Fighting the desire for the latest and greatest

[fanta88]

I write a great deal as well and surprisingly favor the 12.9" Pro with smart keyboard to my rMB.

I've also written out notes using the pencil. It's easily the best stylus-like device I've used for writing -- that being said, I still prefer writing with pen and paper because, as TrouBlou mentioned, there isn't enough resistance on the screen. I really appreciate the tactility of writing and the iPP+pencil does not give me that.

 

[applesith]

The struggle is real! I was ready to buy something new Apple early this year- had the itch. I went with the rMB at 35% off with all the best buy deals. If I didn't then I know I would have picked up the new IPP to replace my Mini 2.

 

[Night Spring]

I have an Air 1 and don't find it useful as a writing implement, so I'm trying to figure out whether the pencil + iPad Pro combo inspires productivity (not necessarily creativity). I'll try it out. Thanks for the input. Lots of writers on this forum.

I never found the 9.7 iPads to be good for extended writing -- useful in a pinch, but the screen size was too small for writing and editing documents comfortably. I'd think that wouldn't change with the 9.7 Pro. The 12.9 Pro, however, is a great writing device. It's now my favorite writing device, even over my 27 inch iMac. And this is all without taking Pencil into account. I don't draw, and I don't have a need to take handwritten notes or annotate PDF, so I didn't get the Pencil. I write on my iPP mostly using the on screen keyboard, and sometimes I use a Bluetooth keyboard.

 

[rowspaxe]

Just kidding, but you can add one more vote into the 'try it for 14 days' category. You can buy it and

Doesn't anyone see this approach as being wasteful. Why not just think about the pros and cons--and then go for it. No fuss, no muss...no waste. Yes I know apple almost encourages this "try to buy" practice...I just disagree with it.

Oddly in an era when people can afford so many consumer goods--they feel deeply anxious at any deprivation.

 

[Night Spring]

Doesn't anyone see this approach as being wasteful. Why not just think about the pros and cons--and then go for it. No fuss, no muss...no waste. Yes I know apple almost encourages this practice...I just disagree with it

Because sometimes reading and hearing about other people's experiences just doesn't substitute for using something yourself. And Apple sells the returned units as refurbished models, so only thing that is wasted is some packaging. I'm not advocating buying everything to try without any research, but after doing lots of research, the only way to know for sure if something works for you is actually try it.

 

[ZBoater]

I agree. No substitute for actually owning it for at least a few days.

 

[rowspaxe]

I'm not advocating buying everything to try without any research, but after doing lots of research, the only way to know for sure if something works for you is actually try it.

There is some sort of failure of imagination. When I buy a device, I go to the apple store and play with it a bit and then research it some on the web. I have never returned a tech product. And yes--the packaging, shipping and loss associated with selling the product as refurbished is real and a waste. Apple amortizes the loss against profits--I personally find it wasteful

 

[t76turbo]

I would say if you want a new ipad, this one will be a great replacement for your Air 1. I have an Air 1 and am thinking about upgrading it. Although I would like to get the larger Pro maybe on its second cycle just to get another upgrade or two. And my Air 1 works flawlessly so I am not feeling the urge as bad as you since you said you are having little issues with your Air.

But to even bring your Dell XPS 13 into the argument does not make a lot of sense I'm my opinion. Laptops do SOOOO much more than the Ipads do. At least in my world. Which is different than most in that I use very specific software for some things like automobile performance tuning and data logging and that software is not available in tablet form. So for me, I will probably always have both. Only way I could get around that is a Surface which can still run my software from what I understand.

I am a little biased on the laptop you have as I am typing on a dell XPS 13 (new 2015 version just like you) now and so far I love this thing.

 

[Fuzzball84]

If you are in any way a respectable Apple user you will buy the iPad Pro tomorrow morning at opening time!

 

[Night Spring]

There is some sort of failure of imagination. When I buy a device, I go to the apple store and play with it a bit

Well, for instance, no amount of playing with the iPad in the Apple Store will tell you how you will feel about holding it while curled up in bed, or how it will feel after you carry it around in your bag all day. I'm isually about 90% sure that a device will work for me before I buy it, but it's nice to know I can return it in case I was wrong.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Well, for instance, no amount of playing with the iPad in the Apple Store will tell you how you will feel about holding it while curled up in bed, or how it will feel after you carry it around in your bag all day. I'm isually about 90% sure that a device will work for me before I buy it, but it's nice to know I can return it in case I was wrong.

