Goodbye Apple. It's been a fun ride.

[s15119]

The OP is clearly having trouble with his machines. I haven't had any similar problems. I've been using OSX since the first beta program.

I disagree with those who claim that Apple quality has gone down. My air and mini work flawlessly with Yosemite.

It seems like the OP is not interested in finding out why his machines are misbehaving. Maybe a move to other computers will be good for him.

His experience is not what most people experience.

 

[tdale]

This is why people make fun of the apple fans.

They're main reason for saying the MBP is so good is it's a "clean windows". A fresh install without the bloatware PC vendors are installing.

Well, when you take a mac out of the box to run windows, you have to install windows. To be fair, take the PC out of the box, wipe the drive and install a clean windows.

Either compare fresh out of the box to fresh out of the box (in which case Dell gives you a much cleaner windows than Apple), or take the machine out of the box and install a clean windows (in which case both machines will have a clean fresh windows and the whole point of the article goes out the window).

Mac fanatics are famous for twisting and distorting things and this is why people laugh at them.

Wow, its you that is the fanatic, but your arguments have failed, here is why.

The article expressly stated that the issue is manufacturer bloat, so you have no need to whine about that as if the article was skewed. Hence, the article relates to the out of box experience. So why re state the point that the article already made to push your point?? The article already stated that for you

Anti Apple fanatics that spend their time on an Apple forum are famous for twisting and distorting things and this is why people laugh at them.

----------

The OP is clearly having trouble with his machines. I haven't had any similar problems. I've been using OSX since the first beta program.

I disagree with those who claim that Apple quality has gone down. My air and mini work flawlessly with Yosemite.

It seems like the OP is not interested in finding out why his machines are misbehaving. Maybe a move to other computers will be good for him.

His experience is not what most people experience.

It makes you wonder what they do to their machines to have issues. The poster who said that all of his Macs are troublesome, well, he has more opportunity to jigger Windows. Some have genuine issues, true, same applies to Windows. Some have a hardware issue, true, same can happen on any computer. Remember the squeaky wheel syndrome, you will hear from the ones with issues, not the ones without.

If a thread was "Post here if you have OSX Problems", then you could argue 100% of Macs have problems. But separate genuine issues from the total user base number. Separate those who are miffed as they hate the flat UI, who pass on their negatives

 

[GerritV]

@ OP: brave decision.

I've been using a Dell laptop running Win7 for a while at work, and I was impressed by both the hardware's solid quality and Win7's behaviour and GUI.
OK, the laptop wasn't Ive-thin and hipster-light, and Win7 didn't look like a flashy kindergarten, but everything worked pretty well.

Probably all depends on what your needs/goals are. Nevertheless, Apple has somewhat lost it's touch with the professional users and gone with the consumer IMHO.

Best of luck!

 

[mellofello]

I use a Windows 8.1 laptop for work that is 100% bone stock software wise, except chrome, and 1 legacy program. It is a elite book, and had a msrp above most high end Macbook. It is the most unstable pos I have ever had the misfortune of using. After refreshing it back to factory 3 times it went back to hp, and had the ssd swapped out. I still get blue screens of death daily.

My 3 personal macs full of torrents and pirated programs have given me less problems in 10 years then windows 8.1 has in 1. I'm not alone either we bought a slew of new computers when my company upgraded to Windows 8. I'm pretty sure our it department is ready to commit mass suicide from how many issues we have day in day out.

Grass is always greener. I would go with xp or Windows 7 if you want stability.

 

[Woochoo]

Funny how the things that you describe never happens on my 2011 MacBook Air with Yosemite. I've never seen a beach ball on any of my daily tasks or even moderately CPU intensive tasks. BeachBalls showing up might be due to CPU throttling too much, I've cleaned the fans every 2 weeks since I purchased it to prevent dust build up. Maybe I'm just lucky that my MBA works perfectly.

I bet you the same thing will happen to your Windows laptop. I just couldn't stand their horrendous build quality except for my Surface Pro 3 which is the only Windows device that I'll consider to keep.

