The shine is off the Apple

[motulist]

I can't remember the last time I was at all exited about an Apple product. The iphone is the only thing I remember being excited about from Apple in the last 4 or 5 years. I used to get all juiced up about the cool and amazing products that Apple used to come out with all the time. But over the past few years, the things that Apple have released just make me say meh. (with the iphone being the only exception)

Does anyone else feel the same way?

 

[dukebound85]

besides the iphone, how is the current time period any different than before the iphone?

updated computers: check
updated ipods: check
os updates: check
app updates: check

pretty much the same stuff imo

 

[motulist]

I didn't say their stuff wasn't being updated, I said the updates aren't exciting. Dell has all updated stuff also, that doesn't make their stuff exciting.

 

[r.j.s]

I think it has been because there haven't really been any exciting advances in technology recently.

 

[Bionichead]

I think it has been because there haven't really been any exciting advances in technology recently.

I thought Apple was supposed to invigerate technology and not that technology was supposed to invigerate Apple. So what if technology hasn't advanced. That shouldn't stop Apple.

 

[motulist]

I think it has been because there haven't really been any exciting advances in technology recently.

Well that may be part of it, but it can't be nearly all of it. For instance, when the original imac came out, that was like *WOW*! It had nothing to do with technology, it was about a totally different design that actually fit in with the way people actually use their computers. Apple understood that computers were being integrated into people's lives, so they built a computer that was easy to move around, small enough to put where you need it, cheap enough that it's worth buying for particular everyday uses, fast enough to do the majority of what average users were doing with computers at that time, and stylish enough that it could be proudly placed wherever you needed your computer to be rather than hidden underneath a desk and obscured behind a cubicle wall. That was a truly groundbreaking Apple product that had nothing to do with new technology, it was all about designing products that work really super well into people's lives.

I thought Apple was supposed to invigerate technology and not that technology was supposed to invigerate Apple. So what if technology hasn't advanced. That shouldn't stop Apple.

Exactly. That mindset reminds me of how people were thinking about Apple in the mid to late 90's. Apple computers at that time were just becoming typical beige box PC clones that happened to use PPC chips instead of Intel.

 

[t0mat0]

So what would excite you, technology wise?
What could bring to the table that would make you go

Seems like they're making good progress.
A few timelines.

Apple came from this after all

 

[motulist]

So what would excite you, technology wise?
What could bring to the table that would make you go

If I knew that I'd be rich! You never used to be able to predict what the next amazing Apple product was going to be like, but then once it came out you'd be blown away by the amazingly useful design of it.

 

[dukebound85]

So what would excite you, technology wise?
What could bring to the table that would make you go

a ......mini tower!

and...........support for all off the shelf graphics cards!

and..........an imac with easy to swap out hdds, and maybe the ability to hold 2!!!!

and..........wireless display connections standard! with the ability to hook up to a tv wirelessly (with an receiver that goes into say an hdmi port)!

 

[MisterMe]

Well that may be part of it, but it can't be nearly all of it. ...

You have setup a classic "strawman" which you then proceed to knock over. You assert that Apple's success is based on the "WOW factor" which only you define. Then you claim that Apple does not have this "WOW factor" anymore.

Nonsense. The "WOW factor" implies that Apple's success is based on flash and glitter. To the contrary, Apple's success is based on the hard work of a lot of very bright people who bring innovative and useful new products to market. The seminal phrase for Apple products is not "WOW" but "It just works."

 

[michael.lauden]

i think Apple still has 'shine'. my iPhone.. i still consider groundbreaking. my MacBook.. i still consider to be breathtaking.

my Mac mini, my girlfriend's MBP, her mother's iMac. beautiful.

i don't see what there is to complain about here. take Apple out of the picture, and there aren't many alternatives that give you the same aesthetics, let alone function.

 

[mlemonds]

i love the glass trackpad on my macbook. i cant use another notebook with out being disappointed

 

[michael.lauden]

i love the glass trackpad on my macbook. i cant use another notebook with out being disappointed

i feel ya. don't forget multitouch

 

[Pika]

iWatch

 

[jaw04005]

Well, Apple's Mac division has sort of plateaued in many ways. If you look back at 1998-2004 there were radical changes to the product lines frequently including generational processor updates (G3, G4 and G5), major software updates (introduction of iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, GarageBand, 10.1 Puma, 10.2 Jaguar, 10.3 Panther, 10.4 Tiger, etc) and complete design overhauls across the board.

Mac product design has been relatively the same since 2003/2004, Mac OS X and iLife development has slowed down considerably and Apple's been milking the Core 2 Duo line since 2006.

We've reached a point where Apple's Mac products (both hardware and software) are mature.

 

[twoodcc]

well maybe one day we'll see bluray

 

[nazuk]

You have to remember also that the world is in a slump (recession), credit crunch, and Apple is unlikely in my view to release anything too amazing at this moment in time.

Also, who knows what they are developing, what they have really been to behind the scenes?

