What keeps you in the Apple ecosystem?

[sartrekid]

My question for you is this: those of you in the Apple ecosystem what keeps you here?

I wonder what constitutes being in Apple's ecosystem? I do not own a non-Apple computer, but I don't see myself tied to Apple in any shape or form. I do not use Apple Music or iTunes either and I do have a few Android devices as well, and I like them.

With that said, I mainly use Apple products for my watch, tablet, phone, desktop, and laptop needs.

I LOVE macOS. I know, it's not a popular opinion to have. Sorry about that. I also like iOS (again, my sincere apologies). I dig the Apple watch and love how it all seamlessly works between all my devices. I can input, output, and shove data left, right, front, and centre, and just not think about anything, which is great, because I have other stuff I'd like to to spend my hours with than worrying or tinkering with sync stuff.

There are other factors that—combined with the above—make me stay with able for the time being;

- Apple's history
- Apple's design aesthetics


HOWEVER! With all these things said; I do not have an issue moving away from Apple the moment their hardware offerings, software, politics, or whatever else no longer meets what I want out of them.

 

[Hintz]

Apple's environment is one of a kind in light of the fact that the equipment and programming are intended to cooperate. Every other organization, with one conceivable special case I'll get to in a moment, compose programming for equipment. Apple outlines its product and equipment with the thought they should work flawlessly as a feature of a similar gadget. Google doesn't do that, and Samsung doesn't do that (they attempted, yet their own OS went nowhere).

 

[mmomega]

iMessage is probably at the heart of it. I am sync'd across 4 seperate devices all day
Next, Facetime, for the same reason.
Next, Phone call functions across all the devices. Can answer/respond whatever on any of them I am on.

 

[Michael Goff]

Aside from a couple software bugs I’m told will be looked at (I’d love better performance, thanks), the Apple Ecosystem is a group of things that works pretty great for me. And it helps to have one group that I can yell at whenever something does go wrong.

 

[throAU]

Apple's very public stance towards government invasion of privacy.

 

[Zmant5]

The reason that I am in the ecosystem is that of how all my devices connect and work together as if they were one altogether. I currently have a (Macbook Air 2017, iPhone 7, Apple TV 4th Gen, Apple Watch Series 1, Ipad Air 1st Gen) and honestly, all of them work so perfectly especially when I use my handoff mode on my MacBook directly off my phone I could be texting on my phone and it pops up in the corner of my MacBook to let me continue texting directly on my mac.

 

[maflynn]

Interesting thought, as I'm mulling over the level of participation in apple's ecosystem.
I'm in some ways I'm facing this notion as I'm testing out a windows laptop. Aside from derailing this topic on windows vs. Mac, let me suffice to say that there is a level of polish and enhancements with Apple's ecosystem that I'm missing with the windows laptop. Now let me say the machine that I'm testing out, is rock solid, build quality is excellent. I'll also say that windows is allowing me to do more in some ways but I'm not sure if that offsets what I'm losing.

I purchase the laptop with a 14 day return period and I'm beyond the honeymoon part of the ownership and I'm now digging in what works, what doesn't and what I miss from Apple's ecosystem. I've not yet made a decision but I want to be sure I decide on what works best for me.

 

[Zmant5]

Maflynn I came from Windows because I never used Mac Os X! I love my new MacBook Air especially being it was a graduation present from my family but I knew how to use it very well because I did testing on VMware. I never thought i was ever going to get a MacBook because of the prices but I love it.

 

[pat500000]

Still having apple gift card for mac pro.

 

[MBAir2010]

I put too much time cash, and effort in my Apple items.
Apple was incredible, the staffed seemed to care and the products were fascinating and upgradeable.
That is the Apple I will consider my ecosystem.

Today I will not: use the icloud, buy anything new from Apple and tell strangers I own Apple products.

Knowing this, I will do my best to help anyone fix these Apple products in the comfort of their setting.

 

[TimmeyCook]

those of you in the Apple ecosystem what keeps you here?

I don't have the faintest interest.

When things start to get good, they are more expensive than Apple's stuff.

Want a good bluetooth earbuds? Samsung's are more expensive than AirPods.

Want a smart speaker that sounds good? Google Home Max is more expensive than the HomePod

Want a good PC with a display that's just what you need for looking for long hours? 5K displays cost more than the iMac, and at least when I bought my iMac, it was cheaper to buy it than to buy a PC with the "same" specs.

Want a good phone without bloatware, some sense of security, no shenanigans, etc? The Pixels are more expensive than iPhones, and worth less in the second hand market. Yes, the iPhone X is more expensive, but it's much better than the top range Pixel.

Etc. etc. etc.

