People's irrational anger towards Apple products and iPhone specifically

[Juicy Box]

Apple user in general I am still flabbergasted at comments I read on Apple/iPhone articles I see around the web. I have never seen such rage, hatred, caps lock use, and exclamation marks :/

Irrational Apple hate is nothing new. I just think it is a lot more obvious due to Apple becoming a more popular brand.

As a very long time Apple user, I remember on the receiving end of Apple hate back in the 90's to the mid 2000's.

I would hear the typical things like over priced, and no software for them (Macs), but also off the wall crap like people saying that "Macs are gay", and they didn't like that you have to go to "the back of the store" to shop for Apple stuff.

These two quotes were said by old military friends of mine. Ironically, these two people ended up getting Macs in 2007, and then iPhones sometime later on.

My two best friends from the military both left the same time I did, and I had a going away party at my home. They were so impressed by my Macs, Apple TV, and other Apple products, that it changed there mind.

One confessed to me that they were thinking about getting a Mac, years after me raving about them, and the other laughed and said he was thinking about it too, but didn't want to say anything.

Anyways, I have been hearing it for years. The funny thing is though, many of the complaints I hear about Apple lately, I agree with. My love for Apple products have faded over the last half decade, and while I won't give them up tomorrow, I may in the next few years.
[doublepost=1511991850][/doublepost]

The Cult of Mac used to be small and fun and no one paid it any attention. The Cult of Mac turned into the Cult of iPhone got big, arrogant, and overbearing so now people preemptively strike.

This is also my experience.

 

[Sir Ruben]

The Cult of Mac used to be small and fun and no one paid it any attention. The Cult of Mac turned into the Cult of iPhone got big, arrogant, and overbearing so now people preemptively strike.

If you're on a gaming website talking about how wonderful your iPhone is you sort of have to expect to get pounced on you're in enemy terrain and just jumped up and down in a clown suit. People like on both sides like their junk and will defend it with some intensity and emotion.

I don't really get this. I can honestly say I never see an iPhone user boasting about their phone, but I DO see Android users chomping at the bit to tell everyone who will listen about why they hate Apple. I certainly don't see any Apple or iPhone elite-ism, just people who enjoy their products.

Also lets not forget that Android users would constantly go on about the spec of their Android phones and how powerful they were......until iPhones started blowing them away in benchmarks. Now apparently that doesn't matter anymore, same for non removable storage and to some extent the headphone jack.

 

[Tech198]

Not every company gets it right, even Apple...

What works for some, doesn't always fit for others either..

Ya, it's interesting how people call out Apple, till u realize several years later virtually every business is switching to them in addition to using PC's.

Even my mate business have a few late model iMac's.

Price may always be a thing from personal use, but not really if your a business.... You can afford it.

 

[jbizzybeetle]

I have begun to wonder if “clickbait” phenomenon is part if it on this forum.

Crazy negative and crazy positive headers get more clicks?
Thereby, pajama boys get more thrills seeing their clicks rising? (oh, the entendre possibilities!)

Thanks to all for peaceful, reasoned conversation on this topic.

 

[Bart Kela]

I don't really get this. I can honestly say I never see an iPhone user boasting about their phone, but I DO see Android users chomping at the bit to tell everyone who will listen about why they hate Apple. I certainly don't see any Apple or iPhone elite-ism, just people who enjoy their products.

I don't see that either, nor to I see locals bragging about their Apple products. Then again, I live in Silicon Valley. Buy what you like, hope it works out for you. If you don't like it, buy something else the next time.

These weird fanboi arguments/rantings really has more to say about the crowd you run with. It's more of a maturity issue or perhaps people who have few life experiences and not much else to talk about.

I have friends with a wide variety of smartphones, smartphone/activity monitors, computers, whatever and none of my pals seem to care about my phone (a boring iPhone SE) nor do I care about their gear. Heck, they'd rather talk about their kids or maybe their last/next vacation.

 

[Septembersrain]

I vent because I'm using the same phone with an X16 Qualcomm modem and I know for a fact (iFixit teardown and other tests) that the iPhone 8/8+/X has crippled that modem. They've removed antennas.

So for me this fight between Apple and Qualcomm has screwed the consumer. In order to make the Qualcomm on par with Intel, they've gutted it. To me that's unacceptable.