Remember also they spent 5 years approx developing the iPhone when the world largely had no idea.

I think once the credit crunch is over, then that is when the fun will begin.

 

[t0mat0]

Well, Apple's Mac division has sort of plateaued in many ways. If you look back at 1998-2004 there were radical changes to the product lines frequently including generational processor updates (G3, G4 and G5), major software updates (introduction of iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, GarageBand, 10.1 Puma, 10.2 Jaguar, 10.3 Panther, 10.4 Tiger, etc) and complete design overhauls across the board.

Mac product design has been relatively the same since 2003/2004, Mac OS X and iLife development has slowed down considerably and Apple's been milking the Core 2 Duo line since 2006.

We've reached a point where Apple's Mac products (both hardware and software) are mature.

Just to grab something to debate - not taking sides but fun to play devil's advocate sometimes

Tiger 2005

Spotlight, Dashboard, Smart Folders, updated Mail program with Smart Mailboxes, QuickTime 7, Safari 2, Automator, VoiceOver, Core Image and Core Video.
Apple released the first Intel-based Macs

Leopard 2007
supported both PowerPC- and Intel x86-based Macs
Updated Finder, Time Machine, Spaces, Boot Camp pre-installed, full support for 64-bit applications (including graphical applications)
1st BSD-based OS to receive UNIX 03 certification.

Snow Leopard 2009
Microsoft Exchange Server support, new 64-bit technology, QuickTime X, advanced GPU performance with OpenCL, better use of multi-core processors through Grand Central, and SquirrelFish JavaScript interpreter

Mini tower isn't exactly new technology. It's a route Apple currently doesn't seem to want to take. Same with swap out HDDs for iMac - that's a internal redesign request.

Support for all off the shelf graphics cards? Not likely, though likely to increase for the Mac Pro only, more cards that can be added - the benefits of Apple pushing OpenCL.

Displays is a reasonable request - I hear they've thinking of changing the units to decades for the ACDs on the Buyer's Guide. LG should help out that one.

 

[iDAG]

The MacBook Air and the unibody MacBook was exciting to me.

 

[srl7741]

Interesting

Hardware and Software have seemed to slow just a bit in advancements and the consumers habits seem to be staying the same. Several post above seem to support that may be what has happened. I wonder if we need some new device to change the way we use our technology again?

 

[zap2]

I'd have to agree...Apple's laptop line up isn't what I'm looking for(the Air is close, but the speed is just to lower for the price.) The Mac Mini is doesn't shine for me due to Apple cutting corners(or trying to make the iMac look better) 1GB of RAM? 120GB HDD? iMac is nice, but again, start to show its age. And the lack of Core 2 Quad is upsetting. The Mac Pro is impressive, but way more then I need.


Give me a low end laptop with a good keyboard, a mid range tower, high speced Mac Mini(or lower priced and I'll upgrade myself!) I'd be really excited. But it looks like Apple had big stuff coming for WWDC, a new iPhone always get me excited!

 

[Randman]

iPhone OS 3.0.
iPhone 3.0
iTablet
OS 10.6.

Move on, nothing to see here. OP is just channeling his inner TheSpaz.

 

[zap2]

iPhone OS 3.0.
iPhone 3.0
iTablet
OS 10.6.

Move on, nothing to see here. OP is just channeling his inner TheSpaz.

Yes, when that stuff hits, but for now, not so much. Also 10.6 isn't as exciting to the end users as 10.5/10.4 was(IMO). iPhone OS 3.0 looks great! And iPhone 3.0 is still unknown on specifics. iTablet has been rumored so long, I really don't count it as a sure fire thing(like the other things you listed)

And also you're list holds no info on Mac hardware. Perhaps a reason the OP felts this lack of shine?

 

[jaw04005]

Also 10.6 isn't as exciting to the end users as 10.5/10.4 was(IMO).

I've never seen so much hype over a Mac operating system since "Copland" and "Pink". Snow Leopard hasn't even been previewed to the public.

Most of the features and advantages to Snow Leopard have not been released.

I would say it's somewhat premature to call it exciting.

For those that don't remember Copland or Pink:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copland_(operating_system)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taligent

 

[Randman]

Yes, when that stuff hits, but for now, not so much. Also 10.6 isn't as exciting to the end users as 10.5/10.4 was(IMO). iPhone OS 3.0 looks great! And iPhone 3.0 is still unknown on specifics. iTablet has been rumored so long, I really don't count it as a sure fire thing(like the other things you listed)

And also you're list holds no info on Mac hardware. Perhaps a reason the OP felts this lack of shine?

Perhaps the OP is one of those instant gratification types who need adrenaline 24/7 and then is also one of those who gripe when something new comes out and it doesn't provide enough of a buzz.

Personally, I'm fine with a slow period. Lets the bank account recover some and hopefully when something does come out, it's good to go from the start and doesn't need patches to fix.

Anticipation is almost never a bad thing.