Also, even if it wasn't the case with "just" the hardware, Windows is still terrible (I use the tree OS'es, with Linux only from a server standpoint), and it is more terrible than Vista days, and certainly more than Windows XP days. It's fractured, confusing, badly designed, just horrible, and it has Ads and it's very easy to get malware, even if you are an experiment user, the update system is a mess, etc. etc. etc.

Android is a joke of architecture, not to mention Google which is a horrible corporation and the third party software is as rough as it gets.
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I'll also say that windows is allowing me to do more in some ways but I'm not sure if that offsets what I'm losing.

What, for example?

For example, when you are trying to open something on macOS, and you go down to the dock, and drag and drop a file on the Downloads folder to the "open" window, it automatically navigates to the folder and selects the file.

On Windows? It creates a shortcut to the file on the current folder... that's "smart"... (no)...

 

[Lioness~]

Habit, convenience, pleasure....it still works most of the time (comparing to 'it just works' earlier)
Had Apple since early 90's.

Nothing have convinced me that it would be better for me to buy anything else re computer or phone/pad yet anyway.
No, I am not totally happy hippy with Apple today.
No functioning iCloud sync over the devices re especially Calendar since iOS 11.
It just doesn’t work. Apple can’t fix it.
But fortunately my NAS-sync just works

Nothing have convinced me to leave the Apple-garden, yet.
But adding other not Apple things & tech to my network, all the time.
For how long will I be faithful to Apple. Who knows?
When there is better not-Apple things I buy them.

 

[maflynn]

What, for example?

Gotomypc, its app in windows is superior, likewise with Skype and even MS office.

and drag and drop a file o

I usually double click to open stuff and not dragging files.

that's "smart"... (no

Actually it is, because more often then not, if I'm dragging something its either to create a copy or a shortcut.

File management, is much easier in windows, and the file explorer is much better then the Finder.

I could go on, but this thread isn't windows vs. macOS. Suffice to say that both platforms have their advantages and disadvantages

 

[kazmac]

For me, beyond the ease-of-use and a few applications; it was security and being able to upload my ripped movies onto my iDevices without opening my system up to developers.

Unless Apple gets their act together with software and hardware pronto, I am looking at other options. A lot of the software I use is available for Windows (as is iTunes). And security, well, Apple's been more than a little lax with that too over the last year.

I dislike the fact that for most of the last five years, I've been complaining loudly about Apple yet any time I tried to leave, I came back. I do not know how many more times I can give Apple my money when yet another $1k iDevice flaked out after year and the Genius said, nothing wrong with my iPad Pro, so I am just trading it in.

I'd rather not leave the ecosystem, but I think it's time I do. And that makes me sad.

 

[ipponrg]

When things start to get good, they are more expensive than Apple's stuff.

Want a good bluetooth earbuds? Samsung's are more expensive than AirPods.

Want a smart speaker that sounds good? Google Home Max is more expensive than the HomePod

Want a good PC with a display that's just what you need for looking for long hours? 5K displays cost more than the iMac, and at least when I bought my iMac, it was cheaper to buy it than to buy a PC with the "same" specs.

Want a good phone without bloatware, some sense of security, no shenanigans, etc? The Pixels are more expensive than iPhones, and worth less in the second hand market. Yes, the iPhone X is more expensive, but it's much better than the top range Pixel.

Etc. etc. etc.

Also, even if it wasn't the case with "just" the hardware, Windows is still terrible (I use the tree OS'es, with Linux only from a server standpoint), and it is more terrible than Vista days, and certainly more than Windows XP days. It's fractured, confusing, badly designed, just horrible, and it has Ads and it's very easy to get malware, even if you are an experiment user, the update system is a mess, etc. etc. etc.

Android is a joke of architecture, not to mention Google which is a horrible corporation and the third party software is as rough as it gets.

If specifically talking about things of similar design to airpods, I can see your point. But there are a lot of wireless/wired headphones/earbuds w/ BT transmitters setups that are better than the airpods. (See Fiio BTR1 and maybe the BTR3)

The iMac displays are beautiful for day to day work. They suck though for avid gaming which is where PC definitely reigns supreme. On another note, the higher end Gsync Asus 144 hz 1440p monitors go for less today than the original Apple cinema displays when they first came out.

For smart speakers, people tend to go for Alexa/Google variants over the HomePod. And remember that the HomePod was not being verbally being marketed as being a smart speaker even though we all interpreted differently. If the HomePod was a speaker without Siri integration and its price was reflected, I'd lean towards giving it a chance.

The iPhone by far is Apple's best invention, and it shows. Apple products generally retain their value well not only due to their R&D and build quality but also their cultural value impact. Everywhere you go, Apple has always been synonymous with fashion, luxury, and premium.

