Will Mountain Lion be a free update to Lion 10.7?

Apple exists to make money for its shareholders. Expect them to constantly invent new ways of getting you to buy stuff.

Historically, Apple has had a "if an upgrade is released within 30 days of your purchase, you get it for free." I had a client who bought an iMac days before Lion was released. He got the Lion upgrade for free.

The first 5-6 release of Mac OS X (10.0, 10.1, 10.2, etc.) cost about $129. The last two releases have been $29 each. But in all cases, there have been some pretty significant changes, additions so I've always felt like the price was worth it.

Especially when compared to the complexity and prices of Windows upgrades which range from $100-$350 depending on which version you buy (Basic, Home Pro, Business, Ultimate, Enterprise, etc.).

My guess is that Mountain Lion will be to Lion what

Snow Leopard was to Leopard. A major bug fix upgrade

in the disguise of an OS upgrade. Most of the changes

in Snow Leopard were "uner the hood" and repaired a

multitude of issues with Leopard. I see Mountain Lion

as being of the same nature.

Keep in mind that Apple's first major attempt at integrating features of iOS with OS X was Lion. There were many bumps in that road. Not only with the integration of those features, but with the OS being download only. They did eventually come out with the thumb drive installer, but the vast majority of people did the download. There is no reason to think that Apple hasn't taken many of the comments they have received with respect to Lion into consideration with the development of Mountain Lion. We really just won't know more until we start seeing some reviews of the developer release. At least so far, the check box to relaunch windows when logging in (the one that pops up when you select Shutdown or Restart) is a persistent election in ML. It is unchecked by default and will keep that election until you change it. It's a minor thing, but it's something many people complained about. Even if it changes with the release of ML, it's clear Apple has been paying attention and even taking action based on the comments from users.

in response to PeterMac87:

the reason people are making such a big deal about it so fast is because most people like me are hanging on to the edge of our seat waiting for something to fix the major flaws in our operating system.

Well most of us don't have 'big flaws'. Chill out dude and try to fix whatever problems you have now before doing any updating or you will just carry your problems forward with the update.

Pete

sharoo wrote:

in response to PeterMac87:

the reason people are making such a big deal about it so fast is because most people like me are hanging on to the edge of our seat waiting for something to fix the major flaws in our operating system.

A bit dramatic? There are some issues, but I wouldn't say MAJOR flaws.

I would consider it major when a simple text editing program doesn't work properly. Also, it seems that the Lion OSX is a partial source of the problem with the battery issues. This was tested with macbook running snow leopard and comparing it to it running Lion OSX. There is a difference of like 3-4 hours in battery life. And when you have over 800 posts complaining about the OS.....I think there is something to be said about that.

you would never hear me complaining in the past about Apple OS releases...so why would i start now?

I am usually a very flexible mellow person, but lately I'm finding it very hard to be mellow and calm about my recent computer purchases. not just with apple.

Most people have no issues. Take your computer to an Apple Store for servicing or diagnosing. The people posting here represent those having issues, that's what trouble shooting forums do. Most people have no Major issues just can't or won't get used to UI changes which have been going on forever.if you hate Lion then I wonder why you are so keen for the next OS to come along because from what you seem to be saying you are going to hate that even more. That's why you have alternatives.

Pete

I avoided the buggy OS that Lion turned out to be. I'm anxious for some of the features in ML though. I'm hoping for a leap from Snow Leopard right over Lion and on to ML...

Ryan

bengsxr wrote:

Well I was referring to the price tag of over two grand for my new lap top where its two months old now.

And Mountain Lion is what? -6 months old?

Wait until it comes out, then you'll know.

Tony T1 wrote:

Ziatron wrote:

I will not receive the upgrade for free is kinda a really pricy bummer.

Perhaps you could finance the $29 ?

Just put aside 15c/day 😉

What do you mean ... Every Day 😮

Tom in London wrote:

Apple exists to make money for its shareholders. Expect them to constantly invent new ways of getting you to buy stuff.

And which company does not follow that model, this isn't fairyland.

slyguy_28 wrote:

I avoided the buggy OS that Lion turned out to be. I'm anxious for some of the features in ML though. I'm hoping for a leap from Snow Leopard right over Lion and on to ML...

Ryan

This is what leaves my perplexed. How do you and some others know Lion was buggy if you avoided installing it? From posts here in a Trouble Shooting forum where most all posts will always be negative? And how do you know ML will be much different in your presumed bugginess of Lion which makes you so anxious for it?

Pete

slyguy_28 wrote:

I avoided the buggy OS that Lion turned out to be. I'm anxious for some of the features in ML though. I'm hoping for a leap from Snow Leopard right over Lion and on to ML...

Ryan

That may not be possible....

As it stands right now for Lion, you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 installed before you can purchase Lion.....

See step no. 2 here:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/how-to-buy/

If they follow the same steps, then you would have to have Lion installed on your computer before upgrading to Mountain Lion....