Are Apple users inherently anal?!

[jdechko]

people complain more than praise. this is why you see all the whining.

Absolutely. If you have good service, you'll tell 10 friends. If you have bad service, you'll tell 100 strangers.

People don't normally come here to say that they got a flawless computer. They come when somethings wrong with their machine, and they make a lot of noise about it. That's why there are so many threads with "OMG... X is wrong with my MBP". Though the flaws do exist, and the owners make a lot of noise, they're actually in the minority of users.

Just thinking about my personal computing experience, my Sony laptop has had no manufacturing defects (uneven backlight, dead pixels), and these 2 cheap LCD's that I'm staring at seem to be of good quality as well. In addition, none of the Apple display models (Fry's, Microcenter, etc) seem to have glaring problems with them. I'm not gonna get all bent out of shape because of something that may affect me, but most likely won't.

Why are there photo blogs dedicated to opening the box for the first time? I can only compare it to somebody filming there first time having sex. It almost seems that way.

They call it "Geek Porn" for a reason.

I know, and I can't wait for my first time with a Mac.

 

[synth3tik]

We seem to demand more of our computers. There is no way in hell you will ever see me with one of those bulky jumbled messes of a PC power adapter.

I do tend to see some people going a little overboard. I think a lot of the time people have bad days and use the forum to vent, which would be better ten venting on your boss.

 

[Kaiser Phoenix]

when you have a machine worth 2600 euros ( lots of dollars also!) then you want it to be perfect. apple pride themselves on design, but if that design results in a case with gaps, that doesnt sit right, a lid that doesnt feel quite right when you close it then you have every right to be annoyed. this idea that "il settle whatever is given to me" is why companies are complacent in the face of quality control. most lifelong apple users ( or people using apple for a long time) will tell you quality has slipped, at least with the laptops. you are one of these people a sales person loves to see comming as you will take whatever muck they throw your way, give them your hard earned money, and when it doesnt seem quite up to scratch, you just shrug it off thinking thats the way it should be. the "anal" people keep companies on their toes so joe soap's like you will get a better product without even realising it.

Completely agree with this persons post.

 

[Mpulsive81]

I'm not anal, i'm particular.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a screen that needs to be iKleaned.

*wait* it's not dirty. Oh well, i'll just clean it anways

 

[bertpalmer]

I guess it's because you pay more for a Mac (espeicially in the UK!) and so you expect - along with better software and design to have a machine that is durable and reliable.

 

[Blue Velvet]

OK, this is probably a huge generalisation but it seems to me that most of the people here doing all the unreasonable whining are domestic users... over the past 3 years, I've purchased 6 Macs for work, 2 for myself, all 'Pro' models... and not one problem, not even imperfections. Sure, the G4 MDD tower was noisy but everyone knew that. I knew it when I bought it, but didn't have much choice because I wanted the best Mac that money could buy at the time.

I bought a MacBook Pro 17" a few weeks ago and this whole hysterical nonsense about display problems and graininess is the product of an over-active imagination or trolling for attention-seeking.

When someone who's views I respect as a Mac-using professional in publishing, design, video, audio, etc... comes here and calmly outlines the specific problems they've had with their equipment, then I'm more inclined to listen.

But if you're clamouring and squealing because your black MacBook gets fingerprints on it too easily then, well, it sucks to be you.

I'll also add that most pro users -- in my experience -- are not too concerned about the finish of their machines, instead they're concerned about performance.

 

[zero2dash]

I agree with the sentiment about being anal because of the price you pay for the computer.

I want a Mac at home again but the price issue is the key for me. I'm hoping the killing of the Mini means we'll have a mid-tower, but if it doesn't...I may end up building another Windows box.

 

[bartelby]

<100% sense>.

Whilst I'm not a pro user I totally agree with your points.

I've got 8 Apple computers (oldest is 10 years old). The only major problems have been:

Intel Mac Mini - loose Logic board connector (if I had known that was the problem I could have sorted it myself)

PowerBook G4 - Logic board replaced.
It's screen has the white stain problem. Whilst it's a shame it's not the end of the world. The laptop still performs perfectly.

Oh, I've had a few HD failures too. But that's not Apple's fault.

 

[Squonk]

I know that I am...

 

[damir.hara]

Mac users tend to be perfectionists ........... if we put up with any old crap we would be PC users.

FJ

haha so true.

 

[AaronM58]

Actually, we'd be Dodge owners or Yankees fans.

Couldn't have said it better myself...

