Disappointed with Apple

[Zumino Zufeilon]

I think when the dust settles and commotion comes to a stand still, Apple is just an overpriced alternative in a nicer box. I just dont know enough people who are serious about apple that can actually convince me to switch

/shrug, and most of us think that opinion is silly.

If you compare apples to (pardon the pun) apples, Mac's aren't significantly more expensive. (I.e. MBP's/MBA's vs Thinkpads, Elitebooks, etc).

And when you look at build quality, portability, battery life, size/weight, and performance, and look at them as a balanced compromise, they are actually quite well priced.

You can get more powerful laptops for cheaper. But they will usually be sorely lacking in battery life, portability, weight (and frequently, but not always, build quality).

You can get more portable laptops for cheaper. But they will usually be lacking performance, frequently lacking battery life, and also frequently be lower build quality.

Etc, etc, etc.

When I used to work retail, I would tell customers who came in to buy a laptop, that the basic axiom of laptops was:

"Power, Price, Portability. Choose Two."

Mac's are a decent attempt to balance all three.
They aren't the most powerful, they aren't the most portable, they aren't the most expensive. But they are a decent mix of the three.

Plus, Mac's are a *nix environment, without the headaches inherent in a *nix environment with driver support/etc. That's worth it for me, for headache savings alone.

 

[CEpeep]

Apple is just an overpriced alternative in a nicer box

Please show me a 15" laptop with a 2880x1800 display that costs less than the MBP. It's ok, take your time. I'll wait.

 

[Deinos]

They aren't the most powerful, they aren't the most portable, they aren't the most expensive. But they are a decent mix of the three.

Most sensible argument I have seen in favor of the mac in a long time. They aren't some perfect dream machine, but they are a good mix of attributes that work well for people that enjoy using OSX.

 

[Fuzzy Logik]

I'm seriously considering switching back to either windows or giving linux a shot. Here are some of my chief complaints with Apple:

1. New products seem dreadfully uninspired
2. I waited a long time for the Iphone 5 but gave up and got an Iphone 4s (delays suck)
2-1. Android phones seem to be catching up or have better features.
3. Lion and Mountain Lion fail to impress - iOS is not what I want on my desktop
4. Java 7 no longer supported on Snow Leopard
5. I don't like creating iCloud dependency

So basically, I feel like a lot of Apple "improvements" over the past 1-2 years seem more like setbacks and bloatware. I want a clean, fast, and easy to use system without all of the extra crap.

I refuse to pay for Mountain lion, so I am going to see if Apple will comp me a free upgrade before I make a decision on my next cycle of system upgrades (running a 2008 macbook and 2010 iMac). Anyone else thinking the same thing?

I point you to this article:
http://www.marco.org/2013/04/09/iphone-6

No matter what they release and no matter how well it sells, they won’t win over the press, the pundits, the stock market, or the rhetoric. Not this year. They could release a revolutionary 60-inch 4K TV for $99 with built-in nanobots to assemble and dispense free smartwatches, and people would complain that it should cost $49 and the nanobots aren’t open enough.

 

[Jonesyy]

I don't like how Microsoft are ramming this tablet/touch stuff down our throats with Windows 8 and that Kinect dashboard, and I will probably stick with Windows 7 as long as I can.

But I have to admit Apple need a new killer product to avoid being branded as lacking that innovative quality Jobs brought to the table. For now all they can really do is update their products, but I will admit for me the iPhone is starting to look out-of-date. A larger screen is, in my opinion, necessary.

 

[Terpfen]

But I have to admit Apple need a new killer product to avoid being branded as lacking that innovative quality Jobs brought to the table.

This is nonsense. Apple reinvented three categories in a decade. That should in no way be considered par or a reasonable expectation going forward. That's the extreme side of innovation and will probably be looked back on by history as a singularly remarkable period of time, not a normal, ho-hum pace.

And this historical revisionism that Steve Jobs only made good decisions and approved good products is wrong; how about that MobileMe launch, guys?

Apple needs to continue making excellent products. So far, they are. What needs to be adjusted are wildly irrational expectations.