People who take Apple products back should be ashamed of themselves. I think sales assistants processing returns should flash blue and red so everyone in the store is aware.

It would reduce the number of returns and increase profits.

 

[Night Spring]

People who take Apple products back should be ashamed of themselves. I think sales assistants processing returns should flash blue and red so everyone in the store is aware.

It would reduce the number of returns and increase profits.

But who knows how many people would skip buying it altogether if not for the return policy? And who knows how many people buy it thinking they'll return it and ends up keeping it?

 

[oldmacs]

I change my wallpaper, put a new screen protector on, do a reset to make things faster etc. Its worked for me given I have an iPad 2 and iPhone 5.

 

[DadBod630]

In my home country of Pakistan people don't have access to basic things like clean drinking water and are constantly under threat of extremists and you my boy are so distressed by an addiction to your Apple products?

 

[Fuzzball84]

But who knows how many people would skip buying it altogether if not for the return policy? And who knows how many people buy it thinking they'll return it and ends up keeping it?

I was just joking lol I think the policy is a really great thing. Ive actually taken a few products back (including that terrible magic mouse lol) and it has really helped me decide on whether a product will work for me or not. Nothing better than being able to take it home, to work or wherever and seeing how it performs in the real world.

Especially good considering Apple products are generally more expensive.

Best buy also have a policy like this.
[doublepost=1459374770][/doublepost]

In my home country of Pakistan people don't have access to basic things like clean drinking water and are constantly under threat of extremists and you my boy are so distressed by an addiction to your Apple products?

Unfortunately a lot of people forget how lucky they are to be living in certain countries on this planet.

 

[vercimber]

In my home country of Pakistan people don't have access to basic things like clean drinking water and are constantly under threat of extremists and you my boy are so distressed by an addiction to your Apple products?

I clearly said in my opening quote that this is a problem relative to my situation. I am well aware of the wild dichotomy between my "problem" and the real problems of the world, and, frankly, find your comment an insult to my intelligence. I do know how lucky I am--I comment on it in the very first paragraph of my original post.

Also, it is not an addiction to Apple products. It is a neurosis about being distracted by technophilia, particularly as it applies to Apple products.

One more thing: Just because I am not of your culture or experience what I am sure are horrific atrocities and paucities of resources I take for granted, my life is not immune to genuine tragedy.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Doesn't anyone see this approach as being wasteful. Why not just think about the pros and cons--and then go for it. No fuss, no muss...no waste. Yes I know apple almost encourages this "try to buy" practice...I just disagree with it.

Oddly in an era when people can afford so many consumer goods--they feel deeply anxious at any deprivation.

This is a valid point, and I do feel bad when I have to return things. However, sometimes it just isn't possible to make sound decisions on expensive technology purchases without actually using them in your daily life, in my opinion. They don't deserve to have their margins cut because I am indecisive, but I don't deserve to not have the best tech setup I can buy. Catch 22.

 

[mtneer]

I love the fact that you called it "irrational" straight out of the gate. ;-)

Hey! I didn't want to give you some wishy-washy feedback. From what you told me, I called it the way I saw it.

 

[rowspaxe]

However, sometimes it just isn't possible to make sound decisions on expensive technology purchases without actually using them in your daily life, in my opinion.

Somehow people manage to buy cars. Its an example of making decisions on expensive technology without actually using it in one's daily life. Tech companies have encouraged the try to buy practice with liberal return policies. I am only pointing out the waste involved and how it could easily be avoided. I am against waste and for rational decision making

 

[Night Spring]

Somehow people manage to buy cars. Its an example of making decisions on expensive technology without actually using it in one's daily life. Tech companies have encouraged the try to buy practice with liberal return policies. I am only pointing out the waste involved and how it could easily be avoided. I am against waste and for rational decision making

I don't drive, and have never bought a car, so maybe there are nuances involved in picking a car that I'm not aware of, but seems to me that despite the cost, a car is a simpler technology than computing devices. I understand that car dealers let you test drive cars, and I imagine you can put a car through all common driving scenarios during a test drive. Am I wrong?

