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Apple to Unveil .Mac Today
Steve Mason writes "Apple has put up a .Mac FAQ up here proving that .Mac will indeed be introduced at Mac World New York. .Mac will cost $100 a year as previous rumors had reported." Yes, this means that if you don't pay Apple, your mac.com URL and email address will stop working. Some have suggested that the "switch" in Apple's new ad campaign stands for the unfortunate part of a "bait and switch." Someone should mirror that URL, it might be taken down any second now.
Q: Is it true that Apple will begin charging customers for iTools memberships?
.Mac. The membership includes brand new features, like Backup and Virex anti-virus software, and improved versions of the iTools services, like additional email and iDisk storage. The fee is US$99.95 per year, and as a thank you for being loyal customers, existing iTools members can reserve a first year special offer of $49.95. iTools members will have until September 30 to join .Mac. After this time, original iTools accounts will be deactivated.
.Mac membership include?
.Mac membership includes everything you need for life on the Internet. Join .Mac and get the tools you need to share and communicate with family and friends, while keeping your system safe. Software and services included with a .Mac membership are:
.Mac membership for US$49.95. (If purchased within the 60-day grace period). Normal charges (US$99.95) will apply after the first year.
.Mac membership at no charge. Normal charges (US$99.95) will apply after the first year.
.Mac trial accounts, and will continue to have full access to Mac.com Email, HomePages and iDisk, plus the opportunity to sample many of the new .Mac services during the trial period.
.Mac trial account include?
.Mac trial account includes:
.Mac Support Discussion Boards.
.Mac web site will display information about the membership features and charges. Your will also see reminders of account expiration when you log into the .Mac service on the web site.
.Mac member, you can upgrade both your Mac.com Email and your iDisk storage. You can also purchase up to ten additional email accounts.
.Mac membership. The amount of additional iDisk storage will be available to you through the end of the membership.
.Mac membership the membership and additional iDisk storage will be automatically renewed for the following year and your credit card will be charged
.Mac membership?
.Mac members receive thorough web-based support, dedicated to ensuring that they will get the most out of the service. Members have access to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), instant system/network status, the AppleCare Knowledge Base, and private discussion boards moderated by Apple technical support representatives to ensure that questions are answered within one business day.
.Mac Support discussion boards are reserved for paying members only.
.Mac include Internet Service Provider (ISP) services?
.Mac membership does require Internet access. Apple's preferred ISP is EarthLink, and Macintosh customers can get a free 30-day trial.
.Mac
.Mac, how do I preserve my data?
.Mac membership. Custom iCards using your own images will require membership.
.Mac available to Microsoft Windows users?
.Mac trial using a Windows machine, but they can sign up for a full .Mac membership. IDisk and Mac.com Email can be used on a Windows machine.
On Wednesday, July 17, 2002, Apple notified its customers that iTools will be replaced by a new membership service called
Q: What does a
A
Communication and sharing
HomePage with new visitor feedback features
Mac.com Email with IMAP and 15MB of storage that can be upgraded for more
Ability to purchase up to 10 additional email accounts
iDisk with 100MB of storage that can be upgraded for more
iDisk utility software for group sharing of files
Safety and security
Backup software to back up your files to iDisk, CD, or DVD
Virex anti-virus software to keep your system protected
Continuous anti-virus updates to protect from the latest threats
Members-only support with private discussion boards moderated by Apple technical support representatives
Q: Why is Apple charging for iTools?
Providing email and storage solutions for millions of customers comes at a considerable cost. In addition, using the Internet today requires more storage space, better ways to share, and new ways to protect your important files. To continue providing iTools services as well as a new set of must-haves for computing on the Internet, Apple is charging an annual fee.
Bought individually, comparable products would cost you an estimated $250:
Anti-virus: $50
Backup: $40
100MB of online storage: $60
15MB of email storage, forwarding and POP/IMAP access: $40+
Home page creation and hosting: $60
(These prices are approximate, and may vary.)
