One of the no doubt significant 'background' influences towards why I'm appreciative of them, lies in the un-spoken attitude about all 'the little things'...
Very hard to explain - but will give it a bash...
The first time it really hit home, was a year or so ago, when the web (those concerned with Apple things, in any event) suddenly lit up about how
someone had posted a Twitter pic about a new way of rolling up/storing/folding their magsafe charger – in such a manner that it quickly became apparent doing it the other way, as most of us presumably did, was just just 'wrong'!
I distinctly remember going through several brief thought processes at the time...
Why didn't I think of that? >>
There are some pretty smart Apple users out there >>
Wait, why didn't Apple tell us this? >>
Maybe they never thought of it either >>
Actually, they probably did >>
I'm going to feel all smug the next time I see someone doing it 'wrong' >>
Actually, I don't feel smug, since I remember how completely clueless I was when I bought my first iPod ["how does this thing work... where's the manual"...] >>
Paying as much as I did for my second Magsafe charger (to be used at the office), the price now seems fair -- remembering how annoyed I was at why Apple would design something and forget to add the velcro strap thingy... Guess they thought of that already...
_______________
Didn't exactly spend minutes thinking about the above, but that little incident had me starting to think differently about how Apple does things... And that approach seems to apply equally to almost everything they do... Since then, whenever a new feature was announced/was not announced, only to be met by face-palms and gnashing of teeth - I tend to be a bit more circumspect... Apple is probably the most 'patient' company out there... They are releasing products today, that were probably designed/'completed' two or three or four years ago, to fit in with new features that are going to be implemented properly in 2/3/4/5 years from now... And they don't say a word...
All of that from something as basic as a laptop charger, and the thought that went into designing a 'feature' that most(?) of us never even realised was there...
Staying on the theme of chargers --
this confirmed the rest...
The huge difference that exists between a real iPad charger, and a counterfeit/knock-off charger... Now obviously other reputable companies make perfectly good iPad chargers, but it really brought home the message that appearances can be very deceptive -- and I will always be appreciative of a company that seemingly places equal (if not more) effort in design and engineering what goes on the inside of their computers and devices, as to the external appearances...
I've opened up several laptops and desktops over many years, and few have come across as neat and compact as a MBP... and don't even get me started on the internals of the nMP -- imo, it's literally a piece of engineering art.
So for me, I appreciate Apple devices despite paying an absolute premium for them, because I know that (mass-production aside), there has been
so much design and engineering thought/R&D put into every little product, from the top of line desktops, all the way down to the 'simplest' ATV remote and iPad charger... For me, it's not just buying a piece of tech, it's more than that - it's buying (into) a design philosophy... Something I would happily pay for. And the fact that everything I've ever bought has, thus far [touching wood!] not given me the slightest issue, makes it so much easier to do, as well...
My 2 cents.
TL;DR -- they make really good looking products, inside and out, that
just work...
