Upgrading from Leopard via USB/DVD?

[Travisimo]

I have an iMac running Snow Leopard so I will be upgrading my computer via the Mac App Store. My wife, however, has a Macbook running Leopard. Will it be possible to download Lion from my iMac and make an installer DVD or USB stick to upgrade her computer? Does it ask you for your Apple ID when installing this way in order to verify that you're on the same account? Otherwise wouldn't this lead to rampant piracy?

I'd really rather avoid having to purchase a Snow Leopard upgrade for her Macbook if I could just directly upgrade to Lion from Leopard with an install disk/stick.

Thanks.

 

[Nuckinfuts]

I have an iMac running Snow Leopard so I will be upgrading my computer via the Mac App Store. My wife, however, has a Macbook running Leopard. Will it be possible to download Lion from my iMac and make an installer DVD or USB stick to upgrade her computer? Does it ask you for your Apple ID when installing this way in order to verify that you're on the same account? Otherwise wouldn't this lead to rampant piracy?

I'd really rather avoid having to purchase a Snow Leopard upgrade for her Macbook if I could just directly upgrade to Lion from Leopard with an install disk/stick.

Thanks.

the developer previews have no copy protection at all and you're allowed by Apple to install it on all your computers. And it is possible to make an install DVD/USB, how is discussed in many other threads. It is also widely believed that there is no direct upgrade path between Leopard and Lion, but a clean install is possible from a DVD/USB.

Though this is still mostly speculative from the Developer Previews and none of which is set in stone until the official Lion release next month.

 

[Fishrrman]

"Will it be possible to download Lion from my iMac and make an installer DVD or USB stick to upgrade her computer?"

Yes.

I can't speak as to how the "final release" version of Lion will work, but I can say this:

Lion DP4, once downloaded, can be burned to DVD using Disk Utility (4.7gb DVD works fine).

The resulting DVD can boot the Mac, and you can do a completely "fresh" installation -- that is to say, NO prior version of the software is needed to "install over", and it can be installed onto a completely "blank" volume. Afterwards, it can be updated through Software Update to the latest version.

Does it ask you for your Apple ID when installing this way in order to verify that you're on the same account?"

No. It will present the expected "register your account" dialogs after installation, but you can "cancel out" of these by simply hitting "Command-Q".

"I'd really rather avoid having to purchase a Snow Leopard upgrade for her Macbook if I could just directly upgrade to Lion from Leopard with an install disk/stick."

No need to buy Snow Leopard. If your wife's computer can support Lion, you can do a "fresh install" to it without problems.

After the installation is complete, you can then use Migration Assistant to "move her stuff" to the new account in Lion.....