To be honest, I don't know what my exact problem with Apple is yet, but I think writing it out will definitely help me pinpoint it. Maybe it's just me? Hating on a popular company. Or maybe my frustrations with them as a company are real? I don't know.
My history with Apple is long. Real long. My first computer was an Apple II that my parents bought in the beginning of the 80s. I loved it, but mostly just used it to copy games. I didn't even really play them, I just loved cracking and hoarding them. My Apple had a really slow modem that I could dial into a few services and play basic games online, read information on BBSs or chat with my friend whose weatherman father had a fax machine that would take incoming connections. All pretty exciting stuff to a ten year old.
As the years rolled on, I stuck with Apple like a brainwashed cult member. I eventually got the Mac SE (Tetris for days, yo!) and discovered even more excitement with it. Hooking it up to a keyboard, early audio editing programs, usable word processing. It was like a late 80s dream machine. All in that cute little package. Who would be crazy enough to want a PC when you could have this!
In the 90s, it got weird. Steve Jobs was out, and in were the clones. I had a clone, (I think it was a Power Computing?) which came after a Centris 650, or 850? The forgettable years of Apple when they just seemed to get square and grey and typical of any other computer out there. The clone worked well but it was obvious the company needed some guidance, so back came Steve. At this point I was still a believer, reading my MacWorld and telling anyone who would listen that they really should buy that $6 Apple stock even if it seemed the company was getting absolutely destroyed by Microsoft. That might sound like extreme foresight, but it wasn't. More like blind fan-boy optimism. I just couldn't imagine Apple going out of business (even after the 90s Apple TV. Basically a black Mac with antennae.)
Shortly after, the iMac came out and the rest is history. Sadly for me, the most exciting thing about the iMac was that it came with the first all white Apple logo sticker. I was a fan, for sure, but even I had limits, and there was no way the rainbow apple was going anywhere near my bumper. But the white one? I flew that loud and proud like some underground revolutionary fighting the good fight. Truly believing if people would just all switch to Apple computers, the world would be a better place. (It pains me a little to even write this out.)
On went the computers. I pre-ordered the first G4, pre-ordered the first titanium PowerBook and pretty much owned everything in between there and now. The problem though, ever since the first OS X, the computers haven't really gotten better. In fact I'd say they have gotten worse and worse. The more they can do, the more it seems like they can't do. The rainbow beach ball (worst "your expensive computer is stuck" design ever) has become commonplace and the operating systems just feel sluggish and overburdened.
On top of this, Apple seems to be leaving the world of quality home computing behind, and forging ahead with disposable computers and lifestyle products. Lots and Lots of lifestyle products. iPhones, iPods, iPads. And in these "green times" we are living, crazy overdone packaging, and computers reduced to obsolescence quickly. (My four-year-old G5 is no longer upgradable.) I understand computer technology keeps moving and packaging sells, but still, I feel that our understanding of these truths are being taken advantage of. My complaints could get long, and way nerdy, so I'll spare you the whole rant. The bottom line though is that it feels Apple lost its way.
And the iPad just feels (and sounds) stupid. No multi-tasking (what year is it?), iPhone OS? Apps? Is it just me, or do Apps already feel dated. (Sooo 2010...) And watching Steve Jobs sell it like Moses with his tablet just got me mad. My year old PowerBook can barely handle a browser, email and word processing and this guy is trying to tell me I need something new? F-you dude... put that silly thing down and fix my laptop. Because the truth is, I don't need a giant iPhone, I need computers that work. And I used to have a company that did that really well. Unfortunately they got in the business of giant iPhones, and the rest is history.
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I use PCs and Macs. They both have their place. But I've always enjoyed my time on the Macs and I've never had more than a hiccup in ages. For me, it's a solid, fun, easy machine. I'm not a fanboy by any means but I enjoy how all my Apple technology works together, without workarounds. My PC needs those a lot. I feel like my Apple stuff (even a 2001 iBook I have!) just hides the complexity I'd rather not deal with.
The reality is that a lot of people don't like fidgeting with technology like you do. For most, it's a nuisance, regardless of "computing power." IMO, that's why the iPad makes sense for consumers. Simple apps are easier than an all-purpose browser on a complex OS. Most people just don't want or need a complex OS for everyday tasks. That's why the iPad (which should be multitasking by Summer) and other variants will work.
To me, whining about Apple losing their way amidst record profits and success is silly. If you think they need an OS update, yeah, that's cool. But really, I think your first paragraph says it all. You didn't have a point, you just wanted to moan.
Another great point you made in another comment, that your 2001 laptop fires right up. That's what I'm talking about, they used to be awesome. But a 2010 laptop doesn't feel like it's going to work in 2013, never mind 2019.
I appreciate the comments but your "losing credibility" observations were unnecessary. I'll be the first to admit this was an off the cuff opinion but that's what a blog post is. Of course if this were for a publication I'd be more precise with my observations.
Ultimately though, Steve Jobs will never read this, and even if he did it wouldn't bother him one bit. The man has both a plan and a huge ego. So I don't really see the harm in letting off a little personal steam.