 

[210]

Complaining

I had an iMac G3 DV Special Edition which worked great until for some reason I would only get a grey screen and that's it when I turned it on. Instead of complaining, I just bought an iMac G5 which again worked great until the logic board caused problems. I got it fixed and haven't had any problems with it again.

I really don't see the point of complaining in a forum if something goes wrong, it's not going to fix your Mac. I understand people want to vent out their anger or are seeking advice from people here on what to do to fix a problem, but most of the posts come across as just bitching about a particular thing.

This is definitely the case when a new product/upgrade is announced, very few people are ever happy with the news.

Also, I do find the "opening of the box" cerimony a little weird, too.

 

[kalisphoenix]

OK, this is probably a huge generalisation but it seems to me that most of the people here doing all the unreasonable whining are domestic users... over the past 3 years, I've purchased 6 Macs for work, 2 for myself, all 'Pro' models... and not one problem, not even imperfections. Sure, the G4 MDD tower was noisy but everyone knew that. I knew it when I bought it, but didn't have much choice because I wanted the best Mac that money could buy at the time.

I seem to recall people bitching furiously about the "Windtunnel" until Apple sent out an entirely new power supply.

The vast majority of the complaints I see are from MBP owners, not MB, iMac, or Mac mini owners. The group with the smallest amount of problems I've seen has been the Mac Pro and Power Mac owners, but they're also using a design that hasn't changed immensely since, what, 2003? And even then, it must be pretty hard to screw up a large metal box with a logic board and sixteen cubic kilometers of space inside.

 

[Blue Velvet]

Also, I do find the "opening of the box" cerimony a little weird, too.

Me too. When I got the MacBook Pro home recently, I ripped the box open, didn't lovingly take photos at each stage, ripped open the foamy bits and bags and just plugged the thing in and hooked it up to the G4... All the packaging is still littering up a corner of the flat.

Most of the packaging will get thrown out. And no, I didn't stop to even sniff the boxes. Some people just love that new Mac smell...

The vast majority of the complaints I see are from MBP wannabe owners...

Fixed that for you.

 

[Eraserhead]

Me too. When I got the MacBook Pro home recently, I ripped the box open,

I'd be kinda worried if you did take photos lovingly at each stage. I have to admit my MB is really dirty and the screen is really smudged (I even got bits of food of it earlier [/gross])

 

[flopticalcube]

I had an iMac G3 DV Special Edition which worked great until for some reason I would only get a grey screen and that's it when I turned it on. Instead of complaining, I just bought an iMac G5 which again worked great until the logic board caused problems. I got it fixed and haven't had any problems with it again.

I really don't see the point of complaining in a forum if something goes wrong, it's not going to fix your Mac. I understand people want to vent out their anger or are seeking advice from people here on what to do to fix a problem, but most of the posts come across as just bitching about a particular thing.

This is definitely the case when a new product/upgrade is announced, very few people are ever happy with the news.

Also, I do find the "opening of the box" cerimony a little weird, too.

Whining occasionally does serve a couple of purposes. It points to possible large scale problems with a product, like palmrest staining on the MacBook CD, and it may also lead to a solution to the problem from someone else on the forum.

 

[flopticalcube]

Me too. When I got the MacBook Pro home recently, I ripped the box open, didn't lovingly take photos at each stage, ripped open the foamy bits and bags and just plugged the thing in and hooked it up to the G4... All the packaging is still littering up a corner of the flat.

While I think the "opening ceremony" pictures are rather disturbing, saving the packaging is probably a good idea. If you need to return the item for repair or if you wish to resell it at a later date, the original packaging can come in handy.

 

[Blue Velvet]

If you need to return the item for repair or if you wish to resell it at a later date, the original packaging can come in handy.

I don't have the space to store all the packaging; had to throw the G4's box and polystyrene out. I live in a studio flat in central London which, in its entirety, is probably the size of your living room.

I'll keep the MBP box as it's slim and I can store artwork inside it.

 

[munckee]

While I think the "opening ceremony" pictures are rather disturbing, saving the packaging is probably a good idea. If you need to return the item for repair or if you wish to resell it at a later date, the original packaging can come in handy.

Yeah. We (my roommate and I, both apple users) have a ton of apple boxes floating around the apt. Luckily our kitchen cabinets don't reach all the way to the ceiling, so we use the space on top for box storage. Right now we have an ibook box, 2x powerbook boxes, a dell computer box (not mine!), 2x icurve boxes, and various and sundry keyboard/mouse boxes. And a macbook is in the mail

It just adds that extra reassurance when you go to sell it that its been well cared for (rightly or wrongly). Not to mention that the boxes sell for a few bucks on craigslist around here if you don't need it anymore.