Now they've added in throttling the CPU as a fact too. With zero transparency until they were called out on it. Which is shady.

In both cases it's like buying an 8 cylinder car but only getting 4 cylinders of use from it. One by throttling whenever they want, the other by trying to match it to an inferior vehicle.

Either way, the issues are obvious enough to upset people. There are people who are irrationally upset but some are not unjustified.

 

[iCat]

Android users are the "Little Monsters" of tech. They go to sites specifically to disparage apple products.

 

[belvdr]

Android users are the "Little Monsters" of tech. They go to sites specifically to disparage apple products.

Oh sure they do.
People have the right to vent on an open forum.

 

[Gen0]

I have begun to wonder if “clickbait” phenomenon is part if it on this forum.

Considering how many news articles with obvious "collect your free iPhone" adverts at the bottom, it's not entirely impossible there are a large group of defrauded "Apple contest winners" out there venting

Seriously though, there's a real simple reason for Apple's hate. Geniuses. They lie, all the time, through their teeth. It's company policy. My second Mac was a mini, 2010 model, 32 days before the arrival of the i5 refresh. I remember asking the Genius if it's 2.4FGhz Core2Duo was fast, knowing that every other model in the range had already got upgraded to i5s. The guy goes slack jawed, wide eyed like I just insulted him... "Fast!? It's got TWO POINT FOUR GIG!" he yells. I pay, with cash, encouraged by his exuberance.

Took a few months too long to work out I was sold a lemon that was nearly 150% the price of it's faster replacement, and a few days shy of the free upgrade entitlement. I'd have probably got it, but it embarrassed me enough that I didn't buy Apple for the next 5 years.

I have dozens of stories like this. Plenty of others have worse. I had a friend that had her MacBook replaced because she had the AMD GPU bug. Sure, they aren't replacing it, but when the story came out that she fell asleep with it on her lap and it quite badly burned her they shut up and issued the RMA... after they got photo evidence.

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-store-confession-2011-2

It looks even worse from the other side. Geniuses by the sound of it, had all the oversight of college frat boys.

https://gizmodo.com/5936324/exclusive-confessions-from-the-most-corrupt-apple-store-in-america

 

[C DM]

Considering how many news articles with obvious "collect your free iPhone" adverts at the bottom, it's not entirely impossible there are a large group of defrauded "Apple contest winners" out there venting

Seriously though, there's a real simple reason for Apple's hate. Geniuses. They lie, all the time, through their teeth. It's company policy. My second Mac was a mini, 2010 model, 32 days before the arrival of the i5 refresh. I remember asking the Genius if it's 2.4FGhz Core2Duo was fast, knowing that every other model in the range had already got upgraded to i5s. The guy goes slack jawed, wide eyed like I just insulted him... "Fast!? It's got TWO POINT FOUR GIG!" he yells. I pay, with cash, encouraged by his exuberance.

Took a few months too long to work out I was sold a lemon that was nearly 150% the price of it's faster replacement, and a few days shy of the free upgrade entitlement. I'd have probably got it, but it embarrassed me enough that I didn't buy Apple for the next 5 years.

I have dozens of stories like this. Plenty of others have worse. I had a friend that had her MacBook replaced because she had the AMD GPU bug. Sure, they aren't replacing it, but when the story came out that she fell asleep with it on her lap and it quite badly burned her they shut up and issued the RMA... after they got photo evidence.

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-store-confession-2011-2

It looks even worse from the other side. Geniuses by the sound of it, had all the oversight of college frat boys.

https://gizmodo.com/5936324/exclusive-confessions-from-the-most-corrupt-apple-store-in-america

Pretty much any company out there has some employees that aren't all that good for one reason or another. Nothing exactly new or strange or that sets Apple apart somehow really.

 

[maflynn]

Android users are the "Little Monsters" of tech. They go to sites specifically to disparage apple products.

And the same thing can be said for all tech users. Whether we are talking about Blackberry (back in the day), MS, apple. There are always people who view their choices more like a relgious revelation and anyone disagreeing with them needs to be enlightend and/or mocked. Sadly, I see this with apple users quite a bit, just look at how quickly they throw out terms like samsuck, or winblows

 

[chris1958]

There are some reasons, why people get angry, when it comes to Apple.

