It seems that the fight between Amazon and Apple has just entered into a new phase. The two companies are already in the world’s silliest tussle over the trademark for the term ‘app store’, and now Amazon has kicked it up a notch by launching a competitor to the Mac App Store. While not nearly as large as the Mac App Store, it contains a number of big-name titles which are not available through Apple’s offering – such as Microsoft Office.
Well, if Apple can sell books, then why not? But it seems a little disorganized ATM. If you start clicking through the Next… screens you soon start seeing Windows-only products.
It looks like Amazon has been selling these things for a while, it just gave them their own category and added a download, rather than boxed, option here and there. NBD, really.
Ok, so I went over to Amazon to see what they had to offer. I clicked on:
Office Mac Home and Student 2011 – Family Pack (1 User/3 Installs) [Download] – http://www.amazon.com/Office-Mac-Home-Student-2011/dp/B004E9SKBO/
and I thought, “thats not too bad, NZ$90 cheaper than NZ” so I then go down to the terms and conditions:
“Downloading: Currently, this item is available only to customers located in the United States and who have a U.S. billing address.”
Once again an American company who can’t get their head of their ass and realising that making your website an American only enclave tells me you’re not in touch with the reality of the 21st century. Once again when push comes to shove Amazon sucks when it comes to selling anything that non-book related.
Any Chance that the country specific options might be a legal issue? Even in the states we have varying commerce/tax laws that companies have to follow. This leads to a lot of small print and fast talking in commercials.
Supplies are going fast! Act Now!*
*offer not valid in Vermont, Hawaii, or South Dakota. Void where prohibited.
Right, “MS-DOS = $100 … except in Nebraska!”