That's it, I'm free of Apple

[0989382]

A few months ago, and for the past 10 years as of June 6th, I've been a loyal and enthusiastic fan of Apple devices, software and especially the ecosystem. I had an iPhone XR 128GB and Mac Mini 6-core and iPad Air 3, now all sold. Before this, I had an iPhone SE and a TouchBar 2018 MBP with 512GB storage. I had a LOT of my cash in Apple's pockets.

As of tomorrow morning, I'll wake up a Windows + Android man.

It started with buying a used ThinkPad X280 at a steal of a price, £600. It's got 16GB RAM, vPro i5 quad core, 1080p screen 256GB (soon to be upgraded - yay, upgrades again!) ssd. Two weeks in and I've not had any nasty surprises. It's also got 2.5 years of Lenovo warranty on it, no need to pay for Apple Care thankfully. But realistically, I'll order and fix it myself, because now.. I can! No more long trips, petrol burned, my work working around me Mac-less for a week, getting my Mac returned with an eye lash on it etc.

I sincerely loved Apple and still admire and respect it, but I've turned into the very person I argued with before in saying that "They're good, but they're just not for me". And I wouldn't dispute the benefits of the Mac either, they're real and impressive in their own right.

As WWDC comes up, usually I'm buzzing to see what we'll get. And truth be told I was worried it'd make me regret selling my devices, but my experience so far has been so positive on W10 and the Microsoft Ecosystem that I'm no longer worried.

My back is turned on Apple now. I just ordered a Samsung Galaxy S10+ to replace my iPhone XR, which I've only had since January. Why? The XR is great, but it's not as well integrated into my new setup and new found joy of being in Microsoft's bubble as an Android phone can be. I HATE Google and don't want to go near it's ecosystem any more than I have to, which hopefully will be possible. Especially as I'm sure Android can be adapted in these ways to make it so?

The screen size of the XR from the SE was fantastic, but I found myself envious of Android friends having the split screen use of their phones - replying on WhatsApp whilst continuing to watch your YouTube video etc. I hope for better use of the now larger screen.

The bigger and hopefully better battery life of the S10+ is also welcome, as the improvement from SE to XR was.

I'll admit I'm no Android expert and acted too quickly, not being able to closely identify every spec and review of every choice I had like is advisable, but the S10+ comes from a manufacturer which if anything is as credible and established and popular as Apple today and ranks high on all of the current 'best' lists too. I've found that these lists tend to nail it for most users cases and hope it has in this case.

I considered the Xperia 1 but its focus on creators and video and 'on-phone' apps isn't where my money is best concentrated.

Now, I hope my integrated S10+ and W10 X280 can work reliably, for a long time and with power to spare for at least 3 years. Then I'll know if I ever want to reconsider Apple, and with a better focus on Pros and admitting their mistakes lately, perhaps that'll be the place to do it. But they lost me, as my career increasingly depended on their hardware they lost me as a 'pro'. And whether I'll reconsider in a few years depends on how well Lenovo's ThinkPad reliability and Microsoft's listening to customers and tuning of Windows and finally Samsung's never ending battle to 'beat' the iPhone holds true to itself.

I can continue to update this periodically for anyone else considering a drastic move like this, and would be happy to answer any questions or take any advice. Do you guys think I made the right choice going from X10+ from XR?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Why would you ask an Apple form if you made the right choice? Choices I make for myself may be right for me but not everyone will agree. I do my research, then I find what I like and make decisions based on that. Why look for the approval of others? Only you know what’s right for you.

Last sentence should be going to X10+ from XR.

Good luck and hope you can be happy. Life is short.

 

[0989382]

Why would you ask an Apple form if you made the right choice? Choices I make for myself may be right for me but not everyone will agree. I do my research, then I find what I like and make decisions based on that. Why look for the approval of others? Only you know what’s right for you.

Last sentence should be going to X10+ from XR.

Good luck and hope you can be happy. Life is short.

All true. Though I’m not looking for approval (it’s been done now, no going back). Im more asking you guys do you think that’s a good choice or not? Just for discussion. I know people won’t agree 100%, but I’m interested to know why and I respect that

 

[Falhófnir]

If you're happy, yeah it was a great choice

 

[Juicy Box]

As of tomorrow morning, I'll wake up a Windows + Android man.

Sometimes I think about switching, but it is the MacOS that keeps me from it.

I use Windows everyday, just as much as I use Mac. While I think the quality gap between Mac and Windows is closing, Macs are still overall better imo.

I think as Apple market share goes up, their HW and SW quality has suffered. If it continues this way, or of Apple does something dramatic with the MacOS, such as making it a lot more like iOS, or remove the ability to downgrade to old versions like iOS, then I think I might jump ship.

I am a very long time Apple Fan, over 25 years, and it would be hard for me to switch, but I think there are little changes happening all the time that is making it just a tiny bit easier with each change.

 

[MBAir2010]

personally i still cannot walk around with a phone especially one that gets the internets.
if you see what i see, humans dumbfoundly carrying and driving with these devices around like an important organ they will miss if left alone, you would feel the same. Some idiot was risking lives just to tap instead of breaking his car while racing a red light. very scary and wrong.