One reason is posts like this. To complain about people, who might call Apple fans idiots and at the same time call all criticism against Apple irrational. Calling someone irrational is just a more civilized way of calling this person an idiot. A lot of Apple fans have the bad habit of overstating the value of Apple products and not accepting that there are good reasons to choose something else.

This quasi-religious zeal makes people angry.

Second reason is that there are a lot of people out there, who used to love Apple products, but are driven out. Not just the prize of the iPhone X is a problem. Some people can simply not afford it. When Apple comes up with a new feature, it tends to give the customer no choice. I love my MacBook Pro, but I am heavily dependent on ESC- and function-keys. So I would have abandon Apple, if I could no longer by one without Touchbar. Although FaceID is a no go for me since I don't take selfies and want to unlock my phone without holding it in front of my face. Quality is although a concern.

When I have my complaints i don't want to treated as some irrational freak.

 

[iCat]

And the same thing can be said for all tech users. Whether we are talking about Blackberry (back in the day), MS, apple. There are always people who view their choices more like a relgious revelation and anyone disagreeing with them needs to be enlightend and/or mocked. Sadly, I see this with apple users quite a bit, just look at how quickly they throw out terms like samsuck, or winblows

Sorry, I can't tell. As an Apple user I have no time to go on Android forums to waste my time.

 

[batrush]

When you can’t afford it, hate it

 

[lowendlinux]

^^^Now you know why people make fun of Apple users

 

[Tech198]

Sorry, I can't tell. As an Apple user I have no time to go on Android forums to waste my time.

but you do have time here. Apple users aside,, That is a cover... I'm an Apple user too, doesn't say anything i must stick to Apple forums... I go where i please.

 

[Mousse]

When you can’t afford it, hate it

That's the elitist attitude that makes regular people hate Apple users. The iPhone is price competitively to flagship phones from Samsung and other android manufacturers, so it's not the price.
Besides, some of us have seen welfare recipients with iPhones--I certainly have. That must be a blow to those few who brought the iPhone as a status symbol. Those who brought it because one of the best phones available don't care either way.
My wife has a iPhone 7 Plus. She loves it. I don't care for the iPhone for 2 reasons: 1) forced migration to the lastest OS and 2) it's locked down tighter than the Pope's chastity belt. There are those who prefer the speed of the older OS. And there are those who want to tinker/are control freaks and want root access without having the OS broken upon the next update. Android breaks root with updates too, but at least I don't have to update against my wishes.

 

[iCat]

but you do have time here. Apple users aside,, That is a cover... I'm an Apple user too, doesn't say anything i must stick to Apple forums... I go where i please.

Good! You be you.

 

[Tech198]

Irrational Apple hate is nothing new. I just think it is a lot more obvious due to Apple becoming a more popular brand.

As a very long time Apple user, I remember on the receiving end of Apple hate back in the 90's to the mid 2000's.

I would hear the typical things like over priced, and no software for them (Macs), but also off the wall crap like people saying that "Macs are gay", and they didn't like that you have to go to "the back of the store" to shop for Apple stuff.

These two quotes were said by old military friends of mine. Ironically, these two people ended up getting Macs in 2007, and then iPhones sometime later on.

My two best friends from the military both left the same time I did, and I had a going away party at my home. They were so impressed by my Macs, Apple TV, and other Apple products, that it changed there mind.

Ironic isn't it... The same one who complain about Apple are the same ones who later accept it and try and get used to it...

That tells us, they never had a point to begin with. If a business,you may not have that choice what you use, but you do for personal use kinda.

 

[CLS727]

Eh, just human nature. People have their reasons.

For many, it's as simple as hating the expensive phone of pretentious people. (in their mind)

For others, it might be just a learning curve of being a non Apple person.

I know an investment banker guy that STILL swears by his BlackBerry, and says iPhone are for girls.

It's like the story of Jay Leno owning hundreds of cars.... but no Ferrari's. Because when he was young and first making money, he walked into a dealer an encountered a rude/dismissive sales person.... Has held the grudge ever since.

Even for me, I hate Toyota Prius drivers. No real explainable reason. I just feel that way.

 

[Septembersrain]

Eh, just human nature. People have their reasons.

For many, it's as simple as hating the expensive phone of pretentious people. (in their mind)

For others, it might be just a learning curve of being a non Apple person.

