Mac Become an Afterthought

[dspdoc]

Does anyone else feel like the Mac and macOS have become afterthoughts for Apple? They seem to be obsessed with iOS devices. I get it. Follow the money trail right? I just sincerely wish Apple would bring equal focus to the Mac. QC has slipped something awful.

 

[iGobbleoff]

I agree, they are a sales company at the end of the day. iPhone is going to make them money, so they'll focus on that.

 

[dspdoc]

I agree, they are a sales company at the end of the day. iPhone is going to make them money, so they'll focus on that.

The iPhone feels like the beginning of a slow death for the Mac. I kind of miss the pre iPhone days.

 

[Thysanoptera]

We're having a discussion about this exactly in the MBP forum, IMHO Apple is definitely stepping away from performance focused computer market, and the shift happened sometime around 2012, just accelerated in recent years. Don't feel like typing again:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-macbook-pro-2018-a-failure.2168235/#post-27062231

Let's see then what products were mentioned during the call:
Macbook Air - 4 times
Mac mini - 4 times
Macbook Pro - 0 times
iMac - 0 times
Ipad Pro - 14 times
iPhone - 56 times
services - 76 times

Mac Air and mini sales are doing great. Services sales - 10.8 bln, Mac sales 7.8 bln, services revenue is still a fifth of iPhone yet while Macs almost don't exist in investor communication - the services are subject matter number one. This is the future of the company, the only way to increase the value of those stock options. Hardware becomes just a tool to consume services, macbooks become glorified ipads with display on a hinge with focus shifted to the mass market. Subscriptions number is what counts. The college dropout who liked to tinker with electronics is gone, it is all about having excellent financial statement now led by a pro in this field. And that's ok, from a shareholder perspective. Apple will be competing with Netflix, Amazon, Google, DirectTV etc instead of Dell or Lenovo. Markets will be happy, computer enthusiasts not so much.

 

[kazmac]

We're having a discussion about this exactly in the MBP forum, IMHO Apple is definitely stepping away from performance focused computer market, and the shift happened sometime around 2012, just accelerated in recent years. Don't feel like typing again:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-macbook-pro-2018-a-failure.2168235/#post-27062231

Glad to hear the mini is doing well. That’s nice news. If there weren’t issues, and it had a more powerful GPU on board, I would purchase one. Thanks for reposting this.

Services? So not my thing. Recently became aware that I haven’t been the ideal Apple customer for years now, and have been moving away at an even faster clip over the last two years. Glad I am finally doing something about that.

Yes, I agree that the Mac has become afterthought for various reasons, especially in the lack of cooling solutions and declining build quality. All while spiking the price to pay for services I have no interest in. Sad really.

 

[dspdoc]

Has Apple poured all its R&D dollars into the mobile device at the expense of the Mac?

 

[Thysanoptera]

I guess the R&D is stilll being funded across all product lines, just the D doesn’t go in the direction I like. They’re running out of things to remove from laptop, what’s next? I may keep that 2018 after all, may have some historical value in the future. Last Apple laptop with physical keyboard.

 

[dspdoc]

I guess the R&D is stilll being funded across all product lines, just the D doesn’t go in the direction I like. They’re running out of things to remove from laptop, what’s next? I may keep that 2018 after all, may have some historical value in the future. Last Apple laptop with physical keyboard.

Yes, I am guessing the next MBP will essentially have an iPadesque keyboard area.

 

[1BadManVan]

It seems if you find a company that solely focuses more on one product category, you get that better quality product with better quality control. Apple is trying to be the all in one go to for all your personal electronic needs but they are definitely prioritizing certain products over others and it’s showing heavily.

Then at the same time they are turning off a lot of customers by overpricing their iOS devices, almost trying to make up for the lack of sales in their computer line. Shooting themselves in the foot at the end of the day

I’ve been on iPhones since the 3GS but I’m learning that sticking with them just for the sake of familiarity is really not worth that anymore. Unless android really drops the ball this year when I’m due for an upgrade I’ll probably finally follow suit since I’m looking into windows laptops as well.

I know a number of friends and family that have all had enough and been moving away from their Macs and over to windows because that simplicity and quality over windows really isn’t there anymore. Yet they seem to be pricing them higher and higher

 

[dspdoc]

It seems if you find a company that solely focuses more on one product category, you get that better quality product with better quality control. Apple is trying to be the all in one go to for all your personal electronic needs but they are definitely prioritizing certain products over others and it’s showing heavily.

Then at the same time they are turning off a lot of customers by overpricing their iOS devices, almost trying to make up for the lack of sales in their computer line. Shooting themselves in the foot at the end of the day

I’ve been on iPhones since the 3GS but I’m learning that sticking with them just for the sake of familiarity is really not worth that anymore. Unless android really drops the ball this year when I’m due for an upgrade I’ll probably finally follow suit since I’m looking into windows laptops as well.

I know a number of friends and family that have all had enough and been moving away from their Macs and over to windows because that simplicity and quality over windows really isn’t there anymore. Yet they seem to be pricing them higher and higher

It’s extremely disappointing isn’t it? I wonder what it would take to get Apple’s attention and make them listen?

 

[SDColorado]

It’s extremely disappointing isn’t it? I wonder what it would take to get Apple’s attention and make them listen?

