Leaving the Apple Cult

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dafman

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#205328 9-Nov-2016 08:52

This is an interesting podcast with discussion among a group of tech journos. They put forward the view that, under Cook, Apple looks like is merely keeping MacBook on life support until iOS is in a position to replace the MacBook for most users (hence the lackluster recent offerings). And it seems that Apple seem to care less and less that in doing so they alienate their traditional supporters in the design industry as this segment is only a small portion of current total Apple revenue (hence the no upgrade in Mac Pro for three years).

Here's the link - the Apple discussion starts at around 27 mins into the podcast (if you want to skip straight to it).

https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/587

huckster

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#1666237 9-Nov-2016 09:07

I read this in an article this morning suggesting Apple is losing it's cool....

"Where once Apple had an app for things you didn't imagine were possible, now it has a dongle for things that were perfectly possible before you needed a dongle."

Benjip

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#1666324 9-Nov-2016 10:43

I don't think Apple is losing their touch at all. They've just had record-breaking sales of the new MacBook Pro, even with all the angry "pros" out there who are crying about the lack of an SD Card reader and HDMI port etc..

For me as a web designer & developer, the new MBP suits my needs perfectly. The only thing I will need to buy is a dual USB/USB-C memory stick.

I think that a lot of the tech media put too much emphasis on raw specs and the number of ports available on a device, whereas your average pro or pro-sumer doesn't care for (or need) the ports that have been removed.

antoniosk

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#1666335 9-Nov-2016 10:57

Apple has been moving towards making iOS the core for some years now - it does some things really well compared to mac os, and for the vast majority of people that's fine. If you haven't noticed, most platforms are moving towards simplification and 'just works' models.

But it's also clear Apple now is more Microsoft under Ballmer - and for all his faults, Microsoft did grow to become a huge monster for sales and channel reach, at the cost of becoming irrelevant. Apple's success is it's worst enemy - it can't afford misfires because of the possibility of brand damage. Microsoft misfires are everywhere but the core revenue is still there.

A product that doesn't sell is expensive. When you have to spend a bucket deploying across the planet - well, thats very expensive. So you cant get it wrong, which means incrementalism which means boring.

So get the best while you can. MBP 2015 is pretty awesome and I'm pleased I got mine when I did, even if the price did hurt. But if I hadn't, I would have been spending $3k which means Surface and stuff entered into the mix - but for not wanting to spend $3k on a device that depreciates faster than a car.

________

Antoniosk

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#1666344 9-Nov-2016 11:19

dafman:

This is an interesting podcast with discussion among a group of tech journos. They put forward the view that, under Cook, Apple looks like is merely keeping MacBook on life support until iOS is in a position to replace the MacBook for most users (hence the lackluster recent offerings). And it seems that Apple seem to care less and less that in doing so they alienate their traditional supporters in the design industry as this segment is only a small portion of current total Apple revenue (hence the no upgrade in Mac Pro for three years).

Here's the link - the Apple discussion starts at around 27 mins into the podcast (if you want to skip straight to it).

https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/587

Time changes things. Money talks. If they make money, then they keep the winning formula. Why change. If they lose market share or lose money, then time to change. Why stay.

tdgeek

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#1666373 9-Nov-2016 11:35

Benjip:

I don't think Apple is losing their touch at all. They've just had record-breaking sales of the new MacBook Pro, even with all the angry "pros" out there who are crying about the lack of an SD Card reader and HDMI port etc..

For me as a web designer & developer, the new MBP suits my needs perfectly. The only thing I will need to buy is a dual USB/USB-C memory stick.

I think that a lot of the tech media put too much emphasis on raw specs and the number of ports available on a device, whereas your average pro or pro-sumer doesn't care for (or need) the ports that have been removed.

Im a happy Apple user, but record sales of a device that in their portfolio is small, in the world of laptop sales its small. And when so many have held off purchases for the new release. Its staggered. These sales are some of last and the previous years, just lumped into this year.

As for losing theft touch, its hard to make changes to phones, tablets and laptops, when they are all mature. So, it doesnt really bother me. Saves me upgrading though, which is a cost saving.

tdgeek

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#1666374 9-Nov-2016 11:37

joker97:

dafman:

This is an interesting podcast with discussion among a group of tech journos. They put forward the view that, under Cook, Apple looks like is merely keeping MacBook on life support until iOS is in a position to replace the MacBook for most users (hence the lackluster recent offerings). And it seems that Apple seem to care less and less that in doing so they alienate their traditional supporters in the design industry as this segment is only a small portion of current total Apple revenue (hence the no upgrade in Mac Pro for three years).

Here's the link - the Apple discussion starts at around 27 mins into the podcast (if you want to skip straight to it).

https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech/episodes/587

Time changes things. Money talks. If they make money, then they keep the winning formula. Why change. If they lose market share or lose money, then time to change. Why stay.

They have the luxury that the vast majority of Apple users will stay Apple users. Sales growth is down, I assume due to incrementally causing many of us to bypass new releases.

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

tdgeek

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#1666382 9-Nov-2016 11:46

antoniosk:

But it's also clear Apple now is more Microsoft under Ballmer - and for all his faults, Microsoft did grow to become a huge monster for sales and channel reach, at the cost of becoming irrelevant. Apple's success is it's worst enemy - it can't afford misfires because of the possibility of brand damage. Microsoft misfires are everywhere but the core revenue is still there.

I don't agree. Take Apples sales. A LARGE % of sales will always occur, the Apple faithful. They will buy. There will be those that could buy but don't as its not worth it. These may be annual phone upgraders moving to bi annual. But IMHO, the base core is set in stone. Those sales will happen. Same scenario with iPads and Macbook, they just have a longer lifespan.

Samsung, Sony, Lenovo et al are different, they have full on direct competition. Apples only competition are switchers. They are a low % and probably offset plus or minus, with switchees.

If Apple has yet another (arent they always now? ) incremental upgrade, the sales WILL happen. If there is a good upgrade, or a great upgrade (no, that wont happen, thats another story) the sales will have an upwards bump. Their single ecosystem made the success they have now. Monopoly if you prefer the iOS and/or OSX OS's and the integration they offer.

MikeB4

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#1666404 9-Nov-2016 12:04

This sort of talk about Apple has been happening for years, it's similar to "this is the year of the Linux desktop". Apple is still here and still has a fortune in the bank and Linux on the desktop is still in the margin of error. Apple has the capital and the expertise to change direction and turn 180 degrees if need be. There will always be the faithful, there will always be the switchers, there will always be the haters.

I am agnostic, I will use what ever ecosystem or device that does the job that I want doing now.

I like the slow coming together of MacOS and iOS, its pace of change is good with little if any disasters. The same cannot be said of others.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

alasta

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#1666834 9-Nov-2016 19:43

I could see myself eventually replacing my Macbook Pro with an iPad since I spend all day at work stuffing around with computers and when I get home I don't want to do much more than look at emails and web sites. Probably the main barriers are inability to fully utilise iCloud due to my poor internet connection at home, and my nervousness around having all my photos and documents on iCloud and not backed up anywhere else.

I don't think I would buy the 13" iPad though. It looks far too unwieldy to use handheld, so it might as well just be a laptop. I would go with the 9.7" and get a bluetooth keyboard.