Is Apple neglecting Macs?

[Hellhammer]

Any current computer is more than adequate for typing large chunks of text. The only group of people who have legitimate gripes that Apple doesn't update their computer line as frequently as other companies with the latest and greatest are the video/audio/photo/graphic design pros. These people are the minority though, and for the vast majority of people, the current macs are more than adequate for what they do. Besides, aren't new ones coming next week??

The point is that most people don't want to buy something "old". By waiting you get a better product for the same amount of money.

What has Apple done to the iPhone or iPad since the first revision? You can do the same tasks on all of them (excluding stuff that Apple has limited to some models, but that is nothing more than a policy decision by Apple). You can call, browse the web, use Facebook, watch videos, listen to music and so on; no matter what iPhone or iPad you have.

 

[skaertus]

The point is that most people don't want to buy something "old". By waiting you get a better product for the same amount of money.

Or is supposed to get. The problem begins when people realize that new and better products are not being released, no matter how long they wait.

 

[throAU]

Having actually used windows 8 since the developer preview, i'm confused as to what new features microsoft have "packed in" that OS X does not have.

 

[skaertus]

Having actually used windows 8 since the developer preview, i'm confused as to what new features microsoft have "packed in" that OS X does not have.

Better support for multiple monitors, perhaps? Or ClearType, which is available since Windows XP? A good file explorer?

 

[Ariii]

They could be a little more regular in some cases (Mac Pro, Mac Mini), but designing a shiny new case and re-tooling their factories "just because" is a waste of time.

A big part of the reason people buy Apple computers is for the case. It sounds ridiculous, but when you notice that Apple is almost the only one who puts case design over other aspects of computers, those who simply want just a laptop with a pretty case don't have many other options, do they?

(Not that it's a reason to be enraged at Apple; it's just not exactly a 'waste of time')

 

[throAU]

Better support for multiple monitors, perhaps? Or ClearType, which is available since Windows XP? A good file explorer?

Better support for multiple monitors? Than windows 7? Yeah, right...

edit:
My point is that Windows is going backards at a faster rate than OS X is.

OS X isn't breaking workflow anywhere near as badly as windows 8. For the deficiencies you list in OS X, windows 7 is and has been available to rectify those fo some time.

 

[throAU]

Of course I would expect more features in Windows 8 compared to Windows 7 than in Mountain Lion compared to Lion. However, I also said that the features introduced with Lion were not that great either.

OS X Snow Leopard was released in 2009, a few months later than Windows 7. If you look at the features introduced in the last three years, in both Lion and Mountain Lion, they are not groundbreaking. You got Mission Control, new touch gestures, full-screen apps, a better Preview... all these are fine, but most of the rest are rip-offs of the iOS.

Windows 8, in comparison, is a much bigger improvement over Windows 7.

You are merely looking at "oh shiny" features.

ML includes

- gatekeeper
- new developer APIs for cloud services
- improvements to objective-c (again, for developers)
- improved openGL support
- improved ASLR support for better security


Many of the above are deep changes to the core of the OS, rather than UI fluff.

 

[skaertus]

You are merely looking at "oh shiny" features.

ML includes

- gatekeeper
- new developer APIs for cloud services
- improvements to objective-c (again, for developers)
- improved openGL support
- improved ASLR support for better security


Many of the above are deep changes to the core of the OS, rather than UI fluff.

Windows 8 also carries several "under the hood" improvements, such as native support for USB 3.0, much faster boot times, Windows Display Driver Model 1.2, DirectX 11.1, Hyper-V, and the list goes on. Besides that, there are the "shiny features" too.

 

[Hellhammer]

Or is supposed to get. The problem begins when people realize that new and better products are not being released, no matter how long they wait.

That is when people will start look at competitors' products. That's why Apple needs to update their products sooner than later, they can't keep selling old hardware too long or sales will drop dramatically. Sure, there is a group of people who will buy anything as long as it has an Apple logo on it, and they probably don't mind spending two grands on an outdated computer. However, the majority of consumers are not buying any certain brand and they will opt for a PC if Apple can't satisfy their needs, even if they preferred OS X over Windows.

 

[Joseph Farrugia]

Define real work.

The ball is in your court Mike, please define the narrow field of "real work" that can be done more productively & efficiently on an Ipad.

 

[Michael Goff]

The ball is in your court Mike, please define the narrow field of "real work" that can be done more productively & efficiently on an Ipad.

I'm not saying the iPad can't do work.

The burden of proof is on the accuser.

 

[G4er?]

It sounds ridiculous, but when you notice that Apple is almost the only one who puts case design over other aspects of computers,

In many ways Apple has gone too far with form over function. But then I guess that helps hide the facts from people that Apple lags so much in upgrading what is inside.

"It's SO pretty". I'll take it. Now tell me, what is it and what does it do?'

 

[Ariii]

In many ways Apple has gone too far with form over function. But then I guess that helps hide the facts from people that Apple lags so much in upgrading what is inside.

"It's SO pretty". I'll take it. Now tell me, what is it and what does it do?'

Even when they have specs that are inferior to PCs, they still have the same seamless user experience (As in 'just works'), their OS was intuitive and generally superior to Windows, and they were unique. I can't really say the same thing about them now, since their cases look the same for the most part... That's not nearly as much of a reason to complain about them as Apple's neglecting of pro users, but it's certainly not silly.