And when that day comes you see me relaxing on my couch reading my iPad, don't say "I told you so.." because I never said it wouldn't happen. I'd just love the attention they give to the casual consumer market spread equally with the attention on the professional market. And I don't think that's an unreasonable critique.
I disagree with the idea that the current products don't feel like they'll work in a few years. The reality is that OSX, like System 9 on my iBook, is going to be upgraded soon. And just as I upgraded my iBook from 9 to 10 to 10.4x now, I'll upgrade my MacBook Pro (I couldn't do that from XP to Vista and ended up ditching it). Frankly, that's what's nice about Apple: The consistent upgrade path actually does without giant drop-offs.
Regardless, I think Apple is simply moving their business in a direction others should've. Sure, they probably put Mac on a backburner to develop future platforms. That's okay for me since I don't mind the "look" and I now have tech that literally all works together without workarounds. No islands. Some see this direction as "monopoly" or perhaps "letting Mac rot." But c'mon, no one is nearly as seamless.
How long did it take Microsoft to get us from XP to 7? Or introduce a music device that didn't choke? Or a phone OS that wasn't a heap? I appreciate Microsoft's role in computing and I own their stuff, but if we're talking about a company "rotting", that's the one that needs some attention.
"The rainbow beach ball (worst "your expensive computer is stuck" design ever) has become commonplace and the operating systems just feel sluggish and overburdened."
No. You're talking about Mac OS X 10.2.8, aren't you. The beach ball problem profoundly diminished with 10.3. We're up to 10.6.2 now. Even using 10.5 on your G5 tower, your comment sounds quite wrong. Well, unless of course you're trying to run Mac OS X on 512 MB of RAM perhaps? If so, time to catch up with the requirements of modern operating systems.
"And in these "green times" we are living, crazy overdone packaging, and computers reduced to obsolescence quickly."
No actually. You're still speaking about years back. The exact opposite is currently the case. Again, it sounds like you are out of touch.
"My year old PowerBook..."
Again, no. PowerBooks were discontinued in January of 2006. Do you know the name of the models that replaced them?
"Unfortunately they got in the business of giant iPhones, and the rest is history."
And yet again no. The Apple iPad actually resembles a BIG iPod Touch that does 3G, NOT an iPhone. Do you know what an iPod Touch is?
Not good.
1- G5 2ghz dual with 10.5.8 and 2.5g of ram. I admit it could use more, but I don't want to put more money into it. It's a dog, and 10.5 is a bust on everything I've ever used it on. Someday people will admit it. And I see lots of beachball all the time. And thanks for the lesson, but I'm aware of what operating system they are on.
2- If you consider full color packaging as "green" and 4 year old computers as not worth upgrading, then we have different ideas of what green actually means and it isn't worth arguing.
3- Ill give you that one.. I meant mac book. I've had two of these and Ill admit the first one was my fault (turns out you can't spill a full beer on a lap top) but for something that cost $1000 last year and only gets used for safari, email, and pages..it has more beachballs more than a gidget movie. (sorry, that was dumb). It's favorite move is to just spin the disc for 3 minutes while you wait for it to figure itself out. (Running 10.6.2) And if I implied it was discontinued.. I didn't mean that, I just meant it is super unimpressive.
4-C'mon now.. this one is ridiculous. Yes, it's a giant ipod touch with 3G, OR one might say it's a giant iPhone without a phone. And yes.. I know what an iPod touch is. Which part of "I've owned these computers for 30 years and know all about them" did you miss?
So Good.
Apple has had some major hits this decade. That first G4 tower was amazing.. and even better than the Dual867 I replaced it with.. even after they sent me the free quieter power supply. And the first titanium laptop, also amazing. I destroyed it and it just kept going. I'm not saying I hate this company.. I'm just saying they are in a bit of a slump.
And that iPad should have a regular OS on it, but if you put a phone OS on it, don't get mad when I call it a giant phone.
That image is still present even though the company has totally changed. In the mobile world, Apple is the new Microsoft. Mac products have staggering price points, and certainly aren't going to elementary schools. The hip alternative is now a country club.
And yet the old users don't seem to notice that anythings changed.
I am/was an Apple fan-boy too and I've been so irritated with their products lately. My laptop at home is dying a slow death and there is nothing I can do about it. I've been employing all my former hacker-geek skills to keep it running as long as I can. I don't want to get a new computer b/c I hate the fact that I'll drop $2k or more on something that will break in 2 years. Screw you Apple-Jobs, screw you!
I know because of all the time I've spent at work, surfing the huffpo on my soooo slooooooow 4 year old work mac- everytime a story about PCs, MS, apple or even google comes up, there are 5k+ comments in a couple of hours and most of them are deranged apple-biters screaming at everybody that doesn't drink the kool-aid. They're just desperate not too sound silly for spending so much more than they had to.
Most young people just like apple because of the slick ad campaigns (dancing silhouettes, colors, Justin Long!), their computers come in hot pink and the iphone has multiple thousands of apps (you'll never use more than twice)
I'm not a bible-beater but having the devil trick you into biting the apple has generally been viewed as a bad thing for some time now.
Maybe, if one doesn't count Republicans & teabaggers!