Consumers Most Interested in Apple Products Because of Existing Ecosystem, Ease of Use

[TimUSCA]

so you ask people at apple stores what brand they're most excited about?!

seriously? lol

Guess what product most people are excited about at a donut shop? Yes a donus!

That's not the point of this article. It's about WHY people like Apple's products, not IF they like Apple's products.

 

[MacFoodPoisoner]

For me its just the fact I do more work.

I keep finding my self sitting behind my Mac thinking... whats next.
Same goes for my phone and the rest...

With windows I had a lot more options/possibilities... but the downside is you need to configure them all, and keep them up to date.
In the past I lost a minimum of 1 hour a day with configuring or updating or testing... With my Mac I boot it, and go to work.

There is just nothing else to do with you Mac besides working and making use of it. No more tweaking, tooling, updating, testing, searching...

So in my personal case it saves me 1 hour a day...

It used to be like this for me too, when I switched to os x way back when. Sadly my personal experience is that's not the case anymore. I 've spent countless hours for example trying to hack around or disable lion's and mountain lion's (to a lesser extent, because the shock came along with lion) "features". That and the countless bugs cropping up the past couple of years. I 've regretted taking part of my business to apple's platform, and I am certainly not recommending macs to anyone I know anymore. Let alone, "converting" (ugghhh, the religious connotations of this...) anyone.

 

[dennno]

Not surprising, Apple appeals to the masses with the simplicity of their software. It's not for everyone though, techies still want more options.

For mobile it's perfect, because I don't really want unnecessary widgets and other junk that clutters the screen. But for desktops features and capabilities are a must and take precedence over simplicity and lacking functionality.

 

[nStyle]

Today's article quotes several users on Android tablets and phones, with one saying "although they are cheaper, you have to re-buy everything." Another said "Apple's got me in now." In fact, Samsung's chief strategy officer is an Apple user for the exact same reasons.

Someone should really correct this. You don't have to "rebuy" everything on Android.

 

[KdParker]

so you ask people at apple stores what brand they're most excited about?!

seriously? lol

Guess what product most people are excited about at a donut shop? Yes a donus!

That is not what was said. They are looking at the traffic in the stores.

Before I bought my first iphone I never set foot in an apple store.

 

[RiverCitySlim]

If Google (and Samsung and Microsoft) want to beat Apple they need to do one simple thing:

Make a better iTunes and make it work seemlessly with Android.

Currently Android phones are a nightmare to sync and have some of the worst UX I've ever seen. I've gone back to an iPhone after a year of misery with an Android phone.

I truly hope Google never forces an iTunes like system on it's users. If they do I'll be looking for another platform.

 

[26139]

Huh?

Good luck to anyone who might have this guy as a lawyer in the future, they are going to need it...

Comparing a phone ui with that of a windows pc... Does a mac have any less buttons than a windows pc?

What's with people getting interviewed for reuters or such sites that they are almost uniformly morons, is it because people who perk up and volunteer to offer their precious opinions to news sites are usually rather vapid?

Every elderly person I've met thinks Windows is far more confusing looking than OS X.

 

[RiverCitySlim]

Someone should really correct this. You don't have to "rebuy" everything on Android.

I assume they meant they would need to re-buy their apps and content if they were to switch from iOS to another platform.

 

[h1r0ll3r]

I asked 17 people in a Microsoft store what product they were most excited about this year. They said iPads.

 

[iGrip]

It's the Ecosystem, Stupid!

With Apple's iOS rapidly losing market share, and with Android increasingly dominating in sales, how long will devs keep supporting the underdog?

It's the Ecosystem, stupid. And for Apple to remain on top of the ecosystem wars, it has two choices: Get back its lost market share, or spend huge amounts on R&D to make lots of exclusive, "must-have" software in-house, like they were forced to do with maps.

Without market share, the third-party devs will pay as much attention to iOs as they do to OSX. IOW, almost none.

 

[killerbee79]

WOW, you interview 70 shoppers worldwide???? That is a joke of a sample size. With that number of people talked to you are pretty much manufacturing the results. It would be like me going to my Apple store and asking 1 shopper, that would be the equivalent to what this survey did.

If you want to make a claim like they are at least ask a number in the thousands.

 

[NAG]

With Apple's iOS rapidly losing market share, and with Android increasingly dominating in sales, how long will devs keep supporting the underdog?

It's the Ecosystem, stupid. And for Apple to remain on top of the ecosystem wars, it has two choices: Get back its lost market share, or spend huge amounts on R&D to make lots of exclusive, "must-have" software in-house, like they were forced to do with maps.

Without market share, the third-party devs will pay as much attention to iOs as they do to OSX. IOW, almost none.

You conflate marketshare with people actively using the devices as computers. So far, Android cannot convert marketshare to usage (e.g. iOS usage stats for Black Friday shopping). This is doubly bad if they use a sell the blades business model like Amazon where they do not profit unless people use the device.

As far as Maps, you are again confusing Google vs Apple as far as bargaining position as well as the fact that Maps is built in compared to other companies (Google wanted concessions as far as access to user info). Even then Google quickly brought a Maps app to market and they even admitted it was superior to what they have on Android as far as UI. So your argument doesn't hold water.

 

[DMVillain]

While 70 is a very small (and possibly bias) sample size, this is definitely true for me. I'm sure that phones like the Samsung Note do more, but I'm too deep in the ecosystem (by choice) to want to care.

 

[Bchagey]

I like apple products for numerous reasons..but one in particular is software and software updates..my iPad 2 is running iOS 6 and will probably run iOS 7 and 8.. If it was an android tablet from a year or 2 ago it would not be receiving updates and would be left behind..

