At the launch of Mac OS X Lion, it was specified that the new operating system will be available to users starting in August via USB sticks and these sticks will be able to be purchased from Apple stores. For only $69.99, Mac owners will be able to purchase a bootable USB stick with Mac OS X Lion from Apple stores so they don't have to download the operating system from the Mac App Store. For certain users, the sticks will be offered free of charge, but those users must prove to Apple store employees that they cannot access the functions for reinstalling the operating system.
In the Mac App Store, Mac OS X Lion costs only $30, but if you want to have the operating system on a bootable USB stick, then you have to pay more than double the price. There are much simpler methods to make a bootable USB stick and I for one recommend you to use them because the double price paid at Apple is not worth it. You can use Lion DiskMaker to make a bootable stick in just a few simple steps and I recommend you to use this free method if you have a USB stick handy.
