Yeah, nothing was ever explicitly stated, which is the problem, I think. Everything I’ve asked and complained about is due to confusion caused by the vague language used by Apple and their affiliates. Here’s one example, from the Upgrade disc purchase page:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MAC_OS_X_SNGL

“Snow Leopard is an upgrade for Leopard users and requires a Mac with an Intel processor.”

Here is another example from the Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Mac-version-10-6-Snow-Leopard/dp/B001AMHWP8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1251398870&sr=8-1

“Please note, that only Apple OS X Leopard users are eligible for the Snow Leopard upgrade. Tiger & earlier OS users will need to purchase either versions of the upgraded Mac Box Set.”

Couple this with the fact that, historically, Apple’s Upgrade-branded discs did in fact require an existing install of the previous OS, and you could be easily led to the conclusion that the Box Set was the only way to get the full install disc, which is the conclusion we all came to. I don’t think that was an accident.

I will say this: I am generally very happy with how Apple handles OS upgrades. Even in this case I could very easily go change my Amazon order to an Upgrade disc, but in the end I feel that Apple’s general fairness more than makes up for the slightly scammy way they used the language in the pre-release literature.

They did so in a way that made me *feel* cheated. But when I honestly look at the situation, I’ve not been cheated at all. In fact, in the grand scheme of things, where OS upgrades are concerned, I’ve been allowed a great deal of leeway, and in the software biz that’s a rare and excellent treat.

- Customer inconvenience of a multi-stage reinstall of Snow Leopard
- Customer frustration with purchasing the “wrong” piece of software
- Going with a serial number system

and probably know how much money is left on the table if people buy the $29 upgrade disc. I guess rereading this:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

Leopard is _not_ part of the general requirements, and looking at this:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MAC_OS_X_SNGL

“… the Mac Box Set is the best way to upgrade your Mac experience, especially if you’re still using Mac OS X Tiger.”

Nothing in there about requiring Leopard. FWIW the WWDC 2009 slide says “$29 – Leopard Users”. I suppose you could chalk it up to the Family Pack always being an honor-based package, or maybe chalk it up to someone at Apple post-WWDC saying “An upgrade disc isn’t worth it. Just make it a full installer.”

Note I’m not trying to defend myself or Apple, my crystal ball interpretation was wrong too.

- Patrick

-systemsboy

Dan Frakes, MacWorld editor, agrees that there should be a Tiger disc that doesn’t require the purchase of iLife and iWork:
“[quote name='rab777hp' date='26 August 2009 - 06:11 PM' timestamp='1251335470' post='753708']

That just SUCKS, there is no reason why anyone should have to pay extra money to get software they don’t want.[/quote]

I agree. While I can understand why Apple doesn’t want to sell the $29 upgrade to Tiger users — given that they didn’t pay for Leopard — I’d like to see a Tiger upgrade with just the OS.”

But I think what bothers me the most about all this is feeling like I was misled.

Grr!

-systemsboy

“Apple continues to rely on the honor system for Mac OS X. Not only does Snow Leopard not require the entry of any serial numbers, but the standard version of Snow Leopard is a bootable “full install” disc that doesn’t actually check for the presence of Leopard in order to install. This also means that if, at a later time, you want to wipe your hard drive and reinstall Snow Leopard, you won’t have to first install Leopard and then run a separate Snow Leopard upgrade on top of it. (That sound you hear is a thousand IT managers sighing with relief.)”

Looks like we guessed wrong, people. The $29 disc is, in fact, the full installer.

It seems a little shady for Apple to not have come right out and said that. Now I feel like I was tricked into buying iLife (which I already paid for) and iWork (which I don’t really need) just to get the Apple sanctioned disc. It’s a $140 difference. I feel scammed.

I may go cancel my order.

-systemsboy

How annoying!

Thanks for the info.

-systemsboy

http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20090826/apple-changes-leopards-spots/

“And, for owners of Intel-based Macs who are still using the older Tiger version of the Mac OS, Apple is officially making Snow Leopard available only in a “boxed set” that includes other software and costs $169. The reasoning is that these folks never paid the $129 back in 2007 to upgrade to Leopard. But here’s a tip: Apple concedes that the $29 Snow Leopard upgrade will work properly on these Tiger-equipped Macs, so you can save the extra $140.”

I’m going ahead with the Box Set, though. I just realized that there is at least one Tiger system I’ll need to update. Having the full install disc should be immensely handy in this case.

-systemsboy

I assume the Snow Leopard upgrade will be similar.

-systemsboy