 

[Kludge420]

I truly hope Google never forces an iTunes like system on it's users. If they do I'll be looking for another platform.

Sorry, I did a bad job of expressing my point. iTunes as in a central app to download music, podcasts, apps, etc. that will automatically sync with my phones. Plug it in and it works; no muss, no fuss.

 

[jayducharme]

It most certainly is a tax, not in the literal sense but a mandatory premium you pay now that you are in the ecosystem because it is very tough to leave.

But how is this different from any other platform? If you have hundreds or thousands of dollars invested in Windows apps and hardware, how likely are you to switch to Apple? If you have an Android device and lots of apps for that, will you dump it all and buy an iPad? Or do you look for an OS that lets you have the best of both worlds (such as running Windows virtualized on a Mac)?

 

[stepshows]

Second!

I like apple only because of their operating systems.

Apple just makes better products in general. They delivered the iPhone at the right time--when others were still fumbling with their 10 different versions-per-year and buy-one-get-5-free strategies. Just make it better and the eco system will practically build itself from the millions of satisfied users.

 

[Ubele]

Good luck to anyone who might have this guy as a lawyer in the future, they are going to need it...

Comparing a phone ui with that of a windows pc... Does a mac have any less buttons than a windows pc?

What's with people getting interviewed for reuters or such sites that they are almost uniformly morons, is it because people who perk up and volunteer to offer their precious opinions to news sites are usually rather vapid?

In all fairness, I doubt that the guy was comparing the iPhone to a Windows PC, because I can't imagine a 27-year-old law student being that clueless. My guess is that the reporter talked with him briefly about the iPhone vs. competitors' phones, and then about Macs vs. Windows PCs, and then selected one sentence from each part of the conversation. Reporters quote people out of context all the time.

 

[johncrab]

People (including me) buy Apple products because they work. I know I won't be queuing up to return a dead piece of junk or something that doesn't do what the manufacturer says it will do. Issues are fixed by remote control and new features are added. I'm not abandoned as soon as my credit card is swiped. That's why Apple products sell. Why should I buy 2-5 pieces of cheap junk hoping to get something that will do what I need when I can get it right the first time?

 

[aristotle]

I truly hope Google never forces an iTunes like system on it's users. If they do I'll be looking for another platform.

*WHOOOSH*

Did you hear that sound? I think the person you were replying to was that Android lacks an easy way for average people to manage their devices and the apps stored on them. They are asking for an easier experience for "them".

For all your posturing, I bet that you use Google play and every other google service. All this talk of "choice" is marketing bullcrap anyway. You "can" use alternatives but you can also shove toothpicks under your fingernails too.

If I was an Android user, I would probably use the easiest and most comprehensive options available.

The real "choice" you have is the platform you choose. Everything else is an illusion.

Realistically, on iOS, you have a lot of choice for book stores and I would gain nothing but headaches from security risks, scams and incompatibility with multiple stores for apps.

 

[NAG]

But how is this different from any other platform? If you have hundreds or thousands of dollars invested in Windows apps and hardware, how likely are you to switch to Apple? If you have an Android device and lots of apps for that, will you dump it all and buy an iPad? Or do you look for an OS that lets you have the best of both worlds (such as running Windows virtualized on a Mac)?

Either they have to have a third party store like Steam where you get versions for multiple platforms or they have to have the ability to give discounts based on owning software for the competing platform (e.g. I think Adobe had a cross platform discount, not sure now because I stopped caring). The App Store won't allow any of this because they don't have to (believe me, Apple will instantly change the rules if they start losing people in enough quantity). Don't know if the Google Play store has the ability to give people discounts based on owning iOS software.

 

[Rogifan]

WOW, you interview 70 shoppers worldwide???? That is a joke of a sample size. With that number of people talked to you are pretty much manufacturing the results. It would be like me going to my Apple store and asking 1 shopper, that would be the equivalent to what this survey did.

If you want to make a claim like they are at least ask a number in the thousands.

Of course if these 70 people said they hated Apple's products and planned to jump ship no one would give a hoot about the sample size and would proclaim The end of Apple.

----------

I truly hope Google never forces an iTunes like system on it's users. If they do I'll be looking for another platform.

Hmmm...I can't remember the last time I used iTunes for anything. Maybe it was when I got my iPhone 5 and set it up off my 4S backup. Otherwise I never use it.

 

[Loge]

Earlier this week, a questionable Reuters article compared Apple's lock-in ecosystem with a "tax" that users are required to pay to have access to their previously purchased apps and content. Aside from the misuse of the word "tax", that piece was correct in that Apple has locked in its users.

Regarding content, you are certainly not locked in to music files, and the lock-in for movies/video/books results from the DRM which is not Apple's fault.

 

[NAG]

Regarding content, you are certainly not locked in to music files, and the lock-in for movies/video/books results from the DRM which is not Apple's fault.

iCloud represents the bigger lock in here. If people start using iOS devices independent from their computers they won't even have local copies of these things anymore. As much as I like the Apple ecosystem, it would be nice if there was some ability to export from iCloud. This would apply to things like your word processing documents, not just your music, videos and apps.

 

[TallManNY]

I was really expecting it to be the price... I mean:
The way they slimmed down the iMac, removed features and ruined it's magnificent sound only to increase it the completely justified 200€ ($260) extra is totally worth it. I mean, my desk thrilled about the weight reduction...

Is the sound worse on the new iMac? That is disturbing. And if so, it is another reason I'm happy with my 2011 iMac. I wonder if the 2011's resale value is going to remain higher because it is the last iMac with a DVD player. And if the sound is better as well, hmmm.