How much have you NOT spent with AAPL

[pr0230]

The question more specifically is, of the items that you COULD buy (meaning you can afford it), HAVE a desire for the item and WOULD buy, but for some reason have you NOT bought the item and why...

For me its an IP7+ 128gb 1100 bucks including apple care... Why... Cause of all the problems, plus its not an IP7. its a IP6 V3... And mind you not just the problems from the 7. The battery problem with IP6 ( my son had to get the battery changed) and the dreaded touch disease, plus the many other problems reported on this forum ... From here on in you almost HAVE to get apple care for a product... I have a 5s and works as a phone just fine.

Ipad PRO 12.9 128 gb 1000 bucks.... Why - resolution - I want Retina HD... And I have an iPad 4 128gb... Works just fine with the SAME 4 year old retina display as the IPP ...

My son desperately wants a new Mac book Pro... 2400 bucks WHY... He did not buy because of the memory limitation, price increase and just UNIMPRESSED with virtually NOTHING new or innovative, plus the port changes (btw I liked the port change) ... His laptop is working just fine...

My son has an IP6 128 gb... Did not buy 6s or 7... 1000 bucks... Not considering buying a NOT so NEW phone.

So between my son and I - approx 6000 not spent with apple , that we WOULD like to do...

 

[maflynn]

The question more specifically is, of the items that you COULD and WOULD buy, why have you NOT bought the item and why..

I'm not sure your question makes sense.

I didn't buy a Mac Pro because I didn't want one, I didn't buy an apple TV because I didn't need one. I didn't buy an iPhone 7 because I bought an iPhone SE a few months before hand. I didn't buy an Apple Pencil because I don't have an iPad Pro. The list goes on and on.

See what I mean, Apple has many products and it doesn't really make sense to create a thread on what you didn't buy.

 

[pr0230]

I'm not sure your question makes sense.

I didn't buy a Mac Pro because I didn't want one, I didn't buy an apple TV because I didn't need one. I didn't buy an iPhone 7 because I bought an iPhone SE a few months before hand. I didn't buy an Apple Pencil because I don't have an iPad Pro. The list goes on and on.

See what I mean, Apple has many products and it doesn't really make sense to create a thread on what you didn't buy.

I'm not sure your question makes sense.

I didn't buy a Mac Pro because I didn't want one, I didn't buy an apple TV because I didn't need one. I didn't buy an iPhone 7 because I bought an iPhone SE a few months before hand. I didn't buy an Apple Pencil because I don't have an iPad Pro. The list goes on and on.

See what I mean, Apple has many products and it doesn't really make sense to create a thread on what you didn't buy.

Fare enough... I tried to reword the question, as to what items you, WANT to buy but have put off the decision to buy... How much does Apple leave on the table ... Everything I listed for me and my son are things we WANT to buy, can afford it, but decided to keep the money in our pockets...

 

[ApfelKuchen]

People constantly post about why they don't want to buy... just about every article about a new product or flaws in an existing product attracts posts of that sort like flies. This thread simply skips the pretext.

Now, "COULD and WOULD" doesn't quite seem to fit.... To me, "would" means I've decided it suits my needs. If it doesn't suit my needs, I would not buy.

If there was something I could and would buy, my reasons for not buying would be unrelated to the item's attributes. "I could have and would have bought that today, but I had a doctor's appointment."

This question is more accurately, "COULD and WOULD buy, if only the product was different."

"How much money does Apple leave on the table?" That's a multi-billion-dollar question. If everyone was just like you, then Apple wouldn't sell even a single unit of any of the products you've mentioned. But everyone is not just like you, because people are buying those products. Would they buy more of them, or fewer, if they were tailored to your desires?

I have a 12.9" 128 GB iPad Pro. I find nothing wrong with the resolution of the display. If it had the display you desire, it might have increased the price by $100... maybe I would have decided $1,100 was too expensive and purchased a cheaper model, or put off purchasing in hopes that the price would eventually come down.

So, in the case of that iPad Pro, either Apple leaves my money on the table, or it leaves your money on the table. The only way to get both your money and mine is to deliver the extra features you desire at the price that I desire. Since extra features almost always come at an extra cost, the next question becomes, "Can Apple produce the product you desire, at a price I'm willing to pay, at the gross profit margin that Wall Street desires?

