buying iLife?

[OldCorpse]

Don't know if this is the right forum, since it is about software, but really it is only about buying and this is the buying advice forum, so here goes (moderator: if this is the wrong forum, please move my post, thanks )

So, just this Friday 12/16/05 I ordered a 12" iBook from Amazon, my first mac... yes, I'm a new switcher. I don't regret not waiting for the mactels, but I do feel slightly sad about iLife - since I'm buying it pretty much at the very end of 2005 (I'll receive it dec. 23), that's the very end of iLife 05 lifespan, and I guess iLife 06 is just over the horizon...

Now, I've read a lot of complaints about some software elements of iLife 05, and I assume many will be fixed and generally improved upon in iLife 06 (obviously). It just seems a shame to miss it by a whisker... so I have a few questions:

1) when do they usually release iLife? Is it at the beginning of the year?
2) sometimes Apple will give you a free upgrade if you bought software and within something like 14 days a new version comes out (they did that with Tiger), you'll get the new version... would I be eligible for it, even though technically I'll be maybe 21-26 days behind (and really considering that I won't have it in my hands until dec 23, it'll be barely much longer than 14 days)... would they cut me some slack and upgrade me to iLife 06 (obviously, I'd pay for the discs... the way it worked with Tiger, I think you paid something like $20)
3) does apple offer a discount to those who upgrade? Many companies do that with their software, but I don't know how Apple is about that.
4) are there aftermarket places one can buy the software (in this case the upcoming iLife 06) for less? Which places are the best? Ebay? What price should I expect to pay from an aftermarket place?

Ok, ok, enough about iLife

Thanks in advance!

OldCorpse
quietly rotting

 

[20rogersc]

1) when do they usually release iLife? Is it at the beginning of the year?
2) sometimes Apple will give you a free upgrade if you bought software and within something like 14 days a new version comes out (they did that with Tiger), you'll get the new version... would I be eligible for it, even though technically I'll be maybe 21-26 days behind (and really considering that I won't have it in my hands until dec 23, it'll be barely much longer than 14 days)... would they cut me some slack and upgrade me to iLife 06 (obviously, I'd pay for the discs... the way it worked with Tiger, I think you paid something like $20)
3) does apple offer a discount to those who upgrade? Many companies do that with their software, but I don't know how Apple is about that.
4) are there aftermarket places one can buy the software (in this case the upcoming iLife 06) for less? Which places are the best? Ebay? What price should I expect to pay from an aftermarket place?

I'll try and help here...
1)Normally at the January Expo, which will be the 9th this year.
2) There is normally a time period which they will allow you to upgrade, but there's no harm with contacting apple once its been released to see if you can.
3) No, there's no discount on upgrading, it's the same price.
4) There probably wouldn't be a lot of difference buying it from eBay than from Apple themselvces, as it is a new product that most mac owners would want to get their hands on.

Hope this helps

::20ROGERSC::

 

[Applespider]

Generally the only time you're eligible for an upgrade at a reduced price is if you bought between the announcement of the new product and a fixed date in the future. Buying it 2 weeks before a suspected announcement won't cut it.

I bought my PB on the day of MWSF 2004 when they announced iLife 05 as coming on new Macs (but no new PBs were announced). Since I bought the day they announced it, then I was able to request the free upgrade.

 

[generik]

Was there a PB speedbump during the previous MWSF?

 

[OldCorpse]

Thanks everyone for the responses... hmmm, looks like the odds of my getting a reduced price or freeish upgrade are pretty grim

I'll still try, but in the end, I'll shell out for the new one... too many people complain about the current iPhoto and other programs, seems a new fixed up 06 is essential.

OldCorpse
quietly rotting

 

[~Shard~]

Yeah, my advice to anyone thinking about buying a machine around now is just to wait the 2 extra weeks, as it won't kill you. That way, you can see if the product you're planning on buying is updated at MWSF, and you will also get iLife 06 as well, if history repeats itself. But I understand if you needed your machine ASAP. Do some hunting around after MWSF for deals on iLife 06, and I guess talk with Apple if you can, but my feeling is that you're unfortunately probably SOL.

 

[Applespider]

I'll still try, but in the end, I'll shell out for the new one... too many people complain about the current iPhoto and other programs, seems a new fixed up 06 is essential.

I'd suggest giving iLife 05 a fair shot before dismissing it out of hand. For every vociferous person complaining, there are most likely a lot of happy customers.

