Apple released OS X, their modern operating system, in the year 2001. Since then, they have released a series of upgrades to OS X that have added stability, features, and polish. The first of these upgrades- 10.1- was offered free to users of 10.0. The second such upgrade- 10.2- was put on sale for $130. That pissed people off.

It was recently announced that the newest upgrade- 10.3, due out by the end of 2003- will also be sold for $130. People are pissed off again.

So the issue is this: There are a lot of people who resent the fact that Apple is charging for their upgrades to OS X.

I disagree strongly with these people.

Do I enjoy paying $130 for software? For anything? Of course not. But I'm a huge fan of Apple Computer, and I realize that when they continue to innovate and create new software products that I want to use, I'm going to have to pay for them, because if I don't, the company will not make any money, and then they will go out of business. It's not as though Apple is sitting on top of an operating system monopoly and mountains of cash- they've got to struggle to survive.

The upgrades to OS X are not critical, nor does anyone who uses a Mac need to upgrade to new versions of OS X to remain productive with their computer. Apple continues to release bug fixes and security updates for users of older versions of OS X. They take care of people who have purchased their products, even if the products aren't the latest versions.

The fact is, Apple has done an amazing job of improving OS X, and their upgrades are very attractive products. Apple is doing exactly what a company like Apple should be doing in an ideal world: Creating new products that excite and inspire their customers, and that lead to sales.

People want Apple's OS X upgrades. People should pay for them and like it.