Windows and Mac file systems both have their pros/cons. I find out of the box -- Windows file navigation to be much easier/faster than Mac Finder. Windows apps tend to be more flushed out than their Mac alternatives. However, I love Spotlight (I use Alfred which is like Spotlight), and the MacOS hotkeys seem to be easier to remember in Mac systems than Windows.

In the end, Apple ecosystem usually parallels the "It just works" mantra. There are pros/cons to both, so I don't think it's easy to say one is much better than the other unless it's for a specific use case. However if you desire custom solutions and want to have more options, then that's where the Apple ecosystem is limited.

 

[bauediemauer]

For sure, I own Apple products (iPhone 6s+, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, iPad 6th Generation, etc) but the only services I use are iMessage and iCloud and iCloud I solely use for backup and Find My iPhone. iMessage is convenient, but it's only about 10% of the messages I send. The rest is SMS/MMS.

That's my situation as well. My wife has a Mac and I am thinking about getting one and the same with an Apple Watch.

 

[Clix Pix]

In 2005 I bought my first Mac, an iMac, and that was soon followed by a PowerBook and iPod. It really wasn't until 2007, though, when I bought the first iPhone that the whole synchronicity thing among Apple devices really began to dawn on me, and I have been appreciating the "ecosystem" ever since. I love that I can be somewhere with my iPhone, perhaps exchanging email or phone numbers and other contact information with a new acquaintance and when I get home and turn on the MacBook Pro or look at my iPad, voila, the contact info is already in there! I love that I can purchase an album or a song in iTunes on my computer and it is immediately also available on my iPads and iPhone. As I'm driving in the car, my Apple watch will alert me to a new email message but I don't have to spend the entire time on the road wondering who the message is from, as with a glance I can see the sender; no need to dig the iPhone out from my bag! I also appreciate that I can keep some files on iCloud Drive and look at them and/or download them into any of my machines or devices as needed. I don't think that this kind of continuity and synchronicity is nearly as possible on other devices and computers from other manufacturers.

 

[TimmeyCook]

Gotomypc, its app in windows is superior

I don't know in which ways that App is superior, but I guess I'm not in their costumer list.

For me, it's SSH and SFTP, the only remote access that I want or need on my computer.

likewise with Skype and even MS office.

Of course, they are Microsoft app's. And Microsoft wants to protect their ecosystem.

The same way that Apple app's are better on the Mac.

I usually double click to open stuff and not dragging files.

You don't understand, you still double click to open stuff, dragging will result in the file browser to follow the path of what you've dragged.

Actually it is, because more often then not, if I'm dragging something its either to create a copy or a shortcut.

You can also do that on MacOS, but nobody is going to use Open/Save dialogs to do file management.

File management, is much easier in windows, and the file explorer is much better then the Finder.

I completly disagree.

Windows File Explorer is horrendous. In fact, it's the second worse thing on Windows right after the two Control Panels.

They don't have tabs! Just adding them next year.

Opening a new window takes ages on the same hardware, compared to instant on Finder.

The interface is ugly and disorganized.

There is no comparison with Apple's QuickLook, and the Preview App which can be seen as an extension of Finder.

You cannot right click on the icon on the window and see the path of the folder.

You cannot drag the folder icon on the window to move/create an alias of the folder.

Of course you can't do that on other applications also.

There's so many problems with Windows File Explorer.

But, it's a meme that Windows file management is super, and macOS sucks, the press says it, YouTubers repeat it, and nobody can say otherwise. The problem it's nobody of those, say WHY. It just is...

They suck though for avid gaming which is where PC definitely reigns supreme.

Yes, you if you are that kind of gamer.

Doesn't matter, gaming is a niche, it's not what PC's were made for.

Those monitors are better for gaming, but horrendous for everything else that you can do with a computer.

On another note, the higher end Gsync Asus 144 hz 1440p monitors go for less today than the original Apple cinema displays when they first came out.

So?

They are bound to be, Apple Cinema Displays were the pinnacle of technology back then, and were and are made with premium design and materials.

Not so much with those TN monitors.

For smart speakers, people tend to go for Alexa/Google variants over the HomePod.

Let's see how will that work for them in the long run.

People also went for the Fitbits and the Pebbles back then...

The iPhone by far is Apple's best invention, and it shows.

Not really, but that's a matter of opinion.

Windows file navigation to be much easier/faster than Mac Finder

No, it's not.

And it's not, because NOBODY says why it's faster or easier.

You certainly never used macOS.

There's not even spring loaded folders on Windows!

 

[maflynn]

I completly disagree.

