Hacker News Reader

Comment by joesmo | Hacker News Reader

The last place I go to get apps for OS X is the MAS. If it's available outside of the store, I always prefer that. There is nothing compelling about the MAS and there never has been. It's ridiculous that I have to sign in to get free apps or OS updates. For OS updates and apps that offer no other way of installation, it's a concession I make grudgingly. Why should Apple be a middle-man in my software purchases/downloads while offering absolutely nothing over more traditional methods of installation, not even convenience?

View on HN

> while offering absolutely nothing over more traditional methods of installation

On the contrary, I (who happily use brew and brew cask) have re-purchased anything that is available in the app store, even if I'd already purchased it elsewhere, just for the app store conveniences.

It's really amazing to dump an old Mac for a new one and just click from your purchased inventory, no serials, no nonsense. Not to mention having that work on both your laptop and your desktop.

The old days of having to take a day off just to move to a new or additional machine are long gone, thanks to the app store.

Isn't that the joy of Time Machine too?

I find the simplicity nice: find an app I want to buy, click buy, and I've got it. Developer just pushed an upgrade? It installs automatically without my having to do anything.

And the developer doesn't get anything, no matter how much work developing the upgrade took.

I agree that's a problem and would be very happy to see native support for paid updates added to the MAS instead of the hacks developers are currently stuck with. I didn't say the MAS is without downsides (the original article does a good job of spelling them out), but joesmo is arguing that the MAS has no real benefits to the user. I don't think that's true, and that's why I really hope Apple fixes these issues instead of letting the exodus continue.

You actually don't need to sign in or have an account to receive OS updates.

The MAS offers numerous conveniences:

1. Just one account for a wide range of software.

2. Automatic background updates for all purchases without having to deal with lots of sparkle updater dialogs.

3. Easy access to all your apps on any of your macs.

4. Easy reinstallation when you move to a new machine - no hunting around for license keys etc.

5. Confidence that the software is sandboxes and not malware.

Your claim that the MAS offers 'absolutely nothing' is false.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com