No Serial Number Required for iWork '09 Retail Box
Apple recently posted a support document revealing that retail boxes of the new iWork '09 suite do not require users to input serial numbers to activate the product. Users who download the iWork '09 30-day trial from Apple's site, however, will still have to input serial numbers upon purchasing the full version online in order to unlock the applications.
The lack of a serial number is not unique to iWork, as other software offerings from Apple, most notably iLife and Mac OS X itself, have long been free of this requirement. These offerings, however, come standard on all Macs, greatly reducing the market for pirated versions. The reasons for the policy shift for iWork are unclear, although it appears that Apple has decided that convenience for the end-user outweighs concerns about software piracy at this time.
Also announced along with iWork '09 at Macworld was iWork.com, Apple's new site for online collaboration. While the site is launching as a free beta version, Apple ultimately plans to make iWork.com a fee-based service. The addition of this revenue stream may also have swayed Apple to streamline the iWork installation experience as much as possible in order to appeal to a wider potential customer base.
The lack of a serial number is not unique to iWork, as other software offerings from Apple, most notably iLife and Mac OS X itself, have long been free of this requirement. These offerings, however, come standard on all Macs, greatly reducing the market for pirated versions. The reasons for the policy shift for iWork are unclear, although it appears that Apple has decided that convenience for the end-user outweighs concerns about software piracy at this time.
Also announced along with iWork '09 at Macworld was iWork.com, Apple's new site for online collaboration. While the site is launching as a free beta version, Apple ultimately plans to make iWork.com a fee-based service. The addition of this revenue stream may also have swayed Apple to streamline the iWork installation experience as much as possible in order to appeal to a wider potential customer base.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
40 months ago
I just installed iWork '09 today, and noticed that it no longer required a serial! iWork '08 required a serial.
I'm pleasantly surprised that Apple decided to remove it. Bravo and hurray!
(And before someone asks, yes I bought iWork '09, ordered it from the Apple Store a week back).
I'm pleasantly surprised that Apple decided to remove it. Bravo and hurray!
(And before someone asks, yes I bought iWork '09, ordered it from the Apple Store a week back).
40 months ago
I agree this is a pleasant move.
I always pay for my software, but this move makes me MORE likely to continue to be honest since I believe in mutual trust.
Plus, the truth is that all the activation and serial numbers schemes do is frustrate honest customers. If you want to steal a serial or get around activation, it's beyond trivial to do. (On any and all products.) Only big and dumb companies like Adobe and Microsoft think it actually stops stealing.
Smart move Apple. It is reasons like this why I continue to give you my money.
I always pay for my software, but this move makes me MORE likely to continue to be honest since I believe in mutual trust.
Plus, the truth is that all the activation and serial numbers schemes do is frustrate honest customers. If you want to steal a serial or get around activation, it's beyond trivial to do. (On any and all products.) Only big and dumb companies like Adobe and Microsoft think it actually stops stealing.
Smart move Apple. It is reasons like this why I continue to give you my money.
40 months ago
so let me get this right...if you buy it, you just need the install disk to install iWork 09? No need for a serial number/CD key to install it?
40 months ago
so let me get this right...if you buy it, you just need the install disk to install iWork 09? No need for a serial number/CD key to install it?
Yup
40 months ago
You realise that it is not very wise to talk about how you are 'getting' your serials here and could end you up with a ban.
Personally I think you should pay for the Apple software as it is most definitely worth the money you pay for it!
The added bonus of having no serial means no more searching on the box or in the manual!
Personally I think you should pay for the Apple software as it is most definitely worth the money you pay for it!
The added bonus of having no serial means no more searching on the box or in the manual!
40 months ago
So Apple has taken a kind of "don't ask don't tell" attitude on Mac users passing around an iWork disc to install on multiple machines?
To be honest, iWork has such a tiny market share, this move for Apple isn't losing money, but rather, gaining popularity for iWork.
Or is it only a matter of time Apple will bundle it with the Mac like iLife as well?
To be honest, iWork has such a tiny market share, this move for Apple isn't losing money, but rather, gaining popularity for iWork.
Or is it only a matter of time Apple will bundle it with the Mac like iLife as well?
[ Read All Comments ]
Analytics firm Chitika today released a report showing that by its metrics iOS has now surpassed OS X in overall web traffic share in the United States. Chitika's methodology involves an analysis...
One of the most frequent reasons for an iPhone to go on a trip to the Apple Store's Genius Bar is because of water damage. Typically, a water damaged iPhone can be replaced for a flat $199...
TheVerge's Joshua Topolsky summarizes the iPad 3 casing findings reported earlier today, but also adds his own sources regarding some details of the iPad 3.
Image from RepairLabs
As...
Last July, Apple discontinued the white MacBook from its consumer lineup, pushing consumers toward the company's popular MacBook Air line or the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The company didn't kill...
Popular iPhone Twitter client Tweetbot has finally arrived on the iPad, with a user interface instantly familiar to any current Tweetbot user. Designed for the Twitter power-user, Tweetbot packs a...
