Apple compared to other brands

[interactivealex]

Hello.

I've been a loyal Apple-user for ages, but in recent times it seems as other competitors are starting to catch-up on Apples leap. Seems like Android is taking more and more over on the mobile front (considering the new HTC One and Xperia Z). Also on the tablet-front I think other brands are just as good (or maybe even better?). I think that Apple only have a step ahead in the PC-market considering its growth compared to Windows.

How would you rate todays Apple products compared to the other products out there, and why are you still interested in buying them? Why should i still use them? Im starting to doubt it as now other products have that cross-communicating platform that only Apple products had before.

What would you say differ Apple products today, and in what direction to you believe they could go to not lose costumers? Why are YOU still interested in Apple?

I'm asking this as a fellow consumer and a student in marketing. Some of the answers given may be used in my schoolwork later on.

 

[mattopotamus]

Hello.

I've been a loyal Apple-user for ages, but in recent times it seems as other competitors are starting to catch-up on Apples leap. Seems like Android is taking more and more over on the mobile front (considering the new HTC One and Xperia Z). Also on the tablet-front I think other brands are just as good (or maybe even better?). I think that Apple only have a step ahead in the PC-market considering its growth compared to Windows.

How would you rate todays Apple products compared to the other products out there, and why are you still interested in buying them? Why should i still use them? Im starting to doubt it as now other products have that cross-communicating platform that only Apple products had before.

What would you say differ Apple products today, and in what direction to you believe they could go to not lose costumers? Why are YOU still interested in Apple?

I'm asking this as a fellow consumer and a student in marketing. Some of the answers given may be used in my schoolwork later on.

I think apple continues to grow in the PC market b.c it is so heavily windows dominated. Their growth will always look larger since they have such a small share.

The major difference between apple products and others is the quality. iphones seem to always focus on high quality, premium products. Not taking software into consideration, the s4 is plastic....compared to a much higher quality iphone 5. That is a major driving force for many people and can be reason enough to stay with apple. Also, what will I do if my samsung or nexus breaks....take it to a google store? Customer Service, IMO, is the single greatest edge apple holds over everyone else. I can walk in with a broken phone and walk out minutes later with a new one.

 

[roxxette]

People will just vote with the wallet in terms of what they prefer, right now its all about what OS you prefer.

Plenty of "premium" windows laptops and android phones now its not like back then.

 

[thehustleman]

Hello.

I've been a loyal Apple-user for ages, but in recent times it seems as other competitors are starting to catch-up on Apples leap. Seems like Android is taking more and more over on the mobile front (considering the new HTC One and Xperia Z). Also on the tablet-front I think other brands are just as good (or maybe even better?). I think that Apple only have a step ahead in the PC-market considering its growth compared to Windows.

How would you rate todays Apple products compared to the other products out there, and why are you still interested in buying them? Why should i still use them? Im starting to doubt it as now other products have that cross-communicating platform that only Apple products had before.

What would you say differ Apple products today, and in what direction to you believe they could go to not lose costumers? Why are YOU still interested in Apple?

I'm asking this as a fellow consumer and a student in marketing. Some of the answers given may be used in my schoolwork later on.

First thing, Android already overtook iphone, for good reason too, you can do all major tasks plus more on Android.

Second, tablets is still apples domain, they still the best

 

[xraydoc]

It's just like Windows vs. Mac back in the '90's and 2000's. Marketshare =! quality.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

For me I use Apple stuff for a multitude of reasons....

1.) Quality - I have yet to find a laptop as well put together as my Macbook Pro. Same goes for my iPhone (although I will admit HTC seems have a good one on their hands with the HTC One). You pay a little extra for sure, but you get great build quality with all Apple products. And this isn't just limited to hardware. The polish and finish in the software also keeps me with Apple. I have yet to see an Android experience that is as smooth as iOS. They've made leaps and bounds improvements.....but it still falls short for me

2.) Simplicity - I like things to be simple and I like them to be that way out of the box. I don't like to tinker. As much as I wish I did and as interesting as some of the things you can do getting in there and rooting around with a device.....it's just too tedious for my attention span. I get bored with it real quick. My iPhone is running 6.1.2 and is jailbroken, but if you pick it up you wouldn't notice a single tweak. That's because there aren't any there. I just don't have the drive to really do anything with it....which is why Apple is so nice. Out of the box you just plug in your Apple ID, restore from backup and you're all set.

