What keeps you in the Apple ecosystem?

[Matz]

I entered the Apple ecosystem in the mid-80s, when I bought a Mac Plus. Or maybe it was a 512, I don’t remember. But my personal computers since then have been Macs. Work have mostly been Windows. So I’ve seen both go through their respective evolution.
When the iPhone came out, I waited until the second or third iteration.
Likewise with the iPad.
And the Watch.
What keeps me here is that it all works, for the most part, really well together, in ways that I find both delightful and useful.

 

[ipponrg]

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

Won a lot of them too.

What are you saying?

Apple monitors have severe ghosting issues in FPS. Don't get me wrong, they're still good. But you're taking this a tad too personal here.

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.

No, I am saying I prefer Windows over Mac finder. You seem to think that I am saying Windows is definitively better than MacOS. I replied anyways though.

 

[Strider64]

I switched over to the Apple Ecosystem in early 2014 after having been a PC for over 30+ years. For some strange reason I bought an Google Pixel 2 phone last year. While I like the the phone, I wished I had bought an iPhone. I know in a couple of years I'll switch back to the iPhone. Anyways, the main reason I switched over to the iMac was for the simplicity of having a closed system and prevent me from building a new computer almost every years or upgrading the components. I personally don't like buying closed system on the PC (They are usually under powered for my taste) or buying a brand computer that bloatware has been pre-installed on it. The one that gets me angry is anti-spyware that they slam on Windows, for when I build a computer I go by the motto K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid). I use Micro$illy's anti-software and firewall. The only thing I do every so often on my iMacs is check for malware every so often.

Don't get me wrong I liked building PCs, it just that every component has a separate warranty which can make it tricky when something goes wrong. I know a couple of times when I had run into problems with a component and tried to get help from that component's tech service I usually get the run-around. I remember once calling about a bad video card (external GPU card) that I installed on my computer and the tech service person said over the phone what brand computer was it. I explained that it wasn't a brand computer, but that I built the computer myself. The tech person pauses for a few seconds, says there's nothing he can do and hangs up on me before I could say anything. I called back and talked to someone else and fortunately that person was nicer and a little bit more knowledgeable than the first person I talked. Yes, I have heard horror stories about Apple and have been fortunate so far that I haven't used my Apple Care - it's nice knowing that I don't have to diagnose the specific problem (if it's on the hardware side) myself and that I don't have to find the right manufacturer for the component. I know back when I was building my own computers that if I installed the cpu wrong that I was SOL; however, things might have changed since then. Not that I have ever had a problem installing a cpu, it was just the "what if" that go to me.

An that is why I personally like the Apple Ecosystem.

 

[Tech198]

Don't get me wrong I liked building PCs, it just that every component has a separate warranty which can make it tricky when something goes wrong..

One could they, the fact its separate means its easier, not harder, since you know exactly what your dealing with, compared to something that has one warranty but also includes other stuff. I do agree finding that warranty is a mess.

 

[TimmeyCook]

One could they, the fact its separate means its easier, not harder, since you know exactly what your dealing with, compared to something that has one warranty but also includes other stuff. I do agree finding that warranty is a mess.

If my Mac has a problem, I send it to Apple and it’s their job to diagnose the problem, replace the parts and stuff.

My time is valuable, my patience is even more valuable.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

If my Mac has a problem, I send it to Apple and it’s their job to diagnose the problem, replace the parts and stuff.

My time is valuable, my patience is even more valuable.

Luckily you are not building your own PC. But someone else likes to. Let them. That does occupy neither your time nor your patience.

 

[kd4nuh]

Customer Service - Apple Stores are the best retail experience.
Privacy - Apple respects/protects my privacy.
Environmental Focus - Apple aren't climate change deniers.
Longevity - Apple products last a long time.
Resale Value - Apple products hold their value.
iMessage - Everyone I know uses it. It's encrypted.
iCloud - Works seamlessly and is encrypted.
App Store - Higher quality apps than Google Play.
iPhone - Longer support than Android devices.
Mac - Superior design, ease-of-use, more secure.

 

[Shanghaichica]

The main reason is because there is no other comparable ecosystem. Google have one, Samsung have one but neither are anywhere as complete as Apple’s.

The way all my devices work together.

Some devices are the best in their class e.g iPad, Apple Watch, Mac.

I’ve also bought so many movies and TV shows on iTunes that I wouldn’t want to loose access to all of that.