Q: Will current iTools members be given a discount?
Yes. Current iTools members can purchase a one-year
Customers who have already paid for an upgrade to their existing iTools account (for additional storage) will receive the first year of their
Q: Is there a "grace" period before charges begin?
Yes. Existing iTools accounts have been converted to 60-day
Q: What does a
A
Trial version of Apple's new Backup software to back up files to iDisk (backup to CD or DVD requires a paid membership)
20MB (vs 100MB for paid membership) of iDisk storage, so you can continue to store all your files in one place
iDisk Utility software to set read/write access to and password protect your Public Folder (great for group sharing of files)
Mac.com Email with 5MB (vs 15MB for paid membership) of email storage, including IMAP/POP and Webmail access, forwarding, and photo signature
HomePage for publishing web sites as well as photo albums directly from iPhoto
iCards, including the ability to use your own images
NOTE: Trial memberships do not include the Virex software or access to
Q: Can I pay monthly?
No. The annual membership fee must be paid at one time.
Q: Do all the new software and services work in both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X?
Backup and iDisk Utility require Mac OS X. All other software and services, including Virex anti-virus, iDisk, Email, HomePage and iDisk, work in both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. iDisk and Mac.com Email also work with most Windows operating systems.
Q: How will Apple notify me of the membership charges?
Apple has notified all iTools account members via their Mac.com Email accounts. They will also receive follow-up emails with more information. The
Q: Can I upgrade my storage space?
Trial members cannot upgrade their storage. But once you become a full
Email storage iDisk storage
15MB Included 100MB (No additional charge) Included
25MB (adding10MB) $10 200MB (adding 100MB) $60
50MB (adding 35MB) $30 300MB (adding 200MB) $100
100MB (adding 85MB) $50 500MB (adding 400MB) $180
200MB (adding 185MB) $90 1GB (adding 900MB) $350
Additional Mac.com Email accounts include 5MB of storage and cost $10 per year. There is no additional storage available for email-only accounts, and the photo signature feature is not available.
Q: I already paid for an iDisk upgrade, what will happen to my account?
If you purchased iDisk storage in the 12 months prior to July 17th, 2002, you will receive a one-year complimentary
Note: At the end of your one-year complimentary
Q: Is there any technical support included in the
NOTE: Support for the standalone applications consists strictly of installation, launch, and removal.
Q: What level of support is offered to trial members?
Trial or grace period customers have access to all the Apple Care online support features. The
Q: Does
No, but a
Q: What happens to my data if I choose not to join
Following the 60-day trial period, any home pages, Backup or other files stored in iDisk and messages left on the email server will be removed.
Q: If I decide not to sign up for
iDisk
Open your iDisk and drag all your files to your own hard disk.
Email
If you're using IMAP, open your email client and create a local mailbox. Drag email you want to keep from your Mac.com mailboxes to the local mailbox. For more detailed information on this topic, please see the Email Help section.
If you're using POP, your messages are already stored on your local machine.
Email address
Inform your contacts of your new email address if you have one. Any message sent to your Mac.com Email address after the account expiration date will bounce back to the sender.
HomePage
If you created your web pages using an HTML editor other than HomePage, move your files located in the iDisk Sites folder to your desktop or to another hosting server.
Inform your contacts of your new home page address if you have one.
Q: Can I still send iCards for free?
Yes. Standard iCards may be sent without a
Q: Is
Customers cannot sign up for a
NOTE: The standalone applications, such as Virex and Backup and the HomePage web application are not available to Microsoft Windows machines.
Q: Which web browsers are supported?
Macintosh: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x, Netscape 4.7.X and up
Windows: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x, Netscape Navigator 5.X
As an Apple appointed "Helper", on the Apple forum, I can tell you people are going to be SCREAMING about this one. I have no real use for it since I have my own e-mail and web services but to the millions (yes really) that do, Oohwee. They threw a fit when the had to pay $20 for an OSX upgrade. Wait till they read about the $49 "special".