I know an investment banker guy that STILL swears by his BlackBerry, and says iPhone are for girls.

It's like the story of Jay Leno owning hundreds of cars.... but no Ferrari's. Because when he was young and first making money, he walked into a dealer an encountered a rude/dismissive sales person.... Has held the grudge ever since.

Even for me, I hate Toyota Prius drivers. No real explainable reason. I just feel that way.

On a serious note, I own a Yaris and my grandmother a Prius.

I love her to death but most Prius drivers rank up there with BMW owners in my mind. My grandma is no exception to that either.

As for Apple, I don't hate them. I'm frustrated with a few choices they've made, same with the drivers of said vehicles above.

 

[beerinbox]

Hi.

I signed up an account just to share my views on this matter!
As a person who has a desktop PC that's not Apple, a Macbook Air mid-13 and an iPad (5th gen, I think?), I get some of the hate people have towards Apple.

Although iPhone was not the first touch screen phone and iPad was not the first tablet, they were implemented so much better than their respective competitors that you might as well consider iPhone and iPad were the first smartphone and tablet. But that's about it.

I am irritated that some of the features the other products had before their Apple counterparts are presented like they were done by Apple first. Most of the time, someone else already have done what Apple considers 'innovative'. No, what you named iSomething was already being used by other people and it's not invented by you, Apple.

This attitude is magnified with the Apple hardcore fans. Sorry, not hardcore fans, but by iSheep. Hardcore fans are people who knows and understands how Apple operates and considers it fine and they are okay with technology not being led by Apple. iSheep are different kind of people, and they are so oblivious to the life outside Apple that to them, if Apple is not using something, it's because it does not exist and it won't exist until Apple invents it.

In general, Apple is a company who waits for a tech to mature enough to be used seamlessly by the end user and then implements it. Sometimes they implement their own version of it, sometimes they contribute to the maturation process of a tech, sometimes they just wait for it to mature. Of course, sometimes they just invent (or innovate) it. That is totally fine and actually that's what made Apple such a big brand, imo.

Let's be honest here, 99% of the time, a tech is implemented better by Apple than their competitors. Like I said, this was so true with iPhone and iPad that it's not a horrible mistake to think that they are the first products of their lines. Whether they invented something or not, they implement it better than the rest, most of the time.

Apart from that, Apple mostly gets hate for their price, their closed ecosystem, their way of conducting business.
Apple is expensive: So what? They put the price, people buy it. Nobody hates Ferrari because it's expensive, so why hate Apple?
Apple is late to implement new tech: So what? They use older tech, it works, people use it. Want the next tech? Get the device that has it.
Apple uses outdated parts in their computers: So don't buy it.
Apple makes devices that are hard to fix/upgrade: Apple is not your only choice in any of their product line, so get something that you can fix/upgrade later.
Apple has closed ecosystem: That's a decision they made, and if you don't like it, don't buy Apple. If you bought it anyway, you knew what you're jumping into.
Apple devices are not customizable: Some people like to 'just' use their devices. They buy Apple. You want to tinker with your devices, don't buy Apple.
You may be right with your criticism, but it doesn't mean that your hate is justified. It is not.

Apart from the attitude "Apple was here before everyone else", I think the rest of the hate is irrational. You can't hate Apple for being Apple.

Same irrational hate is directed to every popular brand, to be honest. Do we all love Google, Microsoft and Samsung? Do we all criticize them rationally? I've never had a BSOD since Windows 8.1 and I'm using Win 10 on my desktop now, but it's still a thing to hate. People still think that AMD processors will heat to the point of explosion, Samsung users are still hating the TouchWiz interface of their Samsung phones. People still are talking about "you're not holding it right", bending iPhones, exploding Note 7. People are still comparing cheap Android phones to a premium device, the last iPhone. I think internet is to blame here.

BUT, as a person who tried to get into Apple ecosystem, I think Apple is not making the best decisions lately. I could not justify buying iPhone X for the price and features. The smartphone is the missing part for my total integration to Apple ecosystem and despite that, I could not justify buying it. Also, the latest Macbooks are not compelling me to upgrade to one of them although I have the base model of Macbook Air with 128 GB SSD and 4 GB of RAM. I hear that people need some sort of adapter to connect their new iPhones to their new Macbooks and that's disappointing for a company whose biggest selling point is their ecosystem.

