Comments on: BitTorrenting Tiger

By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

That’s a great idea. I would be willing to do that. I’m going to pay for it anyway, this would just be easier than driving 2 hours to an Apple Store or waiting for it to come in the mail.

By: Jemal

Jemal — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I dunno if it’s such a good idea. I started seeing links to activation crackers for MX 2004 before it even came out. I believe it was a drop-in dll file that just replaced one of the core files so that it never asked to be activated.

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Jemal: Yeah, but as it stands right now it’s *completely* unprotected so how is this any worse? Also, I have greater faith in Apple’s ability to keep a secret than Macromedia’s. If cracks became available, surely it would take a little while at least.

By: Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

One of the things I like about OSX is the fact that it doesn’t require any sort of product activation. Also, I’m not sure I’d want to be without a hard media copy (CD, DVD, etc.) of a product that I’m paying over $100 for.

Although, I can definitely see how this would appeal to a lot of consumers, and would probably solidify quite a few more early sales of Tiger for Apple.

By: Folletto Malefico "@

Folletto Malefico "@ — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t think that could be a *real* solution. That could be another way to distribute the product, but I don’t think that this could replace the solid, real, box with the dvd.

In fact, I suppose that if there were the choice between a 130$ solid copy (a little less for me, as a student) and a cheap one through P2P, I’ll choose the solid one.

It’s something different, something more related to how people ‘feel’ something. In fact, if I had to pay for something, having a solid experience of what I’ve bought make it a ‘better’ product than a completely virtual one. I think that, atm, only “low cost” products or “big corporation” buyers can use this solution as a complete replacement.

I think that placing a siny new cd, peeking into the manual during the setup, it’s a part of the game for which many people pay for. Having a box on the shelf in your own room, make you prouder of it.

I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think we’re ready yet for this replacement. Instead, that could be a great addition to normal distribution channels.

Sorry for my bad english ^^’

By: Scrivs

Scrivs — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Have you not read about the headaches involved with Microsoft’s activation? Every reinstall of the OS would require activation all over again. That doesn’t sound like fun.

By: Kevin Tamura

Kevin Tamura — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow, now that is a great idea. All teh early adopters would have it with in minutes. HEck they could even get some of these people to show up at teh apple store release party as a “Yes I installed Tiger and I love it.” symposium or something. (Maybe I haven’t had enought coffee yet).

For me I usually buy it and then have it sitting on my desk for a month before installing, but I’d be more inclined to install it if it was downloaded to my desktop.

By: alex

alex — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

P2P would work great if you have a DVD burner. unfortunately i don’t.

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Folletto: Yeah, that’s what I’m suggesting. Not a replacement, but just another option. Those who want to buy the shrinkwrapped copy still can… it would just take at least 10 days longer.

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scrivs: Yeah, there is the potential for a few headaches but I am a lot more confident in Apple’s ability to do activation right than Microsoft’s. The idea would be that you could install and use the OS for a week or two or whatever but then you’d just have to log back into Apple’s servers probably via some very simple dialog box, fill in your info and then hit “Activate”. Doesn’t seem too hard if done right. Software activation is where the rest of the world is going anyway… hard to stop it.

By: kevin c

kevin c — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

the activation/authentication process would have to be perfect for them to attempt it without some serious backlash. even valve couldn’t get it right when they launched half-life 2 (through steam), and they had people complaining everywhere.

By: Jason G

Jason G — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

One of the greatest things about buying Mac OS X (and please tell me this hasn’t changed in Tiger) is that you do not need to so much as enter a key, let alone activate your product. It is not exactly the best way to prevent piracy, but it does exactly the opposite of what companies like Microsoft do, which is punish their honest customers by forcing them to jump through hoops, while the pirates get easy work arounds. (Try getting a copy of Windows XP Professional corporate edition – No activation required… so you tell me which one made it onto the pirates computers).

So, I would rather go to the store or order it online and NOT have to go through the hassle of activating it. Personally. I think I can wait 2 weeks for Dashboard and Spotlight anyway.

By: DC

DC — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

How would you keep track of sales?

By: Josh Bryant

Josh Bryant — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I can’t believe you just suggested Apple use activation! I think you are living too close to Redmond or something.

DC > They would track the sales the same way, by how many people have paid.

By: Jason Beaird

Jason Beaird — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I would definitely be down with getting my copy of Tiger via bittorent and activating it through Apple. As far as the non-activation argument goes: I think it’s silly to say that mac users are all loyal customers who have never copied mac software, passed on an OS disc, or used serialbox to crack an application. It happens, and is much more prevalent than most people think. Activation, if done right, would be fast and painless…and would prevent a lot of the piracy that IS already going on in the mac underground.