 

[Jonesyy]

This is nonsense. Apple reinvented three categories in a decade. That should in no way be considered par or a reasonable expectation going forward. That's the extreme side of innovation and will probably be looked back on by history as a singularly remarkable period of time, not a normal, ho-hum pace.

And this historical revisionism that Steve Jobs only made good decisions and approved good products is wrong; how about that MobileMe launch, guys?

Apple needs to continue making excellent products. So far, they are. What needs to be adjusted are wildly irrational expectations.

How is it nonsense? You took my post completely out of context.

Apple have set their own bar high and they will feel the pressure to attain it. We are hearing about the Apple TV and smart-clothing all the time which I am sure Steve roadmapped so I imagine there will be innovative products coming.

Indeed though after 2020 I think the ideas will start to stagnate, which was my point.

I never said Jobs only made good decisions, but he did leave a legacy that will carry a lot of expectations and pressure. People are bound to be disappointed with them going forward - look at the iPhone. It can be argued at present Samsung are starting to make a superior product.

 

[Terpfen]

Apple have set their own bar high and they will feel the pressure to attain it.

Apple has set its bar as "best in industry."

You've set its bar as "historical landmark."

 

[TechLarry]

I think when the dust settles and commotion comes to a stand still, Apple is just an overpriced alternative in a nicer box. I just dont know enough people who are serious about apple that can actually convince me to switch

Ok. Next forum.

 

[Sixthsense]

I'm seriously considering switching back to either windows or giving linux a shot. Here are some of my chief complaints with Apple:

1. New products seem dreadfully uninspired
2. I waited a long time for the Iphone 5 but gave up and got an Iphone 4s (delays suck)
2-1. Android phones seem to be catching up or have better features.
3. Lion and Mountain Lion fail to impress - iOS is not what I want on my desktop
4. Java 7 no longer supported on Snow Leopard
5. I don't like creating iCloud dependency

So basically, I feel like a lot of Apple "improvements" over the past 1-2 years seem more like setbacks and bloatware. I want a clean, fast, and easy to use system without all of the extra crap.

I refuse to pay for Mountain lion, so I am going to see if Apple will comp me a free upgrade before I make a decision on my next cycle of system upgrades (running a 2008 macbook and 2010 iMac). Anyone else thinking the same thing?

$20 bucks seriously?you don't want to shell out on a OS that can be technically used a volume license.?Well you could always dual boot/ boot camp I guess. No idea where reason #5 stems from.

If you think Mountain Lion is IOS on your desktop, you're in for a rude awakening with Windows 8.

 

[TechLarry]

I will agree with #1.

The last 2 years or so things have been moving awefully slow, and it's sadly become much worse since Steve Jobs passed. It's like there's no passion in the company.

And for a company that has the kind of money they do, with no debt, it just doesn't make sense.

I'm seriously considering switching back to either windows or giving linux a shot. Here are some of my chief complaints with Apple:

1. New products seem dreadfully uninspired
2. I waited a long time for the Iphone 5 but gave up and got an Iphone 4s (delays suck)
2-1. Android phones seem to be catching up or have better features.
3. Lion and Mountain Lion fail to impress - iOS is not what I want on my desktop
4. Java 7 no longer supported on Snow Leopard
5. I don't like creating iCloud dependency

So basically, I feel like a lot of Apple "improvements" over the past 1-2 years seem more like setbacks and bloatware. I want a clean, fast, and easy to use system without all of the extra crap.

I refuse to pay for Mountain lion, so I am going to see if Apple will comp me a free upgrade before I make a decision on my next cycle of system upgrades (running a 2008 macbook and 2010 iMac). Anyone else thinking the same thing?

 

[CEpeep]

I will agree with #1.

The last 2 years or so things have been moving awefully slow, and it's sadly become much worse since Steve Jobs passed. It's like there's no passion in the company.

And for a company that has the kind of money they do, with no debt, it just doesn't make sense.

Wait just a bit. Now that Jony Ive is in charge of the interface/UX component of Apple I think we'll see great things happening in both iOS and OS X over the next several years.

