They actually store all purchases if you provide a phone number and name. While for a CD purchase it seems silly, you try explaining to a non-tech savvy mom in a state where receipts will fade to dust in storage that you can't process her $3k return (or warranty) because you don't have proof that the purchase was made. This is especially useful when you buy a car stereo and your car gets broken into and the insurance company requires documentation and serial numbers of all equipment.
If I remember right you can search the db for phone number with last name (common), CC number (next highest nowadays), or full address with name. It would return the price, tax, purchase date, warranty expiration, serial number, any activation set, the type of payment used, etc etc. Entries remain in the system indefinitely, well, not for much longer now...
It helped in numerous occasions, people are much more likely to remember their phone number (especially older folks) than where/if they still have/ the receipt.
Personally I would prefer to see Apple change its focus to something more open-minded whilst keeping the income gain in sight. Say, licensing a developement environment that has the slick (note: taste) ui and intuitive-ness as Apple is renown for and make profit that way. If they wanted to take it a step further they could open a small domain that allows the more useful and popular programs available for download (with say an Apple Certified Certificate but not legally responsible notice) with step-by-step (or auto) installations to further enhance "the Apple experience." This way they can earn money through licensing, earn a greater respect for "opening" the iPhone, and add an easy place for non-programmers to add utility to their expensive new gadget.
I remember when it was just as difficult to set-up a game on a windows system, trying to recall the interrupt request numbers for the sound & graphics card for your particular machine were such a pain. Or when that last floopy disk (disk #9) said finished, running that setup.exe command and getting a blank screen only then to comb the readme.txt for every piece of hardware to see if there was a work-around or if you just had to go without sound.
As of right now it's as simple as letting the autorun install the game, laugh at the EULA, click yes, and wait a few minutes. For gaming to really take off on the x distro people need that same simplicity. There are several types of gamers out there and a big chunk of that demo are the ones who don't know the complete insides and out of their computer. Why do you think Alienware and the Dell gaming series continue to thrive? Yet, in my opinion, it's going to need another edge to get people to convert. As mentioned above somewhere linux will need a spectacular game, that's marketed properly, and **linux exclusive**. Right now the only games are simply ports that are bundled with the game or a launcher avialable for download; we need a seperate box on that Best Buy shelf. It needs hype and needs to deliver, of course this is as easy as dividing by zero - hence why it's never been done.
While this is out there and not in a realm I know too much about but what if there was a specific linux distro for gamers, one that was heavily supported with 3D rendering, latest display drivers, and had it's own "DirectX" or something similiar that exceeds the current capabilities and will attract that hardcore gamer. We've all heard how the super-elite CS:S players fine tune their mouse - I've seen mice that have weights in them for more precise control - or adjusts the clipping plane to that perfect number to maximize their experience. Instead of in-game features make it in-system. Have a balance between a Gentoo and windows, have every single thing related to gamer customizable but have pre-defined optimized settings.
And I need to stop daydreaming / rambling...
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They actually store all purchases if you provide a phone number and name. While for a CD purchase it seems silly, you try explaining to a non-tech savvy mom in a state where receipts will fade to dust in storage that you can't process her $3k return (or warranty) because you don't have proof that the purchase was made. This is especially useful when you buy a car stereo and your car gets broken into and the insurance company requires documentation and serial numbers of all equipment. If I remember right you can search the db for phone number with last name (common), CC number (next highest nowadays), or full address with name. It would return the price, tax, purchase date, warranty expiration, serial number, any activation set, the type of payment used, etc etc. Entries remain in the system indefinitely, well, not for much longer now... It helped in numerous occasions, people are much more likely to remember their phone number (especially older folks) than where/if they still have/ the receipt.
Personally I would prefer to see Apple change its focus to something more open-minded whilst keeping the income gain in sight. Say, licensing a developement environment that has the slick (note: taste) ui and intuitive-ness as Apple is renown for and make profit that way. If they wanted to take it a step further they could open a small domain that allows the more useful and popular programs available for download (with say an Apple Certified Certificate but not legally responsible notice) with step-by-step (or auto) installations to further enhance "the Apple experience." This way they can earn money through licensing, earn a greater respect for "opening" the iPhone, and add an easy place for non-programmers to add utility to their expensive new gadget.
I remember when it was just as difficult to set-up a game on a windows system, trying to recall the interrupt request numbers for the sound & graphics card for your particular machine were such a pain. Or when that last floopy disk (disk #9) said finished, running that setup.exe command and getting a blank screen only then to comb the readme.txt for every piece of hardware to see if there was a work-around or if you just had to go without sound. As of right now it's as simple as letting the autorun install the game, laugh at the EULA, click yes, and wait a few minutes. For gaming to really take off on the x distro people need that same simplicity. There are several types of gamers out there and a big chunk of that demo are the ones who don't know the complete insides and out of their computer. Why do you think Alienware and the Dell gaming series continue to thrive? Yet, in my opinion, it's going to need another edge to get people to convert. As mentioned above somewhere linux will need a spectacular game, that's marketed properly, and **linux exclusive**. Right now the only games are simply ports that are bundled with the game or a launcher avialable for download; we need a seperate box on that Best Buy shelf. It needs hype and needs to deliver, of course this is as easy as dividing by zero - hence why it's never been done. While this is out there and not in a realm I know too much about but what if there was a specific linux distro for gamers, one that was heavily supported with 3D rendering, latest display drivers, and had it's own "DirectX" or something similiar that exceeds the current capabilities and will attract that hardcore gamer. We've all heard how the super-elite CS:S players fine tune their mouse - I've seen mice that have weights in them for more precise control - or adjusts the clipping plane to that perfect number to maximize their experience. Instead of in-game features make it in-system. Have a balance between a Gentoo and windows, have every single thing related to gamer customizable but have pre-defined optimized settings. And I need to stop daydreaming / rambling...