Now that I'm thinking about it, I think looking and playing with computing devices at a store is like looking at a car in a dealer's parking lot. You can sit in the car seats, play with the switches and the seat belts and door and window controls, etc, but you don't know how the car handles without taking it for a drive around the block. And I think mobile computing devices are like that. You need to load it up with apps you are actually going to use, and carry it around for at least some hours to see how it fits into your daily routine.

This is not the same as with desktops, because desktops are pretty much the same as long as the main cpu fits in your word space, and the components you directly interact with, such as keyboard and monitor, can be switched if they don't work out. With laptops, I spend time testing the keyboard and pointing device, because they can't be changed, but spending some time at the store is enough to get the feel of the keys. Tablets and smartphones, you have to spend time with them, especially if switching to a different size. I know I would have really hesitated buying the 12.9 iPad if not for the return policy, because I had no idea if I could get used to such a big tablet. And I'm glad there was a return policy so I could spend the time using it at home, knowing I could return it if it didn't work out. And I did eng up keeping it.

 

[TrueBlou]

There is some sort of failure of imagination. When I buy a device, I go to the apple store and play with it a bit and then research it some on the web. I have never returned a tech product. And yes--the packaging, shipping and loss associated with selling the product as refurbished is real and a waste. Apple amortizes the loss against profits--I personally find it wasteful

I'm sort of split on this to be honest. Like you I've never returned a single purchase I've ever made because I didn't like it. Of course I've returned faulty items, but only ever for an exchange (and only ever once with an Apple product, my iPhone 4s which had a faulty screen.) I do my research, far too much of it, try it out where possible and I'm always certain before I make my purchase.

But on the flip side of that, I can see how an item which you want for a very specific purpose and could only really come to a complete conclusion once it's actually fulfilling that purpose can cause a problem.
Apple have their returns policy there for a reason, there's always going to be a situation where someone buys, for example the iPad Pro, and discovers that once outside of the retail environment it just doesn't entirely meet their requirements, fair enough.
Returning items which you've made as impulse purchases or when you've bought two or three to compare, with the full intention of only ever keeping one. Well, as unpopular as a statement it may well be, that I have less sympathy for. You should do your homework before buying the thing and you wouldn't be in that situation. But as long as Apple is happy to accommodate such things, who are we to argue, it clearly works for them.

 

[uwdude]

It's a worthy upgrade to the Air 1, go ahead. You even said your Air 1 has some technical problems. Get rid of it and get something useful! Plus it's shiny!

 

[HiItsMe]

My problem with the whole apple new release process is that they always have the preorders long before the item is anywhere viewable by the public. This was especially problematic for the watch release. It's really hard as a consumer to know exactly what you're getting if you've never actually seen it in person. And since this is Apple, often times if you don't get in on the preorder, it is weeks or months before the item is available again for purchase. If I were an average consumer who just walked into an Apple Store on release day to try out a product, I would be pretty miffed to be told that there was a six week wait once I decided that I wanted it after playing with it in store. It's is a 'store' after all, not a showroom. With the schedule it's almost like Apple encourages waste and wants you to buy it and return it later if you don't like it. They should have items available for test drive in the store the day after the press conference with the preorder a few days later and release date a few days after that. JMHO.

 

[MacRazySwe]

This is an Apple forum--I know that and respect it--but what do some of you guys do to battle this intense desire to purchase the latest and greatest?

I check my bank account, and realize I feel a lot happier than I would feel using any of the absolute newest Apple-devices. Seriously, saving is underrated.

Sure, sometimes we all need to splurge. Personally however, I'd rather spend that money on a trip somewhere nice with friends or family, rather than on an iPad which would serve no other purpose than a meaningless drawing board. Whenever the desire becomes too strong (which obviously happens eventually...) I try to rationalize my purchases by finding good deals. I haven't paid full price for an Apple device in quite a while now. I would easily be able to sell either my iMac or iPad Air a year from now and still even out - which makes it easier to justify keeping them.

 

[BlackbookGuy]

People who take Apple products back should be ashamed of themselves. I think sales assistants processing returns should flash blue and red so everyone in the store is aware.

It would reduce the number of returns and increase profits.

Are you a shareholder? Why else wouldyou care about their profits?