 

[maflynn]

The only way to get both your money and mine is to deliver the extra features you desire at the price that I desire. Since extra features almost always come at an extra cost, the next question becomes, "Can Apple produce the product you desire, at a price I'm willing to pay, at the gross profit margin that Wall Street desires?

but the issue is, adding the feature (without impacting the cost), may impact the user experience in a way that causes me to not buy the product. Take the new MBP, and the new keyboard. Its a new feature that some people want, but not me. So price aside Apple added a component that some people love but others do not.

You cannot make a product that pleases everyone, apple is trying to design products that meets their largest demographic, which may mean reducing the sales from other demographics. We've heard a lot of people talk about apple abandoning the pro market with the MBP and its a good example, where Apple is focusing on the consumer segment because they're selling a lot more MBPs to consumers then professional photographers, so they designed the MBP to accommodate them vs. the "professional"

 

[OllyW]

I can't say how much I didn't spend but for the first time since 2004 I didn't buy any new Apple hardware last year.

I was considering a Mac upgrade but was left unimpressed by what was offered and the big prices hikes convinced me to stick with my current set up for now.

 

[pr0230]

I can't say how much I didn't spend but for the first time since 2004 I didn't buy any new Apple hardware last year.

I was considering a Mac upgrade but was left unimpressed by what was offered and the big prices hikes convinced me to stick with my current set up for now.

This is what this post was for.. UNIMPRESSED.... Did not spend... Or are WE in the minority?

 

[belvdr]

This is what this post was for.. UNIMPRESSED.... Did not spend... Or are WE in the minority?

I am having trouble comprehending these statements. There are too many sentence fragments.

 

[JackieInCo]

I didn't buy anything Apple this year, meaning 2016. I have nothing planned for 2017 either.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

but the issue is, adding the feature (without impacting the cost), may impact the user experience in a way that causes me to not buy the product. Take the new MBP, and the new keyboard. Its a new feature that some people want, but not me. So price aside Apple added a component that some people love but others do not.

You cannot make a product that pleases everyone, apple is trying to design products that meets their largest demographic, which may mean reducing the sales from other demographics. We've heard a lot of people talk about apple abandoning the pro market with the MBP and its a good example, where Apple is focusing on the consumer segment because they're selling a lot more MBPs to consumers then professional photographers, so they designed the MBP to accommodate them vs. the "professional"

Any change of feature, even at no cost impact, may alienate some users and please others. Some users are resistant to change, others crave it. Some need a new capability, others would rather have unchanged capabilities at a lower price. Some want exactly what the other manufacturer is delivering, others want something different. Manufacturers have to roll the dice.

If one equates "largest demographic" with "lowest common denominator," then there's something to be worried about. But Apple doesn't make lowest common denominator products. Their demographic isn't "everyone," it's restricted to a smaller group who will pay prices that deliver non-commodity profit margins. They give the public a reason to buy "the best" smartphone, tablet, or laptop, rather than the cheapest. Still, "the best" isn't necessarily, "the best possible."

One reason Apple is "concentrating on the consumer sector" is that most media production can now be done capably on consumer sector hardware. My web/book designer wife used to need a cheese grater, but now a well-configured Retina iMac is capably meeting her needs. The number of media workers who need high-end hardware keeps shrinking, so do we blame Apple for not catering to that market? (Wanting high end hardware and actually needing it are two separate things, a factor that I dealt with decades ago in corporate IT.)

Another reason Apple is concentrating on the consumer sector is that seems to be where the growth is. Unit sales of Macs have quadrupled since iPhone was introduced - some of that growth is in corporate/institutional, but most is from consumers seduced into the Apple ecosystem. Thanks to iOS, Apple is a consumer products company. They don't have to abandon the pro market to do that (their corporate initiatives with IBM, Cisco, and the like argue that they aren't), but they may choose to abandon unprofitable products or market segments, as any company does.

