Apple Expected to Launch Mac OS X Lion through Mac App Store

**Wiley John Wright** · 05-05-2011, 08:11 PM

With the expected release of Mac OS X Lion this summer, Apple appears to be planning on releasing it through the Mac App Store. This would be a first for the company, and would dramatically reduce manufacturing costs in the process. Apple is not expected to eliminate the disc version altogether, however, as some customers will still require a hardcopy version of the software.

At this year’s World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco (June 6-10), Apple is expected to expand on its plans for Mac OS X Lion. Developers working on pre-release versions of Lion have been using the Mac App Store to download beta versions of the software for quite some time now. It only makes sense for Apple to continue this trend and release the final version to the public this way as well.

When Apple updated the MacBook Air late last year, Steve Jobs referred to it as the future of computing. If all future MacBook’s take on a similar design, then the SuperDrive that is now standard on all MacBook Pro models, will soon be a thing of the past. Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for this eventuality by releasing Lion through the Mac App Store. As soon as users get accustomed to downloading software instead of buying it on a CD, then Apple will be free to ditch the optical drive once and for all.

The Mac App Store is one of the newest features coming to Mac OS X Lion, however, Apple decided not to withhold it until this summer and released it as part of a free Mac OS X 10.6.6 update instead. The Mac App Store has proven to be quite successful for Apple. They launched the store with about a thousand apps and within 24 hours, users had already downloaded a million applications.

Digital distribution is also in line with Apple’s newfound commitment to the environment. By eliminating the packaging, Apple can reduce the amount of waste that eventually ends up in landfills. From a purely financial perspective, releasing Lion through the Mac App Store just makes sense. Hopefully, Apple will be able to pass on some of this savings and keep the price of admission low. When Snow Leopard was released, Apple only charged $29 for it. Will Lion come with a similar price tag? More will be revealed in June.

Source: AppleInsider

**Cer0** · 05-05-2011, 08:14 PM

Still wouldn't mind a disc so that way if I ever have to restore I can skip right to it instead of upgrading from snow lepord to get the mac store then downloading and then upgrading.

Actually give us the USB install like MB Airs. Would love that.

**Stray** · 05-05-2011, 08:15 PM

still what? nevermind
i feel the same way it would be nice in the mac app store but id want the cd as well

**StealthBravo** · 05-05-2011, 08:16 PM

I dont have a disc drive

**carlbgc** · 05-05-2011, 08:21 PM

They will never get rid of the cd drive!

Never!!!!!!!!

**Stray** · 05-05-2011, 08:22 PM

I dont think they'd get rid of it as many people still use cd's. I'd like blu-ray featured drives tho.

**The Man of Sand** · 05-05-2011, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by StealthBravo

I dont have a disc drive

You are indeed a man of few words.

**Cer0** · 05-05-2011, 08:24 PM

That's why I changed my post to say to give us the USB option like MacBook Air.

**StealthBravo** · 05-05-2011, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Cer0

That's why I changed mine to give us the USB option like MacBook Air.

I ordered an enclosure for my super drive too.

**Simon** · 05-05-2011, 08:37 PM

Very cool. That means I will be able to get it same day as everyone else and not have to wait for shipping

**StealthBravo** · 05-05-2011, 08:39 PM

Yea it is the cheapest way to distribute.

**Cer0** · 05-05-2011, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

Very cool. That means I will be able to get it same day as everyone else and not have to wait for shipping

Plus shipping has added cost to you probably.

**Simon** · 05-05-2011, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Cer0

Plus shipping has added cost to you probably.

Shipping and customs. This is very good news for me.

**jiniej** · 05-05-2011, 08:50 PM

the servers will be all jammed and niqqas gone bewaiting mad long 4 it

dass wassup

joe - e

**Simon** · 05-05-2011, 08:52 PM

I am sure their servers will still deliver it faster than UPS though.

**Stray** · 05-05-2011, 08:52 PM

+1

**coolguy742** · 05-05-2011, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Simon

I am sure their servers will still deliver it faster than UPS though.

+1

Sent from my iPod touch using ModMyi

**jiniej** · 05-05-2011, 09:09 PM

I would hit up the apple store yo

**Simon** · 05-05-2011, 09:11 PM

Some people dont have a Apple store

**Stray** · 05-05-2011, 09:12 PM

i have one 5 minutes away from me

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