Is Apple losing the plot?

bobleslie · Mar 19, 2009, 19:08:17

Here's an article by Nick Farrell in the Inquirer so you know what to expect.

If it annoys Apple fans then that's a bonus.

Rik · Mar 19, 2009, 19:10:03

You'll have Sebby in a sulk.

LesD · Mar 19, 2009, 20:43:59

Quote from: bobleslie on Mar 19, 2009, 19:08:17
Is Apple losing the plot?

Did they ever have one?

Sebby will know!

john · Mar 20, 2009, 00:52:22

I thought the issue with Apple machines overheating was supposed to be a unique feature called 'Apple Pie'

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 04:22:55

Sebby · Mar 20, 2009, 09:19:35

I don't disagree with it. I just don't care because I enjoy Apple products.

Have Apple set out to make people fall in love with their products and not want to buy anything else? Definitely. Do they try and deny problems exist? Sure, just like every manufacturer does, but their customer care is actually very good. Are Apple products over-priced? Well, they're certainly very expensive compared to the competition, but if you don't believe there is anything out there that compares, surely they're worth the premium.

That's the way I see it anyway.

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 09:23:14

So they're a bit like IDNet really.

Sebby · Mar 20, 2009, 09:24:03

In a way, yes. They are expensive, but I don't think it's fair to say they're over-priced. In a lot of people's eyes there is nothing that compares, which makes the premium worth it.

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 09:24:58

Yup, couldn't agree more. I could give some food examples if you like.

Sebby · Mar 20, 2009, 09:26:05

Steve · Mar 20, 2009, 09:36:24

Well its coming up to 3 weeks use of my macbook I am pleased to report it has not burnt the house down and still retains its ability to lie flat on a desk. I am however thinking seriously about a reboot but perhaps I could leave it another month or so.

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 09:37:51

Go on, Steve, be a devil, you know you want to.

Steve · Mar 20, 2009, 09:55:57

Yes they are more expensive than the equivalent PC but I like the way the OS seems to cope with multiple applications open,it doesn't seem to get bogged down like windows when one process can hog all the resources . There is a system application called Expose and spaces which allows multiple application to run in different "desktops" In fact you can run a windows virtual machine inside one. I've only got 2Gb and the swap file does come into play when running a virtual machine. I have played with their Aperture 2 photo editing suite which is far beyond my capabilities but I think less of a challenge than photoshop. I have for the first time managed to edit and adjust some RAW files with some confidence that I am not making a complete mess

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 09:58:56

Sounds good, Steve. I think when the time comes to retire the current notebook, I may well make the leap.

Steve · Mar 20, 2009, 10:13:20

I was worried that integration with the home Windows LAN would be an issue, but so far apart from a different backup method it fits in very nicely

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 10:16:10

And it looks good.

Gary · Mar 20, 2009, 10:36:47

Quote from: Sebby on Mar 20, 2009, 09:24:03
In a way, yes. They are expensive, but I don't think it's fair to say they're over-priced. In a lot of people's eyes there is nothing that compares, which makes the premium worth it.

No product should ever be priced high because its perceived to be the best, nothing is worth that premium in my eyes, its just good marketing, and as long as people pay it, then over inflated prices will be here to stay, giving the mac in its exclusive tag, when dropping the price to something more realistic would let more people see how good they are, and get more people using them and ousting Windows from its seat of dominance. Apple are almost the B & O of computers, and is design no matter how stunning worth that extra to the average person? I'm sure if Macs were cheaper and I think they could be, many more people would have one. They are after all better performing machines.

Sebby · Mar 20, 2009, 11:08:20

Quote from: Gary on Mar 20, 2009, 10:36:47
No product should ever be priced high because its perceived to be the best, nothing is worth that premium in my eyes, its just good marketing, and as long as people pay it, then over inflated prices will be here to stay, giving the mac in its exclusive tag, when dropping the price to something more realistic would let more people see how good they are, and get more people using them and ousting Windows from its seat of dominance. Apple are almost the B & O of computers, and is design no matter how stunning worth that extra to the average person? I'm sure if Macs were cheaper and I think they could be, many more people would have one. They are after all better performing machines.

That's not quite what I'm saying. Of course I wish they were cheaper, but I'll pay the premium because in my eyes there are not better alternatives. For me, I wouldn't compare them to equivalent-spec PCs because they can't be compared, imho.

Macs are getting more and more popular as people realise that they offer a more pleasant computing experience. I'm not the only one making the switch, believe me.

Lance · Mar 20, 2009, 11:29:29

macs are getting more popular as well as a side effect of the ipod (mostly) and the iphone (more recently).

