Apple, Lost The Plot - Google search reveals widespread sentiment

[katewes]

A Google search for - Apple "lost the plot" gives 324,000 hits.

A search for - apple "lost the plot" site:macrumors.com - gives 159 hits, so many of you feel that way too.

Below is my list of reasons why Apple has lost the plot. Can you add to it?

I think Steve Jobs' mantra - that people don't know what they want until Apple tells them - worked well under a genius like Jobs, but it's unravelling under Cook, because their current staff have no clue how frustrated Apple users are.

A Google search for -- Microsoft "the new Apple" gives 462,000 hits.

I'm an Apple user since 1986, and I seriously don't know if my next computer will be an Apple.

For decades I've evangelised many dozens of people (lost count) to try Apple, and brought my whole family into Apple products. But now I don't care about Apple anymore.

My reasons why Apple has lost the plot:

1) -- removal of matte, anti-glare screens that many specialist users need, e.g. graphics professionals, and people that stare at the screen in sunny environments. Sure, not everyone needs matte, anti-glare screens. But a company the size of Apple, sitting on a cash pile of $200+ Billion, can afford to offer a legitimate modification needed by many users.

2) -- 1 year update cycle of each OSX macOS version, resulting in an OS that never quite gets to the point of rock solid stability, before the whole annual update circus begins again.

3) -- removal of earphone jack in iPhone

4) -- the pursuit of thinness to the point of form-over-function

5) e.g. thinness in iMacs, preventing upgradability of RAM memory and SSD/HDD.

6) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's which was explained as a reason for limiting memory to 16GB maximum.

7) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - resulting in keyboard with short key travel.

8) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - resulting in loss of ports.

9) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - discarding of MagSafe connection.

 

[deany]

I think apple started to change as a company around https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordon...ot-with-3-2-billion-purchase-of-beats-by-dre/
As the article says they should have bought Monster or even Koss and started their own music streaming service for a fraction of the price with 40M tracks as amazon have.
Beats seems to have brought bad Karma on apple but I know a few on here disagree with me, its just opinion.
Apple have lost their sparkle since then, this was the turning point.
Its pretty much been proved this purchase was a mistake:

• apple minimalistc AirPod - apple see as the future not oversize heavy earphones when 'out and about' etc.
• 'messy' apple music (beats music) that many including myself dont like

The purchase must have left many apple employees shaking their heads in disbelief and beats owners laughing on the otherside of their face at that 3.2B price tag.
All the tech intellectual property and startup music service, I worked out could have cost under $50M

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The key verb in the OP's post is 'evangelised'.

Apple is a company, not a church, or belief system, or esoteric cult.

These days, it is a company that does not even need its computing arm to be commercially successful and profitable. This is because it seems to derive much - if not most - of its profits from other areas.

And gifted though he was, I have to say that I find the uncritical adulation that sometimes seems to attend the every invocation or utterance of Mr Job's name a bit tedious and tiresome.

Personally, I do not subscribe to the notion of the divine in humans, although I will cheerfully pay homage to (and happily pay for) well designed products.

 

[Phil A.]

Google "lost the plot" returns 662,000 hits
Hillary "lost the plot" returns 634,000 hits

Apple may have changed but that doesn't mean they've "lost the plot" - they've clearly got a focus which may not be one you agree with, but it's there nonetheless

 

[A.Goldberg]

The key verb in the OP's post is 'evangelised'.

Apple is a company, not a church, or belief system, or esoteric cult.

These days, it is a company that does not even need its computing arm to be commercially successful and profitable. This is because it seems to derive much - if not most - of its profits from other areas.

And gifted though he was, I have to say that I find the uncritical adulation that sometimes seems to attend the invocation or utterance of Mr Job's name a bit tedious and tiresome. I do not subscribe to the divine in humans, although I will cheerful pay homage to (and happily pay for) well designed products.

I believe personal computing technology (desktops, laptops) has very much plauteaued- maybe in part to less room technical innovation, but largely in part due to a shift in consumer demand. Mobile technology is where all the interest is and Apple as a business will surely follow that route.

Meanwhile, it seems like cell phones and tablets have also somewhat reached a plateau in how much you can put into a 4-5" sheet of glass and aluminum.

