Clearly, your poll results so far show that quite a large number of users are buying their stuff exclusively from the Mac App Store, and the majority at least some or most of it. This really puzzles me and I would very much like to know why people find the App Store so great.

As you may have guessed, I don't.

Subjectively speaking, and as a creative director and user experience expert I would never approve an interface like the Mac App Store, it is too click-intensive and confusing to simply browse apps, going back and forth every time I'd like to get more info on an item. That's why I usually go there only via a link posted elsewhere, which of course is easy enough.

For me it's really hard to understand why Apple hasn't made this app MUCH easier to use, while most all their products are a beacon of perfection and simplicity down to the minutest detail ...

One purchase, unlimited installs on every computer in your home that uses your AppleID.

At first I didn't like the idea of the App Store, but now I'm almost entirely switched over and I'm pretty reluctant to buy an app that isn't in the store.

1) Buy once and install wherever with your Apple ID.
2) No serial numbers.
3) No funky copy-protection.
4) Ability to upgrade all apps at one time.
5) Can pay for apps with gift cards I receive.
6) Easy to total up all software purchased for the year.
7) Ability to sit down at a new Mac and decide which apps that I already have installed on my other Mac to be installed on the new one, walk away and have it done with no intervention.
8) Ratings and comments.
9) Security.
10) While the interface could use some work, it's better than anything else. I mean you're complaining about clicking on each icon to read the description and then clicking back each time to compare, and that's a valid complaint, but what's the alternative? (not what could Apple do differently, but what service is better on a Mac for apps). Also, the interface does work well in many ways, and more importantly, it works consistently as opposed to all the different ways app vendors sell their products.

Your points are well taken, thank you!

On #10 I really would like to see two things that would make a world of a difference:

• A rollover window on any item, giving me basic info, including user rating, so I can quickly decide if I'm interested enough to actually commit to a click and find out more.

• Sort apps by user rating, among other options.

I'd also recommend the addition of tabs, to allow users to get more details on an app(s) that they may be interested in purchasing, or to compare different apps when looking for a particular type of app. The storefront/home/search tab should obviously always be available as the first tab.

Most users are already used to this paradigm after years of browser usage, so it's not a stretch to think that it wouldn't for MAS (and the iOS app store) as well.

Regardless, I still buy directly whenever I can, primarily so that the developers end up with all of my money for their hard work. I'm also not too keen on *losing* normal features which Apple deems verboten; I've seen several apps offered on MAS at or near the direct price, but with the "offending" features removed. Plus, direct purchases allow developers to offer real upgrade pricing to their users, rather than having to decide whether to lose money for a period of time on sales of a new version so that previous direct customers don't feel betrayed, or charge full price and betray the trust of those same direct customers. The latter lose-lose situation could be remedied if Apple provided customer information to developers and also allowed upgrade pricing separate from initial purchase pricing.

It will be interesting to see how the sandboxing affects ordinary Mac users. I can see some getting annoyed if their favourite app stops being available or loses functionality. Early days yet though and will will have to wait and see what Mountain Lion brings us. With WWDC on the horizon that will bring us news and information too.

I have doing everything I can to move away from Apple's stores. As a developer I have multiple computers and my MacPro has six installs of OS X, but Apple doesn't get it and just getting FREE XCode I get hosed trying to install on my other installs or needing to reinstall get blocked saying you have that already. i contact Apple support and they don't seem to know what a developer is and multiple installs and just you got it go away. This is free software I hate to think what happens to people with paid software.

I won't get into all the BS with iTune and constant changing of conditions. So I avoid Apple stores as much as possible.

There's not enough info in your comment to know for sure if this is the issue but this may help...

The App Store checks everywhere to see if you already have an app. So if you have a Mac with the app already on it, regardless of where it is, including other volumes, you'll get the message that the app is already installed. You can appreciate their thinking on this, that is, people will move apps around, and Apple doesn't want to re-install apps, or tell people the app isn't there, just because the person moved it.

