Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Apple, Leopard
Columnist: Microsoft could learn from Apple's Family Packs
Newsflash: Microsoft messed up. Yes, I know, that doesn't come as news to most of you (that's why you're here), but Joe Wilcox over at eWeek was surprised by the fact that while Apple's Leopard Family Pack pricing lead to some nice sales numbers, Microsoft instead decided to discontinue their family pack prices. Basically, you could buy OS X 10.5 as a single copy for $129, or a "family pack" (installations for 5 Macs) for $199. And a whopping 33% of Leopard sales were of the family pack version, even though OS X doesn't require any validation at all-- users could just have bought the $129 version and installed it five times.What's the difference? Wilcox says that Apple trusts their customers, and as a result, users who feel the family pack is worth it are willing to pay. Microsoft, on the other hand, demands validation from their users. Wilcox also quotes an analyst (which in this case is Latin for "he who states the obvious") saying that Leopard had a blowout launch, much better than Vista. But that's a big duh, so I won't even bother comparing OS X to Vista-- I'll leave that to the Mac commercials.
What else do you need to know? Clearly, Microsoft is just plain doing it wrong.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Scott said 9:32PM on 12-19-2007
This is a pretty hard comparison to use:
Apple is primarily a hardware company while microsoft is mostly a software company.
Apple's goal is to sell devices while Microsoft sells software to run on devices.
Sure, Apple is growing to sell media and airtime while Microsoft has the Zune.....
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Huggins said 7:35PM on 12-20-2007
Yeah, Apple is definitely a hardware company, seeing as how the one constant (and drawing factor) of Apple, inc. is this thing called OS X.... and the reason why Apple is everywhere is because of this software called "iTunes", which is married to what Steve Jobs calls "a beautiful box that houses great software" [the iPod]
LuminousNerd said 2:58PM on 12-21-2007
Please quit speaking out of your ass. Apple is not a hardware company, Apple is a consumer electronics company. They are most certainly respectable in the software industry. Final Cut Pro is used by millions o professionals. Their software is incredible.
They also make incredible hardware, and incredible portable electronics.
Do not single them out as a 'hardware company'. They make big bank on the software too.
Scott said 11:04PM on 12-21-2007
Then why won't Apple license OSX for non Mac boxes/books?
FCP doesn't run on PCs. There's a reason. FCP allows Apple to sell more hardware.
Leo said 6:18PM on 12-19-2007
I could have what!!!????
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MacUser said 6:18PM on 12-19-2007
Well, lets see. If MSFT didn't require any validation or even a serial number, they probably would sell even less copies than they do now. OS 10.5 makes up how much of the worlds OS's being used on computers? Probably ~1%. Windows on the other hand is way over 90%. When you have more computers than people on this planet using your product, you have to ensure someway that those using are paying customers.
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MacBookOwner said 6:24PM on 12-19-2007
"you have to ensure someway that those using are paying customers."
Yes. And in Apple's case, its called "trust".
LuminousNerd said 7:53PM on 12-19-2007
You clearly don't know much about the industry at all, or business in general for that matter. First off, Mac OS X inhabits roughly 7% of all computers, way above the numbers you pulled from your ass.
Simply look at the statistics.
1. Microsoft doesn't trust anyone at all, yet far more copies of Windows are pirated than are legally purchased.
2. Apple trusts their customers, and not only is very close to every copy of OS X legit, but people are actually willing to pay MORE for the exact same thing to do things legit, even though there is absolutely nothing stopping them from installing Leopard on multiple machines.
3. Along the same lines, there was a study recently which showed that Mac users are many times more likely to have a legally purchased music collection as opposed to Windows users.
People LIKE to do things legitimately, most people aren't crooks! But when a company mistrusts me so much as to case me inconvenience and troubles at installation time, it encourages me to pirate it since I already have to jump through hoops anyway, and I don't really feel like supporting the company anyway.
Luigi193 said 6:24PM on 12-19-2007
MS is smart for what they do... It wouldn't make any sence to do what the post implyed...
O and I install on multiple computers even though i don't have a family pack... oops... O well.
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Paul said 8:23PM on 12-19-2007
Considering you can't even spell the simplest words it's a miracle you even know how to turn on a computer, let alone install an OS.
Luigi193 said 8:24PM on 12-19-2007
Whats a CoMpuuTr??
I know, I have ATROTIOUS spelling...
Heres a tip me, USE SAFARI'S BUILT IN SPELL CHECKER!!! Genious...
Luigi193 said 8:24PM on 12-19-2007
Whats a CoMpuuTr??
I know, I have ATROTIOUS spelling...
Heres a tip me, USE SAFARI'S BUILT IN SPELL CHECKER!!! Genious...
Luigi193 said 8:25PM on 12-19-2007
Whats a CoMpuuTr??
I know, I have ATROCIOUS spelling...
Heres a tip me, USE SAFARI'S BUILT IN SPELL CHECKER!!! Genius...
That being said... excuse me for not having perfect grammar and spelling on an Internet blog...
Luigi193 said 8:26PM on 12-19-2007
HOLY CRAP!!! So sorry guys...
Its my stupid macbook keyboard, even after the update, it hits random buttons by itself like the return key. It just jumps EVERYWHERE....my bad
Microdot said 6:30PM on 12-19-2007
i could nto disagree with macuser more.
the overwhelming majority of windows sales are oem/on a new computer. retail sales account for a fraction of windows total sales.
you catch more flies with honey.....
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Quine said 9:03PM on 12-19-2007
not to disagree with your statements, but I just had to show this in response to "You catch more flies with honey"
http://www.xkcd.com/357/
Thomas said 6:37PM on 12-19-2007
You might say Apple trust their customers, but at the same time, Apple's customers are trustworthy.
That isn't an insult to Windows users, its just the fact its the default OS. Therefore people buy it because they think they have to.
OS X users have to make a proper decision to go Mac, and therefore this is where the trust starts.
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Alex McKee said 7:08PM on 12-19-2007
I'd high-five you if it was possible.
That's exactly what the situation is, and probably will always be.
Hamish said 9:10PM on 12-19-2007
I spent 2 hours the night before last tryin to re-activate Vista. I was trying to open a Word document on my iMac and it was corrupted. No problems I thought, just fire up Fusion, and download Word viewer and off we go.
No dice.
Sorry, you need to reactivate Vista. Sorry, we think you are a thief - our records show this copy of Vista is already being used.
Tried to call the number and enter lots and lots of digits. Then a call centre in India (eventually - had to call India directly) and got a new activation code.
Bloody Microtard. I will send you an invoice for 2 hours of my time...
TCO anyone?
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Anthony said 7:08PM on 12-19-2007
I switched to OS X from Windows 2000 when I saw the WPA (Windows Product Activation) "feature" of XP. If a company is going to treat me like a criminal then I'm not giving them my $$$.
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