 

[ipponrg]

Although iPhone was not the first touch screen phone and iPad was not the first tablet, they were implemented so much better than their respective competitors that you might as well consider iPhone and iPad were the first smartphone and tablet. But that's about it.

I am irritated that some of the features the other products had before their Apple counterparts are presented like they were done by Apple first. Most of the time, someone else already have done what Apple considers 'innovative'. No, what you named iSomething was already being used by other people and it's not invented by you, Apple.

I agree with a lot of this. Apple for the most part has historically taken pre-existing ideas and just made them better. Now that's not necessarily a bad thing because usually they do a pretty good job.

This attitude is magnified with the Apple hardcore fans. Sorry, not hardcore fans, but by iSheep. Hardcore fans are people who knows and understands how Apple operates and considers it fine and they are okay with technology not being led by Apple. iSheep are different kind of people, and they are so oblivious to the life outside Apple that to them, if Apple is not using something, it's because it does not exist and it won't exist until Apple invents it.

Just like any cult, there are some that are blinded by ideas and philosophies. I wouldn't say that hardcore fans are necessarily cultists, but often times they are rather irrational when looking at the bigger picture. Many use the defense mechanism that their share prices are at an all time high, so therefore that's valid justification for how great Apple is to its users. Just like sport teams, much of this behavior is usually exhibited from fairweather fans. You can see this evident in the forums just by looking at the News & Rumors section. You'll see the same overly-pro Apple supporters rush to support pro-Apple articles. On the contrary any con-Apple articles, you'll see them in hiding.

In general, Apple is a company who waits for a tech to mature enough to be used seamlessly by the end user and then implements it. Sometimes they implement their own version of it, sometimes they contribute to the maturation process of a tech, sometimes they just wait for it to mature. Of course, sometimes they just invent (or innovate) it. That is totally fine and actually that's what made Apple such a big brand, imo.

I actually think people don't give enough credit to Apple's marketing (which is basically their branding). Ever since the iPod used U2 for their iPod commercials as well as their Mac vs Apple commercials with Justin Long Mac ad commercials, it very much resonated with many current and future users. They really turned it around during that era imo. Also when they shifted over to using x86 architectures for their Macs, that was also a huge change too. Many including myself desired a unix based OS that had a better UX/support than say Ubuntu or Redhat. So in some way, they kind of listened to feedback and also started defining their brand a lot better for a larger population.

Apart from that, Apple mostly gets hate for their price, their closed ecosystem, their way of conducting business.

This. As a former Apple hater, I despised the amount of praise and love that Apple got back in the day. Logically, a lot of it didn't make sense to me. They were infamous for selling overpriced hardware that performed worse than their PC counterparts. I disliked the iPod at the time despite how creative marketing was for forcing you to use their POS iTunes software to load content. I tried to get on board with Sansa and Creative Labs music devices, but from a UX pov, nothing beat the feel of that clicker wheel. When I got my 2011 Macbook Pro and started doing some serious work, the "it just works" applied very well.

Same irrational hate is directed to every popular brand, to be honest. Do we all love Google, Microsoft and Samsung? Do we all criticize them rationally? I've never had a BSOD since Windows 8.1 and I'm using Win 10 on my desktop now, but it's still a thing to hate. People still think that AMD processors will heat to the point of explosion, Samsung users are still hating the TouchWiz interface of their Samsung phones. People still are talking about "you're not holding it right", bending iPhones, exploding Note 7. People are still comparing cheap Android phones to a premium device, the last iPhone. I think internet is to blame here.

I don't think you hear as much hate about other brands because frankly they don't get the amount of press that Apple gets. I agree that the internet makes voicing your opinion much more accessible. It almost acts as a creative outlet.

BUT, as a person who tried to get into Apple ecosystem, I think Apple is not making the best decisions lately. I could not justify buying iPhone X for the price and features. The smartphone is the missing part for my total integration to Apple ecosystem and despite that, I could not justify buying it. Also, the latest Macbooks are not compelling me to upgrade to one of them although I have the base model of Macbook Air with 128 GB SSD and 4 GB of RAM. I hear that people need some sort of adapter to connect their new iPhones to their new Macbooks and that's disappointing for a company whose biggest selling point is their ecosystem.

