USB version of OS X Lion install to be offered free to some customers

Unlike Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Lion will not be available in disc form, which I guess is Apple’s way of trying to reduce dependency on the optical format. Instead users will be given the choice of either downloading OS X Lion from the Mac App Store for $29, or they will have the option of purchasing it on a USB flash drive which will cost them $69.

It seems that in an internal memo that Apple sent to AppleCare and Apple Store employees, the USB version of OS X Lion can be given to customers for free should anything go wrong when they attempt to install OS X Lion, and that they have exhausted all of their options.

For starters they must have purchased OS X Lion from a legitimate source i.e. the Mac App Store. Secondly the options that they must try before being eligible for the free USB install of OS X Lion would be to attempt the install via Apple’s new “Internet Recovery” feature. If that doesn’t work out and the Tier 2 tech support person gives the green light, that person will be eligible for the free USB drive.

If you are a Mac user who has had trouble installing Lion, it looks like you now have another option that you can explore.