 

[Squonk]

While I think the "opening ceremony" pictures are rather disturbing, saving the packaging is probably a good idea. If you need to return the item for repair or if you wish to resell it at a later date, the original packaging can come in handy.

I am a box/packaging kind of guy. I still have the boxes to my B&W speakers that I bought back in 1991. One of these days when I upgrade, I know I'll make out that much better when I sell them on eBay. I recently sold my FlowerPower iMac for $295 with all original packaging. My upgrades to it were: 640MB RAM, 200GB HD, Tiger, iLife05. I think the box helped the selling price for sure.

Sadly, the box from my Sony TV had to hit the trash pile as there was no room to save it. Oh well...

 

[whateverandever]

Fixed that for you.

Thanks for proving my point about Mac owners being arrogant

This has been said a million times over before, but just because YOU have no problems with YOUR MacBook / MacBook Pro doesn't mean tons of other people DIDN'T have problems.

Having a lap-burning laptop that would randomly just turn itself off was not me being nit-picky "domestic" user (whatever the crap that means). I'm a professional programmer. I need my computer for work. It turning itself off randomly isn't a small issue.

So please, find yourself another matter to troll, because Apple did screw up pretty terribly with Core Duo MacBooks and MacBook Pros, whether you choose to believe it or not.

 

[drumforfun19]

Wow.

There are a lot of complaints about the quality of Macs around here. Are you (errrr... we) all NUTS?!

Accept only the best to seperate Macs from mediocracy. It's evolution of computers and only the better computers will continue to evolve into even better computers. If you accept flaws now, no change will ever come of it.

Push Apple and you'll push inovation!

 

[PDE]

I bought a MacBook Pro 17" a few weeks ago and this whole hysterical nonsense about display problems and graininess is the product of an over-active imagination or trolling for attention-seeking.

I'm sorry, but you're wrong. First, the 17" doesn't have the grain issue and has never had the grain issue. That's why you can't see it. I'd bet you a lot of money that your display is unevenly illuminated. You may have been lucky to get a good one, but it is still unevenly illuminated. It may not matter to you, but that doesn't mean that it's not there. I found the 17" to be fine, even if it was unevenly illuminated.

The 15" MBP display is awful in comparison. Those who say it's just a matter of opinion are wrong.If you put the 15" MBP next to a 17 or 13" you'd notice a huge difference in quality and the grain would be very apparent to most eyes. Again, it's there even if some people don't care.


I was in Best Buy yesterday and, as is customary these days, I checked out the PC laptops' displays. As usual, almost all of them - even the cheapest - were of higher quality compared to the 15" MBP. I test them by putting solid color backgrounds on the desktop (white, gray and black) - with white and gray they were all more evenly illuminated than the MBP 15". In fact, on most of them I could not see ANY uneven illumination - that's enough for me! With black, there was some bleeding at the bottom on the bigger ones, but the small ones were all good. I also check vieiwng angles and, again, they are as good or better than the MBP. One of them, I think it was an HP, seemed to have a little grain but all the other were smooth and silky like the macbooks and 17" MBPs. Apple seemed to have found the one really poor display in the industry!
I simply cannot understand how they could have messed up so badly.

 

[iGav]

Are Apple users inherently anal?!

Yup.

I marvel at people like Lau that can just take a pencil and draw on their PowerBook.

When someone who's views I respect as a Mac-using professional in publishing, design, video, audio, etc... comes here and calmly outlines the specific problems they've had with their equipment, then I'm more inclined to listen.

*iGav warms up mouth, engages gear*

 

[Squonk]

The 15" MBP display is awful in comparison. Those who say it's just a matter of opinion are wrong.If you put the 15" MBP next to a 17 or 13" you'd notice a huge difference in quality and the grain would be very apparent to most eyes. Again, it's there even if some people don't care.

(snip) I simply cannot understand how Apple could have messed up so badly.

My Rev. A PowerBook screen is certainly not evenly illuminated. No excused for Apple on this, but honestly, I work around it. I hope that the new MBPs at WWDC (please Uncle Steve, please!!!!) will have LED lighting, that would fix the illumination problems, right? But this in of itself would not help the graining...

Well, if the newest 15" screen is lots better than what I have now, I'll be that much happier.