Apple today released a PDF documenting (PDF link) how large business and educational customers with many Macs will upgrade to Lion via the Mac App Store. It appears that even for those customers, Apple will not be offering Lion via physical media. Like the consumer release, OS X Lion will be available via online delivery only.
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Apple will offer business customers volume license contracts for $29.99 per license, with a minimum of 20 licenses. Education customers can purchase the Apple Software Collection (Mac OS, iLife and iWork) starting at $39 per license, with a minimum of 25 licenses.
For customers wanting OS X Lion Server, it will be available as an add-on for $49.99, in addition to the $29.99 upgrade for standard Lion. Snow Leopard Server is not required to purchase Lion Server, but existing Snow Leopard Server installations can only be upgraded to Lion Server. Both Lion and Lion Server need to be purchased for Snow Leopard Server-equipped machines.
To actually download Lion, volume license customers will receive one redemption code for each contract. The redemption code can be used to download Lion from the Mac App Store. When the redemption code is entered, the Lion installer will download to the Applications folder, but will not install immediately. This Lion installer is used to install Lion on other systems. Download once, install many times.
IT departments will be able to use the same mass installation techniques they use today. To install Lion on multiple systems, they'll copy the Install Mac OS X Lion application from the Mac App Store to each target system. Once copied, the installer will be launched and Lion will install in place. There is no need to boot from an external disk. Administrators will also be able to use System Image Utility in OS X Lion Server to create NetInstall or NetRestore Images.
Apple previously announced that it will be releasing OS X Lion in July.
Top Rated Comments
I still don't quite understand how Apple expects Leopard and earlier users to upgrade to Lion if they only do digital delivery via Mac App Store. Are they still going to sell Snow Leopard DVDs, so you upgrade twice? That would be very un-apple like.
I created an account just to make this same reply. No serious IT guy is going to carry around DVDs. I have not used a DVD to restore an image in a LONG time. Are these people PeeCee IT guys that need a DVD to restore? As mentioned, restore the Disk Image using Disk Utility to any drive, boot holding Option. You are done in 20 minutes. You can do clean installs and everything from it.
Yes the App Store method was a nightmare for Developers getting the Beta version, but retail Apps are a breeze.
As long as you can create a Deploy Studio/Netboot image from it, which you can, real IT guys will be happy.
Please explain how you create Images now. I have created images for over 20 Schools and businesses, not once did I waste my time using DVD/CDs. Maybe I am a rare IT guy that doesn't want to spend all day running up the meter setting a computer up.
In conclusion Apple is brilliant. I knew DVD media was going away, I thought for sure Final Cut Studio 3 was going to be Flash Drive based. The first thing I do when I get software is make a disk image of it, and put it on a drive. Apple is saving me a step. Thank you!
Also great for real IT guys, when there is an OS update we can download a new FULL INSTALL to, 10.7.5 for example, instead of installing to 10.7 then running updates and so forth. Apple can easily post a new version to download from the App Store. No need to have multiple partitions for various processors etc.
Apologies for disrupting the negative feedback here. But Apple is doing a great thing, pushing new technology. Maybe you should push your hate at your crappy ISP service that is stealing your money giving you 3down/.5up.
I am an Apple Certified System Administrator, I have been doing this awhile and see this as a huge plus for us.
Because I've been an Apple Engineer for the last 6 years (worked for Apple for 4 as well.) I love Apple's products I just don't like what Apple has been doing to Enterprises the past 2 years.
Why the hell is it so hard for some people here to accept the fact that you can like Apple's product but not like what Apple is doing.
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