Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Will I get Snow Leopard for free?

A

amelsen

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 5, 2009
38
0
Alright, so I just ordered an iMac which I will be getting in approximately two weeks.

I know Snow Leopard might come within the next couple of months, so I'm wondering.. will I be able to upgrade to that for free?

And question number 2 - how do upgrades generally work? Will I get a completely bare and naked install, or will I get an installation that looks like and includes the same application as I eventually will get with my iMac?


Thanks.

- Allan
 
No. You will have to pay.

Free upgrades are only available after Apple has announced a shipping date which is normally 1 month before the OS ships. Anyone who buys in that month gets a free upgrade.
 
amelsen said:
Alright, so I just ordered an iMac which I will be getting in approximately two weeks.

I know Snow Leopard might come within the next couple of months, so I'm wondering.. will I be able to upgrade to that for free?

And question number 2 - how do upgrades generally work? Will I get a completely bare and naked install, or will I get an installation that looks like and includes the same application as I eventually will get with my iMac?


Thanks.

- Allan
Click to expand...


Have to buy a Mac within 2 weeks of OS upgrade (10.5>10.6) to pay small fee ($9.95 usually) for a drop-in disc...
 
When you upgrade nothing will change except your system software, unless you format and install (which some say to do, but it's sort of a pain in the arse so I don't recommend it).

Upgrading the OS on Mac is sooooo easy.
 
iPhil said:
Have to buy a Mac within 2 weeks of OS upgrade (10.5>10.6) to pay small fee ($9.95 usually) for a drop-in disc...
Click to expand...

I was wondering this but I really can't wait any longer so I ordered my iMac already. If it's only $10 for an update disc then I don't really care.
 
... what?!?! it's not even a major version number.. and I _still_ have to pay?! Of all the things I loooooove about Mac.. I think I just found one I dislike... pffft.
 
FoxHoundADAM said:
I was wondering this but I really can't wait any longer so I ordered my iMac already. If it's only $10 for an update disc then I don't really care.
Click to expand...

The $10 update discs are only available to people who qualify for the update program. That is those who bought their Macs after a shipping date for the new OS was announced. You will not qualify for this and will have to pay full price.

amelsen said:
... what?!?! it's not even a major version number.. and I _still_ have to pay?! Of all the things I loooooove about Mac.. I think I just found one I dislike... pffft.
Click to expand...

Yes it is. Ignore the 10.
 
robbieduncan said:
The $10 update discs are only available to people who qualify for the update program. That is those who bought their Macs after a shipping date for the new OS was announced. You will not qualify for this and will have to pay full price.



Yes it is. Ignore the 10.
Click to expand...

*mumbles something about finding a work-around*
 
amelsen said:
... what?!?! it's not even a major version number.. and I _still_ have to pay?! Of all the things I loooooove about Mac.. I think I just found one I dislike... pffft.
Click to expand...
It is a major version number. Apple decided to stick with the "OS X" label for as long as possible, meaning it's got to stick with the "10.whatever" numbering convention. It's still a major update, and, of course, if you don't consider it as such, you needn't buy it.

Try to find a new Windows update for less than $129.

Still, yes, an upgrade price would be nice; I find it especially irksome with iWork/iLife. Nevertheless, $129 every year and a half or so isn't too horrific, and, again, there's no true need to do it immediately, and discounts often can be found soon thereafter.
 
robbieduncan said:
The $10 update discs are only available to people who qualify for the update program. That is those who bought their Macs after a shipping date for the new OS was announced. You will not qualify for this and will have to pay full price.

Yes it is. Ignore the 10.
Click to expand...

Apple also every now and then does a 14 day lookback period to cover some of those who would use the 14 day return period as a reason to ask for a copy.

---

And the upgrade will just cover the OS, not any other Applications like iLife, Pages, etc.
 
Not sure how they are here about product links, but even if you do have to pay, stuff like this:
http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop...7&name=Mac+Box+Set+-+Single+User&mfg=MB997Z/A

New Leopard, iLife, and iWork for $133, are pretty nice values. I am sure they will do something similar for Snow Leopard, and any new iLife and iWork.

If you don't use Work/Life, then there are other deals for just SL. I agree it will suck to get my iMac today and have them maybe announce SL in June, but whatever. You can buy a Dell and MS could announce Windows 7 in June as well, or you could buy an iPhone and they drop the price $200 two weeks later.