You cannot give people stuff then snatch it away, then say PAY. Wait, maybe you CAN, it worked for Netscape. No wait...
One of the major reasons i'm a 'mac zealot' is in part due to the coolness of getting thinks like free iDisk storage and e-mail access. I don't use anything close to the 20mb limit, I think I have like maybe ~100k of stuff on there, but it's nice to have a place to store stuff i'd like to keep for later.. ditto for my mac.com email, i've got maybe ~300k of the 5mb limit. Sure, these features are nice, but they are sure as hell not worth 100USD to me, and I doubt i'm the only one who feels this way.
I bought a five thousand dollar powerbook, partly because of Apple's good relationship with their customers, but now they're stamping out the so-called 'grassroots' sites, charging their users for iDisk and e-mail use, what used to be nice perks is turning bitter. The thing I don't understand is why they think these services are worth 100USD, i'd pay 20 to keep my nifty e-mail address around, but i'm not paying 80 just so that my 100k/10mb of idisk usages turns to 100k/100mb.. that's asinine.
--
Insert Witty Sig Here
You want it, they offer it, you gotta pay what they ask, or tell 'em to stick it.
I won't jump to any particular conclusions until I see stats about what proportion subscribe at this price.
However, if it's many subscribing, then that would reinforce the stereotype of Mac users having more dollars than sense, and if few subscribe then it would indicate that Apple don't really understand the market. Neither would be particularly big news - no offense to either side - as these are opinions that large numbers of people already have. Note however, that the flip-sides should _cancel_ the prejudice that's unfounded, but as we know it's almost impossible to get people to drop prejudices.
THL.
Keeping
This is really bad news, Apple is trying to get existing win users to switch to Macs. But this is counte-productive. This is what's going to happen at the local computer store:
1. Customer walks in store and asks the salesman about these great Macs they've heard about on TV so much.
2. Customer is told about why a Mac is so much better, and that iTools is really cool.
3. Customer is convinced, buys a new iMac, takes it home and turns it on.
4. Customer is persuaded via the Macs initial setup to use iTools. (.Mac, whatever)
5. Customer discovers that in addition to their computer costing much more than a Win Box, they're expected to pay an extra $100 a year just to use one of the Macs best features (iTools).
6. Customer returns iMac to store, gets a Compaq or something.
7. Retailers get pissed and stop selling Macs.
8. Apple loses
What a shame
This seemed horrible at first... till I actually read the link. Seems like a decent service for 100 bucks a year. Especially if the support is any good.
100MB of iDisk space, more email space, 15MB email space, backup and antivirus software [probably worth the 100 bucks right there if they are any good], and hopefully good customer support [my ISP sometimes sucks a lot when it comes to storage space and email].
I will have to think it over for the 60 grace period before I make the jump.
Dave
Remember eWorld? Apple's high-profile electronic community of, uh, was it the mid-nineties? IIRC GEISCO originally developed the software, which gradually morphed into AppleLink, AOL, and eWorld.
eWorld... the world's first electronic ghost town.
"How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!
Your post is the first to actually make .mac sound like a good deal.
Insanity is the last line of defence for the master diplomat. But you have to lay the groundwork early.
I really can't find any place in my heart to take sides with the people yelling about having to pay for this service. I run a fairly well-sized free hosting service that offers some similar functionality, and I know personally how much work, time, and money out of my pocket goes into running this sort of system. I know that as my userbase grows above its measely 1500-user count it's at now, there's no way I'll be able to afford to continue the services I'm offering completely for free. Apple is in the same boat - They're obviously paying a number of people to run the iTools service, paying for hardware and bandwidth, and raking up a huge bill. Sure, the iTools system can be a great community-builder, but it can still be a great community-builder when their users are paying only about $8 a month for the services being offered.
