Apple makes a blunder...

[rightcoast]

OS X Tiger arrived 8 days early to anyone who pre-ordered.... Oops.

If you know about Apple's obbsession with secrecy, this is certainly an accident.
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000777041145/

[netnamakan]

I bet the m$ HQ's are chuckling to themsleves

[Byte 2.0]

Early is better then Late I guess. Compare to windows releases.

[rightcoast]

I read a little more on this. It seems Apple is demanding the early shipped versions be returned. I don't know enough specifics about the activation process for that OS, but however they do it...These won't be validated.

Complaints are the people who cared enough to pre-order will possibly be getting a valid version later than those who didn't.

[Byte 2.0]

I am certain many people won't return them. but come on, how many secrets are going to be released by a finished product hitting the market a little early. It isn't like it is the code or something these people wouldn't be getting in a few more days.

[Strider]

If I was one of those who pre-order and received a copy early, I wouldn't return it; however, I wouldn't install it. I would just email Apple stating that that I would install it on the release date, for to me it would be silly to return it and then have to wait for it to be sent back again.

[lil Jimmie]

Originally Posted by Byte 2.0 Early is better then Late I guess. Compare to windows releases.

Early is fine but when it is to only a select few and the corporation has set a release date with advertisement to help promote the product sales it can be rather embarrassing to stock holders.

[rightcoast]

I agree it won't leak much...I mean the b******s << (not a curse, I'm just not telling if you don't know what that is) have been on usenet for a month anyway.

It is probably a bluff anyway, how can they tell one copy from another. For some of the rabid fans Apple has though, they are taking a risk.

Did Apple have a list of "product keys" for pre-shipped copies?
or.....
Do they have a way do mark or encode the copies they have yet to ship in 7 days time?

If either of the above is true, that pre-order customer is really going to wait if they don't ship it back until after they try to register it in a few days.

Seems to be a simple matter of

if
This one has our special shipped at the right time code
than
Activate
else
print "sorry dude, shoulda shipped it back like we said"

[Byte 2.0]

There really is no way to contact all of of the people that may have gotten it early. They could possibaby do a recall though the shipper before they are delievered, but they can not expect every single copy delievered early will be returned. Then if they try to invalidate them, they may face lawsuits, from people they have charged money for a product that is invalid.

[rightcoast]

Oh I agree, and your right, I would expect them to get get lawsuits. That hasn't stopped the ship it back crusade though.

I have to say, I have never been a Mac guy (I prefer Linux as an alternative OS), but this, along with suing the MacRumors guy and every one else it seems, iTunes watchdogging people.....All kinds of things Jobs and the crew are doing are really making Microsoft seem like a friendly big brother.

No doubt the current Mac crowd will not fly the coop....But, this isn't a way to add new migratory birds to the flock Mr. Jobs.

Woz needs to go smack some sense into that guy.

[mountainking]

apple should make it so they cant activate them until the day of the release.

[David M]

Microsoft certainly can be portrayed as the Evil Empire with some degree of accuracy, but Apple is certainly not this little innocent darling company that they get portrayed as frequently. Apple has it's share of ridiculous lawsuits and bonehead attacks against people. This is another another fine example. They are actually asking people to return software and threatening them if they don't?...oh please! Get real Apple

[Jaggannath]

In all honesty, who's going to foot the bill for shipping them back?? And how does APple benefit from getting them back, and then reshipping them 7 or 8 days later (or closer to 3-4 once you factor in shipping times etc.
It seems ridiculous, they should just ask them not to release pictures until it's launched, most people will do the right thing

[Mac Medic]

since when did OS X have activation?

[Jaggannath]

That's what i was wondering too

[mountainking]

thats what i heard on this new version.. you either need to call in and get a serial or something or you go over the internet and do it. im not 100% sure on it but thats what ive heard. could just be rumors.