Voting with your wallet mostly.

Yes, I am guessing the next MBP will essentially have an iPadesque keyboard area.

And perhaps eventually if they go to an ARM processor also locking you into an iPadesque App Store for programs?

 

[dspdoc]

Voting with your wallet mostly.



And perhaps eventually if they go to an ARM processor also locking you into an iPadesque App Store for programs?

If they bastardize macOS I’m gone. So will tons of other pros be.

 

[SDColorado]

If they bastardize macOS I’m gone. So will tons of other pros be.

Me too. I am already not a fan of the Apple Store setup for Mac, if they bastardize it further so that it is that is the only forum source for Apps/Programs it's time to move on.

 

[kazmac]

Voting with your wallet mostly.

That is what will hit them hardest, voting with your wallet. Or successful litigation. Anything that compromises the only thing they care about: profits.

 

[dspdoc]

That is what will hit them hardest, voting with your wallet. Or successful litigation. Anything that compromises the only thing they care about: profits.

It’s so sad to think that they literally do not care anymore. Steve was so passionate about the Mac.

 

[Thysanoptera]

Me too. I am already not a fan of the Apple Store setup for Mac, if they bastardize it further so that it is that is the only forum source for Apps/Programs it's time to move on.

I learned the hard (means expensive) way, that apps on Mac store are 'sandboxed', can't access all system resources. Right now if I see something I like I go to developer webpage and buy from there. So now I've got several doubles.

 

[SDColorado]

I learned the hard (means expensive) way, that apps on Mac store are 'sandboxed', can't access all system resources. Right now if I see something I like I go to developer webpage and buy from there. So now I've got several doubles.

I am the same way. I had a similar expensive issue when Apple screwed up my Apple ID after someone attempted to hack it. I called them for help and they tried to with all the best of intentions, but they ended up locking everyone out of it, themselves included and could not recover it.

Needless to say, all associated Apps and purchases attached to that Apple ID got locked along with it. I had to make a new Apple ID and re-purchase programs.

If something goes wrong with that "sandboxed" eco, it can go very wrong.

 

[kazmac]

It seems if you find a company that solely focuses more on one product category, you get that better quality product with better quality control. Apple is trying to be the all in one go to for all your personal electronic needs but they are definitely prioritizing certain products over others and it’s showing heavily.

Then at the same time they are turning off a lot of customers by overpricing their iOS devices, almost trying to make up for the lack of sales in their computer line. Shooting themselves in the foot at the end of the day

I’ve been on iPhones since the 3GS but I’m learning that sticking with them just for the sake of familiarity is really not worth that anymore. Unless android really drops the ball this year when I’m due for an upgrade I’ll probably finally follow suit since I’m looking into windows laptops as well.

I know a number of friends and family that have all had enough and been moving away from their Macs and over to windows because that simplicity and quality over windows really isn’t there anymore. Yet they seem to be pricing them higher and higher

Not just overpricing the iDevices, Macs too. Worse, the quality control in hardware and software is awful. No one should have to return multiple devices to hope to get one that works. No one should deal with arrogant, unhelpful tech support or staff who throw blame on the customer, and act like they’re doing you a favor. Apple are though and that is what will eventually hurt their almighty bottom line.

My family are elated I am finally trying Windows seriously.

 

[SDColorado]

Looking at the store near my home, you can easily tell the importance (or lack thereof) of the Macs. They are in the far left back corner of the store. The vast majority of the store is dedicated to iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and accessories for those devices.

 

[kazmac]

Looking at the store near my home, you can easily tell the importance (or lack thereof) of the Macs. They are in the far left back corner of the store. The vast majority of the store is dedicated to iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and accessories for those devices.

So sad. They’re on two tiny tables at the store I used to frequent. Such an unpleasant set up.

 

[SDColorado]

The Microsoft Store, on the other hand, is mostly about computers with a small smartphone section.

 

[Thysanoptera]

Looking at the store near my home, you can easily tell the importance (or lack thereof) of the Macs. They are in the far left back corner of the store. The vast majority of the store is dedicated to iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and accessories for those devices.

That's like a shelf with marked down tech items at Walmart.

 

[kazmac]

Yes, the Microsoft Store between my two work sites, is full of computers (my gosh an entire table of Surface Studio 2's. Each one set up to do something different!)

While I found the homages to the Apple store's layout and such offputting, that's a minor quibble because of what's on display. Many of the folks working there are friendly and want to help too.

 

[SDColorado]

That's like a shelf with marked down tech items at Walmart.

Pretty much. It is mostly where they have you wait while they fetch your newly purchased iDevice from the back room

Yes, the Microsoft Store between my two work sites, is full of computers (my gosh an entire table of Surface Studio 2's. Each one set up to do something different!)

While I found the homages to the Apple store's layout and such offputting, that's a minor quibble because of what's on display. Many of the folks working there are friendly and want to help too.

A good portion of the store near me is dedicated to VR as well, which is something that Apple doesn't seem terribly interested in? It's a cool display.

They also have a classroom section in the back where they do the training, but also they do a lot of STEM and diversity-related workshops.

 

[dspdoc]

Does anyone think Apple will change anything or is this only going to get worse?