3.) Ecosystem - This is probably the tied with quality for most important to me. With Apple building both the hardware and software it makes everything work fairly seamlessly together. My iPhone, iPad, MBP and Mac Mini all play well together. Everything syncs together with no problem and moving between requires zero effort on my part. Add in the Apple TV units I have on every TV in the house and the interplay they have with my Media Server and it just makes things very easy to automate. Airplay is also a really nice feature that I think gets overlooked a lot. Can you do all of that with other the stuff other companies make? Sure.....but, from what I've seen, not as easily and not without some quirks.

At the end of the day I just like Apple products. I don't see anything on the horizon that is going to pull OS X out of my life. So the computer will always be there. I get tempted every now and again to try out Android and I go back and forth on that a lot. Then I usually pick up a device from the store, try it out for a while, and just realize once again how much I like iOS.

Everybody is different though, so what's important for me might not be important for someone else. But that's why I use Apple stuff.

 

[interactivealex]

The major difference between apple products and others is the quality. iphones seem to always focus on high quality, premium products. Not taking software into consideration, the s4 is plastic....compared to a much higher quality iphone 5. That is a major driving force for many people and can be reason enough to stay with apple. Also, what will I do if my samsung or nexus breaks....take it to a google store? Customer Service, IMO, is the single greatest edge apple holds over everyone else. I can walk in with a broken phone and walk out minutes later with a new one.

For me I use Apple stuff for a multitude of reasons....

1.) Quality - I have yet to find a laptop as well put together as my Macbook Pro. Same goes for my iPhone (although I will admit HTC seems have a good one on their hands with the HTC One). You pay a little extra for sure, but you get great build quality with all Apple products. And this isn't just limited to hardware. The polish and finish in the software also keeps me with Apple. I have yet to see an Android experience that is as smooth as iOS. They've made leaps and bounds improvements.....but it still falls short for me

2.) Simplicity - I like things to be simple and I like them to be that way out of the box. I don't like to tinker. As much as I wish I did and as interesting as some of the things you can do getting in there and rooting around with a device.....it's just too tedious for my attention span. I get bored with it real quick. My iPhone is running 6.1.2 and is jailbroken, but if you pick it up you wouldn't notice a single tweak. That's because there aren't any there. I just don't have the drive to really do anything with it....which is why Apple is so nice. Out of the box you just plug in your Apple ID, restore from backup and you're all set.

3.) Ecosystem - This is probably the tied with quality for most important to me. With Apple building both the hardware and software it makes everything work fairly seamlessly together. My iPhone, iPad, MBP and Mac Mini all play well together. Everything syncs together with no problem and moving between requires zero effort on my part. Add in the Apple TV units I have on every TV in the house and the interplay they have with my Media Server and it just makes things very easy to automate. Airplay is also a really nice feature that I think gets overlooked a lot. Can you do all of that with other the stuff other companies make? Sure.....but, from what I've seen, not as easily and not without some quirks.

So basically what you guys are saying is that you only use Apple products because of the quality and the simplicity feeling it gives you? Not because of the brand itself? So let's say that Samsung or HTC would eventually catch-up with Apples quality and simplicity attributes, would you change only because of that?


My reason for still using Apple-products is because it is what Im used with, and I sort of feel like something I've had a long-term relationship with . I like the interface and the user-friendliness it has given me. This is also one of the many reasons I think Apple products appeals to so many different people - old and young without so much technical knowledge.

 

[mattopotamus]

So basically what you guys are saying is that you only use Apple products because of the quality and the simplicity feeling it gives you? Not because of the brand itself? So let's say that Samsung or HTC would eventually catch-up with Apples quality and simplicity attributes, would you change only because of that?


My reason for still using Apple-products is because it is what Im used with, and I sort of feel like something I've had a long-term relationship with . I like the interface and the user-friendliness it has given me. This is also one of the many reasons I think Apple products appeals to so many different people - old and young without so much technical knowledge.

I actually am currently using a nexus 4 as my daily device. I was answering the OP's questions about the edge apple has on other manufactures. I think customer service is that major edge. Personally, the learning curve of a new phone is nothing that cannot be mastered in a few short hours...if not less.

 

[jamesjingyi]

Before: Apple > Others
Now: Apple > Others > Apple > Others..... In certain features they differ....

 

[chagla]

i think every consumer is different. everyone has different reason. i prefer function over form. that's why i'm going to avoid HTC One (and the likes because they lack removable battery and memory expansion card slot). Yes it's looks nice but takes away two things that are very important to me. In general I prefer Android but I have no loyalty to Samsung, Motorola etc. I look at the product itself and what it can offer me.

