OK so you covered "additions," like wearables and customizable animojis. But hindering their bread-and-butter hardware/software experience (the user experience) for many via input/output redux as well as intuitiveness of UIx redux in the name of some "one forced vision forward" isn't deserving of some doubt and questioning, no matter how AAPL clings to that path, where their steadfast clinging could be confused as being "genius?"
I am not saying you can’t criticise Apple, but I do feel that any criticism needs to be made within the context of the bigger picture of why Apple does things the way they do.
Otherwise, to me, it’s like going to a Japanese restaurant and complaining that they don’t serve French cuisine. You know Apple has their idiosyncrasies and works in a certain way, and you want what Apple clearly can’t and won’t provide.
Past a certain point, it’s no longer constructive criticism anymore, and just venting. Not saying you can’t (vent), but is it helping to elevate the current conversation any?
Would you not agree much of the floundering is self-imposed, where sticking to the one-size-fits-all approach works less well in today's diminishing returns phase than it did in the exploit-low-hanging-fruit-others-overlooked phase?
That’s how Apple works. They maintain a very slim product line so as not to risk diluting their focus too much, and to better reap manufacturing economies of scale.
I won’t exactly say it’s self-imposed. Apple has its unique business model (the functional organisational setup which gives Apple the liberty to move people and resources at ease). While this strategy clearly is working well for Apple, this model isn’t perfect (as evidenced by the apparent neglect of the Mac). But ultimately, it’s a package deal, and the pros outweigh the cons.
And where does today's MBP strategy leave super-power users more concerned in getting a job done quickly and efficiently than having the sveltest of hardware with the least # of holes in the body.
Truth be told - not very much, unless they are willing to fall back on the iMac Pro or dock to a 5k monitor.
Apple seems to be essentially betting that the touchbar is the best way to push the Mac forward, rather than ports and specs. They are also apparently drawing lessons learnt from products such as the iPad to try and move the MBP forward, and in the process, they will use the new MBP to push the other mobile devices forward in one giant continuous feedback loop.
Going from sleeping on the ground to a mattress was a revelation. Now being limited to one pillow size/firmness is asinine. Yes that would help drive the market towards a common vision, cost/pain/overlooked-pleasure be damned.
Of all MR forum members, I think you "get" (or "accept" ?) AAPL's vision "the best," which I agree is for better or for worse (or both simultaneously) for the customers, assuming AAPL's reason for existence is their customers and not for themsevles. But do you buy that it's in everyone's best interest for AAPL to force certain limiting change so hard, and constant? The push towards USB-C for instance, resulting (likely) in the need for adoption and discarding of mucho current hardware to the scrap heaps in the world, at what gain (to the customers & the world) vs. pain (again, to the customers & the world) ratio, while realizing that some next big-change will occur in 5 years, with new round of purge & upgrade. I don't think AAPL looks at and prioritizes the long game as much as they prioritize being the main one to influence the current/medium game.
To bet almost exclusively on a select few technologies. Is that not quintessentially Apple?
The whole usb c scenario here is basically a lesson in long-term gain for short-term pain. Carrying adapters is a current annoyance that even the best of us will have to endure for a while , but the future is so very bright for Thunderbolt 3, and I can’t wait to see the potential it unlocks.
And by doubling down on Thunderbolt 3 in one of the highest selling notebooks available, Apple is essentially forcing the hand of manufacturers and consumers everywhere. Because for Apple, usb c is the future of computing: impressive power in a thin and light package that can tether to an ultra-powerful rig (5k monitor, e-GPU) when needed. It’s a paradigm that clearly had its roots back in 2011 with the Thunderbolt Display, and usb c just takes the concept one step further.