Steve · Mar 20, 2009, 11:36:45

I don't understand why they cost a whole lot more, looking at the macbook and macbook pro they all contain standard PC parts,
Yes the case, screen and keyboard are far superior IMHO to anything you'll get from windows based manufacturers but I would say my macbook is probably £300 to £400 dearer than the equivalent spec windows laptop which makes it one expensive sheet of machined Aluminium.

Strangely I've not hooked my ipod up to it,my main reason is keeping its format @FAT32 so I can use its spare capacity as an external drive for Windows based machines

Sebby · Mar 20, 2009, 11:39:01

The fact that it's machined aluminium does at some cost, but of course, not £3-400 more. But then, they can charge that because there's not really any competition.

greenfedora · Mar 20, 2009, 11:44:47

Quote from: Rik on Mar 20, 2009, 09:58:56
Sounds good, Steve. I think when the time comes to retire the current notebook, I may well make the leap.

Same here. Vista did it for me - it'll be the last Microsoft OS I run as the main OS on any of my machines.

Den · Mar 20, 2009, 11:53:12

I must admit I like the look and feel of a Mac and if I could justify the cost I would consider changing, but to say they are the computer equivalent of B&O is doing them a disservice. B&O look great but the sound is cr*p.

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 12:00:10

Make it the computer equivalent of a Meridian box, Den.

Gary · Mar 20, 2009, 17:58:08

Quote from: Sebby on Mar 20, 2009, 11:08:20
That's not quite what I'm saying. Of course I wish they were cheaper, but I'll pay the premium because in my eyes there are not better alternatives. For me, I wouldn't compare them to equivalent-spec PCs because they can't be compared, imho.

Macs are getting more and more popular as people realise that they offer a more pleasant computing experience. I'm not the only one making the switch, believe me.

I know Sebby, when a microsoft computer architect uses one like my friend in Seattle , you know something is deeply wrong with windows, I think the putty has fallen out around the panes myself

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 17:59:42

It explains the glazed look.

Gary · Mar 20, 2009, 18:00:02

Quote from: Rik on Mar 20, 2009, 17:59:42
It explains the glazed look.

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 18:00:21

JB · Mar 20, 2009, 18:16:16

I think you are getting to the core of the problem now.

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 18:17:21

Though I can see the a-peel.

JB · Mar 20, 2009, 18:18:04

Just pipped me with that one.

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 18:20:46

Granny would have been proud.

Steve · Mar 20, 2009, 18:22:29

Its all beginning to crumble.

Rik · Mar 20, 2009, 18:30:01

Cobblers.

bobleslie · Mar 20, 2009, 21:06:56

Not only is the hardware cobblers, it appears that the OS/Browser is also:

Click here for a laugh

Simon · Mar 20, 2009, 21:24:45

Sebby · Mar 20, 2009, 21:25:39

Quote from: bobleslie on Mar 20, 2009, 21:06:56
Not only is the hardware cobblers, it appears that the OS/Browser is also:

Click here for a laugh

Oh well, that's Safari, not Mac OS. Plus I'm still using Firefox.

bobleslie · Mar 20, 2009, 22:08:23

Actually, the rest of them aren't much better, are they?

I think he went for Safari first so he could win the Macbook.

Sebby · Mar 20, 2009, 22:30:31

I would have thought they're all hackable. Perhaps he just new Safari the best.

Lance · Mar 20, 2009, 23:23:56

I wonder why these people aren't employed by the likes of MS and Apple?

Sebby · Mar 20, 2009, 23:50:30

Indeed, Lance. No doubt they have certain experts in this field, but they ought to employ those that prove themselves.

Rik · Mar 21, 2009, 11:30:48

I agree, if you want to build something secure, use people who have a record of breaking it.

Niall · Mar 21, 2009, 11:53:04

Quote from: Gary on Mar 20, 2009, 17:58:08
I know Sebby, when a microsoft computer architect uses one like my friend in Seattle , you know something is deeply wrong with windows, I think the putty has fallen out around the panes myself

I haven't used any MACs since they were huge behemoths in the 80s, but I've always been intrigued by the mac book, purely for the photography side of things as a lot of people recommend it. When I looked into it, it did seem to be a personal choice rather than any real improvement over anything in Windows. Still I'd like to give one a go just to see what they're like.

The only one I've tried in recent years was on display in Tesco and it had crashed

Sebby · Mar 21, 2009, 12:44:04

It's an expensive investment, but I reckon once you're switched, you'd never go back.

Simon · Mar 21, 2009, 13:19:02

... unless you break it.

Rik · Mar 21, 2009, 13:20:29

Time for some accidental damage insurance.

Simon · Mar 21, 2009, 13:25:35

Or we could go round and cause some accidental damage!

Rik · Mar 21, 2009, 14:40:14

Not till he's had a chance to play.

Sebby · Mar 21, 2009, 15:12:13

Rik · Mar 21, 2009, 15:18:48

Come on, we're waiting for the pictures.