I'm not here to debate windows vs. macOS, as this isn't the thread for such dialogue. I'm happy with my choices and I really don't care what you agree or disagree with - enjoy your Mac.

 

[TimmeyCook]

I'm not here to debate windows vs. macOS, as this isn't the thread for such dialogue. I'm happy with my choices and I really don't care what you agree or disagree with - enjoy your Mac.

Of course, it's not going to be a Windows vs macOS debate.

Enjoy your Windows PC.

 

[Radon87000]

If it wasn't for Google not coming out with a tablet and watch I would be out already. I exclusively use Microsoft and Google apps on my phone. I love Windows and Android too.

 

[bauediemauer]

If it wasn't for Google not coming out with a tablet and watch I would be out already. I exclusively use Microsoft and Google apps on my phone

#metoo
I would prefer an Android device since I've used them in the past and prefer the customization Android offers over iOS. However I never found an Android Tablet I liked and even though I don't have an AW I would use a smartwatch.

 

[Radon87000]

If specifically talking about things of similar design to airpods, I can see your point. But there are a lot of wireless/wired headphones/earbuds w/ BT transmitters setups that are better than the airpods. (See Fiio BTR1 and maybe the BTR3)

The iMac displays are beautiful for day to day work. They suck though for avid gaming which is where PC definitely reigns supreme. On another note, the higher end Gsync Asus 144 hz 1440p monitors go for less today than the original Apple cinema displays when they first came out.

For smart speakers, people tend to go for Alexa/Google variants over the HomePod. And remember that the HomePod was not being verbally being marketed as being a smart speaker even though we all interpreted differently. If the HomePod was a speaker without Siri integration and its price was reflected, I'd lean towards giving it a chance.

The iPhone by far is Apple's best invention, and it shows. Apple products generally retain their value well not only due to their R&D and build quality but also their cultural value impact. Everywhere you go, Apple has always been synonymous with fashion, luxury, and premium.

Windows and Mac file systems both have their pros/cons. I find out of the box -- Windows file navigation to be much easier/faster than Mac Finder. Windows apps tend to be more flushed out than their Mac alternatives. However, I love Spotlight (I use Alfred which is like Spotlight), and the MacOS hotkeys seem to be easier to remember in Mac systems than Windows.

In the end, Apple ecosystem usually parallels the "It just works" mantra. There are pros/cons to both, so I don't think it's easy to say one is much better than the other unless it's for a specific use case. However if you desire custom solutions and want to have more options, then that's where the Apple ecosystem is limited.

No iMac can compete with a 144hz display. It's that good.

 

[ipponrg]

Doesn't matter, gaming is a niche, it's not what PC's were made for.

Those monitors are better for gaming, but horrendous for everything else that you can do with a computer.

Funny. I've done plenty of photo/video editing work on these monitors.

So?

They are bound to be, Apple Cinema Displays were the pinnacle of technology back then, and were and are made with premium design and materials.

Not so much with those TN monitors.

Not really. Dell IPS monitors were available before Apple Cinema Displays which helps people transition from CRT monitors and introduced how great non TN panels could be.

No, it's not.

And it's not, because NOBODY says why it's faster or easier.

You certainly never used macOS.

There's not even spring loaded folders on Windows!

You've left off an important piece of my statement: "I find out of the box -- Windows file navigation to be much easier/faster than Mac Finder"

So in other words, it's my opinion. I say out of the box because the 3rd party app "Path Finder" helps Mac finder be closer to Windows file navigation. I've certainly used MacOS daily which is why I can give an unbiased opinion.

 

[TimmeyCook]

Funny. I've done plenty of photo/video editing work on these monitors.

Funny. I've played a lot of games on Apple monitors.

Won a lot of them too.

What are you saying?

Not really. Dell IPS monitors were available before Apple Cinema Displays which helps people transition from CRT monitors and introduced how great non TN panels could be.

Past Dell monitors are irrelevant for the whole discussion.

You've left off an important piece of my statement: "I find out of the box -- Windows file navigation to be much easier/faster than Mac Finder"

Nobody talked about anything about PathFinder or anything of the like.

You are just trying to evade the fact, that I have justified why macOS fm is better than Windows, and you didn't, and doing bold text is not going to help you.


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No iMac can compete with a 144hz display. It's that good.

There's a whole world out there besides games.

And you can connect mac's to 144Hz displays easily, because we have USB-C ports with DisplayPort over them.
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If it wasn't for Google not coming out with a tablet and watch I would be out already. I exclusively use Microsoft and Google apps on my phone. I love Windows and Android too.

Google's tablets are so bad, that they decided to give up and now they don't make them anymore...

I would be wary of buying a Google tablet, as they are clearly replacing them with Chrome laptops.