I converted to the apple ecosystem in 2012 (current: ipad air2, 15" MBP MY'14, iPhone 6SPlus, 5s), and have been extremely happy but like many, that love is fading. Apple is stagnant on both hardware and software
4 years is not a long time. In that time Apple's hardware includes (off the top of my head):
- 2 new MacBook models (Retina MBP and Retina MacBook)
- 2 new iPad models (mini and Pro)
- TocuhID (and Apple Pay security)
- 3D Touch (fastest way for me to triage my work emails)
- Stepped battery in the Retina MacBook
- Custom designed class leading SoCs
- Custom designed class leading NAND controllers in the iPhone 6s
- True Tone flash
- True Tone displays
- Highly regarded Pencil accessory
- Continue to have some of the best flagship cameras on the market
Similarly for software:
- Apple Pay
- ResearchKit (lets hope this leads to some good)
- Apple Maps
- A new programming language Swift
- Continuity & Handoff (a lot of features buried within these top level names)
- Apple Music
- Metal
- CarPlay
If that's stagnant I'd love to see what the other guys are doing.
It would have been more worth while if the new apple file system was in place as default with a matching time machine update that was more modern.
It will be even more worthwhile when they release it once it's ready. You can't just throw money at projects and hope it speeds things up.
Still small animation glitches on my MY'14 MBP which I'm frankly getting tired of.
I use Windows on a ThinkPad as my work machine - both OS X/macOS and Windows have small UI glitches. Expecting perfection on this front is bad for you - it will never happen.
However if the glitches are major you may have other issues. My use cases are obviously different to yours but my late 2011 MBP isn't displaying anything serious in terms of interface smoothness.
Sierra also removed PPTP which breaks my VPN, also removed the ability to enter a VPN hostname (only IP address.. wtf). Sierra also broke some of the plugins I use in Lightroom making it unusable for a daily driver.
Please stop using Betas or even expecting to use them as your daily driver. That's just asking for trouble.
Unless, the next 15" MBP is really something special, and the supposed redesigned iphone 8 is equally awesome
What are you expecting? What could they release in your wildest dreams that would make the MacBook Pro "really something special" or the iPhone "awesome"?
There is pretty much nothing that will make your daily usage of the devices much different. The most outlandish rumour for either of these devices is the OLED bar above the keyboard on the next MBP. Hardly going to change your life. The iPhone will have better cameras, faster SoC, and maybe waterproofing and wireless charging. Again hardly going to change your life.
Will they be better devices. No question. Will they be really something special... I doubt it, there just isn't much they can add to get the jumps that Unibody construction, Retina screens or TouchID etc. provided IMO.
It's always good to check out the competition though. It may fit your needs better (for me Windows is better for my Work needs).
Despite the new name, I find this release very "style over substance" release that offers very little. The next 15 months will be very interesting for Apple.
I'm the opposite, I really like Siri, universal clipboard, Photos improvements, Apple Watch login (wish I had this on my work machine with it's ridiculously long password requirements), Tabs (another feature I'd like on Windows).
Apple isn't perfect, never were, never will be. But right now as a user I'm pretty damn happy with my late 2011 MBP, iPhone 6, iPad Pro 9.7", ATV 4 and Apple Watch Sport. Can they be improved - oh yes. Am I pining for competitors devices - nope. The odd feature for sure, and I'm hoping they will come in good time.
I see posts like yours all the time. Competition is catching up... iPod Killer, iPhone Killer, MacBook killer. Customer satisfaction shows Apple is doing just fine for now.
