[Nobody]

This is a lot like when Apple stopped making the multi-colored iMacs and the iPod minis. It gets to be a real hassle stocking a bunch of slightly different product lines. Apple used to have people fighting over orange iMacs, or pink iPod minis - while the stock in other colors would just sit there building up.
As someone else speculated - there may be a single registration number for all the apps in the package. That reduces administrative costs - and also makes it simpler for the user - no more entering half-a-dozen different registration numbers.
Unfortunately, some people do fall between the cracks as software evolves and is upgraded. That's an industry-wide problem, and to be expected. Apple should try and address these problems as much as possible. However, if you are too generous - you get a bunch of leeches sending in their old copies (which they have already upgraded) or going to other lengths in order to get a cheap copy. I have seen this happen with other upgrade offers, where companies were swamped with dubious upgrades.
Bottom line is - it is extremely inefficient for Apple to create a bunch of different physical packages and licensing agreements, to cater to the very small minority of people who would only use a single application from the studio set. So, it might cause some growing pains, but Apple had to bite the bullet sooner or later. I really don't see the point in having so many variations on a single product line. It's like the millions of Performas with cryptic differences and model names.
Another advantage is that you know you will have all the tools available when you sit down at somebody else's workstation, or want to tell somebody how to do something.
It's a great deal for any owner of the single applications who has kept them up to date. Not great for those who have older versions, but maybe Apple will do something about that. Is there no way at all for owners of older apps to upgrade to the new versions, and then upgrade to Universal Studio?

[minderbinder]

"Don't buy it if you don't think it's a good deal, then."
Did you read my posts. I ALREADY have bought STP. If I would have known that my upgrade path was going to be buying more apps and having to pay the upgrade cost for all of them, I likely would never have bought it in the first place.
I've already sunk money into STP, it's lame that my only choices now are paying a much bigger upgrade cost than I would have had initially, or being stuck with a dead end product.
"This is a lot like when Apple stopped making the multi-colored iMacs and the iPod minis. It gets to be a real hassle stocking a bunch of slightly different product lines."
This is nothing like that. The cost of manufacturing and stocking a cardboard box is practially nothing. Many other software companies are capable of selling both bundles and individual apps, there's no reason Apple can't do it.
"it is extremely inefficient for Apple to create a bunch of different physical packages and licensing agreements"
If Apple can't manage selling a box that costs a couple bucks to manufacture and stock for $299, they have big problems. This is absolutely NOT something apple "had" to do, it's something they chose to do for whatever reason.
"It's like the millions of Performas with cryptic differences and model names."
Again, absolutely not. It's a freaking cardboard box with a negligible cost to Apple.

[Nobody]

In reply to:

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Whatever, dude. Being forced to pay for software you don't even need sucks.

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Who forced you to buy it? Did Apple stop your existing version from working? If so, you could sue them.

[tallscot]

Who forced you to buy it?
I didn't say anyone forced me to buy it. I said being forced to buy software you don't want sucks. If someone wants to buy Motion 2, they have to pay $1,299 for software they don't want instead of $299 for just Motion. If they want to buy Motion, they have no choice but to buy Motion and other software that they might not want.
I'm quite sure if Microsoft did this with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, you would be screaming and hollering about it. "How dare they include a browser with the OS!!!!!" But because Apple is pulling this crap, you say really stupid things like, "Who forced you to buy it?"

[longofest]

I called them that name because I have recently bought a Quad. That Quad comes with OS 10.4. My older version of DVD Studio Pro does not support 10.4, and now I have no upgrade path. So, I either continue to use my older G4 which can support an older OS and have to wait 12 hours to encode one hour of video into MPEG-2, or I have to purchase $1299 of new software after having spent over $3000 on a new compuer.
This kind of forced upgrade is what illicits the term "asswipe" from me. I typically do not use such language in forums or other places.

[minderbinder]

"My older version of DVD Studio Pro does not support 10.4, and now I have no upgrade path."
Sounds like you just didn't do your homework before buying the quad. Did you check to see if your app would run under 10.4?
And you do have an upgrade path, you just don't like it (or didn't figure it out). Upgrade to DVDSP 4 (looks like you can still find them, compusa lists for $199). Then you can upgrade to the full suite for another $199. That's $398 total, not $1299.
Maybe you should do your homework before digging into the name calling.

[Nobody]

In reply to:

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I didn't say anyone forced me to buy it. I said being forced to buy software you don't want sucks.

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WTF? You say you didn't say anyone forced you to buy software, and then in the next sentence, you say that it sucks beinng forced to buy software?
Do you need some medication for that lack of grasp on reality?

In reply to:

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I'm quite sure if Microsoft did this with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, you would be screaming and hollering about it. "How dare they include a browser with the OS!!!!!"

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Why are you "quite sure" about that? Have I ever indicated anything to indicate as such? Have I ever said anything against Microsoft on these forums?

[wintomac]

I think I agree with you on this one. This could come back to bite Apple. I know that many will say "if you don't like it, move to wimdows". But is that really what Apple wants loyal customers to do? Pc software is more abundant and less 'bundled' than Mac software is becoming. Maybe Apple feels it necessary to bundle their software to increase sales as they become more verticly(sp) integrated.

[tallscot]

You really aren't arguing against my point anymore. You are just being pedantic and it seems you like to argue just for the sake of arguing.
WTF? You say you didn't say anyone forced you to buy software, and then in the next sentence, you say that it sucks beinng forced to buy software?
Do you understand English? Is it your first language? Those two sentences are very different.
"I've never been hit by a bat."
"It sure does suck being bit by a bat."
Why are you "quite sure" about that?
Why didn't you deny it?

[longofest]

thanks man. Good to see someone sees this from my point of view, instead of just being overly critical of my opinion...
once again, I'm not out to be callin' people names, but there comes a point when I just get too [filtered] off.

[minderbinder]

I'd have more respect for your opinion of you got your FACTS right.
You keep insisting that an upgrade would cost you $1299. Looks like you can get the full version of FCS (uinversal even) fro under $400.