Well, that's funny because I always clean the fan of my 13" MBP, but I've never did it with the grille where the hot air is sent through. Crazy, but I used a lil vacuum to aspire all the dirt, and after seeing the block of **** coming out, I realised why my Mac was heating up despite cleaning the fan. And yeah, heat really throttles the CPU in a significant way.

 

[TPadden]

....
My 3 personal macs full of torrents and pirated programs ....Grass is always greener. ....

Are the 3 Macs and lawn also appropriated

 

[sracer]

The OP is clearly having trouble with his machines. I haven't had any similar problems. I've been using OSX since the first beta program.

I disagree with those who claim that Apple quality has gone down. My air and mini work flawlessly with Yosemite.

Sigh. Another "because I have had a positive experience that means that any claim of an experience contrary to mine must be wrong."

I could point to my MBP that died due to the GPU defect as "proof" that Apple quality HAS gone down. See how that works.

 

[rasputin1969]

2. Not smaller vs. the 11" Air.
3. No huge practical difference between Haswell and Broadwell

So again, other than the screen, meh.

I think you're confused - it is significantly smaller than the 13 inch air, so much so it is almost the same size as the 11 inch Air, and yet it retains the same 13 inch screen. If an ultra books utility is a function of screen size and portability than the XPS 13 destroys the Air.

 

[motrek]

I think you're confused - it is significantly smaller than the 13 inch air, so much so it is almost the same size as the 11 inch Air, and yet it retains the same 13 inch screen. If an ultra books utility is a function of screen size and portability than the XPS 13 destroys the Air.

No, I'm not confused at all. You take it as a given that the XPS 13 has to be compared with the 13" MBA, for no reason other than the screen sizes matching.

I'm sure that to some people screen size is an all-important feature of a laptop. You seem to be one of those people. Please realize that not everybody is in this camp. Of course I wouldn't complain if I had a 13" screen in the same form factor as my 11" MBA but it would make very little practical difference to me. A 13.3" screen is about 30% bigger than an 11.6" screen. That's not a trivial amount but it's not an enormous amount either. It's not like that extra 30% allows you to run completely different and better software.

 

[robdrj45]

I purchased an inexpensive asus laptop this past Christmas; at $100 it was just too cheap to pass up. I'm certainly not comparing this cheap laptop to my Air, since there's no comparison. It's fine for what it is. Windows 8, however, I don't care for at all. IMO, this OS is nonintuitive and sometimes downright confusing. I would not want a Windows 8 based machine as my main computer.

 

[TPadden]

.....I would not want a Windows 8 based machine as my main computer.

I would not want a laptop as my main computer !

 

[tdale]

I purchased an inexpensive asus laptop this past Christmas; at $100 it was just too cheap to pass up. I'm certainly not comparing this cheap laptop to my Air, since there's no comparison. It's fine for what it is. Windows 8, however, I don't care for at all. IMO, this OS is nonintuitive and sometimes downright confusing. I would not want a Windows 8 based machine as my main computer.

Install W10 preview, sorts it

 

[robdrj45]

Install W10 preview, sorts it

How sorted is W10 preview? TIA

 

[cycledance]

it's true...

i've had macs since 1993 and now it's worst. they let the consumers beta test their software. it's a common but bad practice now.
they make too many products and offer too many models and the entry models aren't as premium as they should be.

...but apple doesn't feel the consequence. they are too big now. it's all calculated.

 

[matgzx]

Bootcamp

The best of having a Mac is the option to use OS X or Windows in a premium machine.

 

[Traverse]

I admit OS X has become lackluster...as well as it's apps, and iOS....

And Windows 10 looks and works great (on my Tech Preview), but I'm not ready to jump ship. I'm staying on Mavericks for now and do have faith (though it's slipping) that Apple will get it's act together.

