CompUSA - Software burned as you wait. No more software on shelves...

[Jhill]

Hasn't amazon been doing this already? I though you could go to their site and download stuff like antivirus programs for a fee. It's kinda like the same thing.

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Wow this sounds like a cool concept.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=562&ncid=738&e=1&u=/ap/20040405/ap_on_hi_te/softwaretogo

Basically you go to the store, use their kiosk to find the software you want. Order it. Then it gets burned for you whiel you wait and you go pick it up at the service desk.

Stores would never be out of software, never have to go from store to store to find that latest new release...

Only thing I'm not sure of is how CD-Keys would work. If they'd just get a database with an allotment or somehow hook up to the manufacturers website or what...

I'm guessing whether this takes off or not is totally based on PRICE.

Manufacturer no longer has to pay to mass product the CDs and label them, no more printing huge manuals. No more shipping the product to the stores.

I bet that compromises the majority of the cost of the software. If there was a 50% discount for not getting the box and manuals, that'd be worth it to me.

50% ??
I think not.
The distribution costs are only a very small fraction of what it costs to produce software. Nowhere near 50%.
The vast majority of the cost is the architects, developers, and tester's paychecks.

 

[Legendary]

If this ever came to be, it would be hacker target #1. Software with working CD-keys all in one location, straight from the company? They'd have to secure it quite a bit, and even then, nothing is unbreakable.

 

[futuristicmonkey]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: pukemon
hrmmm what about the titles that have SecureROM or SafeDisc or some other sort of "security" normally enabled in the disc?

Their burners would circumvent that problem, just as the manufacturer's ones do.

because that stops "us" from making copies...right

what are you talking about? Commercially made cd's are pressed/stamped. They aren't burned. That's why they aren't two different colours on the bottom.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: Shockwave
Ummm, what about manuals and stuff?

Who reads manuals??

Most of them are usually on the CD or online anyway.

I only consult the manual just short of thermonuclear meltdown


Sysadmin

 

[vegetation]

Maybe a good idea for the old budget software. But I would actually turn away from buying new software distributed like this. I actually enjoy the glossy box, art work, and manuals. Often things like posters or stickers are included in the box and I just love that. For me to get only a generic looking cd popped out of a machine just turns me off, especially if the price will be the same (which it would).

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: Sysadmin

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: Shockwave
Ummm, what about manuals and stuff?

Who reads manuals??

Most of them are usually on the CD or online anyway.

I only consult the manual just short of thermonuclear meltdown


Sysadmin

lol!

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Sysadmin

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: Shockwave
Ummm, what about manuals and stuff?

Who reads manuals??

Most of them are usually on the CD or online anyway.

I only consult the manual just short of thermonuclear meltdown


Sysadmin

well with games such as BG, BG2 and neverwinter nights the manual is great. granted most games its worthless.