Is it true that Leopard Server requires a key in order to activate it for use? If so, why the Server and not Leopard (client)?
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Leopard Server requires Activation Key???
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Why? So people don't illegally download it, in means of also making money off it...I'm sure there are alot of other reasons as well but you shouldn't have to worry about it if you plan on purchasing it
OS X server has ALWAYS required an activation key, which can be revoked.
It really doesn't matter, because the activation key is on a card in the package that it came it.
It really doesn't matter, because the activation key is on a card in the package that it came it.
Why? So people don't illegally download it, in means of also making money off it...I'm sure there are alot of other reasons as well but you shouldn't have to worry about it if you plan on purchasing it
No, I'm just curious if it's true and if so, why, since Apple has seemed to always be against such anti-piracy measures. Why Server but not Mac OS X client???
I've wondered that as well. It seems to me (and I'm no expert, so take this FWIW) that more piracy happens by home users/power users than by businesses (particularly businesses that buy Macs in the first place). But Apple only has product keys on their business products, OS X Server and iWork (using "business products" very loosely to encompass iWork). Seems kind of backwards to me if they really want the keys to discourage piracy. I'm not saying I want to have to deal with keys on my OS X client and iLife, I'm just saying I don't understand the rationale.
OS X Server has always required a serial number (not the same as an activation key). The serial also controls whether you wind up with the 10-user version or the unlimited license.
This is an important distinction to make. Serial numbers are really not so bad compared to activation.
Because iLife and OSX come pre-installed on every Mac
Apple only uses serial numbers for software that they want to sell you after you've purchased your Mac. You could argue that Leopard or iLife '08 didn't come pre-installed on your mac, and you would be right. However, some version of OS X and iLife did come pre-installed. So if you download 10.5 or iLife '08, you're really just stealing an upgrade. You've already paid for some version of OS X and iLife with the purchase of your Mac. If you pirate a newer version, you're essentially only pirating an upgrade.
Most of the Mac users that I know, NEVER upgrade their software. They just use what came pre-installed, and they're so happy with it. This is the common behavior for switchers that aren't power users. The percentage of Macintosh users that upgrade their iLife and OS X installations I think is very small compared to those who don't. Tiger had an install base of over 20 million at the end of March. With only two million copies sold so far, thats just about 10% of the installed base that has upgraded. And you have to assume that the majority of the power users, freaks like us, and people who get excited about software updates, would do it right away and not wait until later down the line. Maybe that number will increase to about 20% over time. But the majority of leopard users will come from people who have bought a Mac that already have Leopard installed.
And out of that percentage of Mac users that want to upgrade to the latest OS, what percentage do you think it is that:
1. Knows you can download it for free off BitTorrent and
2. Knows how to do it?
It's not worth the hassle for Apple to try to stop that small of a percentage of people from pirating their software!
On the other hand, a license to iWork, Logic, Aperture, Shake, etc. is not included with the purchase of a new Mac. I think thats where Apple makes the differentiation.
Apple still is a hardware company and thats where they make the majority of their money. The only reason they develop amazing software, is to sell more hardware. In the past, to run OS X, you had to purchase a Macintosh. Obviously thats not the case in 2007. However, I don't think installing OS X on home-brew PC's will really ever catch on, but I suspect that if it does, we may start to see serial numbers make their first appearance in MacOS. I think thats the only thing that would make Apple go down that route.
Apple only uses serial numbers for software that they want to sell you after you've purchased your Mac. You could argue that Leopard or iLife '08 didn't come pre-installed on your mac, and you would be right. However, some version of OS X and iLife did come pre-installed. So if you download 10.5 or iLife '08, you're really just stealing an upgrade. You've already paid for some version of OS X and iLife with the purchase of your Mac. If you pirate a newer version, you're essentially only pirating an upgrade.
Most of the Mac users that I know, NEVER upgrade their software. They just use what came pre-installed, and they're so happy with it. This is the common behavior for switchers that aren't power users. The percentage of Macintosh users that upgrade their iLife and OS X installations I think is very small compared to those who don't. Tiger had an install base of over 20 million at the end of March. With only two million copies sold so far, thats just about 10% of the installed base that has upgraded. And you have to assume that the majority of the power users, freaks like us, and people who get excited about software updates, would do it right away and not wait until later down the line. Maybe that number will increase to about 20% over time. But the majority of leopard users will come from people who have bought a Mac that already have Leopard installed.
And out of that percentage of Mac users that want to upgrade to the latest OS, what percentage do you think it is that:
1. Knows you can download it for free off BitTorrent and
2. Knows how to do it?
It's not worth the hassle for Apple to try to stop that small of a percentage of people from pirating their software!
On the other hand, a license to iWork, Logic, Aperture, Shake, etc. is not included with the purchase of a new Mac. I think thats where Apple makes the differentiation.
Apple still is a hardware company and thats where they make the majority of their money. The only reason they develop amazing software, is to sell more hardware. In the past, to run OS X, you had to purchase a Macintosh. Obviously thats not the case in 2007. However, I don't think installing OS X on home-brew PC's will really ever catch on, but I suspect that if it does, we may start to see serial numbers make their first appearance in MacOS. I think thats the only thing that would make Apple go down that route.
Apple seem to make the distinction on Pro or Pro-derived software (iWork maybe excluded). OSX Server is Pro software so has a license key, just like Aperture and all version of Final Cut (including Express).
The distinction is whether or not the software comes pre-installed on a new Macintosh. And before someone replies "OS X Server comes pre-installed on Xserves", Apple itself doesn't consider the Xserve a true Macintosh, but puts it in a separate class of "Servers". Does anyone know if iLife come pre-installed on Xserves?
Check their website.
