well, the good news about buying the packaged version of MaxMSP (as opposed to the digital, download-only version) is that you get mac and PC installers in one package. And that’s about the only good thing.

The bad things?

1. Out of Date Software — the package ships with v4.5.7, while the website has 4.6. Now it’s pretty standard for software companies to do that; it’s obviously much easier to update a website than ship new CDs once they’ve already been pressed and shipped. But it’s still a disappointment to wait around a week for a box to arrive only to realize that had you downloaded the software, you would have gotten what a more current version much sooner.
2. Minimal packaging. Now, i wasn’t expecting a Final Cut Pro-looking, webster’s dictionary-sized box here, but a box PERIOD would have been nice. Instead, customers receive a shrinkwrapped, cardboard DVD sleeve. No insert. No manuals. Not even
   a custom icon when you insert the DVD. Lame.