Planned obsolescence!

[Act3]

Except that for windows devices a desktop class processor since the introduction of the Core I7 in 2008 has a fairly decent size lifespan. So essentially you can install windows 10 on the first i7, the 920 at 2.66 and it will be okay enough for light tasks. Of course you need an lga-1366 system board, ddr3 memory, etc.

In the same way my ipad 2 is not quite the workhorse as the 6s is.

It's all relative, but my computer at work is an i7-3770 while my main desktop at house is i7-860. There really is not much of a difference noticeable between the UI of both systems, despite the 3770 being 2 generations newer and a faster clock.

 

[I7guy]

It's all relative, but my computer at work is an i7-3770 while my main desktop at house is i7-860. There really is not much of a difference noticeable between the UI of both systems, despite the 3770 being 2 generations newer and a faster clock.

I would agree in general, but in later generations the accompanying chipset and cpu got some major tweaks. Encryption, video editing and other tasks would have received a bit of speed bump due to under the cover changes.

 

[\-V-/]

I would agree in general, but in later generations the accompanying chipset and cpu got some major tweaks. Encryption, video editing and other tasks would have received a bit of speed bump due to under the cover changes.

Not to mention the progression of the onboard graphics.

 

[George Waseem]

Well, this is your opinion, and not representative of every users experience. I upgraded from the iPhone 4 to a 5S for one reason only -- the home button and lock buttons had stopped working reliably. First one and then the other. Otherwise I was perfectly happy with the performance of my iP4 under iOS 7. And even with those hardware problems, I didn't upgrade until after the iPhone 6 was released. So only a little over a year ago. In fact, I still use my iP4 as an iPod Touch, despite the broken buttons, and am totally satisfied with its performance.

So maybe, the problem isn't planned obsolescence, but rather your needs have exceeded the abilities of the device, which is a totally different thing. Case in point, I wouldn't go back to an iPhone without Touch ID for any price now.

You may have noticed my screen name, and graphic. That's not just nostalgia -- I actually still have my original 128k Mac I bought used in the Spring of 1986, and I maintain and use it occasionally. And here's the thing -- it still does everything I bought it to do in 1986, and even a few things it was never designed to do thanks to industrious developers. What I have no expectations for it to do however, is something I need my current Macs to do.

But perhaps I misunderstand you -- if your complaint is solely that you wish you could go back to iOS 6, and that would make your iP4 totally usable to this day forestalling your need to upgrade to the 5S, but Apple won't let you; then I sympathize. There are ways around that however. But if you're saying you want the features afforded under iOS 7, or 8, and on the iPhone 5S along with its performance, then I don't really see this as planned obsolescence, but a failure of unreasonable expectations.

Again, I would still be using my 4 with no complaints, blissfully unaware of the convenience of Touch ID, holding out for the new 4" iPhone. Maybe you just had a bad install. But if that's not it, then I have to question the reasonableness of your expectations.

iPhone 4 is a great phone, I've used it for more than a year and it was truly a tough and amazing phone, Mine was preinstalled with iOS 6, when I got it I wasn't aware enough of the software versions and tech stuff. I upgraded it to iOS 7, the performance was bad, even when disabling animations, transparency and all new features with iOS 7, even with jailbreak, the phone was just unable to perform like it should. The only advantage it had over the newer phones is that it has an amazing battery, I hope someone would develop a tool to get back to iOS 6 like the one used to make A5 devices get back to iOS 5. I use it as a secondary device mostly like an iPod, it holds my full 6gb music library and 3gb of photos.

 

[Elisha]

Except that for windows devices a desktop class processor since the introduction of the Core I7 in 2008 has a fairly decent size lifespan. So essentially you can install windows 10 on the first i7, the 920 at 2.66 and it will be okay enough for light tasks. Of course you need an lga-1366 system board, ddr3 memory, etc.

In the same way my ipad 2 is not quite the workhorse as the 6s is.

