I had an interesting conversation with someone active in the file sharing scene, yesterday. My source (who will remain anonymous for obvious reasons), reports that people are already trying to upload disk images of OS 10.7. What’s amusing about this is that they don’t realize their installer is actually tied to their Apple ID.
Apple’s never been huge on copy protection of their OSes. Where Microsoft had product codes, and now activities, the Cupertino Crew has always had more of an honor system. A perfect example was how OS 10.6 came in both full price at over $100 and upgrade pricing of $20 for the same installer, and Apple darn well knew people were paying the upgrade price and using as a full install.
You have such an honest face, after all.
This likely had to do with the fact that for years Apple saw themselves as hardware vendors who just happened to also make software.
That’s changed now. Apple is about the entire computer experience. Locking things down to the App Store and an Apple ID makes sense on multiple levels, but it’s a particularly slick anti-piracy measure. For those lamenting this, keep in mind that Lion only costs thirty bucks. It’s not like we’re talking a small fortune. If you can’t afford that, being “stuck” in 10.6 is not the worst thing in the world. Plus, if you wait till August there’ll be a USB stick installer for $69. I suspect that may present a less onerous solution for the “information wants to be free crowd”.
I know, "free as in speech, not as in beer."
Please note that Techcitement does not advocate the bypassing of software developer’s rights. We just know people do it. Also, sorry about the cat puns again. We’re having the hardest time resisting.
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