Sadly, I'm right there with ya in heart but in reality, still find the Apple ecosystem more enticing...at the moment.
I find myself in a bit of a technology no-mans land at the moment. I love the direction that Google is heading with the apparent dedication (never know with Google, unfortunately) to top level hardware to best take advantage of their industry leading services and superior position to utilize our data to build the optimal experience. However, they full ecosystem just isn't there yet--their tablet support and desktop OS just can't replace what Apple presently offers, IMO. Using an Android phone with other ecosystems just isn't as effortless as immersing in one as I personally prefer to do.
Apple, is frustrating the hell out of me over the past couple years. Their OS development, both mobile and desktop, continue to progress at a snail's pace and while I still prefer them over their competitors in so many ways, nothing about their new software or hardware feels inspiring---more just like waving shiny baubles in to distract their customers while they empty their wallets. Examples--the taptic home button on the iPhone--what problem is it actually solving? It still performs the exact same function, as its old mechanical counterpart, generally feels less responsive, and due to the extra space needed for its hardware, contributed to the removal of the headphone jack. Ohhh, but it now vibrates!!!
The Touch Bar feels like more of the same---a shiny new feature for the sake of adding a shiny new feature, something Apple added more because they can than whether it's actually the best solution to accomplish their goals. First thing I thought of was LG's second screen on the V20--let's put some information and shortcuts as far away from your hands as possible. My hands are already closer to the Touch Pad, where I can navigate and control functions on-screen without having to look where I'm placing my fingers. Now I have to reach further towards the screen and try to tap pretty small targets, that will change depending on what I'm doing---but wow, thank God I don't have to reach so much further to the screen, something Apple already had it's customer's doing on their iPPs when used with their Smart Keyboard.
And on top of that, continue the trend of removing useful ports by eliminating all traditional USB ports, a port that ALL of your portable devices (phone, tablet, watch) use to charge or communicate, as well as the overwelming majority of all other USB accessories. While your at it, might as well get rid of the SD slot, something just about EVERY single camera utilizes to store video/photos. Oh, another thing---make us adopted a different input for our headphones on your mobile phone but require that we use the old solution you have professed as out-dated for your computers. Makes sense.
Lastly, offend us even further by charging a more obscene amount of money than ever because you're trying to find some way to stem the bleeding from your bottom line.
But the worst part of all of this is that the Mac/iPad/iPhone/Apple Watch combo still provides me with the best overall experience (IMO). So if I want to impact Apple is the most efficient way, with my wallet, I have to live with what I feel is a compromised experience using other company's hardware (for now).
Microsoft--I'm sorry, while you've been upping your game with PC hardware the past couple years, I still find using Windows even more uninspiring and you also cannot provide a fully functional ecosystem.
Sorry for the rant but I'm obviously quite frustrated by it all. The hardware and OS's I prefer are from a company that's really starting to aggravate the hell out of me and the company who's future looks the brightest still can't offer me the optimal user experience. Hate being in limbo like this.