I think Touch Bar is something the public will either learn to love, or not. It can affect the way we work, similar to mouse, trackpad or touchscreen, but will it have a significant effect, or fail to catch on? I think it's too early to know. In a sense, it's a hardware capability awaiting a "killer app." At the moment, it's in the Early Adopters stage. But as always, Apple will push its user base, "Can you afford a high-end MBP? Then you can afford to try this out." Laptops are the wrong form factor for my needs, so for me it's still an academic discussion. I'll try it out at the Apple Store, and if I like it, hope that it arrives on a Magic Keyboard sometime soon.

 

[lowendlinux]

The only thing apple makes that I would buy is the MacBook I like everything about the computer BUT the keyboard. I'm going to see if the upcoming generation fixes the really flat feeling.

 

[maflynn]

I'm going to see if the upcoming generation fixes the really flat feeling.

I don't think they'll "fix" that as its a feature. They seem very proud of the new keyboard and I'm assuming the flat feeling you're stating is key travel and there will be no increased key travel imo.

 

[lowendlinux]

I don't think they'll "fix" that as its a feature. They seem very proud of the new keyboard and I'm assuming the flat feeling you're stating is key travel and there will be no increased key travel imo.

Doesn't the gen2 butterfly in the new MBP have more travel?

 

[maflynn]

Doesn't the gen2 butterfly in the new MBP have more travel?

Looks like there was some improvement, between the two generations. I stand corrected.
Ars Technica

The keyboard uses a "second-generation" version of the butterfly switch mechanism that Apple first used in the 12-inch MacBook, and for the 13-inch Pro without the Touch Bar the layout is exactly identical. For those worried about key travel and how the keyboard might feel, there's both good and bad news. The good news is that key travel is noticeably improved, and the best thing about the MacBook keyboard—very firm keycaps that make it difficult to mistype—is still fully present here. If you've used the MacBook keyboard and gotten used to it or grown to like it (as several people in the Ars Slack channel have), you'll love the changes.

 

[mujjuman]

?? I only buy what I need, not always what I want. I have a iPhone 6 and dont need to upgrade to the iPhone 7 yet because I dont need to... I upgraded from the original iPhone 5 which was physically falling apart.
I have a 2015 MBP and I did not buy the new MBP because I dont need to... I upgraded from the 2011 MBP. Nice upgrade for me.
I dont need a Mac Pro, I have no use for an iPad, or Apple TV, or Watch, iPod, and whatever else is out there.
I'd like to get the Airpods someday, but I bought cheaper bluetooth headphones that work pretty good for me already. I dont have a need to spend $150+ on them yet, lol.

But eventually I'll need to upgrade my iPhone to a newer one, and upgrade my MBP to a newer one. But not anytime soon. Maybe I'll get a 7S, or maybe the 8 who knows.

 

[theluggage]

The question more specifically is, of the items that you COULD buy (meaning you can afford it), HAVE a desire for the item and WOULD buy, but for some reason have you NOT bought the item and why...

Well, although I use Macs & iPads, I've stuck with an Android phone. My Android phone was past its sell-by date and I expected to switch to iPhone 5 as soon as it came out - but (a) the Apple Maps debacle happened, and I saw the mapping app on my iPad ruined and (b) because I mainly use my phone for web, maps and email (with only the occasional actual phone call) the 5's small, skinny screen didn't appeal and the Galaxy Note 2 with its huge screen got my cash. I'd have upgraded to the Note 7 this year (SD card, headphone jack, huge screen, looked good...) but (luckily) didn't rush out and buy one on launch day.

Never bought music or video from iTunes Store - although I do use iTunes with music ripped and bought from Amazon - because I don't want to tie myself to Apple hardware for playback (see Android phone - also built-in MP3 player in car).

My TV set up is strictly Linux/Android: previously a PC with tuner card running MythTV, now a HP microserver (also doing time machine & file sharing) + TVHeadend + HD HomeRun + Amazon Fire TV with Kodi/MrMC as the set-top box (was using a Raspberry Pi until I wanted Netflix/Amazon Prime). Mainly because its something I like tinkering with. I'd use an Apple TV as the set-top-box except: no Kodi (MrMC is fine/better until the developer gives up or Apple kick it off the store - whereas you can easily sideload Kodi on the Fire without rooting it) and no Amazon Video.