At the moment, I'm working with around 8,000 pictures in iPhoto with iMovie open editing a holiday video and it's doing just fine. Neither app has crashed or frozen or gone beachball crazy (now I'm touching wood though!)

I'll wait and see what iLife 06 offers. If it's just new themes, then I'll probably not bother. If they add some of the Core Image stuff in, then I'll be a little more tempted.

 

[m-dogg]

I bought an iMac last year right after Christmas and missed out on iLife '06. They only offered it as an upgrade to people who bought a Mac after MWSF but before it began shipping in the actual boxes. I ended up buying it in February anyway, though...

 

[20rogersc]

I bought an iMac last year right after Christmas and missed out on iLife '06. They only offered it as an upgrade to people who bought a Mac after MWSF but before it began shipping in the actual boxes. I ended up buying it in February anyway, though...

I bought mine before Christmas, but have still only got iLife 04 today. I would recommend trying iLife 05 before you go out and purchase 06 just incase, like I found, it suits your needs fine without any extra features.
I'm going to treat myself to iLife 06 this year though

::20ROGERSC::

 

[OldCorpse]

Lot of good advice here... yeah, I will certainly give iLife 05 a fair shot. I'm a mac newbie, and a switcher, and I sure understand that there will be things that are different from windows programs, not like in "worse", just different. I'll just have to learn the mac way. That said, I do like to get the latest and greatest

Currently I'm using irfanview (I actually prefer it to picasa) on windows, so iPhoto will be an interesting experience.

I can always buy 06 if I find that 05 is not adequate and there are raves wrt. the 06. One thing I will not do, is ask some friend for their 06 disc, that would be cheating. I'll pay, I'm just trying to get a good deal

The one thing I can say is that so far into my mac experience, I found the macheads on the boards extremely friendly. However, my one critique of the apple.com iBook board is that the folks there seem to know very, very little about macs... kind of disappointing... I posted an extremely simple question there, and nobody knows a thing... I can't imagine this happening on a dell.com board. Oh well, at least here, folks seem both friendly and knowledgable. I'm thinking of posting my question here, though I'll give the apple.com board a bit more time to see if anyone actually knows anything.

OldCorpse
quietly rotting

 

[mduser63]

I have iLife '05 and it's perfectly fine for me. I don't have any complaints about it. I actually quite like iPhoto '05 and performance on my PowerBook hasn't been an issue at all. Unless there is a really major upgrade for iLife '06, like a whole new application, I won't be upgrading (unless I buy a new Mac next year).

 

[fartheststar]

I went from iLife 03 to iLife 05. What a difference. So I guess it's all perspective for those that complain.

In any case, most people who post in forums have complaints or need help, so don't let that get you down. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Oh, this board is good for alerting you to where the best prices are (on the main page).

 

[~Shard~]

I went from iLife 03 to iLife 05. What a difference. So I guess it's all perspective for those that complain.

Ahem, there was no iLife 03.

 

[Applespider]

However, my one critique of the apple.com iBook board is that the folks there seem to know very, very little about macs... kind of disappointing...

The boards there aren't the easiest to use or check. And there's not so much community atmosphere; each board seems to be 'owned' by two or three 'experts' although their level of expertise varies and it might only be good for the most common problems. As a result, I think that other knowledgeable users tend not use the boards so much. That's not to denigrate all the 'experts' there; some of them really do know what they're doing and can help enormously with the ins and outs of specific apps etc.

I use it occasionally, generally to find out whether something I've noticed is really a bug (ie others are spotting it) and if there's a workaround to it. If it's a common problem, then there are probably already threads there. If not, then I'd post here rather than there for an answer.

 

[fartheststar]

Ahem, there was no iLife 03.

Got me on a technicality I guess. It was whatever was released prior to 2004.

 

[~Shard~]

Got me on a technicality I guess. It was whatever was released prior to 2004.

Before 2004 it was just a collection of apps, all at different versions, all free for download from the Apple website - no cost. I remember downloading iTunes 2 and iPhoto 2 back then. The iLife suite made its debut in 2004, with iLife 04, Apple started charging for the apps (except for iTunes) and you know the rest...

 

[fartheststar]

Before 2004 it was just a collection of apps, all at different versions, all free for download from the Apple website - no cost. I remember downloading iTunes 2 and iPhoto 2 back then. The iLife suite made its debut in 2004, with iLife 04, Apple started charging for the apps (except for iTunes) and you know the rest...

Neat. I didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[~Shard~]

Neat. I didn't know that. Thanks.

No problem, glad to be of assistance.