Honestly, the iPhone X is a great piece of hardware. Is it the best iPhone yet? That depends on the user. Some here use the iPhone beyond what I use it for. I only use it to play games, use apps, send texts here and there, take pics with the camera occasionally, etc. I am definitely not a power user, don't send emojis, and don't care for AR. I miss the 3.5mm plug. And lastly, FaceID has been worse for me.

One of the worst debacles recently is like you said the Macbook and iPhone integration. The 2015+ macbooks only have USB-C ports. You basically need a USB-A to USB-C dongle to charge the iPhone on current Macbooks. Also the current iPhones are encouraging wireless headphones. I can't count the number of times on the plane where I am listening to music via the lightning -> 3.5mm jack, then needing to charge and realize i need to stop listening to music in order to charge. It's almost a passive aggressive stance by Apple. Isn't it ironic that you need dongles to use 1st party products together?

Siri arguably is one of the worst features that Apple provides in their products. It adequately fulfills some of people's requirements, but as a whole compared to others, it has underperformed.

Some great objective reads that highlights some of Apple's shortcomings and strengths that parallel your thoughts:
https://stratechery.com/2016/apples-organizational-crossroads/
https://stratechery.com/2017/apples-strengths-and-weaknesses/

 

[beerinbox]

Honestly, the iPhone X is a great piece of hardware. Is it the best iPhone yet? That depends on the user. Some here use the iPhone beyond what I use it for. I only use it to play games, use apps, send texts here and there, take pics with the camera occasionally, etc. I am definitely not a power user, don't send emojis, and don't care for AR. I miss the 3.5mm plug. And lastly, FaceID has been worse for me.

One of the worst debacles recently is like you said the Macbook and iPhone integration. The 2015+ macbooks only have USB-C ports. You basically need a USB-A to USB-C dongle to charge the iPhone on current Macbooks. Also the current iPhones are encouraging wireless headphones. I can't count the number of times on the plane where I am listening to music via the lightning -> 3.5mm jack, then needing to charge and realize i need to stop listening to music in order to charge. It's almost a passive aggressive stance by Apple. Isn't it ironic that you need dongles to use 1st party products together?

To be honest, besides the fact that I was not so keen on the look of iPhone X, I had two other reasons not to buy: First is that people told me not to buy a first generation Apple stuff if I'm not just gonna switch it on next iteration, second is that I have to use the phone I buy for more than 2 years. iPhone X costs nearly $2000 in my country (Turkey). That meant I won't be able to sell it and get something else if I did not like it, and my first impressions were not good. I wasn't going to gamble.

The integration (or lack of it) between Macbook and iPhone is going to get more hate to Apple, and from their own fans. Today I watched an unboxing of an iMac Pro. The person who bought it bought for 50000 TL. That's about $13000 and it came with a type-A usb cable. He was mad.

 

[bruinsrme]

I think there's several things at work here that contribute to the problem.

1) Apple was the first company to enjoy such a level of brand loyalty that it bordered on religion for how deeply people felt about it. When people care THAT deeply, you often get emotional responses....their limbic system overwhelms their rational thought. It also means that they can feel personally betrayed when they don't get what they want.

2) People are emboldened by the anonymity of the internet. They say things they never would in polite, real world conversation, as there's little to any repercussions of them doing so. Certainly no repercussions to their real life.

3) Yes, there's a lot of immaturity out there. There's a wide range of different ages to be found in any forum. And, honestly, some of them really enjoy just "stirring the pot". Their hobby is to be an online assh---.

I think Gateway was had it good for a while.
I’ve been using Apple for about 10years. The few issues I have had only one was met with disappointment, not anger. It wasn’t major, out side the warranty period.

The big thing I’ve found is Apple makes it relatively easy to contact them and they try to help.
Had an issue with Microsoft recently and the CSR (English and a third language) first wanted to load software onto my computer to see what’s going on.
Wasn’t sure why that was necessary for transferring an Offcie Key to a new computer.
When challenged they hung up.

Dell lost my business when i realized I was purchasing extended warranties because I knew after three years I would need to have it fixed.

I buy Apple care because i want to be covered if something happens.

My loyalty has been driven by service and the features of their product.