Comments on: MacUpdate Bundle: Parallels and More

By: Chriswan

Chriswan — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:22:27 +0000

Quoted from the bundle FAQ

Q: Why have unlocks? – “I’m pro-consumer, so I want to fight against the locks. Why have them?”
A: The locking of top tiers apps is ultimately there to help everyone involved.

# Unlocking milestones build community. It molds a simple sale into a fun event. It encourages users to continue to visit the site during the duration of the event, check the status and communicate with each other about the bundle.

# It helps create “viral marketing.” It encourages people to tell their friends, because when they do, they get closer to unlocking the top tier apps and rewarding themselves.

# It gives consumers better top tier apps in the bundle. Do you think MacUpdate could have gotten Parallels into the bundle without the extra focus through lock highlighting?

# It helps the Macintosh news community who are affiliates. It gives them reason to post multiple news headlines about the event, thus monetizing their sites. The more money that comes into the Mac community, the better the sites can become for consumers.

# It is not shady or sneaky. Its working are completely transparent. The people who participate in the community (1) help give awareness and funds to developers who take a percentage of the sales, (2) fund MacUpdate’s website growth, which mainly provides free promotional services to Mac developers and users, and (3) reward themselves because they get bigger and better apps added to the current bundle and future bundles.

By: David

David — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:33:13 +0000

I think you mean indirectly supporting the site…

By: Albert Magoolie

Albert Magoolie — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:27:59 +0000

“The price jump to $65 is justified by the inclusion of Parallels.”

But that is only (IF?) Parallels is unlocked.

By: Steven Owens

Steven Owens — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:26:49 +0000

The price jump to $65 is justified by the inclusion of Parallels.

By: Ammon Beckstrom

Ammon Beckstrom — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:24:43 +0000

I’ve purchased the previous to MacUpdate Promo Bundles and the last MacHeist bundle as well. I was also skeptical that everything would unlock. Much to my (pleasant) surprise, I got everything I paid for and more! I have been extremely satisfied with all of my bundle purchases up until now. I’m still a little on the fence about this bundle however, not sure why this one justifies a jump to $65 when all the past bundles have sold for $50.

By: Rob Markowitz

Rob Markowitz — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:34:42 +0000

I still don’t understand why stuff needs be “locked” at all. It makes this thing seem kinda shady and I’m hesitant to spend any money regardless of how good a deal this appears to be. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Being a skeptic and a regular reader of “The Consumerist” has made me very wary when I see things like this.

By: Chriswan

Chriswan — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:27:12 +0000

And it’s unlikely at the end there are 1-2 apps which is still locked

They will make some ‘arrangement’ to make sure all the apps get unlocked

By: Steven Owens

Steven Owens — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:00:06 +0000

The “locked” apps stay locked until a certain number of bundles are sold, they are then unlocked and everyone who purchased the bundle gets them (even people who purchased before it was unlocked).

By: Rob Markowitz

Rob Markowitz — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:49:30 +0000

I don’t understand this whole locked/unlocked thing and it’s not being made clear. Can someone please explain?

Thanks.

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:52:09 +0000

This is an amazing deal and I am all over it!