Adobe Lightroom 4 is available on the Mac App Store now. That said, I can’t think of a reason to buy it via the App Store instead of from Adobe or another retailer like B&H Photo.
Here’s why:
- It’s not a cross-platform license. When you buy Lightroom 4 direct from Adobe or B&H Photo (or any other retailer than the Mac App Store), you can install it on either a PC or Mac. Like me, I use a PC desktop, but have a MacBook Pro for mobile use. One copy of Lightroom covers both. If I bought it from the Mac App Store, I couldn’t install that licensed copy on my PC.
- The big one for me, however, is the lack of upgrade pricing. It’s $149.99 on the Mac App Store regardless of whether you own Lightroom 3 or not. What happens when Lightroom 5 comes out. Upgrade pricing? I’m not holding my breath.
If you know of a good reason to buy Lightroom 4 from the Mac App Store, drop a line in the comments below.
Only thing I can think of is you get more licenses. Any computer assigned to your iTunes account can download anything purchased from the App Store. Other than that I can’t think of any reason.
I paid $79 for my upgrade to LR from the Adobe site.
I honestly don’t ever see any reason to buy anything from Apple.
Alex pretty much hit it – you get more licenses and can therefore save money if you need Lightroom on more than two personal Macs. That word “personal” is important, because the license doesn’t cover business use for Mac Apps.
For most people who use Lightroom on a desktop and laptop, I don’t see this as a benefit, since that usage is covered with the standard Adobe license, which can be discounted and upgraded.
I Live in Dubai – where you cannot download anything from the adobe store only from over priced local resellers where the the price of any adobe product, upgrade or otherwise is usually up to 50 percent more than adobe’s US website. I have Lightroom 3 – want Lightroom 4 and will download it from the app store now I know it’s available.