help but think that 7.0.1, 7.0.2, etc might be coming along by then (assuming System 7's final release # isn't a continuation of the beta version #'s). I'll be just fine with 6.0.5 (by the way, TrueType works fine with it; Apple just didn't bother testing. Shame!) for a while yet. I bet most of you will, too. But when you _do_ want 7, I bet you can get it. Dan Becker