Its a game we play in the technology world, and if you want it now, sometimes you have to play the game. :)
 
VulnoX said:
Not sure how they are here about product links, but even if you do have to pay, stuff like this:
http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop...7&name=Mac+Box+Set+-+Single+User&mfg=MB997Z/A

New Leopard, iLife, and iWork for $133, are pretty nice values. I am sure they will do something similar for Snow Leopard, and any new iLife and iWork.

If you don't use Work/Life, then there are other deals for just SL. I agree it will suck to get my iMac today and have them maybe announce SL in June, but whatever. You can buy a Dell and MS could announce Windows 7 in June as well, or you could buy an iPhone and they drop the price $200 two weeks later.

Its a game we play in the technology world, and if you want it now, sometimes you have to play the game. :)
Click to expand...

Windows 7 won't be out for awhile! ! ! lol
 
amelsen said:
... what?!?! it's not even a major version number.. and I _still_ have to pay?! Of all the things I loooooove about Mac.. I think I just found one I dislike... pffft.
Click to expand...

It is a major update. It's equivalent to moving from Vista to windows 7. Think of the OSX as you would windows, i.e Mac, OSX, Leopard as opposed to Microsoft, Windows, Vista.
 
ditzy said:
It is a major update. It's equivalent to moving from Vista to windows 7. Think of the OSX as you would windows, i.e Mac, OSX, Leopard as opposed to Microsoft, Windows, Vista.
Click to expand...

Yea I paid $10.00 for an upgrade last year...

But on the other hand if you wanted it free, there are always other ways!
 
supernet33 said:
Yea I paid $10.00 for an upgrade last year...

But on the other hand if you wanted it free, there are always other ways!
Click to expand...

If you want to upgrade free, there are always ways, none of which are legal. But my point wasn't about cost, it was that Snow Leopard is a new OS, in just the way that Windows 7 is, and it is as reasonable for apple to charge for Snow Leopard as it is for Microsoft to charge for windows 7.
 
ditzy said:
If you want to upgrade free, there are always ways, none of which are legal. But my point wasn't about cost, it was that Snow Leopard is a new OS, in just the way that Windows 7 is, and it is as reasonable for apple to charge for Snow Leopard as it is for Microsoft to charge for windows 7.
Click to expand...

Perhaps I should just say I'm coming from a Linux world? I primarily use Linux at home.. and I've never had to pay to upgrade my Ubuntu =)
 
amelsen said:
*mumbles something about finding a work-around*
Click to expand...

You are spending ~$1500 for a computer and then you are too stingy to buy an OS for ~$130?

You don't need to buy 10.6, 10.5 is a nice OS and does everything perfeclty for most people.
I don't understand some people who treat 10.6 like it reinvents the wheel. It is just an OS - sure, it's fully 64bit and uses your GPU for more then just graphics - but,...

Anyways, I will wait for a couple of month (or even up to a year or more) until I get 10.6. I would like to see some real world performance and experiences that show me it is worth to say goodbye to 10.5.
 
amelsen said:
Perhaps I should just say I'm coming from a Linux world? I primarily use Linux at home.. and I've never had to pay to upgrade my Ubuntu =)
Click to expand...

Last time I checked, OS X wasn't open source...sorry bud. Either buy it with 10.5.6, wait until Snow Leopard comes out to order it, or format your HDD and install Jaunty Jackalope when you get your mac. Those are your 3 options.
 
Drewsky87 said:
Last time I checked, OS X wasn't open source...sorry bud. Either buy it with 10.5.6, wait until Snow Leopard comes out to order it, or format your HDD and install Jaunty Jackalope when you get your mac. Those are your 3 options.
Click to expand...

I'm fully aware what my options are... but that doesn't mean I have to like them.
 
robbieduncan said:
The $10 update discs are only available to people who qualify for the update program. That is those who bought their Macs
Click to expand...

Thought that sounded too good. Ah well, ~$130 may be worth it. Although who know, maybe after this freezing fiasco I will have recieved an iMac within 14 days of their announcement.
 
robbieduncan said:
Not received: bought. Receiving a replacement for a machine bought outside the qualifying period does not make you qualify.
Click to expand...
I know, but my comment was that if I have to haggle with getting replacements for 2 months I'm sure getting Apple to give me a free upgrade to SL wouldn't be much of a request.
 
FoxHoundADAM said:
I know, but my comment was that if I have to haggle with getting replacements for 2 months I'm sure getting Apple to give me a free upgrade to SL wouldn't be much of a request.
Click to expand...

You might think not, but I'm pretty sure they will say no. SL is likely 2-3 months from shipping right now so your machine will be miles outside any window of reasonability for a free upgrade.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back