Buying software over the Internet is not something new. But the way Apple is going to do it, through the Mac App Store, will be revolutionary. And it will bring about changes largely for the better.

First off, there is also the simple advantage of being able to find an abundance of Mac software in once place. Let’s face it, while Windows-based software can be found anywhere, Mac software is not that easy to find. You could trawl the Internet using Google as a guide to find good Mac software online but wouldn’t it be better if there's one place where you can find all the Mac software you’d want.

NONE Secondly, security is better when apps are bought from Apple. Sometimes, when you come across an interesting application or software online, you are not sure whether the vendor is a reliable one. Sure, it might deliver you the application and the application might even work as advertised. But what will they do with your details and billing information? Most vendors might have secure back-end systems but some might not.

Now, imagine if you actively buy applications online from different sources each time. Each purchase means additional exposure to potential leaks about your private details. When you buy through something like a Mac App Store, you’ll know it’s not only a trusted source but that its security will be tight.

Instant gratification edge

The other big advantage is instant gratification. If you were to buy software in a disc, you'll have to either drive to a store to get the disc or wait for it to arrive in the mail. If you order it online through other websites, you’ll still need to install it. With the Mac App Store, it’ll be just like it is with iPhone and iPad apps. You just download and it’ll install itself.

Apple can be pretty authoritarian about the apps it allows to be sold via its store. App developers must comply with all the terms and conditions in the Apple Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines. Apps that do not use buttons and icons as described in the guidelines will be rejected. What this does is provide some consistency in terms of the quality of the user interface. When you buy an Apple app, you know it’ll be easy to use.

Updating your app will no longer be a hassle because the Mac App Store will use a similar update notice method as it does for its iPhone and iPad App Stores. Basically, you’ll be notified if one of the apps you’ve downloaded has an upgrade. Apple is also requiring app makers to provide the upgrades for free. If they want to charge for an upgrade, it's got to be a submitted as a new product.

Lastly, there is the peer review system in place which is quite useful in helping you determine whether or not to buy an app. This is a concept used successfully by Amazon.com. When you browse for a book or a DVD or an CD from Amazon.com, do you notice that other buyers provide reviews and ratings about the product?

Apps sold through the Apple Mac Store will have such ratings too. So, if you see an app that has received a lot of 1 out of 5 stars and many negative reviews, then you’d know that it’s an app that should be avoided. On the other hand, if many users rave about it, then you can feel safer downloading that app.

The Mac App Store is not just a useful new concept but a trend that will generate ripples throughout the industry. Apple has always been a trendsetter. It introduces some new concept into the market and more often than not, the rest of the sector will follow suit. Sometimes not that fast - look at how long it’s taken the other brands to come up with their answer to the iPad - but in time, the Windows world eventually hops on the bandwagon.

And so it will be with the app store concept as well. Once it really takes off, and I believe it will, in a big way, Microsoft is bound to come up with its version of an app store. And that’s a good thing because there are many advantages to software being sold and bought this way.

OON YEOH's new social media book 'Like Me, Follow Me' is published by MPH. You can connect with him via Facebook and Twitter .