How's the Mac App store going in your opinion?

[whooleytoo]

I've bought a lot of apps off it. I think anyone who's been a Mac user since the '80s must get a buzz out of seeing hundreds (thousands?) of apps available and many being added monthly. Not only is it great for technical reasons (one-click purchasing & install, multiple installs, ease of updating, one-stop shop instead of hundreds of one-app company websites), but it's creating a buzz around Mac software again. I'm even buying more Mac software from other sources than I used to! (Versions, Kaleidoscope, Graphicconverter in recent weeks).

BUT, I do think it needs improvement. If you miss an app when it's "New and newsworthy" or in the top selling, then you'll probably never find it.

Apple could consider adding some kind of magazine-format in-depth reviews of selected apps/games in a given category to highlight them. More sub-categories would be good too.

 

[InfoTime]

But the idea of Apple taking 30% of what ever app you're buying kills it for me. Really, what service is Apple giving that's worth 30%? From what I see the search isn't that great and the top apps look like crapware. Basically, Apple want's 30% to install it for you and take care of updates. That's ********. I'd much rather give that money to the dev. I'd expect anyone who hosts a system like that to ask for a premium but 30% is just greed, especially when they were hosting lots of great stuff on their website for free.

I somehow hope the app store will fail. At least in it's current form.

If you were a software developer what would you rather have: 70% of $1,000,000 or 100% of $100,000?

That's the crap-shoot some developers are taking. And, if you don't sell through the app store you're not going to keep 100% of the sale. Don't forget the 3% that credit processing skims off the top. There's a fixed cost associated with maintaining an e-commerce site and managing software keys and licenses for customers who've purchased your software. Then there are costs of marketing and promotion. Does all that add up to the other 27% that Apple takes? Don't know.

I think overall we can end up seeing more titles and more quality software for the Mac. That's because if you're a developer and can write good code, that's all you need to do. You don't have to do all the other back-end stuff to sell and fulfill your products.

 

[chrono1081]

I love the mac app store. I have only downloaded 4 things from there but its great to have my MBA, MBP, and Mac Pro all in sync with apps. I just bought Screenflow off of there last night so that I can take shots of my iOS game and it works great!

 

[ScottNWDW]

As a new Mac User, actually returning Mac User, I like the App Store. I do wish there were more apps on it, but for the most part I like the app store. I have purchased several Apps on the app store. There are a few apps that I want that are not available yet, but I think over time they may get there. I also like it because I can shop for apps in one place. Having an iPad and iPhone I am familiar with the App Store concept and generally like it.

I have tried out apps on my Mac by downloading teh trial version from the developers website and then when I decided to buy the App I deleted it and bought it from the App Store with no loss in data or, surprisingly, settings.

So far I have purchased Bento 4, OmniFocus, BusyCal, Pocket Money, CalendarBar, McSolitaire, Twitter and day One. Right now I am considering Today and Print Shop 2.

As for pricing, some of the apps are the same price whether I buy them direct from the developer or the Mac App Store, some are/were cheaper on the Mac App Store.

I ended up buying iWork with my mac at the Apple Store and I ended up 2 weeks later getting Office:mac at Best Buy. It would be nice if the App Store recognized that I at least had the iWorks programs installed since they are Apple Software products. I seriously doubt Microsoft products, other than the Windows 7 sync app will be available on the Mac App Store soon.