Where Is the Best Place to Buy Software for My New Mac?

It's pretty cool that your new Mac comes with so many great applications, but for many new Mac owners, more software will be necessary. We've covered shareware and freeware in David’s Top Shareware and Freeware Picks, but where should you turn for commercial software like Adobe and Microsoft apps?

There are 3 criteria for choosing the best place to buy software that I'd like to cover here: price, speed to delivery and effort. These criteria often will adversely effect one another, so deciding where you value each will help you choose the best combination.

One of the first questions to ask yourself is, "How much is my time worth"? This question goes to both speed and effort. In the case of speed, you may need to use the software right NOW to continue earning money from whatever it is that you do on your Mac. Can you afford to wait 1-9 days to get the software or is it a requirement that you start using it now?

The other question that measuring the cost of your time brings up is the hassle of buying and installing the software. This can take hours of your time depending on how complex the software your are buying is. Can you afford the effort that goes into it or should you be working on something else while the software gets installed for you? Again, it's a matter of how much your time is worth.

So the flip side of this question is, "How much do I value money?" I'm feeling broke most of the time, so usually it's worth my time to plan and wait to get the best deal, especially if it's not work related. I can wait a week to get iLife delivered by the slow boat, but when my PowerMac blew it's coolant out a few months ago, I needed a new Mac Pro right away. No waiting allowed.


So let's take a look at the various places to get your software and see which is best for what.

Download from the Manufacturer
This has been the great new development over the past decade. In many cases, you can just purchase from the company's website and begin downloading the software. This even goes for Adobe's big apps (of course theirs takes hours and hours). The time can vary based on the size of the app. I can go buy Photoshop retail and be back in a quarter of the time it would take me to download it, but iWork might just take 10-20 minutes.

The downside here is that you will probably pay full retail price plus sales tax if the company does business in your state. Also, you won't have back-up discs unless you make them yourself right away from the downloaded files nor do you get any real paper instructions or manuals.

Price: Most expensive
Time to Purchase: Brief to overnight depending on internet speed and size of app
Hassle: Moderate. You have to fill out web forms and tie up your internet connection for a while.


E-commerce Retail (like Amazon)
I like to order from sites like Amazon most things that I do not need right away. This gives me the opportunity to do a price comparison and the best chance of getting the lowest price. In addition, I try to shop out-of-state websites to postpone sales tax, which can be significant on higher priced items. You might be concerned about shipping costs, but I find most major sites like Amazon have a slow free shipping option. I also find that even when I select the slow shipping option, I get it in a couple days because most larger sites use distributed shipping locations which may be close to you. See our Get the Best Buys on Mac Stuff with Shopping Comparison Websites article for more.

If you are an Amazon shopper, throw MFM a bone by starting your shopping from our affiliate page. It doesn't cost you any more.

Price: Usually at a discount
Time to Purchase: Can be long depending on what shipping choice you make
Hassle: Varies by site. Some allow one click and some you have forms to fill out.


Student/Teacher Discount Shopping
Many manufacturers offer a student/teacher discount on hardware and software. The amount varies by manufacturer and can be significant. I saved over $1000 getting the educator version of Adobe's CS3. Apple tends to offer around 10% off with some deeper discounts like on Final Cut Studio2. Microsoft has a steep discount on Office 2008. You can get some of these retail or  in your college's computer store, but most of the time you order from outfits like JourneyEd.

Qualifying for these discounts is as simple as sending in proof with ID card or pay stub. Apple has an online education store where they take your word for being a student/teacher/parent.

Price: Best and often significant discounts
Time to Purchase: Can be long depending on what shipping choice you make
Hassle: Most effort. May have to send proof of being a student or teacher on first purchase


Off the Shelf Retail Box
This is perhaps the easiest route mentally. You hop in your car, go to the store and buy the box, and are back installing in minutes. However, it's still more effort than E-commerce once you have the compare-price-and-purchase drill down online.

Apple stores are great for this because they are usually well stocked and only carry software you can use. No confusion on whether it works on a Mac or not. The downside is you may walk out with more than you planned on buying. That MacBook Air is sweet!

Price: Full retail plus tax
Time to Purchase: Depends on how quick you shop and how far away you are.
Hassle: Low


Pre-installed Software with Your New Mac
This is the most often overlooked option. When you buy a Mac from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller, they will install the software for you and have it all set up and ready to go. How nice would that be? If you have the time to let them do it and don't mind paying full retail, this takes all the hassle out of it.

Don't overlook the local independent Mac shop here. This is where they can shine by customizing your new Mac for you.

Price: Full retail plus tax
Time to Purchase: Extra time for the service, usually a day or 2 more
Hassle: Lowest!


Other Tips
Did you know even after you get your Mac, you probably have both MS Office and iWork pre-installed? Most Macs ship with these demos that you can pay for online and keep using once the demo is over.

Speaking of demos, many manufacturers offer a download demo period where you can use the software for free. Adobe offers a 30 day period on many of their apps. This is great if you have to get going right away and can't wait for that Amazon order to arrive.

Do you need the latest version? Buy older versions of software on eBay for less.

Looking for Adobe CS3? Apple has a education promo right now of buying it with a new Mac and getting for an additional $200 off the education list price. That's crazy low.

Education discount at Apple retail stores? At first I heard they won't do education sales, but they did for me last time I asked for a discount.


Do you have any other tips to share with us? Use the Comments section below to let us know!

DIG DEEPER

Apple's Education Store

Adobe's Education Store

Amazon

JourneyEd

What is this?

Tell A Friend

Print Page