One huge thing about Apple for me is the one stop everything. I love that Apple designs the hardware, makes the OS, runs the app store, and handles support. it's organized and I know where to go. When I had issues with an HP I'd call tech support, wait 45 minutes, get told to contact Microsoft because it's a Windows error, get told to contact my AV support. UGH.

----------

The best of having a Mac is the option to use OS X or Windows in a premium machine.

As long as you USE both. If they just want Windows then you are paying a ludicrous amount of money for a lackluster experience. Bootcamp is not optimized for Windows that well.

 

[tdale]

How sorted is W10 preview? TIA

Its a preview, not finished, but updates are automatic. My use of the word sorted refers to your issues with 8, 10 fixed 8, as 7 fixed Vista

----------

The best of having a Mac is the option to use OS X or Windows in a premium machine.

Yep, if you want a Mac but for some software reason need a PC, you can buy one device

----------

I admit OS X has become lackluster

How so? Its got the flat look, yes, but its featureset has grown


..as well as it's apps,

The apps are still the apps, do you mean default Apple apps?


and iOS....
How so? Its got the flat look, yes, but its featureset has grown

And Windows 10 looks and works great (on my Tech Preview), but I'm not ready to jump ship. I'm staying on Mavericks for now and do have faith (though it's slipping) that Apple will get it's act together.

One huge thing about Apple for me is the one stop everything. I love that Apple designs the hardware, makes the OS, runs the app store, and handles support. it's organized and I know where to go. When I had issues with an HP I'd call tech support, wait 45 minutes, get told to contact Microsoft because it's a Windows error, get told to contact my AV support. UGH..

Yes, the benefit from having all eggs in the one basket is that its easier to keep it issue free (hmmm) and to integrate the whole shebang. Thats what I like, so I accept the flat look, accept the bug period right now, although admittedly it isn't really affecting me, and a couple of issues I had I have worked around.

To me, its the big picture I consider. The Sum of The Whole is larger than the sum of the parts

 

[cbautis2]

I use a Windows 8.1 laptop for work that is 100% bone stock software wise, except chrome, and 1 legacy program. It is a elite book, and had a msrp above most high end Macbook. It is the most unstable pos I have ever had the misfortune of using. After refreshing it back to factory 3 times it went back to hp, and had the ssd swapped out. I still get blue screens of death daily.

My 3 personal macs full of torrents and pirated programs have given me less problems in 10 years then windows 8.1 has in 1. I'm not alone either we bought a slew of new computers when my company upgraded to Windows 8. I'm pretty sure our it department is ready to commit mass suicide from how many issues we have day in day out.

Grass is always greener. I would go with xp or Windows 7 if you want stability.

Luckily I don't get BSODs on my work Surface Pro 3 tablet. Then again, it comes without bloatware and the drivers are manufactured by Microsoft. Still, OS experience is uninspiring and boring compared to OS X Yosemite on my MBA 13. I can't tolerate Windows 8 on a laptop though.

----------

it's true...

i've had macs since 1993 and now it's worst. they let the consumers beta test their software. it's a common but bad practice now.
they make too many products and offer too many models and the entry models aren't as premium as they should be.

...but apple doesn't feel the consequence. they are too big now. it's all calculated.

In my experience, Apple has never let me down. I never had any software glitches in any of their OS release on my MBA. Windows is always a beta test software where it crashes more than any OS in my experience. It's so archaic, dull and boring. Apple is still essentially the most premium experience you get for the money in my book.

 

[dave343]

It's funny reading this... I've gone the other way and said my goodbye to Windows... except for at work