So boot on whatever volume you want to install apps on, and then unmount the other volumes before going to the App Store.

I don't think your suggestion to "boot on whatever volume you want to install apps on, and then unmount the other volumes before going to the App Store" is realistic to the comment above. Would YOU really boot six times to simply update all your Apps from the App Store?

It works in Snow Leopard (10.6.8).

The app store is not set up for the Enterprise. All titles are licensed to the individual not the corporation. It is great to get cheap applications and the flexibility that goes with them but when my users leave, so do our purchases. Unless I buy every app ten at a time, we have no recourse. Apple does not understand the Enterprise and doesn't seem to really care.

I personally purchase as much of my software from Apple's Mac App Store. - I like the fact that it provides less of a carbon foot print (greener) way of buying software. I hate purchasing software in Box / DVD, CD/ and the box being huge nothing but a waste of resources. I like the fact I can login with my account and re-download that software when I move to a new Mac. As for Sandboxing, I am all for it. Too many developers get away with craping programing only to leave us open to hacking etc. I.e. Microsoft camp. Apple in my opinion is taking a great risk and great approach to end-user security. It may not be 100% fool proof but at least they are in fact doing something about and not waiting for third parties to fix the issue.

Personally, I think the OS should be the part of the computer that makes things work and work great and with little to no problems if possible and I think Apple's approach to secure computing environment is great start. Security should be at the OS level, and we should not have to support antivirus programs and developers like Norton, Virus Barrier etc. I may be wrong in my thinking but, antivirus software always appears to slow down a otherwise fast computer. It boggles it down it can be very non-user friendly, and it appears that although they may not be the companies themselves are behind the very viruses that infect our computers. I use antivirus on my Mac in a just in case situation. Although, there are threats out there since 1991 I have yet to run across a virus or malware on my Mac EVER!

What people forget is that Apple is offering your system to be locked down from hackers (as close to being locked down as possible) or you can open yourself up. The big thing here is that when a virus or malware attacks your computer it won't be Norton, AVS, Virus Barrier that you blame it will be Apple, Microsoft, Dell.

I think both the App Store and Signed approached is great way to keep lazy developers on their toes and responsible. I made a temporary switch from an iPhone to an Android phone had it for about 3 weeks. What surprised me most? When set up my Android phone the very first thing I was directed to was install Norton's Antivirus Software for the Android. That in itself told me I was right back in the old Microsoft / virus, malware game. Luckily it didn't take me long to get back to an iPhone.

Developers need to create great apps with attention to detail and that starts with a secure environment. If Apple fails with Gatekeeper and their version of security they will have no one to blame but themselves.

One final though we need to move away from the old way of computing and embrace a new Mac / Windows - I like simplicity at its best. - I fully respect and under those in the field where they need all the tools that then can possibly load on their mac for developing, supporting and even hacking. For those of to do that its time for the computer to change - login as the Administrator and have at it. Login as a normal every day joe and do what you need to and move on with your life.

Over 3.5% of people don't buy software? Are the using computers for doorstops? What's the deal with that?

The only software I "buy" from the App Store is Apple software e.g. XCode, and that only because Apple forces me to.
Before buying software I research, from google, magazine and programmer sites.
I much prefer to download a trial version before deciding to buy.

I already find it unconscionable that Apple won't let me write my own software and put it on my iPod or IPad. If OSX goes this way I will be back to Windows.

As to the App Store UI, it is terrible. I am presented with a screen full of games and other rubbish I wouldn't put on my computer. I am forced to use the iTunes interface, but avoid App Store like the plague.

While on my rant, I object to Apple's censorship. It is good that they prevent malware, but attempt to impose their views on the world e.g. an app "Spicks and Specs", produced by Australia's national broadcaster related to a popular show was banned because the word spicks offends some American sensibility, but has no meaning to the world at large.