I'd love Apple to focus more on their computer line. Most of their lineup is horrendously dated and overly limited for form over function- rather than a previous effort to harmonize the two. Currently I think MS is excelling far better at this task and consequently has created far more innovative products. Apple on the other hand just seems to be coming out with gimmicks like the touchbar and Apple Watch.

Costs currently feel a bit ridiculous too, though Apple hasn't really offered "competative" pricing in decades.

I preferred the days when Apple was a smaller company and more intune with its small base of professional and creative customers. Today it's a mega corporation that's too mainstream. I miss he days when people would say "why the **** did you buy a Mac???"

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I believe personal computing technology (desktops, laptops) has very much plauteaued- maybe in part to less room technical innovation, but largely in part due to a shift in consumer demand. Mobile technology is where all the interest is and Apple as a business will surely follow that route.

Meanwhile, it seems like cell phones and tablets have also somewhat reached a plateau in how much you can put into a 4-5" sheet of glass and aluminum.

I'd love Apple to focus more on their computer line. Most of their lineup is horrendously dated and overly limited for form over function- rather than a previous effort to harmonize the two. Currently I think MS is excelling far better at this task and consequently has created far more innovative products. Apple on the other hand just seems to be coming out with gimmicks like the touchbar and Apple Watch.

Costs currently feel a bit ridiculous too, though Apple hasn't really offered "competative" pricing in decades.

I preferred the days when Apple was a smaller company and more intune with its small base of professional and creative customers. Today it's a mega corporation that's too mainstream. I miss he days when people would say "why the **** did you buy a Mac???"

But, but, but..........

Yes, firstly - you make a very good point about how things - in terms of tech development and evolution - may have plateaued: Indeed, as with motorcars (not an awful lot has happened with the internal combustion engine in ages), I accept that a lot of the technological innovation may have plateaued, and that the age of stunning breakthroughs may be behind us.

However, again, I a struck by how much of the angst directed at Apple comes from Americans who bought - and bought into - the brand, especially in the day when it portrayed itself as an esoteric - and knowing - world inhabited by technologically adept insiders who also enjoyed the image of 'cool' and cutting edge that came with Apple.

This goes hand in hand with the powerful position of the market in yours society and the internalisation and adaptation of those same values; do not act surprised when Apple decides to drop its mask of 'cool nerd' and join the mainstream market in pursuit of massive profits. It is a company. That is what it does.

More to the point, I have long been struck on these threads by how much of themselves - and their own personal, carefully constructed sense of identity - people invest in the fact that they buy (and buy into) Apple.

Thus, they tend to see the company's open prioritisation of profit almost as a rejection, and are sometimes acting like jilted lovers, - seeing themselves as discarded devotees, or abandoned acolytes, - rather than a clear expression of what the company has become.

These days, Apple does not need its computing arm. Actually, it can afford to run it as a hobby, as a loss leader, as an optional extra that reminds it of its origins, a quaint nod to nostalgia.

Thus, in its now mind - it does not need to devote much by way of resources to computing - and, indeed, may well have worked out some time ago that any further technological advances of the sort that were revolutionary a decade or so ago, are no longer likely to happen, and that, therefore, devoting excessive research & development, as well as time, and financial - resources to diminishing technological (and reputational) returns, might well be a complete and utter waste.

 

[iLondoner]

I bought our first Apple Macbook in mid 2011 and it was only after doing so that we bought iPhones, iPods and generally invested in the Apple infrastructure. Apple Macs are still far more important to me than phones, yet in the last three years Apple has dropped the baton. You only have to look at the swathe of four 'Don't Buy' images across the six Mac categories in the Macrumors Buyer's Guide.

We need to replace some of the early Macbook Airs but why should we be spending champagne money on a beer money specification system that hasn't been updated for nearly two years?

I would love more screen real estate and would happily buy one or more 15-in models but the only one available is an incredibly expensive Macbook Pro with the mickey mouse bar.

HP machines are looking increasingly attractive but I don't really want to move back to Windows.

 

[OS6-OSX]

I miss the days when people would say "why the **** did you buy a Mac???"