I was in the Microsoft store this week and noticed the new Dell XPS 13 with the edge to edge screen. It looks nice, has the new Broadwell CPU, but... it's running Windows 8.1 which I hate.
As a PC technician who has only worked with PC's (primarily) for the last 20 years, I'd be the first to slam Mac's in the past, but now I'll be the first to say how great they are to work on. That's no to say they too don't have their faults, both camps do, but Microsoft... I don't know what they were thinking with the Metro interface. It's crap. 150% crap. Software companies are suppose to make our lives easier, not more frustrating and confusing. Every time I have to help someone with their Windows 8 PC I just want to slam my head against a wall repeatedly. With Windows 7, at least you know what's open etc... it's easy to navigate... with 8, it's extremely frustrating to use just trying to navigate around, see what's open, and get back to your open application.
On a quick note, I have been using the Windows 10 Beta at work, and it's a much, much needed improvement over 8.1. But still, they need to axe the Metro interface.
Back on topic, I went the other way because of how nice OS X is to use. Also, when you compare OS X to Windows 8... it's so much more of a cleaner interface. Sure OS X isn't immune to problems, as with any OS, but the overall experience using OS X a lot better, which is why that Dell may have looked good, had newer specs, but it was still running 8. A turd in a skirt

And I'm not really bias because I've always been a big PC gamer (and PC Technician) but I can't stand the direction MS is going with Windows.
Also, in regards to the hardware since people always bash Apple, if you really break things down, you get far better parts and build quality with Apple. My T430 at work cost well over 1K and didn't come with a backlit keyboard, the thing is all plastic, no aluminum, and doesn't have a glass trackpad. As well, a point that most probably don't notice... The $899 Air gives you the Intel 5000 Graphics. Find me a PC Laptop around $1000 with the Intel 5000. I haven't found one. It's all 4200/4400/4600, with half the performance. Apple always gives you the full fledge Intel graphics even with their lowest offerings.
That Dell XPS 13", it uses the Intel 5500. When Apple releases their refresh, if Rumours are true it'll have the Intel 6000. Now why couldn't Dell use that? PC manufactures are always charging more, and giving you less. They skimp in area's they think people won't notice.

Anyways, my 2 cents. Sorry for the long post.

 

[cbautis2]

It's funny reading this... I've gone the other way and said my goodbye to Windows... except for at work

I was in the Microsoft store this week and noticed the new Dell XPS 13 with the edge to edge screen. It looks nice, has the new Broadwell CPU, but... it's running Windows 8.1 which I hate.
As a PC technician who has only worked with PC's (primarily) for the last 20 years, I'd be the first to slam Mac's in the past, but now I'll be the first to say how great they are to work on. That's no to say they too don't have their faults, both camps do, but Microsoft... I don't know what they were thinking with the Metro interface. It's crap. 150% crap. Software companies are suppose to make our lives easier, not more frustrating and confusing. Every time I have to help someone with their Windows 8 PC I just want to slam my head against a wall repeatedly. With Windows 7, at least you know what's open etc... it's easy to navigate... with 8, it's extremely frustrating to use just trying to navigate around, see what's open, and get back to your open application.
On a quick note, I have been using the Windows 10 Beta at work, and it's a much, much needed improvement over 8.1. But still, they need to axe the Metro interface.
Back on topic, I went the other way because of how nice OS X is to use. Also, when you compare OS X to Windows 8... it's so much more of a cleaner interface. Sure OS X isn't immune to problems, as with any OS, but the overall experience using OS X a lot better, which is why that Dell may have looked good, had newer specs, but it was still running 8. A turd in a skirt

And I'm not really bias because I've always been a big PC gamer (and PC Technician) but I can't stand the direction MS is going with Windows.
Also, in regards to the hardware since people always bash Apple, if you really break things down, you get far better parts and build quality with Apple. My T430 at work cost well over 1K and didn't come with a backlit keyboard, the thing is all plastic, no aluminum, and doesn't have a glass trackpad. As well, a point that most probably don't notice... The $899 Air gives you the Intel 5000 Graphics. Find me a PC Laptop around $1000 with the Intel 5000. I haven't found one. It's all 4200/4400/4600, with half the performance. Apple always gives you the full fledge Intel graphics even with their lowest offerings.
That Dell XPS 13", it uses the Intel 5500. When Apple releases their refresh, if Rumours are true it'll have the Intel 6000. Now why couldn't Dell use that? PC manufactures are always charging more, and giving you less. They skimp in area's they think people won't notice.