Having said that, I think there are some brand loyal customers. They will buy their preferred brand no matter what.

 

[Antares]

Apple has the edge due to better design, better quality, better customer service, better eco-system, better community, better OS. No other manufacturer can match this combination.

The OS point is debatable as that can come down to personal preference.

 

[dxstewart]

At first, I had a Windows laptop. And then I got a Mac, and haven't visited Windows Land since (if I could help it).

For me, I love my MBP - the look, the feel, the backlit keys. I learned all kinds of quick keyboard shortcuts or gestures and if I use another computer, I forget I can't use them there.

As others have said, the ecosystem is hard to beat. I love how everything can work together (except I lost my iPhone so no phone in that mix).

The Apple Store Genius Bar is also something I like. If I have a problem, like I have had in the past, I can set up an appointment, go in, and see what's the problem.

Lastly, I have been on iOS and various Mac OS's for so long, it's hard to move to something else. Except for the phone. I spend so much on these gadgets, I got to stick with them for a loooooong time.

 

[Created]

Personally I prefer Mac over Windows to work and casual use. I´ve had a Macbook pro for a few years now and I enjoy the OS X. The Macbook covers my needs for a computer. It gives me a smooth experience with few crashes (only crashed a few times when using cracked programmes, but then I can blame myself).

For my part I miss the freedom I had with Windows when it comes to programmes etc. that Mac can't run. Depending on my needs I would choose my Mac before even considering changing to Windows.

Seeing others referring to customer service, personally I have no experience with it, I haven't had any issues so far. Although my first experience when ordering was poor to say the least. Lack of information on ordering and delivery, the main irritation on this was from the delivery company so can't blame Apple directly here.

I had iPhone for four years, iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPhone 4. Today I feel that the gap between iPhone and android/windows phones is gone so I've been changing from android to windows phone. I use a HTC 8X windows phone today and it covers the needs I have for a phone.

My feeling is that Apple offers a good hardware product with unique and great working iOS that must run as Apple demands (compared to Android).

 

[JHUFrank]

I have moved on to some other brands of phones, but I still am sold on Apple computing hardware. The only other brand that I really like is IBM/Lenovo.

 

[thehustleman]

I have moved on to some other brands of phones, but I still am sold on Apple computing hardware. The only other brand that I really like is IBM/Lenovo.

Same here.

 

[interactivealex]

How would you guys feel if it was easier to cross-comunicate between products from different brands? I personally believe that the iPhone don't offer as much as the HTC One e.g. But I think people that owns a lot of Apple products still sticks to iPhone because it would be too much of a hassle moving music/pictures etc. to another platform.

I don't think it ever will be simple communcation between different platforms because of competition, but would you consider other brands if that was the case? Or have you just grown used to Apples quaility, simplicity and ecosystem that you see yourself sticking with it for many years?

 

[Created]

How would you guys feel if it was easier to cross-comunicate between products from different brands? I personally believe that the iPhone don't offer as much as the HTC One e.g. But I think people that owns a lot of Apple products still sticks to iPhone because it would be too much of a hassle moving music/pictures etc. to another platform.

I don't think it ever will be simple communcation between different platforms because of competition, but would you consider other brands if that was the case? Or have you just grown used to Apples quaility, simplicity and ecosystem that you see yourself sticking with it for many years?

I could see myself sticking to Apple anyhow, due to the fact that they produce quality products. The communication between my products isnt a main factor for purchase.

 

[thehustleman]

How would you guys feel if it was easier to cross-comunicate between products from different brands? I personally believe that the iPhone don't offer as much as the HTC One e.g. But I think people that owns a lot of Apple products still sticks to iPhone because it would be too much of a hassle moving music/pictures etc. to another platform.

I don't think it ever will be simple communcation between different platforms because of competition, but would you consider other brands if that was the case? Or have you just grown used to Apples quaility, simplicity and ecosystem that you see yourself sticking with it for many years?

Install dropbox and it's simplified.

 

[decafjava]

e.g. But I think people that owns a lot of Apple products still sticks to iPhone because it would be too much of a hassle moving music/pictures etc. to another platform.

I have an iPhone (my second) and use an HP desktop running windows 7, never had a problem.

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First thing, Android already overtook iphone, for good reason too, you can do all major tasks plus more on Android.

Second, tablets is still apples domain, they still the best

Lie what? Bump? Ok widgets? Not worth for me to switch. Just IMO.


Actually I may get a Mac as my next computer.