What’s So Wrong With $975 Of Mac Software For $39?
Unless you’ve been off the internet and living on a deserted beach for awhile, you’ve probably heard of the MacHeist Mac software bundles.
The latest package of Mac software gets you 12 applications and utilities for the insanely low price of $39.
What’s not to like about that? Well, you’d be surprised at the criticism.
Some critics contend that the whole deal smacks of a terrible disease inflicting by the shrewd folks at MacHeist on both unsuspecting Mac users and naive Mac software developers. Still, a good deal.... (excerpted).
26 Reader Comments
Jeff M said:
Who exactly is forcing the software publishers to participate in the bundle? Are they children requiring our collective supervision to keep them from making mistakes?
This is ridiculous. The publishers of each of the apps committed with their eyes open, based on whatever thinking made it seem a good idea for their individual circumstance. This isn’t the first MacHeist, or the first high visibility bundle. People know what to expect, and I’m sure it was all laid out in the agreement signed by the participants.
I’ve got my own business to run; I can’t be worrying that these poor guys made a collective error that we have to fix by refusing to buy the bundle. Get over it.
really? said:
KillApp really? dilute the value of software come on, get off your high horse
JB said:
Well, this was my 3rd MacHeist bundle purchase.
I enjoy MH for the simple reason that I enjoy cracking puzzles and hence in it more for the fun wth the benefit of getting the bundle.
As someone pointed out, I have always upgraded when one of the bundled software gets a priced upgrade. My way of saying thanks to the development community.
However, this MH3 was the first time that I did feel the apps were priced lower than they should have.. say 80-100 buck would have been more appropriate.
Then again several developers get the exposure that they require and if the s/w is real useful then rest assured the word-of-mouth promo is well worth it. Just ask Agile Solutions (1Passwd)
The Owl said:
All good points, well taken. Here’s the issue: the market decides who succeeds. A programmer who spends months writing a program that no one buys (whether its good or not) makes no money. It’s just his time. You can cry about the system, or you can MARKET. Big costs to market though. How do you attract customers? No one can find your web site if they don’t know you exist. Do you pay for expensive ads in magazines? Thought you didn’t have any money and wanted to make some! Are you going to package your product and sell it in a big box store? What does that cost? The people using bundles are the smart ones who found out that a small investment can lead to big results. Maybe it’s time to try a bundle. (I don’t get anything out of this.)
Hamish said:
I love these bundles - a bit like Christmas really. I would like to have maybe 2 -3 of the apps in the bundle, so the others are bonuses.
Critics need to ask the question - would have I bought all these other apps apart from the bundle? Probably not - perhaps the same logic that applies to much P2P traded music.
So developers are getting incremental revenue from me rather than missing out on a full priced sale. Plus, they have my contact details and no doubt will offer me a “full price” upgrade when the next version comes out.
So get your knickers of a knot and have some downloading fun!
Art said:
The fact that many developers think this is such a harmful endeavor and will kill the industry just shows how important it is to have such enticements as MacHeist around. Marketing isn’t snake oil. It’s very important and can be the difference between a struggling software developer and a successful software enterprise.
This is why excellent programmers should probably stick to arranging ones and zeroes and let others market their product. Where would Woz’s circuit board be without Steve Jobs?
I love MacHeist and for those Apps that I really enjoy, the developer will certainly get my business on future upgrades. On the 3rd bundle, I’ve been playing around with Acorn a lot and really like it.
MacHeist is promotion. It’s about spreading the software around to users. For that, it’s a great idea for all and benefits all involved.
SteveP said:
I’m sure all the Mac developers who are complaining would like to be able to sell their software for $499 or so like the full MS Office Suite. I know it takes time to develop the stuff, I’m a developer too, but mostly in-house stuff for where I work. But I can not rationalize the people that want to be able to “get rich” or “live for years” off a one-time bit of development work, because that is what some of the “preferred” pricing would get you. You can’t compare the price of software to a latte, because the latte has physical consumables that cost money, electronically distributed software does not. I’ve yet to read any sort of good discussion on how to valuate or price software except for “what the market will bear”, and my friends, that just isn’t good enough.
And the other poster above hit it spot-on, I’d wager most people who buy would never buy all the apps anyway, so there is no potential sale lost. Further, they may use one or two. Usually all these apps do NOT qualify for upgrades, so you will pay for the update on the apps you use, and the developer wins.
Stop trying to live the dream of get rich quick and living off a one-time work. The rest of us live by getting paid for each hour or bit of work we do, so if you want a constant revenue stream, you better be constantly working. I know this is NOT the case with all developers, I know specifically at least the inside story on a few that prove it not to be so, and I’d imagine you can extrapolate pretty consistently….
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JennyA said:
I love the Bundles and I think they have good points for developers. With the Macupdate deals I find out about software that I never knew existed. I also search Macupdate for other software and look at peoples reviews. I often end up buying something. Those are apps that I would not have found otherwise.
Also when I buy a bundle I am introduced to many new developers. I have bought other software from developers that had apps. in those bundles.
Basically my ” software knowledge” is greatly expanded through the use of “bundling”