Being in the ecosystem makes things straight forward and easy.

All my devices, including my Mac are backed up to iCloud. Changing would mean missing out on things and would require effort.

 

[darkcompass]

The iphones. All the family have iphones, so it's imessage and facetime.
My dad has an android phone, so he's the only family member I talk/chat/message on Whatsapp.

 

[MAcNIAC]

I bought a mac in 2002, since then became heavily embedded in the apple ecosystem with iPhones, iPads, watch, appleTV.

I bought a windows laptop in 2015 which ran windows 7 because I was doing a course that required it and I didn't have space on my current Mac for bootcamp ... I hated it with a passion - all these constant virus updates and interruptions to keep it running drove me crazy. I haven't tried again since.

I suspect windows has closed the gap, but I can't be bothered finding out

 

[maflynn]

Interesting thought, as I'm mulling over the level of participation in apple's ecosystem.

6 months ago, I gave Apple one more chance, I returned the windows laptop, and got a 2018 laptop, sadly though what I had hoped would be improved was not. For such an expensive machine there were design flaws inherent in the laptop. While I gave Apple one more chance, and I do enjoy the apple ecosystem, its clear for my needs I'll be better off with a windows machine.

I can't guarantee that I'll leave the iOS world, but for all intents and purposes I feel that the MBP has flaws designed into them and no amount of repair programs will offer any peace of mind or assurances. Sure, other computer makers can and do produce defective equipment, but what I'm talking about is a design flaw that will fail. Its not a question of if it will, its really when will it. I really hoped that apple fixed the issues with the butterfly keyboard but seemingly they didn't. Then there's the stability issues of the T2 which seems to be affecting a segment of owners, so much so I was hesitant to upgrade to Mojave out of fear that my stable non-crashing MBP would suddenly start crashing.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

6 months ago, I gave Apple one more chance, I returned the windows laptop, and got a 2018 laptop, sadly though what I had hoped would be improved was not. For such an expensive machine there were design flaws inherent in the laptop. While I gave Apple one more chance, and I do enjoy the apple ecosystem, its clear for my needs I'll be better off with a windows machine.

I can't guarantee that I'll leave the iOS world, but for all intents and purposes I feel that the MBP has flaws designed into them and no amount of repair programs will offer any peace of mind or assurances. Sure, other computer makers can and do produce defective equipment, but what I'm talking about is a design flaw that will fail. Its not a question of if it will, its really when will it. I really hoped that apple fixed the issues with the butterfly keyboard but seemingly they didn't. Then there's the stability issues of the T2 which seems to be affecting a segment of owners, so much so I was hesitant to upgrade to Mojave out of fear that my stable non-crashing MBP would suddenly start crashing.

I know he is not the most unbiased guy around, but it seems there are problems with the new keyboards (2018 MacBook Air) as well...

 

[maflynn]

I know he is not the most unbiased guy around, but it seems there are problems with the new keyboards (2018 MacBook Air) as well...

Yeah, I saw that YT earlier and actually posted it in another thread.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

Yeah, I saw that YT earlier and actually posted it in another thread.

OK, I did not see your post yet

 

[Michael Goff]

I know he is not the most unbiased guy around, but it seems there are problems with the new keyboards (2018 MacBook Air) as well...

Well yeah, it is the same type of keyboard as the bad ones. They never got around to fixing it.

 

[goslowjoe]

What keeps me in the Apple ecosystem? The mere thought of going back to Windows.

 

[Falhófnir]

I guess familiarity, or even habit at this point... to break it down by product category:

• iPad - most secure for Apple, I love my 1st Gen 12.9 and will certainly be updating it with another iPad when it eventually comes to the end of iOS support.
• iPhone - moderate chance of switching, I have no serious complaints about iPhones, apart from that they're now so expensive and I'm not sure on face ID. I like the look of Nokia's upcoming '9' flagship with the penta-camera setup and as it's on Android One that's about as good as it gets on that side software support wise!
• Mac - seriously considering switching, latest pros seem riddled with issues from keyboards to T2 Kernel Panics, flexgate, speaker issues, chassis popping, Vega display flicker etc. Combined with being woefully overpriced vs similar windows competitors it's just difficult to square the circle at this point.

Don't own a watch as they don't especially appeal to me - perhaps when the health features really bed in I might try one out? Simply not interested in HomePod, AirPods or TV.

 

[Adam Warlock]

MacOS.