With the current Mac lineup those days have returned but asked by mac users!

 

[Tozovac]

Google "lost the plot" returns 662,000 hits
Hillary "lost the plot" returns 634,000 hits

Apple may have changed but that doesn't mean they've "lost the plot" - they've clearly got a focus which may not be one you agree with, but it's there nonetheless

Google did lose the plot long ago. When I search, I want useful results in a functional priority different than Googles advertisers. Don’t use google much any more except when shopping for something.

Hillary lost the plot. Elections should be about skill and leadership not ego.

I suppose if there were an election where Apple consumers could vote for, say, today’s new MBA as-is or an MBA with the old keyboard, MagSafe, 2 USB-C ports, 1 USB-A port, same thickness as the prior MBA, expandable SSD & RAM, newer faster processors, an SD slot (like permitted me to add 256 gb of storage for $144 this past weekend, and an OS with slightly less flat design (bring back lickable buttons, there was zero reason to exorcise them), we’d see how well they sell and whether there’s a much more desired plot Apple can’t seem to find.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Google did lose the plot long ago. When I search, I want useful results in a functional priority different than Googles advertisers. Don’t use google much any more except when shopping for something.

Hillary lost the plot. Elections should be about skill and leadership not ego.

I suppose if there were an election where Apple consumers could vote for, say, today’s new MBA as-is or an MBA with the old keyboard, MagSafe, 2 USB-C ports, 1 USB-A port, same thickness as the prior MBA, expandable SSD & RAM, newer faster processors, an SD slot (like permitted me to add 256 gb of storage for $144 this past weekend, and an OS with slightly less flat design (bring back lickable buttons, there was zero reason to exorcise them), we’d see how well they sell and whether there’s a much more desired plot Apple can’t seem to find.

LOL cmon dude.

 

[Tozovac]

LOL cmon dude.

To be fair, both main sides had supremely flawed candidates, where blindly devoted fans to each certainly existed but were, I believe, in the minority of the larger crowd. The majority of voters were I believe forced to vote for the lesser of the evils. Far more adequate options should exist but we weren’t offered them. Instead, the candidates rose as the result of lots of self-serving instead of seeking a bigger picture robust balance outside of their whims and desires.

Same could be said of customers shopping for Apple’s current Jony Ive inspired MinimalBook laptops.

 

[gnasher729]

A Google search for - Apple "lost the plot" gives 324,000 hits.

Too late to post that google "lost the plot" gives 679,000 hits. But I'll say this is such an obvious counterpoint, the thread starter should really have tried this himself, taken the result, and drawn their conclusion.

 

[Sedulous]

I just don’t think soldered modular components are impressive or good design. It limits serviceability and adaptability. I understand Apple’s interest in limiting customer options... such design might persuade more frequent purchase but the high Apple tax for even mediocre storage may also backfire. I’d be much more impressed and interested in a new Mac if they added M.2 slots and a slot for SoDIMM memory. My computer shouldn’t be an iPhone.

 

[Tech198]

A Google search for - Apple "lost the plot" gives 324,000 hits.

A search for - apple "lost the plot" site:macrumors.com - gives 159 hits, so many of you feel that way too.

Below is my list of reasons why Apple has lost the plot. Can you add to it?

I think Steve Jobs' mantra - that people don't know what they want until Apple tells them - worked well under a genius like Jobs, but it's unravelling under Cook, because their current staff have no clue how frustrated Apple users are.

A Google search for -- Microsoft "the new Apple" gives 462,000 hits.

I'm an Apple user since 1986, and I seriously don't know if my next computer will be an Apple.

For decades I've evangelised many dozens of people (lost count) to try Apple, and brought my whole family into Apple products. But now I don't care about Apple anymore.

My reasons why Apple has lost the plot:

1) -- removal of matte, anti-glare screens that many specialist users need, e.g. graphics professionals, and people that stare at the screen in sunny environments. Sure, not everyone needs matte, anti-glare screens. But a company the size of Apple, sitting on a cash pile of $200+ Billion, can afford to offer a legitimate modification needed by many users.

2) -- 1 year update cycle of each OSX macOS version, resulting in an OS that never quite gets to the point of rock solid stability, before the whole annual update circus begins again.