To those of you who bitch about services being generously provided for free, get a clue. Better yet, how bout you try to set up a service of similar caliber and see how much it costs you to run 'for free'? You'd probably gain a little bit of respect for the amount of work that Apple has put into their system, for you.
.... um, i lost you after "0110100001101001".
I really hope Apple comes to their senses soon -- .Mac is a neat idea, but charging money for it?
Why shouldn't Apple charge money for their services? You say yourself that you've standardised your email around it. It must be worth something to you. Specifically, it must be worth $50 for the first year :)
Anyways, I don't understand what the big deal is. Apple has something you want, you have something Apple wants. That's capitalism. I can't understand how it could be a dumb move.
-Brent
Jobs talks about the death of free internet services (email/storage/etc), and confirms that iTools will go away as of September 30. So it looks like the FAQ posted is correct.
$99 a year.
Here's my letter to apple
.Mac (what a silly name) service.
Hello
I have to say I am extremely disappointed by the annoncement that the free iTools service will become the expensive
I was under the impression, given to me by Apple, that iTools - anc specifically the mac.com email address, was free for life - this feels like a bait and then charge scam, something I had believed Apple was incapable of stooping to.
I resent being made to pay 100 dollars a year for a free email service (as that's what I use) and I guess I will have to resign myself to tell everyone I know (those same people I have been evangelising Apple and iTools to for years) that my email address is chainging AGAIN. They will all laugh and say things like "I told you so".
I like my computer, but it is becoming harder and harder to justify the hardware expense of a Mac. Slowly but surely you are forcing me to pay for those features (individually) that make a mac "insanely great". I can't afford 100 dollars here and there. I already pay for many other software packages. I can get the functionality that iTools and the other apple specific software elsewhere - often free or shareware. Sure I lose that ease of use, but I am not sure I want to own something from a manufacturer who dangles a carrot in my face - even lets me lick it, and then chanrges me to eat it, when I can go and pick carrots (maybe not such nice ones) from my garden.
This could severely backfire and I suspect will cause a LOT of negative press - I can see now why you were so hasty to chuck out the "rumour" sites. I, for one, will be making damn sure that as many publications as possible report this disgusting move on your part and I will no longer be recommending Apple Macs to my friends and family (I have personally, up to now, converted a large number of people). Whilst I still believe you have a superior product, I cannot condone your actions and I am afraid this will be the last straw.
I need an new computer anyway. It was going to be a mac. It still mightm if you reconsider this rash decision. If not, it's off to Penguin-Land for me.
Yours, with tears in my eyes.
John Savage
PS This will be the end of an era. I have stood by Apple and their "interesting" decisions for well over a decade, until recently the only Mac user in a army of PC clones. I regret that I persuaded all my family and most of my friends into converting to the cause. I guess my (and their) few thousand dollars a year in hardware and software sales isn't worth keeping?
Troc's dubious podcast and blog: http://www.trocnet.net
I'm using iTools for about 2 megs of web pages and data. I also have it forward me any @mac.com email to my personal email address. The email stays on Apple's server about as long as it takes me to get gibbed when I play Team Fortress (Quake 1, of course). It's costing Apple next to nothing to keep a folder named "mactari" on their server. I'm not going to get $100 worth of service, and Apple wouldn't spend half that maintaining me if I stayed.
.NET [giving away free development tools and sdk's], "The first hit of heroin's always free."
What's more, Apple doesn't care if I go.
The bottom line of it is that if 90% of the iTools users leave, 10% will start plunking down money. As Maelstrom says when your bonus gets to nothing, "Twice nuttin, still nuttin" -- 100% of iTools users paying nothing is less revenue than *any amount* of the users forking over $50 [then $100].
I'm leaving iTools (and that's a pain in tha arse - - I'd just gotten my site linked too fairly well), and Apple doesn't care. Like Sun's CEO said about
It's all 0s and 1s. Or it's not.