 

[FFR]

Good luck op.

Don’t think I’m going to switch anytime soon, life is to short to compromise.

 

[danny_w]

I have similarly changed from a 2012 i7 Mac Mini to a Dell XPS desktop, but still have my iPhone 6S+ and Apple TVs (3rd gen). I would be interested to know how you like going to Android as I have not had one in a while. Actually the main reason that I (and my wife) have iPhones and Apple TVs is the easy ability to airplay a video from the mobile device to the tv; the last I saw this was much less reliable with Google's chromecast.

 

[BigMcGuire]

All true. Though I’m not looking for approval (it’s been done now, no going back). Im more asking you guys do you think that’s a good choice or not? Just for discussion. I know people won’t agree 100%, but I’m interested to know why and I respect that

My opinion? I can only give you my experience. I've used Windows since the 486 days as a kid (DOS). I grew up with Windows 95, 98, XP, NT, 2000 and eventually 7, 8, and 10. I work on Windows all day and use it more than I do my Mac. I've done 20+ years of IT and 7+ of Visual Studio C#. I know Windows like the back of my hand.

I went with Mac because I liked the ease at which it makes my life easier. The ability to do a phone call, text message, put in bank codes automatically from SMS, handoff, the ability to take a photo with my iPhone, iPad, or MacBook and have it instantly available on all my devices, updates that don't crash my system, an OS that stays out of my way so I can do what I want with it, etc.... Mac's ability to backup data is impeccable. I could write a book bout what I like about Mac over Windows. And I like Windows.

My XPS 15 bought last year has been far from perfect. I've had more blue screens on this thing than I have in the last 10 years of Windows operation at work. The random shutdowns, overheating, and lockups - along with the 3-4 hours of battery life just don't cut it for me. Ask my brother (who has never used Mac) what his opinion of his XPS 13 is. My friend's X1 has not been flawless either.

A lot of your statements are anti-Apple like. But that's what matters, as long as you are happy, as Falhófnir put it, then you're good to go.

I have taken out Google in my life. Google, not as bad as Facebook, still makes $ from selling personal data. Facebook (I deleted my account awhile ago) is horrible. Google is not as bad, but that would keep me from buying an Android device.

I buy/borrow an Android device every year or so to make sure I'm up to date on what I'm missing. I Highly recommend people know what both fields of grass taste like before settling, otherwise how can you make an informed decision? You can't.

So even if this is a feeler event for you, hopefully you find what you like - and what you like isn't going to be what others like. Just make sure you're making the best decision for you. I get a lot of enjoyment out of trying new tech, so I honestly wish the best for you. And I'd love to see a report on how you are doing a few weeks/months from now. I'll keep my eye out for it.

Add a voting option: Tell us how it worked out for you 2-3 months from now! That's how I'd vote.

 

[retta283]

I am a split user, I don't use exclusively Apple. I have been using a Windows 7 box quite frequently recently and I am liking it. Of course it is going out of support soon... I might buy an older Samsung Galaxy to test the Android waters cheap.
[doublepost=1559059941][/doublepost]

personally i still cannot walk around with a phone especially one that gets the internets.
if you see what i see, humans dumbfoundly carrying and driving with these devices around like an important organ they will miss if left alone, you would feel the same. Some idiot was risking lives just to tap instead of breaking his car while racing a red light. very scary and wrong.

I know how you feel. I am a smartphone user, but I never use it while driving. I don't browse social media in public either. Only time you'll see my phone out of my pocket is when it's next to my ear and I am calling someone.

 

[phoneme]

Good luck op.

Don’t think I’m going to switch anytime soon, life is to short to compromise.

the compromises are with apple and it's closed os. it's like the AOL of the internet. you don't know how confined you really are until you leave the ecosystem. then it's a whole new world. i love my FREEDOM.

 

[FFR]

the compromises are with apple and it's closed os.

Yup closed and locked. Love that.

Just like an exclusive country club, you know like the ones you pay exorbitant fees to be able to join and to use the facilities and services.

Sure that’s a compromise .

you don't know how confined you really are until you leave the ecosystem. then it's a whole new world. i love my FREEDOM.

That’s great.
Your whole new world requires alot of compromises and extra steps compared to Mac OS and iOS.

Enjoy .

it's like the AOL of the internet.

I actually used aol, noting like using macOS or iOS.
Your confusing a browser with an operating system.

Have you even used Mac OS?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Yup closed and locked. Love that.

Just like an exclusive country club, you know like the ones you pay exorbitant fees to be able to join and to use the facilities and services.

Sure that’s a compromise .



That’s great.
Your whole new world requires alot of compromises and extra steps compared to Mac OS and iOS.

Enjoy .



I actually used aol, noting like using macOS or iOS.
Your confusing a browser with an operating system.

Have you even used Mac OS?

Having actually used AOL myself... (with a 14.4k external modem) lol. Indeed. Remember Netzero? Going through phonebooks to look for local phone numbers for internet connections?