You're delusional dude. I have Windows 10 running on my E6600 dual core from 2006 with 8gb of ram without any issue. It's faster than XP that I initially ran on it, Vista and 7 that was on it until a few months ago. All I had to do since I first built it was get a newer video card for it it 2010.

 

[I7guy]

You're delusional dude. I have Windows 10 running on my E6600 dual core from 2006 with 8gb of ram without any issue. It's faster than XP that I initially ran on it, Vista and 7 that was on it until a few months ago. All I had to do since I first built it was get a newer video card for it it 2010.

Dude whatever. you had a borked installation.

 

[Elisha]

XP was only good compared to Vista. Windows 7 was amazing. Never tried Windows 8 though.

 

[Michael Goff]

Why are we comparing Desktop and Mobile? ARM hasn't had the same amount of ramp up time x86 has. Stop comparing them.

 

[oldmacs]

Why are we comparing Desktop and Mobile? ARM hasn't had the same amount of ramp up time x86 has. Stop comparing them.

I think that the comparisons are made as people badmouth Microsoft for poor long term support yet they do a better job than Apple (ignoring Windows RT and Windows Phone).

The idea remains relevant though. Microsoft has worked hard to the extent that Windows 10 works well on computers stretching back a long long way.

 

[I7guy]

I think that the comparisons are made as people badmouth Microsoft for poor long term support yet they do a better job than Apple (ignoring Windows RT and Windows Phone).

The idea remains relevant though. Microsoft has worked hard to the extent that Windows 10 works well on computers stretching back a long long way.

They do a better job because the wintel platform has longevity built into it. Any intel or amd processor within the last 20 years will run 32 bit software on a supported operating system on a supported processor. Some processors will support 64 bit operating systems after windows 7. But obviously not every processor/operating system combo supports advanced features that depend on specific instructions.

 

[Radon87000]

I think that the comparisons are made as people badmouth Microsoft for poor long term support yet they do a better job than Apple (ignoring Windows RT and Windows Phone).

The idea remains relevant though. Microsoft has worked hard to the extent that Windows 10 works well on computers stretching back a long long way.

I own a Lumia 820 from 2012 and on Windows 10 Mobile it has retained the same amount of speed it had when I bought.Say what you want about Microsoft but they really are pros when it supporting old hardware.In fact out of Android,Windows Phone and iOS I found Windows Phone to be the only OS which didn't drop in speed over time which is a testament to Microsoft's software engineering experience.Now they have even managed to bypass the carriers for updates

 

[oldmacs]

I own a Lumia 820 from 2012 and on Windows 10 Mobile it has retained the same amount of speed it had when I bought.Say what you want about Microsoft but they really are pros when it supporting old hardware.In fact out of Android,Windows Phone and iOS I found Windows Phone to be the only OS which didn't drop in speed over time which is a testament to Microsoft's software engineering experience.Now they have even managed to bypass the carriers for updates

I agree, microsoft is good at supporting devices, but there have been instances where Windows phone users have been short changed for updates (Windows phone 7 users not getting updates to Windows 8 phone) and also Windows RT users that were stranded on Windows 8.1.

 

[Elisha]

I own a Lumia 820 from 2012 and on Windows 10 Mobile it has retained the same amount of speed it had when I bought.Say what you want about Microsoft but they really are pros when it supporting old hardware.In fact out of Android,Windows Phone and iOS I found Windows Phone to be the only OS which didn't drop in speed over time which is a testament to Microsoft's software engineering experience.Now they have even managed to bypass the carriers for updates

A family member owns the Lumia 920 and it is as fluid as the day he got it a few years ago.
Windows Phone OS on the Nokia phones are as fluid and smooth as they come for mobile OS compared to Android and iOS. Too bad they didn't get adopted as rapidly when Nokia became their main partner!
I used a few older Windows phones back in the day like the HTC Elf, TyTn II and Vox S710 and even though the hardware itself was crappy, the OS was amazing and lots of customizations from developers.
That's how XDA Developers started out as well!

