Mac App Store: some of those apps are expensive

These apps are not expensive. Compare these prices to Adobe CS5 or Microsoft Office.

It's ok Erica, you don't need our permission to jailbreak your computer.

Hey Auntie TUAW. Been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Mac App Store so as to upgrade my out of date version of iPhoto. When I noticed the difference in Aussie pricing compared to US decided not to go ahead. How can this be justified when the Aussie $ is on a parity with US $!!!??
Your Disappointed Nephew from Down Under.
PS. Think too many Apps are overpriced.

It looks like Apple has the right idea so far. Separate your software out of the suite package, lower the prices, and get more purchases. I never liked having to buy the entire iLife or iWork suite when I just wanted one or two apps. These two I rarely updated. Other companies need to remove all costs associated with shipping, physical media, etc. and price their software accordingly. Why should I continue paying for a box or DVD when I'm not receiving these?

Now that Aperture is at ¥9000 instead of the retail ¥19,800 I'm going to be more motivated to buy that instead of upgrading to the new iPhoto. I'll have to wait and see for other apps I use if they make it to the Mac store.

I certainly hope that the Mac store won't be another iOS store in where we have to wade through the crap just to find a good app. That's become so annoying that I've stopped buying anything for my iPhone.

I think that while some apps are appropriately priced, some are too high (while I won't complain that some are too low!).

We've been pampered by the crazy App Store pricing wars (specifically EA Games right before Christmas), so, sure, some of those apps seem awfully expensive. But it's important to remember that this is full-fledged (and hopefully full-featured) software, not just an iOS app.

I'm REALLY not impressed so far. I can't even purchase any apps. Keep getting the "unknown error" message.

Items in the Mac app store should be cheaper as they contain built in copy protection and thus can only run on authorized computers. Sure, I share an iTunes account with my wife, but not by sone or daughter. With a non Mac app store app, I can just give the app (and the serial) to my kids and they can install. Now with the Mac app store, my grown kids will need to buy their own sodtware. Huge win for developers, and a good reason for lower prices.

People have to remember that the mac is a DESKTOP machine, the apps are generally more complicated. Therefore it's only right to have to pay more for some apps. Twitter app for $15? So what? The developer took the a lot of time to build that app. Mac development is much more complicated than iOS development, it's only right that the apps should be more.

I would like the underlying research that supports Sadun's argument that higher prices are more “realistic and sustainable” to be amended to this article. She suggests, then, that iOS applications are somehow forced to have prices that are unrealistic or unsustainable (by whose measure?). The idea that the consumer would benefit from competition leading to lower prices is derided by Sadun and another blogger John Gruber using the phrase “race to the bottom,” mainly because they don't have a concept of basic economics or capitalism. Given that Apple provides the hosting and the money transaction services to these companies, eliminating all overhead, these prices have no reason to stay artificially inflated. Developers put time and effort into making these products, but this — and ego — clouds their perception of how valuable their product is TO THE MARKET. Developers will stand to gain more money if they lower their price and shoot for volume ( and realize that perhaps a scanner program isn't worth $160! ); more people will enjoy their products, who paid less money for them, and the developer will make the most profit — a win-win-win.

well, i just bought sketchbook pro for $30. about $50-60 cheaper than buying it from autodesk.

i'd also say that it's a much more realistic price than what AD is asking. i've been putting off this purchase because it is $90CAD (thanks but no thanks).