Do you feel boxed-in by Apple?

[hulugu]

reading some of these posts makes me think and wonder something...

is Apple becoming more of a Software company than Hardware. yes they do both but the old saying was and has been that Apple makes the OS and software for the hardware - the latter being one of the most appealing aspects. but with increasingly number of people disenfranchised by Windows and finding better alternative solution is seems that the Software from Apple is what is driving people more now than the hardware itself.

I think there's a nice combination of factors. In the iPhone, for example, its a combination of hardware and software that makes the product so cool. And, in the case of laptops, I think Apple sells so well because they make very good laptops with very good software. I don't think you can say it's one particular aspect or the other that's leading to Apple's success.

Yes, correct, many are. In fact many tens of millions are well serviced by Apple. But if you look at how people spend their money ten times more are NOT serviced by Apple well enough to make them hand over their money.

But I think this is intentional by Apple. Apple wants the most profitable fraction of the market and simply ignores the less profitable majority of it. Their plan is working too, Apple is doing well.

There's an implicit assumption that if only Apple were to make the perfect box, the other 90% of users would flock to OSX; this just isn't true. There are lots of users who are so tied to Windows and certain hardware manufacturers that Apple could make the "greatest PC ever" and these users would still want to buy a Dell or Toshiba, etc. Furthermore, the 90% numbers reflects businesses like call-centers who want especially cheap PCs bought on leasing arrangements. Apple doesn't want this business, because it's decidedly unsexy and barely profitable.

You're right in Apple's intention, they want to make consumer and prosumer systems, because there's money and fun in that market. Notice that even Dell, with their vaunted distribution system, is now trying to capture some of Apple's market. The realization in the computer market is that commodity systems are a death spiral, at some point you just can't squeeze any more out of base components and just-in-time delivery.

Apple does pretty well, but I think they need to work on the desktop sector. The iMacs are wonderful machines, but the Mac Mini has become the red-headed stepchild and the MacPro is just simply more machine than most people need.

 

[coupdetat]

I mostly feel boxed in because Apple is so strict in its hardware lines. I have a MBA, which I'm 90% satisfied with, but I still wish that Apple wouldn't be so stubborn about small footprint notebooks.

I'm the kind of user who mostly hates computers, but has to use them. There's just too much maintenance associated with computers. However, OSX gets the closest to a "no maintenance" level, where I can just flip open my MBA, do what I need to do, and flip it closed. There's no weird startup procedures, no waiting, and no uncertainty. Compare that to PC's which routinely require users to investigate mysterious issues that pop up an hour before the big paper is due. It's just a headache I don't have time for, so I begrudgingly play by Apple's rules to save time.

I will be VERY happy if Windows 7 can approach the simplicity of OSX, so I can stop overpaying for hardware. But for now Apple is my top choice.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

One thing that struck me, while reading up on windows 7, is that windows 7 will have a feature that works much like Airtunes, except you can use any supported peripheral, not just an apple made wireless adapter.

And until Apple starts working with 3rd parties to provide open-operability like Microsoft does, I'll feel boxed in.

It's not that OS X doesn't work for me, It's that it doesn't let me do anything without spending a whole lot of money...

 

[thechidz]

I know there has been a lot of flack over the dropping of firewire on the lower end Macbooks, and rightfully so.

For some reason, Apple seems to be all about the digital media player and phones. That is just my observation, nothing more nothing less.

unfortunately this is where they make the majority of their cash, so our beautiful macs now take a back seat. I still love osx more than the choice of hardware windows offers. I just wish we could get a little more choice of hardware, options etc

 

[hulugu]

...

I will be VERY happy if Windows 7 can approach the simplicity of OSX, so I can stop overpaying for hardware. But for now Apple is my top choice.

Having been around a version of Windows or two, I'm going to say this isn't very likely. The pictures from the Arstechnica review seem to agree with this.

One thing that struck me, while reading up on windows 7, is that windows 7 will have a feature that works much like Airtunes, except you can use any supported peripheral, not just an apple made wireless adapter.

