Don't get me wrong. I'm all for more products from Microsoft. But I don't get some who criticize Apple's "all show" and then praise Microsoft's offerings as if they are incredibly different.
Some are like that I agree, but you get more clarity with Microsoft, and we are bouncing between these two companies purely as its easy, there are many that operate in different ways, I am sure we agree on that.
But I still think Apple lacks clear division in what they offer,
always forcing the upsell, always. You know the Go is the surface budget product, the price makes that clear, as does the spec. Apple will never suggest anything is a budget line, but we know better right? To show that;
I am looking for a laptop with Apple, so let's walk through this.
The MBA, cheapest is $1,099, but only a dual-core i5, not great, not terrible and the SSD, only 128GB, I am a somewhat clueless consumer, I will probably live with the i5, hmm but that 128GB, I will probably burn through that quickly.
Ok, the MBA also has a $1,299 model, so $200 more, identical machine all I get is an extra 128GB SSD, but that sounds better, but a big jump for another 128GB SSD.
Wait, WTF, for $1,299 I can also get the MacBook PRO! Oh wait, it only has 128GB SSD... But it does have the touch bar, a far better quad-core i5 processor, and its the PRO, must be better! Oh ****, but back to 128GB SSD, I think I really need that 256GB to be safe, I can't upgrade later so I need to be careful.
Ok, well, let's look at the MBP with 256GB SSD, wow, that is $1,499 so another $200 again. But its the Pro and that way better processor and the touch bar. It's only $400 more than the first one I looked at..
You get the idea, I could then go on about spending another $300 for 4 USB-C, a faster i5 again but no more SSD.
You see the pattern, Apple ****s with consumers minds, those subtle differences force the upsell. Note that across the MBA and MBP, 6 devices ranging in price from $1,099 to $1,999 you only ever get an i5, the ram is always 8GB, the SSD is always 128GB or 256GB except when you make the leap to $1,999 you will get 512GB SSD but still the i5 and still 8GB ram.
Sure there is an element of that even in Microsoft, more at the bottom end but even in the Surface Laptop 3 line they are giving you an i5 (quad-core), 8GB ram and 256GB SSD at $999, by the time you hit $1,949 you are getting an i7, 512GB SSD and 16GB ram.
I know, I am ranting now
Again, nothing against anyone being in the eco-system, I have been in it longer than most, if it works for you then only you need to justify the cost, spec and so on, don't let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn't do, just keep an open mind and understand that Apple wants to milk you dry, if you are going to let them, at least do it knowing who they are
