Apple has launched today its own Mac App Store with more than 1,000 free and paid applications. If you are a Mac user you will need to run your Mac OS X Software Update to install the latest version of the OS which includes now the Mac App Store.

The concept, look and feel behind it is the same of the experience we all have with iTunes. As a matter of fact you will use your iTunes account and billing information to purchase any paid Apps from the the new Mac App Store. There is separate icon for the store and you can also access it from the Apple menu in the upper left hand corner.

Previously own Apps like Aperture or Evernote – in my personal case – will be shown as installed once you launch them and the Mac App Store. What really like about it about the store is quick and easy way of updating all your App on your Mac; the same ways as you would update Apps for your iPhone or iPad through iTunes. Also having one spot to search and find Apps for your computer makes this store very appealing to me. No more ordering CD or going to different web sites to purchase software for your Mac. Nor will you have ever worry about loosing your registration keys for each piece of software. The same Mac App Store account works on both your iMac and MacBook Pro so you can run all your App on each machine without buy the same App twice.

I like the fact that most of Apple’s own previously bundled Apps are now available separately for much less. I have never owned iWorks because I did not need Keynote or Numbers but I always wanted to have Pages. Now I can purchase just the Pages App alone for $19.99CAD… The same thing is with iLife Apps; I have bought the latest iLife’11 last year but frankly I don’t use or need Garage or iPhoto but I like and use often iMovie. Now you can buy each of these Apps separately for much less.

Over all I like the idea of Mac App Store, I was excited when it was announced initially and I am very happy it is here now. For my personal use, it fits with me. Of course like with iTunes App Store so people will not be 100% happy and I am sure there will be some controversy when Apps get rejected. Likely people will be able to still buy and install App the old fashioned way like they did in the past directly from developers if they choose not to sell their software through Mac App Store or got rejected for some reason.