What was Apple thinking?

[Tesselator]

If you are referring to ThunderBolt, that was designed by Intel.

I thought it was an Apple/Intel co-design. Wiki says it is anyway.

 

[Tesselator]

Nothing lasts forever. At some point they may learn what it feels like to be second or third.

...by making beautiful designs with durability and great customer service, they're [Apple is] still standing at the top.

Apple is on top? Of what? Since when?

On top with system specs? No.
On top with unit sales? No.
On top with installed OS seats? No.
On top with Handhelds and phones? No.
On top with stockmarket value? No.

So what is it you guys are thinking Apple is #1 at? I'm at a loss for guesses. Maybe Most obvious marketing influences, however that would be quantified... Apple just recently pulled themselves out of the jaws of death. I think it's a testament to the RDF that anyone would or could think they were at the top somewhere. <shrug>

 

[IceMacMac]

Apple is on top? Of what? Since when?

On top with system specs? No.
On top with unit sales? No.
On top with installed OS seats? No.
On top with Handhelds and phones? No.
On top with stockmarket value? No.

So what is it you guys are thinking Apple is #1 at? I'm at a loss for guesses.

You are pitching softballs, so I'll knock a few out of the park...
1. #1 Tablets and phones based on repeated JD Power rankings
2. #1 Tablets and phones based on sales
3. #1 Based on resale value (with just about any product they produce)
4. #1 Based on profit margins
5. #1 in stock market - waaaay ahed of anyone else in tech

And...in it's day the MacPro was the best value you could buy for a workstation (outside of the GPU issues). Hopefully it will be again.

I don't understand your post at all. I may not be happy that Apple isn't particularly earnest about pro users....but I can't blame them. And I see no point at all in bashing them from anger or frustration.

Apple just recently pulled themselves out of the jaws of death.

What are you talking about? They surpassed the cumulative value of Microsoft and Intel...YEARS ago! A recent downturn...if anything...presents a good buying opportunity.

 

[goMac]

On top with stockmarket value? No.

Pretty sure they're still the top tech company on the stock market with regards to value.

 

[NT1440]

Unless they used the same case on the 2013 Mac Pro. Come on last year they hadn't updated the Pro for over 2.5 years, the least the could have done would be to give people some modern architecture! Then, they could have continued to update the Pro from there. That would have been an acceptable upgrade. What they did do was shameful!

Why would they update to a completely different architecture when its been pretty clear that they're waiting for a change that's worthwhile instead of just a spec bump.

Trust me, the new Mac Pro will either be the flagship for the industry in terms of new innovation (apple's wireless charging patents are looking very interesting, as well as their upcoming plans for the continued evolution of thunderbolt) , or it will be an also ran by simply making a powerful computer.

Apple is on the verge of figuring out if workstations can be a new type of product, or if its a dead end with an extremely limited market.

Also, people can spare their "abandoning their base" comments. Nearly twenty years of cracking open new markets shows that apple, regardless of those emotionally attached to a company, is looking to change the world. That happens by bringing new paradigm-changing technology to consumers whom will then innovate in these new markets, not by giving the guys behind the scenes of content creation a new workhorse.

Sorry if any of this sounds combative, it's truly not supposed to, I've been told many times recently online and in person that my tone doesn't translate the thoughts behind them in the way I hope.

 

[TheEasterBunny]

I thought it was an Apple/Intel co-design. Wiki says it is anyway.

Yes, they do both have claims on it. This was in reply to a poster that was trying to suggest Apple had a lame idea with TB calling it "lightening". I was just trying to very briefly point out it wasn't just Apple. I guess I wasn't clear.

 

[ActionableMango]

Lightning! It doesn't get any more special than that

Lightning is pretty damn special. I wish all my portable devices used it.

Instead they have micro usb and mini usb, "one standard" that requires two different cables, and I always seem to have the wrong one. Oh, and they are fragile and break. And I can never plug them in the dark because they only work one way, I have the wrong USB cable, and the plugs just don't self-align worth a damn even when you do have it the right way.

Oh, and the two different USB sizes are, irritatingly, almost exactly the same damn size. If you're going to make something smaller, at least make the difference significant enough to be worth all the trouble.

That's not even counting the original USB size and the new USB 3.0 connector. So the supposed advantage of having a standard is a complete and utter fallacy in real life.

 

[macalec]

Lightning is pretty damn special. I wish all my portable devices used it.

Instead they have micro usb and mini usb, "one standard" that requires two different cables, and I always seem to have the wrong one. Oh, and they are fragile and break. And I can never plug them in the dark because they only work one way, I have the wrong USB cable, and the plugs just don't self-align worth a damn even when you do have it the right way.

Oh, and the two different USB sizes are, irritatingly, almost exactly the same damn size. If you're going to make something smaller, at least make the difference significant enough to be worth all the trouble.

That's not even counting the original USB size and the new USB 3.0 connector. So the supposed advantage of having a standard is a complete and utter fallacy in real life.

I agree with you- I want the one standard cable.

 

[maxosx]

Lightning is pretty damn special. I wish all my portable devices used it.

Instead they have micro usb and mini usb, "one standard" that requires two different cables, and I always seem to have the wrong one. Oh, and they are fragile and break. And I can never plug them in the dark because they only work one way, I have the wrong USB cable, and the plugs just don't self-align worth a damn even when you do have it the right way.

Oh, and the two different USB sizes are, irritatingly, almost exactly the same damn size. If you're going to make something smaller, at least make the difference significant enough to be worth all the trouble.

That's not even counting the original USB size and the new USB 3.0 connector. So the supposed advantage of having a standard is a complete and utter fallacy in real life.

I've worked in high tech for so long, watched as "standards" have come & gone, that despite my fierce loyalty & enjoyment of Macs & as a result iOS, I still dislike Apples elitist attitude & walled garden of overpriced proprietary adapters & such. But Apple does what Apple wants due to the unique, all controlling nature of their culture.

Me? I got into acceptance of Apple Tax, massive profits, and a dictatorial direction way back in the 90's. Fortunately prices have no impact on me, I simply go along with their whims.

Lightning? I don't take that seriously. It's just an overpriced proprietary cable. My solution was simple. I bought a variety of new iDevices since its intro. iPad 4, Mini & iPhone 5, all use the same cable, it's no big deal

 

[Tesselator]

You are pitching softballs, so I'll knock a few out of the park...

One of us is getting bogus financial and sales charts. I'm not sure which one. I tried to use independent and reputable sources before I posted that. What sources did you use if I may ask?

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Yes, they do both have claims on it. This was in reply to a poster that was trying to suggest Apple had a lame idea with TB calling it "lightening". I was just trying to very briefly point out it wasn't just Apple. I guess I wasn't clear.

Ah, I see. K...