One glaring thing anyone who rooted Android back in the day knows about Android ... a lot of what you do gets sent to a lot of different companies. Ask me how many viruses I've been paid to remove from office staff computers on Windows vs Mac over the last 20 years (mostly from free wall-paper apps). Ask me how a mobile app that we published for my company (on Apple App Store and Google Play) wasn't even looked at on the Google Play store and published the same day while Apple made us create a test account for them, vetted our code down to individual methods, and wouldn't let us release for months.

I could go on and on. Kids today like to think they're being all cool by mentioning AOL and how Apple is a closed garden.... but there are costs to this. That said, I like Windows, and for business development and cost, it rules and reigns.

 

[derekamoss]

Why would you ask an Apple form if you made the right choice?

kinda the whole point to this sub forum...

 

[BigMcGuire]

kinda the whole point to this sub forum...

It was not lost on me that this is the Alternatives to Mac Hardware sub... Reading some of my comments above would make that kinda obvious, I would have thought...

Doesn't negate that this is still an Apple forum...

 

[StralyanPithecus]

I’m in the same situation as BigMcGuire, working all the day with windows hardware (servers and PCs) but my personal choice is MacOS. There are some Microsoft products I love, like Office and Windows Server, but windows 10 is not one of them.

But at the end is your choice....just I will not touch Android with a 10 feet pole...and I was a former Google user.

 

[derekamoss]

It was not lost on me that this is the Alternatives to Mac Hardware sub... Reading some of my comments above would make that kinda obvious, I would have thought...

Doesn't negate that this is still an Apple forum...

I just had an issue with the questioning of why he would post this here. Yeah the website is forum is Mac centered, but to me, having been on here since 2002, it's become more about the community than the products the forums are geared towards. The guy just wanted to know if anyone had experienced the same...

 

[BigMcGuire]

I just had an issue with the questioning of why he would post this here. Yeah the website is forum is Mac centered, but to me, having been on here since 2002, it's become more about the community than the products the forums are geared towards. The guy just wanted to know if anyone had experienced the same...

Well, if you had read my whole post instead of going out of your way to pick out a piece, I had more of an issue with the OP asking for others to know if he made the right choice or not. Context is very important.

He responded to my post: "All true. Though I’m not looking for approval (it’s been done now, no going back). Im more asking you guys do you think that’s a good choice or not? Just for discussion. I know people won’t agree 100%, but I’m interested to know why and I respect that"

That was a very good response and helped me understand the OP's question better - so I tried to join in with a response later, as I did (probably too much information).

May help to read the whole sentence too - "Why would you ask an Apple form if you made the right choice?"

It is my belief that only you, yourself, can know if you've made the right choice or not. I know what I want better than what other people want (usually).

 

[derekamoss]

Well, if you had read my whole post instead of going out of your way to pick out a piece, I had more of an issue with the OP asking for others to know if he made the right choice or not. Context is very important.

He responded to my post: "All true. Though I’m not looking for approval (it’s been done now, no going back). Im more asking you guys do you think that’s a good choice or not? Just for discussion. I know people won’t agree 100%, but I’m interested to know why and I respect that"

That was a very good response and helped me understand the OP's question better - so I tried to join in with a response later, as I did (probably too much information).

May help to read the whole sentence too - "Why would you ask an Apple form if you made the right choice?"

It is my belief that only you, yourself, can know if you've made the right choice or not. I know what I want better than what other people want (usually).

I read your whole post. Just wasn't sure why you had to say that in the first place as if he were wrong to post here.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I read your whole post. Just wasn't sure why you had to say that in the first place as if he were wrong to post here.

If that is how @0989382 took it then I apologize, it was not my intent, hence my participation in the thread.

 

[derekamoss]

If that is how @0989382 took it then I apologize, it was not my intent, hence my participation in the thread.

It might have been just me. I'm in a melancholy mood today for some reason....

 

[BigMcGuire]

It might have been just me. I'm in a melancholy mood today for some reason....

No worries, thanks for pointing it out either way. I'll work on that. Best of luck on your mood. I just got back from the dentist (filling), so I hear you.

 

[tranceking26]

No, samesung are loaded with crap, I imagine that's still the case.

Anyway it's quite likely the phone may blow up. I'd give it a 15% chance.

 

[derekamoss]

No worries, thanks for pointing it out either way. I'll work on that. Best of luck on your mood. I just got back from the dentist (filling), so I hear you.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For some reason I have a crazy aversion to anything touching my teeth other than the food i put into it. You want to talk about hell on earth... That's the dentist for me. If it wasn't for the laughing gas, I couldn't do it. Honestly I wish they could just knock me out. I probably look like im having a seizure on the chair because i tense all my muscles the whole time lol. I think I almost had a panic attack when I had to go get my wisdom teeth pulled. On the other hand, I can take needles and shots anyday without flinching... Weird. Hope the tooth doesnt hurt to much!

 

[AllergyDoc]

I couldn’t find a sleeping emoji, so I hope this comes through.

Edit: it didn’t.