Never bought a Thunderbolt display (and probably won't buy the new LG one even if I get a compatible Mac) because not having a secondary Displayport or HDMI input so I can connect my old laptop, PC/hackintosh, Mac Pro 1.1 (with various bits of legacy software) to what would be my best monitor is a deal-breaker.

At the moment... I have a 2011 17" MBP for which there is no, real replacement. Its stuck on Mavericks because I have an Express Card USB3 adapter and use ScreenRecycler to get a 3rd screen for web development - neither of which are supported past 10.9. I'm kicking myself for not getting a Thunderbolt solution to those problems a couple of years back - now it seems too late in the day to put money into Thunderbolt 1/2. Problem is... it still does the job, so I'm not going to upgrade until something comes along that's head-and-shoulders better. The 2016 MacBook Pros have been discussed enough so lets just say that, for me, there are too many negatives (not least the price & low odds of lasting 6 years) outweighing the (undeniable) positives. Never say never - maybe once the teething troubles are all fixed with MacOS updates, there's a better range of non-vapourware USB-C/TB3 kit and maybe a price cut (or widespread discounting - which is looking possible) I'll change my mind.

Current policy is to wait for the iMac update - maybe go to a desktop + ultrabook rather than a do-it-all laptop - and see how Apple handle that. If they go for 20% thinner (at the expense of power), 100% USB-C, no upgradeable RAM + price hike (while making no mention of the Mini or Mac Pro) then, well, that's the end of Mac as a serious computing platform. I'm not scared of Windows and Linux and quite like assembling my own PCs.

Might be tempted by the next generation of MS Surface - but I think the current gen has mediocre specs for the (high) price.

 

[Zaap]

Last year I bought a MacBook Pro 2015. (Despite the ongoing wisdom of wait for the new model.) So glad I got the 2015. The new MacBook Pros are completely inadequate for my needs. I require the ports on the 2015... even for my mouse which is specific for video editing tasks and has no Bluetooth equivalent. I need things off flash and external drives handed to me all the time, I need the SD reader, and all my hardware I use with logic requires USB.

And no....never if I can help it am I going to become entirely dependent on dongles and hubs. To me, the point of a portable computer is leaving the strings of desktop perifs behind. The dongle trend is moving backward IMO. And I also find it funny people proudly brag about using a so-called next-Gen port primarily to emulate old Gen ports. (Hint: just having an 'old gen' USB port is superior to using a new gen port plus clumbsy adapter to emulate the same thing. The "new" port is doing nothing for you).


Anyway... that said, this is why I didn't buy a 2016 MBP, and won't be buying any future MBP without a proper selection of ports. Apple has forced my hand on that. If I didn't have to use Final Cut I'd likely leave the Mac platform. Sad because I like OSX.

I also have had my eye on a 12" iPad Pro and pencil. But I still haven't bought one, despite it being a supremely useful tool for artwork and animation. Not because I don't feel its worth it or any fault of Apple's. I've simply had a long list of other stuff I needed/wanted more.

 

[Cineplex]

In 2016:

Apple TV- bought Roku instead.
iMac - bought a Dell instead.

So about $1700 Apple didn't get. Very happy with my decision.

 

[snicklesnackle]

Interesting topic.

The Apple Watch because it's too bulky. The AirPods because I don't like the look of them. As for what's not available, if they released another smaller sized iPod I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

 

[Zaap]

I'd have upgraded to the Note 7 this year (SD card, headphone jack, huge screen, looked good...) but (luckily) didn't rush out and buy one on launch day.

One of the best tech purchases I ever made was the Note 7, prelaunch. Not only were both of mine the best phones I've ever had (my original in black, then the 'safe' replacement in blue) but by the time the smoke cleared with the whole recall debacle- I ended up with $200 "We're sorry!" cash from Samsung, month of free "sorry for the hassle" phone service from AT&T, a free Gear S2 watch, a free 256GB mSD card, a 7" Galaxy Tab E, the s-pen and all accessories from the 2nd Note (Samsung just wanted the phone itself returned) several great months with the best smartphone ever and then to my replacement S7edge which is not too shabby itself.

All told, a very costly bit of business for Samsung (multiplied a million times!) but for me, no regrets, I feel I made out like a bandit.

 

[smacrumon]

The question more specifically is, of the items that you COULD buy (meaning you can afford it), HAVE a desire for the item and WOULD buy, but for some reason have you NOT bought the item and why...

