Apple Justifies iLife Price Tag

CameronWolf writes "Just in case there was any doubt about Apple computers decision to sell applications they used to give away, I got this response, via email, from Apple upon my enquiry: 'As the iLife applications have become increasingly integrated it has become more and more important for a user to have all of the "correct" versions on their Mac at once, working together, giving a unified user experience. This is one of the main reasons we've decided to offer iLife in suite form only. In addition, for iLife users who want the latest and greatest applications on their Macs, the iLife suite is priced very affordably.' Apple are running an upgrade scheme for those who bought a qualifying Mac after Jan 6th. Too bad I just had to have the iBook G4 the second it was released!" For those who used only the free iLife apps before -- those without SuperDrives -- this reason doesn't make any sense. If the goal were really to make sure you had the latest versions, they could simply make the latest iMovie require the latest iDVD.

Comments

My Troll of the Day

[DesScorp]

So someone complains that Apple is now charging for what they used to give away for free.

And Apple users responses? So predictable. So what, pay for it, Steve says so, Steve is God, he knows whats best for us, and we should be GRATEFUL to pay for this stuff.

Apple users aren't users, they're cult members.

Re:Lots of "punish me harder" comments

[Delphiki]

I never heard any commitments from Apple to continue releasing new versions of the applications in the iLife suite and distributing them for free for all eternity throughout the universe and so on and so forth. If you don't think OS X upgrades are worth it without iLife, don't fucking buy them. Buy a fucking PC and install Linux on it and never pay for an update again. Linux forums will be even more friendly to your bitching about prices than slashdot is anyway. None of the things you mentioned are actually immoral. Offering something for free to start off with then charging for it later isn't any worse than charging for it from the beginning. OS X 10 was essentially beta software, so once someone gives software out to beta testers they can never charge for a later version? That's news. The old iApps works as well as they ever did. Just keep using them if you don't want to pay for updates.

Re:What about iPhoto?

[DebianDog]

Obviously you do not spend a lot of time with the other iApps!! Cripes man I have a page dedicated to iMovie 3 bugs and issues and a website devoted to work arounds and you wantta bitch about iPhoto?!?!

Are you mad!. I could do the same for iDVD, if I wanted to take the time. I have over 2000 photos and iPhoto with 1.25 gigs of memory behind it runs like a champ. You need to find another gripe, that one is "weak", at best.

--
Daniel C. Slagle
Keeper of the "Unofficial" iMovie FAQ