One cannot ask Apple to:
1- Build quality long-lasting products,
2- Stop "planned obsolescence" (or outright ban it like the EU is doing),
3- Have the next iOS version be as back-compatible as possible,
4- Lower the price of battery replacement,
5- Keep iPhone prices as low as possible,
-AND-
6- Keep raking in stellar profits and have a skyrocketing stock price.
This is not a defense of Apple. It's just basic math. These forums are always full of complaints (most justified) when Apple takes measure seen as trying to capitalize or improve on its profits. But then people want to fire Tim Cook when the inevitable downturn occurs. Go Figure.
It is more about reality and bad decision making than simple math.
1. The build quality of apple had used to be superior, but there is no evidence that is still the case, under Tim. The keyboard failing in MacBook pro's, the MacBook pro's unable to run at advertised speeds due to bad design, batteries were not replaced by generosity, the iMac mini starting at 800 despite having no new tech, no longer having a graphics cards and a low end processor (there are videos showing how to build a better version that runs mac os for under $300), bent iPads etc etc etc etc
2. Historically, apple's planned obsolescence was from releasing fantastic things that you WANTED to upgrade too, not keeping the basically same stuff that suddenly breaks or has the software cripple it.
3. I can remember when people would buy the mac OS, and would line up to do it. Why? Because the OS actually got faster and smaller, and had interesting features. It did NOT make my old system break or become unusably slow like now...for what?
4. The battery replacement was to avoid the PR disaster of being caught lying to customers and impending law suites. This is not a feature.
5. Why has the iPhone gotten so expensive? Why are there no lower cost entry iPhones? This is a choice by apple not a virtue. The top end iPhones are arguably not better than what can be found elsewhere, at a lower cost. Apple has shown remarkable stupidity by planning on shifting profits to services, but neglecting to make a larger market iPhone.
6. Keeping Steller profits is something Cook decided to do. He eschewed the route that creates long term viability for becoming a star. Like stars, those that shine brightest flame out fastest. Apple may be the first to reach trillion, but they did not hold it. In the way, the sacrificed their goodwill and future.
People remark how negative the forums have become. It is like this everywhere, for Apple. The older Apple veterans remember when they turned out simply great products and are upset it is no longer this way. The newer, more tech savvy people see that Apple's things are becoming embarrassing expensive and and compare to what is outside the garden. Apple has lost its way, and they are starting to suffer for it.