 

[mstavridis]

I'm seriously considering switching back to either windows or giving linux a shot. Here are some of my chief complaints with Apple:

1. New products seem dreadfully uninspired
2. I waited a long time for the Iphone 5 but gave up and got an Iphone 4s (delays suck)
2-1. Android phones seem to be catching up or have better features.
3. Lion and Mountain Lion fail to impress - iOS is not what I want on my desktop
4. Java 7 no longer supported on Snow Leopard
5. I don't like creating iCloud dependency

So basically, I feel like a lot of Apple "improvements" over the past 1-2 years seem more like setbacks and bloatware. I want a clean, fast, and easy to use system without all of the extra crap.

I refuse to pay for Mountain lion, so I am going to see if Apple will comp me a free upgrade before I make a decision on my next cycle of system upgrades (running a 2008 macbook and 2010 iMac). Anyone else thinking the same thing?

Thought I should correct this:

1. Too expensive
2. OSX = BSD with some fancy Overlay
3. Android has always been better then iOS, Mainstream device thats open source always wins.

 

[Terpfen]

2. OSX = BSD with some fancy Overlay

You've never used OS X or BSD.

3. Android has always been better then iOS, Mainstream device thats open source always wins.

False.

 

[mstavridis]

You've never used OS X or BSD.

I am network admin. Alot of the users here are some type of IT admin, and the rest are very into IT... pretty stupid thing to say.

You obviously have never used logic or reasoning in your assumptions.

All major firewalls and VPN concentrators and routers I setup at work are FreeBSD.
O don't forget those Juniper routers... all based on BSD

I also use a MacBook air as a lunch tray, not sure if that counts as using OSX.

False.

Your reasoning would be? Oh that's right you didn't post any cause you don't have any...
But if you do have reasoning I would love to hear it. Being a apple fanboy is not reason enough, intelligent conversation please.

Don't get me wrong I love some of Apple's products, just hate having to justifying to myself why I should be spending so much money on a product that should have a much lower price.

My reasoning why android is better is its open sourced, and what goes along with that is generally a lower price on the end product.

Apple has made one stupid business decision after another. Their latest one was the iPhone 5 which could have been HUGE!. But instead they got beat out by Samsung with the Galaxy Note II. Another was the botched release of their map program...

 

[mstavridis]

/shrug, and most of us think that opinion is silly.

If you compare apples to (pardon the pun) apples, Mac's aren't significantly more expensive. (I.e. MBP's/MBA's vs Thinkpads, Elitebooks, etc).

And when you look at build quality, portability, battery life, size/weight, and performance, and look at them as a balanced compromise, they are actually quite well priced.

You can get more powerful laptops for cheaper. But they will usually be sorely lacking in battery life, portability, weight (and frequently, but not always, build quality).

You can get more portable laptops for cheaper. But they will usually be lacking performance, frequently lacking battery life, and also frequently be lower build quality.

Etc, etc, etc.

When I used to work retail, I would tell customers who came in to buy a laptop, that the basic axiom of laptops was:

"Power, Price, Portability. Choose Two."

Mac's are a decent attempt to balance all three.
They aren't the most powerful, they aren't the most portable, they aren't the most expensive. But they are a decent mix of the three.

Plus, Mac's are a *nix environment, without the headaches inherent in a *nix environment with driver support/etc. That's worth it for me, for headache savings alone.

I agree that they have accomplished the creation of a quality product that stands out and sometimes above others, but your just gonna toss away that technology in 3 to 4 years for something new, doesn't seem so practical to spend top dollar when you think about it that way.

 

[Sixthsense]

dbl

 

[Sixthsense]

2 words


resale value



An Apple MacBook is worth a damn . Yeah even after 4 years. Try that with a Windows based laptop.

On 2nd thought, if you're a network admin why are you even concerned about price of a laptop? just write it off as a work expense

Oh yeah and this is a lovely point that someone brought up earlier

Please show me a 15" laptop with a 2880x1800 display that costs less than the MBP. It's ok, take your time. I'll wait.

 

[mstavridis]

I have to answer to an IT manger who answers to a CFO. If I can't justify something I can't have it.

 

[Sixthsense]

Im referring to your personal laptop, Why don't you write it up as a work expense during taxes?

 

[mstavridis]

Yeah I could always do that.