And until Apple starts working with 3rd parties to provide open-operability like Microsoft does, I'll feel boxed in.

It's not that OS X doesn't work for me, It's that it doesn't let me do anything without spending a whole lot of money...

Rogue Amoeba has a program called Airfoil that will already do this.

I'd actually rather spend a couple of bucks and give them to a small software company than Microsoft, but it's a nice feature, nonetheless. We'll see if this survives to the finished product.

 

[nanofrog]

It's not that OS X doesn't work for me, It's that it doesn't let me do anything without spending a whole lot of money...

Ahh... The true motivation of Apple.

 

[queshy]

I don't mind being boxed in. For most people, Apple's all around choices work very well. It is only for a small % of the customers who will actually be confined by apple's limitations. i.e. most people are happy with a glossy screen, don't care about firewire, etc.

 

[Phrasikleia]

I don't mind being boxed in. For most people, Apple's all around choices work very well. It is only for a small % of the customers who will actually be confined by apple's limitations. i.e. most people are happy with a glossy screen, don't care about firewire, etc.

Most are happy? I wonder about that. Regarding the glossy screens, it seems as though most people say "you get used to it." That's not the same thing as being happy.

 

[queshy]

Most are happy? I wonder about that. Regarding the glossy screens, it seems as though most people say "you get used to it." That's not the same thing as being happy.

I disagree. People on MacRumors are unhappy. I don't know of any laptops that are sold at best buy that don't have glossy screens. They all have glossy screens these days and most people like them .I prefer Matte screens but I can't help but think that most people actually do like glossy.

 

[nanofrog]

I disagree. People on MacRumors are unhappy. I don't know of any laptops that are sold at best buy that don't have glossy screens. They all have glossy screens these days and most people like them .I prefer Matte screens but I can't help but think that most people actually do like glossy.

The thing I've noticed when talking to people, some that really liked the glossy screens had never spent any time in front of a matte (anti-glare treated) screen.

The best analogy I could come up with, was prescription eyeglasses. You can opt to get an anti-glare coating. Some understood me, others just had a puzzled look.

Unfortunately, like eyeglasses, it's less expensive to manufacture without the coating. Oh well... I guess "cheap" wins.

 

[MowingDevil]

The thing I've noticed when talking to people, some that really liked the glossy screens had never spent any time in front of a matte (anti-glare treated) screen.

The best analogy I could come up with, was prescription eyeglasses. You can opt to get an anti-glare coating. Some understood me, others just had a puzzled look.

Unfortunately, like eyeglasses, it's less expensive to manufacture without the coating. Oh well... I guess "cheap" wins.

Ah ya but the same thing can be said about people on matte haven't had glossy before either. I fall into that category myself. I've only used glossy a few times but each time I'm liking it more & more...I guess I'll find out when my MBP arrives how much I really like it in the home. Up to now I've always used matte because thats what I've always had so I stuck with it. I wish Apple had stuck w/ matte as an option but I'm willing to give this a shot. I must admit, in optimal lighting situations the glossy screen blows the matte away...however as soon as you're dealing w/ lighting that is out of your control all bets are off and the matte clearly is more functional.

 

[nanofrog]

Ah ya but the same thing can be said about people on matte haven't had glossy before either.

True.

I fall into that category myself. I've only used glossy a few times but each time I'm liking it more & more...I guess I'll find out when my MBP arrives how much I really like it in the home. Up to now I've always used matte because thats what I've always had so I stuck with it. I wish Apple had stuck w/ matte as an option but I'm willing to give this a shot. I must admit, in optimal lighting situations the glossy screen blows the matte away...however as soon as you're dealing w/ lighting that is out of your control all bets are off and the matte clearly is more functional.

Ideal lighting conditions can help anything I should think.

It's the real world that's difficult. Then consider the fact that on a portable, bad lighting would be more likely. Glossy just doesn't seem to make sense in this case. Why Apple? Why?!?