 

[Radon87000]

They do a better job because the wintel platform has longevity built into it. Any intel or amd processor within the last 20 years will run 32 bit software on a supported operating system on a supported processor. Some processors will support 64 bit operating systems after windows 7. But obviously not every processor/operating system combo supports advanced features that depend on specific instructions.

so you admit Windows runs better on Apple hardware than OSX?

 

[I7guy]

so you admit Windows runs better on Apple hardware than OSX?

I didn't think that's what I said but if you're saying I said that, it must be what i said.

 

[ediks]

Apple , just let us downgrade to any version which our phone supported , thats all.

 

[I7guy]

Apple , just let us downgrade to any version which our phone supported , thats all.

That is clearly not going to happen. A potential outcome could be downgrading to 7.1.2, if anything.

 

[nightcap965]

"Planned obsolescence" is a loaded term, implying that the manufacturer deliberately and with malice aforethought designed the product to fail. Have you considered that ordinary unplanned obsolescence might be a more reasonable explanation? The iPad 2 is a piece of consumer electronics that is now five years old, the second generation of a product that is now in its sixth generation (not counting the Pro). How long did you expect it to be enhanced by new software, and on what did you base that assumption?

Comparing to desktop computers is inaccurate. Here's a better: I have a first generation Nexus 7 running the latest available version of Android. The model is four years old. I find it virtually unusable and it's heading for the recycle skip.

I have an iPad 2 that hasn't been fired up in a while, simply because I mainly use my iPad 4. The 4 will probably last me until either I develop a use case for the Pro that will convince the Chancellor of the Exchequer to approve the expenditure, or the iPad Air 3.

The good news: as with the desktop, the more the device matures, the longer its useful life expectancy.

 

[Three141]

Planned obsolesces, I do believe Apple have this built into their products.
I think what fuels this theory is you can never really tell if Apple is giving you the best they can or if they are holding something back for the next upgrade cycle combine that with the annual slagging off of the prior years' release and the study which stated Apple gimp products before the launch of new ones it does leave one feeling sceptical.

However for mobile devices 36 months then abandon seems too cover the average 24 month upgrade program of its customers quite well and supporting to far back holds you from going further forward IMO.

 

[danleon950410]

Planned obsolesces, I do believe Apple have this built into their products.
I think what fuels this theory is you can never really tell if Apple is giving you the best they can or if they are holding something back for the next upgrade cycle combine that with the annual slagging off of the prior years' release and the study which stated Apple gimp products before the launch of new ones it does leave one feeling sceptical.

However for mobile devices 36 months then abandon seems too cover the average 24 month upgrade program of its customers quite well and supporting to far back holds you from going further forward IMO.

Nobody complains about that, the 36 support is good, even more in some cases (see iPad 2 for example). It's the state of the device when it's "let go" that has definetly reached a breaking point.

 

[danleon950410]

"Planned obsolescence" is a loaded term, implying that the manufacturer deliberately and with malice aforethought designed the product to fail. Have you considered that ordinary unplanned obsolescence might be a more reasonable explanation? The iPad 2 is a piece of consumer electronics that is now five years old, the second generation of a product that is now in its sixth generation (not counting the Pro). How long did you expect it to be enhanced by new software, and on what did you base that assumption?

Comparing to desktop computers is inaccurate. Here's a better: I have a first generation Nexus 7 running the latest available version of Android. The model is four years old. I find it virtually unusable and it's heading for the recycle skip.

I have an iPad 2 that hasn't been fired up in a while, simply because I mainly use my iPad 4. The 4 will probably last me until either I develop a use case for the Pro that will convince the Chancellor of the Exchequer to approve the expenditure, or the iPad Air 3.

The good news: as with the desktop, the more the device matures, the longer its useful life expectancy.

Not enhanced, but kept on its point. Based on the claims Apple did over iOS 9, backed up on the lack of those "new important features" on A5 devices and there's also the fact that the code of the OS was hardly changed on this transition, just to discard the "it was entirely re-written and it's too heavy for these devices" excuse.