 

[Pakaku]

Apple wants to sell appliances. They don't feel like they need to focus on their desktop line if the internals can't be upgraded as easily as a normal desktop PC.

Meanwhile, the phone business is a rapidly-evolving industry, so of course Apple would focus on it more. It makes them a lot more money, too.

 

[Joseph Farrugia]

I'm not saying the iPad can't do work.

The burden of proof is on the accuser.

Yep couldn't agree more; yours was an accusation too

A not-so-subtle one at that; it plays both ways.

Now tell us: please define the narrow field of "real work" that can be done more productively & efficiently on an Ipad.

 

[Michael Goff]

Yep couldn't agree more; yours was an accusation too

A not-so-subtle one at that; it plays both ways.

Now tell us: please define the narrow field of "real work" that can be done more productively & efficiently on an Ipad.

Typing up documents, doing research, creating presentations, checking and replying to emails (if you know anything about projects, you know communication is very important), actually giving presentations. If you're a doctor, you're using it to have patient files with you. If you're a teacher, you're using it to help students learn while also being able to control the experience.

And that took what? 5 minutes of my time to think of these things?

But, really, I didn't make an accusation. I asked somebody to define real work. And since you can't actually come up with things... I'm just going to assume you have nothing of value to add to the conversation.

 

[skaertus]

Typing up documents, doing research, creating presentations, checking and replying to emails (if you know anything about projects, you know communication is very important), actually giving presentations. If you're a doctor, you're using it to have patient files with you. If you're a teacher, you're using it to help students learn while also being able to control the experience.

And that took what? 5 minutes of my time to think of these things?

But, really, I didn't make an accusation. I asked somebody to define real work. And since you can't actually come up with things... I'm just going to assume you have nothing of value to add to the conversation.

Well, that depends a lot. I feel that typing up documents is much faster and more straightforward with a laptop than with the iPad (even with an external keyboard). There's no real full-featured word processor for the iPad.

Doing research? Well, that depends on the research you're doing. I do academic research, and I can tell you that a laptop is far better than an iPad for this purpose.

For checking e-mails the iPad is great. For replying e-mails, I would prefer a laptop, since it has a keyboard. In addition, you are able to send attachments to your e-mail if you're using a laptop.

Creating presentations? If you're using Keynote, the iPad may be very useful. But if you have to use PowerPoint (such is my case), it has to be with the laptop.

 

[JoeRito]

I think it's fair to say that a lot of people here like to update their systems every 2 or 3 years, but want whatever they upgrade to to be different enough to their last purchase, so they can justify it to themselves.

Laptops, all-in-ones, desktops, they're all very mature product lines. Aside from incremental speed upgrades, what more do you want? Until we get touchscreens with haptic response instead of keyboards, and hologram screens, I'm struggling to think of any innovations that would be useful!

Well said, I agree. I also feel the price point most people are willing to stretch to to be cool is <$500.00. iPad and Iphone fit in this price point. MBPs at $2K just won't sell as much based on coolness alone. Most folks won't spend two grand to have that glowing apple on the back of the screen in a dimly lit coffee shop. However, Mac is a core business. It will continue for the next 10 years.... just doesn't have the profit margin and hype of the more consumer friendly items and costs far more to build. I still believe the MBP is over priced but stay for the ecosystem.

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Apple should get rid of the desktop, but not the Mac! MBPs and MBAs are amazing, if overpriced, tools.

More time and attention should be paid to docking stations and monitor choice for those who need a workstation. Make the MBPs as great as they can be every 1.5 years and then accommodate us with better docking options!!

 

[Joseph Farrugia]

Typing up documents, doing research, creating presentations, checking and replying to emails (if you know anything about projects, you know communication is very important), actually giving presentations. If you're a doctor, you're using it to have patient files with you. If you're a teacher, you're using it to help students learn while also being able to control the experience.

And that took what? 5 minutes of my time to think of these things?

But, really, I didn't make an accusation. I asked somebody to define real work. And since you can't actually come up with things... I'm just going to assume you have nothing of value to add to the conversation.

Thanks for the reply Mike, your condescension that was very evident in your first post has made you say what many people are calling upon around the web.

Namely that in a large number of instances in the activities you mentioned, an iPad is actually a hindrance rather than an aid as compared to using a laptop in the same surroundings.

Case in point: while a nice toy, a laptop is way more useful to a teacher than a tablet device of any sort in 99% of the cases. I should know, I have taught for over 2 decades.

We're not talking "wow" factor here, or looking hip; which is why so many doctors still prefer a laptop over a tablet for their day-to-day work; excepting when they did not have a choice, like the "Fate bene ai Fratelli" hospital in Rome did at one point (all doctors complained about being forced to use a tablet device - in their case an iPad - & now have almost completely abandoned tablet devices of any sort except some limited use in surgical operations).

Maybe as Tablet devices will continue to evolve, become even more powerful, or maybe even merge even more with laptops to become an even more sophisticated hybrid all that will change; but right now a laptop is way, way, way more suited for "serious work" in so many areas than a tablet device.

Mike your condescending tone that was so evident in your first taunt (yours was not a reply, it was a provocative taunt) in this thread is adding nothing to the thread; if you felt the need to express a tablet device's possible uses for so-called "serious work" you could have said so in the first place.

Thanks to all the others who are contributing their experiences/thoughts to this thread, very interesting stuff.