Well, first of all, you don't become a king by being elected. But, that's beside the point - I am certainly not a king of anything and I do not have the right (nor would I want to) to decide who should be here and who shouldn't. I do, however, have the right to ask questions, politely. And my question is, as you have quoted - 'why are you here?'. And by that I mean: if you (not you, personally, but anyone here who has such strong negative sentiments) dislike Apple's approach so much and want them to do something we know they are not going to do - then why stick around?
It's one thing to be critical. Every company makes mistakes and it's good to point them out. And you don't have to like everything Apple does. But when you read the posts here - people don't have issues with certain changes, or a certain product, or even a whole generation of products - they have such negative feelings towards some of Apple's core ideals.
Asking for Apple to make a thicker computer with user accessible parts is like asking Bob Dylan to do electronic music, because you prefer that type of sound - and then going nuts when Bob does the same thing he's been doing for the last 50 years. Do you have to like Dylan's music? Of course not. Go listen to whatever you want. But why come to a Bob Dylan forum and complain he is obsessed with lyrics too much?
This is why I asked what I asked. And this is why I suggest people move on. If you like it here, by all means - enjoy your stay. But people asking Apple to put macOS on iPads or to make Macs with a touchscreen, people asking for user accessible parts, people asking for more complexity in computing - they are just setting themselves up for frustration. And, honestly, they are making this place a lot less fun for the rest of us.
It's not like Apple suddenly became obsessed with design. It's not like they suddenly decided to make things thinner. Look at some of the ads for the first iPod here on Macrumors - even 15 years ago, one of the first things they said was "....with such a THIN 5Gb drive" and how it's "simple and fun". They ALWAYS wanted to make a thinner, lighter, more simple product that looks beautiful. Whatever they announce on the 27th - it's going to be thinner and more simple (meaning less ports - until one day they make a Mac without any ports). And when will this obsession end? What is thin and light and simple enough? Well, when they reach invisibility. I'm serious. One day, when they are able to put computing abilities in our hands without us actually seing the computer - perhaps it will be on our wrist, perhaps hidden in the walls of our homes or inside our cars - then it will be 'enough'. They are on the path towards the ultimate unobtrusive computing. And they were on this path from the day Steve Jobs came back to the company.
At the same time, there are alternatives. There are companies who say - we're gonna make it bigger and more badass! With more things. With more ports, more drives, more customizability. And you know what - sometimes you need that. Nothing wrong with that. So - something for everyone. So why all the negativity, when you clearly have alternatives? (The "why are you here" question).
For me, I need focus. I respect a company that understand focus - and end goals. Apple, in my opinion, is all about the end goal. I am an illustrator. I want to be able to create illustrations. This is my goal. It's not to use this type of CPU or the other - it's to create illustrations. If I could do it with air, I would, but as it is - I require tools. My process, currently, requires computers that can run Photoshop, Zbrush, Illustrator, etc. But my GOAL is not usage of these programs per se - it's the creation of things. I trust Apple to always make the tools for me to do my work. But if one day, I am unable to create my work with Apple products - I will not change my goals, I will change my tools. I'll get something else. All I know is that people won't stop making art and there will always be tools for making art - so I'm not worried so much in the long run. For now, Apple is making the tools I want. In fact - they make the best tools for me. And I like to discuss these tools with likeminded people. Get advice. Ask questions. I also like to contribute - if I know something, I like to share it. I type these long posts taking the time to answer what I can - and I am grateful when someone answers my questions. Sometimes I come for fun - reading about other people's experiences. But lately, I come here and all I see is that I am somehow a sheep, a follower of a cult for idiots, led by the worst CEO in the universe, Tim Cook. It's.... tiring.
I'm not the king of this thread, as you pointed out. I have no right to choose what people want to talk about, and I would never forbid anyone from expressing their views. What I can do is ask, though. So I'm asking everyone who thinks Apple is a joke to - leave this place. Please?
Just asking.