 

[Jayson A]

Planned obsolescence doesn't apply to computers as it does to cars for example. In order to keep a Honda Accord at a reasonable price point engineering choices have to be made. I'm sure Honda could design a $200k 20 year bullet proof accord, but who would buy it?

My iPad 2 on iOS 9.2 could theoretically last for many more years but would I want to use a 10 year old computer?

I'm using a 10 year old computer right now. The original Mac Pro 1,1. It's just as fast as the Mac Pro we got at work that was purchased in 2013. Figure that one out.

The other thing that sucks about Apple products is even if you buy an iPhone 6 or iPhone 5s RIGHT NOW, it comes pre-loaded with the latest software whether you want it to or not. So you're not getting the OS that was optimized for that hardware unless you buy the hardware when that OS is the most current.

Also, once Apple stops signing an older OS, if you upgrade, there's no going back. So think about this for a second. Let's say I'm sitting here with iOS 8.3 and it works fine for me, however some of the iOS 9.2 features are tempting to me. I'll go on a forum and see how people are liking it. However, I have to sift through people arguing back and forth about how it lags and how it doesn't lag and it's all in the users head. Also, you have people saying stuff like "9.2 fixed almost all the lags for me and it's just as fast as 8.4.1".

So maybe after seeing some people praise the 9.2 update, I might be tempted to try it, however if I update, I can't go back. That's the part that sucks. I updated to 9.1 from 8.4.1 because A) The Music app sucked on 8.4.1 as it wasn't really designed to be a part of iOS 8 fully and B) because some people said it fixed the lagginess of 9.0 (in some ways it did and it was definitely better, but not completely fixed). Now, Apple has stopped signing 8.4.1 and now I just have to hope Apple will further optimize iOS 9 on my outdated iPhone 6, but they probably don't care about their older hardware because why would anyone buy a 6s if the 6 was just as fast?

 

[Radon87000]

I didn't think that's what I said but if you're saying I said that, it must be what i said.

You claim to not be surprised that Windows performs better on Apple hardware because of longevity which means you agree with what I say about planned obsolescence

 

[Radon87000]

I'm using a 10 year old computer right now. The original Mac Pro 1,1. It's just as fast as the Mac Pro we got at work that was purchased in 2013. Figure that one out.

The other thing that sucks about Apple products is even if you buy an iPhone 6 or iPhone 5s RIGHT NOW, it comes pre-loaded with the latest software whether you want it to or not. So you're not getting the OS that was optimized for that hardware unless you buy the hardware when that OS is the most current.

Also, once Apple stops signing an older OS, if you upgrade, there's no going back. So think about this for a second. Let's say I'm sitting here with iOS 8.3 and it works fine for me, however some of the iOS 9.2 features are tempting to me. I'll go on a forum and see how people are liking it. However, I have to sift through people arguing back and forth about how it lags and how it doesn't lag and it's all in the users head. Also, you have people saying stuff like "9.2 fixed almost all the lags for me and it's just as fast as 8.4.1".

So maybe after seeing some people praise the 9.2 update, I might be tempted to try it, however if I update, I can't go back. That's the part that sucks. I updated to 9.1 from 8.4.1 because A) The Music app sucked on 8.4.1 as it wasn't really designed to be a part of iOS 8 fully and B) because some people said it fixed the lagginess of 9.0 (in some ways it did and it was definitely better, but not completely fixed). Now, Apple has stopped signing 8.4.1 and now I just have to hope Apple will further optimize iOS 9 on my outdated iPhone 6, but they probably don't care about their older hardware because why would anyone buy a 6s if the 6 was just as fast?

Exactly. This is where Google Nexus is better than iPhones.I can upgrade and downgrade as much I want and also get Apple-like updates schedule

 

[I7guy]

You claim to not be surprised that Windows performs better on Apple hardware because of longevity which means you agree with what I say about planned obsolescence

I guess I wasn't clear enough, but no I'm referring to a "planned obsolescence " model on wintel hardware, which exists as much as iOS.