3) -- removal of earphone jack in iPhone

4) -- the pursuit of thinness to the point of form-over-function

5) e.g. thinness in iMacs, preventing upgradability of RAM memory and SSD/HDD.

6) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's which was explained as a reason for limiting memory to 16GB maximum.

7) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - resulting in keyboard with short key travel.

8) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - resulting in loss of ports.

9) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - discarding of MagSafe connection.

Well, you ARE searching on Google. search page. Try this with DuckDuckGo, and see it the results change.

I just don’t think soldered modular components are impressive or good design. It limits serviceability and adaptability. I understand Apple’s interest in limiting customer options... such design might persuade more frequent purchase but the high Apple tax for even mediocre storage may also backfire. I’d be much more impressed and interested in a new Mac if they added M.2 slots and a slot for SoDIMM memory. My computer shouldn’t be an iPhone.

Back in the Amiga days, chips were socketed in.., User replaceable... but even socket-ed chips had their own problems of getting loose.

 

[MacDawg]

I guess it isn't enough to just beat a dead horse
We have to resurrect it and beat it again

2 year old thread getting discussed again like it is fresh meat tells me all I need to know

 

[saveaplfromaplretail]

A Google search for - Apple "lost the plot" gives 324,000 hits.

A search for - apple "lost the plot" site:macrumors.com - gives 159 hits, so many of you feel that way too.

Below is my list of reasons why Apple has lost the plot. Can you add to it?

I think Steve Jobs' mantra - that people don't know what they want until Apple tells them - worked well under a genius like Jobs, but it's unravelling under Cook, because their current staff have no clue how frustrated Apple users are.

A Google search for -- Microsoft "the new Apple" gives 462,000 hits.

I'm an Apple user since 1986, and I seriously don't know if my next computer will be an Apple.

For decades I've evangelised many dozens of people (lost count) to try Apple, and brought my whole family into Apple products. But now I don't care about Apple anymore.

My reasons why Apple has lost the plot:

1) -- removal of matte, anti-glare screens that many specialist users need, e.g. graphics professionals, and people that stare at the screen in sunny environments. Sure, not everyone needs matte, anti-glare screens. But a company the size of Apple, sitting on a cash pile of $200+ Billion, can afford to offer a legitimate modification needed by many users.

2) -- 1 year update cycle of each OSX macOS version, resulting in an OS that never quite gets to the point of rock solid stability, before the whole annual update circus begins again.

3) -- removal of earphone jack in iPhone

4) -- the pursuit of thinness to the point of form-over-function

5) e.g. thinness in iMacs, preventing upgradability of RAM memory and SSD/HDD.

6) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's which was explained as a reason for limiting memory to 16GB maximum.

7) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - resulting in keyboard with short key travel.

8) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - resulting in loss of ports.

9) e.g. thinness in MacBook Pro's - discarding of MagSafe connection.

[doublepost=1543157736][/doublepost]Without compromising my relationship with Apple let me say my familiarity with the company goes back to the very first Mac and I have been one of the many many contributors to the company’s success both as a corporate level company-wide business customer and at the corporate level of the company itself. Success always plants the seeds of pending failure and Apple will not be an exception.

Already they are speeding towards being mostly a single product company which has opted into the theory that by empathizing services going forward they can remain successful even as every other hardware product they sell becomes diminished and effectively an add-on or peripheral to that one product — the iPhone of course.

The Mac has already been sidelined as a second class product as can be easily seen by the much reduced attention it gets at Apple Stores. I’m not sure there is much hope to ever see this once ‘Think Different’ company again as it pretty much has become a great big cell phone company inslaved to the lowest common denominator of consumers on up in order to sustain its success.
[doublepost=1543158120][/doublepost]

I guess it isn't enough to just beat a dead horse
We have to resurrect it and beat it again

2 year old thread getting discussed again like it is fresh meat tells me all I need to know

Yep, it’s really hard to turn away from a pending train wreck feeling as if only you could reach out and prevent it you would but being helpless otherwise you may as well watch.

But I don’t disagree. It is a dead horse walking and we need to move on.