For me its an IP7+ 128gb 1100 bucks including apple care... Why... Cause of all the problems, plus its not an IP7. its a IP6 V3... And mind you not just the problems from the 7. The battery problem with IP6 ( my son had to get the battery changed) and the dreaded touch disease, plus the many other problems reported on this forum ... From here on in you almost HAVE to get apple care for a product... I have a 5s and works as a phone just fine.

Ipad PRO 12.9 128 gb 1000 bucks.... Why - resolution - I want Retina HD... And I have an iPad 4 128gb... Works just fine with the SAME 4 year old retina display as the IPP ...

My son desperately wants a new Mac book Pro... 2400 bucks WHY... He did not buy because of the memory limitation, price increase and just UNIMPRESSED with virtually NOTHING new or innovative, plus the port changes (btw I liked the port change) ... His laptop is working just fine...

My son has an IP6 128 gb... Did not buy 6s or 7... 1000 bucks... Not considering buying a NOT so NEW phone.

So between my son and I - approx 6000 not spent with apple , that we WOULD like to do...

I really like this question. Obviously with an unlimited Apple gift card, most would buy every product. But what are the reasons for not buying, genius!

I haven't bought Apple Watch because i expected it would have some really groundbreaking health features that could determine health conditions while wearing it. Also, it doesn't have a sleek camera that I could use. I don't want my phone always on me, Apple Watch should be able to do the basics while I'm away from my phone, take photos etc.

I didn't buy a 2012 iMac because it didn't come with a Retina display. I still haven't bought one because SSD storage isn't standard.

I won't buy a MacBook because the pricing is currently ridiculous in many regions of the world.

I haven't bought iPhone SE, 6, 6s, 7, because I really was dissatisfied with the lack of design progress, and in some cases, the undoing of good design by introducing antenna lines and protruding cameras.

I've proven to myself, upgrading isn't necessary. When Apple provides a better proposition, things might change.

SO, current savings, about $5000 not spent at Apple.

 

[pr0230]

I really like this question. Obviously with an unlimited Apple gift card, most would buy every product. But what are the reasons for not buying, genius!

I haven't bought Apple Watch because i expected it would have some really groundbreaking health features that could determine health conditions while wearing it. Also, it doesn't have a sleek camera that I could use. I don't want my phone always on me, Apple Watch should be able to do the basics while I'm away from my phone, take photos etc.

I didn't buy a 2012 iMac because it didn't come with a Retina display. I still haven't bought one because SSD storage isn't standard.

I won't buy a MacBook because the pricing is currently ridiculous in many regions of the world.

I haven't bought iPhone SE, 6, 6s, 7, because I really was dissatisfied with the lack of design progress, and in some cases, the undoing of good design by introducing antenna lines and protruding cameras.

I've proven to myself, upgrading isn't necessary. When Apple provides a better proposition, things might change.

SO, current savings, about $5000 not spent at Apple.

This is exactly my point... Some would say that there are SO many reasons not to buy that the question is not really valid... But when you see the SAME reason , over and over and over, Apple is missing the boat... The Cash Boat...
I would say YOUR above reasons are very COMMON...

your comment on iPhone +1... Upgrading isn't necessary +1

 

[smacrumon]

This is exactly my point... Some would say that there are SO many reasons not to buy that the question is not really valid... But when you see the SAME reason , over and over and over, Apple is missing the boat... The Cash Boat...
I would say YOUR above reasons are very COMMON...

your comment on iPhone +1... Upgrading isn't necessary +1

I suspect a thread like this could be valuable to Apple in guiding its future sales strategy.

 

[belvdr]

I'm not so sure. It's difficult to quantify these statements across many people. For example, if I don't buy an Apple Watch because of X, then it may cause someone else to not buy if X were implemented (say a round face, for example). We have a thread of 23 posts that is too small to even be considered a representative sample.

I'm sure it's an interesting read for someone at Apple, but I would not declare it as valuable. Many people complain about every product and Apple has done well so far.

 

[BeefCake 15]

I had a dream that I was going to buy the Apple watch the other day but didn't get it. I bought Linksys router and not Apple's. That's all as far as I can remember.