Anyways, my 2 cents. Sorry for the long post.

BTW, 4600 is faster than 5000 as they are clocked higher due to higher TDP headroom. There are more PC consumer that would want a dGPU at those prices that will beat iris pro 5200 out of the water. GTX 850M or 970M laptop for less than a price of a mac will leave your glorified iGPU to dust. I really see no point of having a slightly faster iGPU on a laptop designed for ultra-portability. OS, build quality, color accuracy and display quality are what matter for a premium machine and only Macs can deliver that.

 

[tentales]

The OP is clearly having trouble with his machines. I haven't had any similar problems. I've been using OSX since the first beta program.

I disagree with those who claim that Apple quality has gone down. My air and mini work flawlessly with Yosemite.

It seems like the OP is not interested in finding out why his machines are misbehaving. Maybe a move to other computers will be good for him.

His experience is not what most people experience.

So 1 person's machine runs flawless and that negates the experiences of many others ? Maybe you're not working your machine hard enough.

The OP may or may not have the time, inclination or experience to find out why several of systems are misbehaving, fact is, he's frustrated and the macrumors community tries to help. He can take it or leave it and try his luck on Windows.
No skin of anyone's nose here, except the die-hard fanboys

My main advice to him was, do a fresh install and then migrate your user data, installing Apps one by one. Upgrades have always been problematic because of legacy data, settings and configs, not just on OS X.

Everyone uses their systems differently and you can never really make blanket statements about 1 user's positive of negative experience.

However, the consensus here seems to indicate that quality control at Apple has declined. True or not, that's the general perception and that's what drives future purchase decisions.

 

[Steve121178]

Windows 8 has way more reliability problems and crashes far more in my experience than all versions of OS X put together.

Yeah, sure. Sure...

 

[Steve121178]

The OP is clearly having trouble with his machines. I haven't had any similar problems. I've been using OSX since the first beta program.

I disagree with those who claim that Apple quality has gone down. My air and mini work flawlessly with Yosemite.

It seems like the OP is not interested in finding out why his machines are misbehaving. Maybe a move to other computers will be good for him.

His experience is not what most people experience.

I've only been on the scene since 2008 but the Apple quality has gone down hill, rapidly! Leopard was my first OS X experience and it was fairly bulletproof & rock solid. Everything worked flawlessly. Stability and bugs simply were not an issue. Coming from the clusterf*** that was Vista, OS X really was a breath of fresh air to me.

Then Microsoft released Windows 7 which corrected all the wrongs with Vista and made Leopard & Snow Leopard appear a little dated and lacking in features. Apple then started the rapid release schedule of OS X which saw a new version rushed to market each year. No version of OS X since Snow Leopard has been truly ready for users. Even with 10.10 people are still finding annoying bugs and issues with something as simplistic as Wi-Fi. Apple's quality has gone down hill and anyone who disagrees is simply wrong.

Windows 8.1 is brilliant and Windows 10 appears to be in another league compared to any other OS. I use Windows daily at work and home and OS X is starting to take a back-seat. If Apple's quality drops any lower then I'm going to find it hard to justify buying another Mac.

 

[egy195]

i recommend using windows 8.1.it's way faster than windows 7 and i experienced the difference on older and newer hardware, best os in a long time.

 

[DevNull0]

Anti Apple fanatics that spend their time on an Apple forum are famous for twisting and distorting things and this is why people laugh at them.

This is funny. I insult a single pro-Apple article so now I'm an anti-apple fanatic? I guarantee I've been an Apple user longer than you (there were no macs when I started with Apple), I've owned more Apple products than you (20+ actual computers alone not counting tablets, phones, etc), and I'm sure I've gotten a lot more enjoyment out of Apple than you. I am very much pro-Apple.

It's the rabid fanatics that ruin the Apple experience for me. Why do you have to believe that every single thing Apple does is perfect and every positive comment about apple is perfect? Why does it offend you so much to even imply something about Apple is not perfect?