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Is Apple going backwards? Or is it just me?
- Thread starter anti-microsoft
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What are Apple's target countries?
Let's take Japan. Here in the Tokyo area, we have some of the best connectivity known to man. Get away from Tokyo, and you may be lucky to get a modem to work.
BTW, I could say the same about the states. Many places in the Midwest only have dial up access.
An internal modem is still useful today by many.
It's about market strategy and really Apple has a niche market that focuses on professional users of graphics arts/medias - hence the powerhouses, students - iMacs and Macbooks, and ALSO your everyday Joe, be he western or not - mac mini.
But really, Apple makes still makes much of its profits in computers (as opposed to iPods) and profits are much higher in the higher end models. So of course, you push the high end models. Niche!
Simple microeconomics will tell you that a monopoly sets a price not to sell the greatest quantity, but rather to make the highest profit and in the idealized model, selling at a really high price to a select few nets you the most profit! And actually by lowering prices to attact new customers you lose money.
And there are people who can afford Macs in non-western places like China. So as long as they can afford it, apple will to them.
Back to the original comment. Never needed that a/v plug. And I find a modem obsolete and ugly. Never had a need or one and I don't I will. And even if I travel to "non western" places, I wouldn't bring my MBP. Wouldn't want it stolen, lost, or damaged. So no modem = no problem for me.
External Hardware today is far less clunkly like in the G3 Days. Most things now take USB or to a lesser extend FireWire, with these ports also providing enough power to run them it is far less of a hassle. So a USB Modem is no big deal and DVI is rather easilly converted to VGA or SVidio (which most somewhat modern TVs use today) Serial and Parrallel Ports are non existant now. Same as PCMICA Ports. In order to keep laptops small and usefull we need to get rid of stuff to make room for new stuff. Imagin a MacBook with USB, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, EatherNet, Serial (9 and 25 Pin), Parrallel, Modem, DVI, VGA, SVideo, Speaker Out, Mic In, Line In, PCMCI Slot, a SCSI Port (all different sizes), 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 Inch Floppies, Super Drive, IR, Bluetooth, Full Size Quarty Keyboard, Large Sterio Speakers. It will be big, Heavy, Expensive, Suck Up Power, and Ugly.
Going to the future is about making choice on what should stay in the past.
Going to the future is about making choice on what should stay in the past.
I don't think modems are yet in the category of useless. I understand that the people posting on this forum all have access to broadband and/or wireless connections, but surely some of you need to use your macbooks/pros when travelling in areas that don't have easy access to broadband? To say that you'd never bring your macbooks to a non-western country because you don't want it to get stolen is a little narrow-minded and prejudiced, don't you think? It's not like it couldn't happen in the U.S. and it's not like it's statistically more likely to happen in a non-western country.
I'm just amazed at the inability to think beyonds one's own experience and understand that there is a world outside - and indeed within the US itself - where modem access is still part of everyday life. I don't need it often either, but I recognise that many people do and that having one has always provided me with security when I've been in places where it's hard to find other ways of connecting. APple removed it only to increase their already high profit margin - understandable but a stupid choice imo.
Admittedly, it's a pain to have to purchase an external modem. But it's really small, and you're going to have to carry around a phone cable even if you had a built-in modem, so you really aren't losing any additional space in your bag.
It sucks to lose built-in features, but as long as Apple provides a reasonable alternative, I don't think it's a big issue.
It sucks to lose built-in features, but as long as Apple provides a reasonable alternative, I don't think it's a big issue.
I find a bluetooth modem better anyway. Dial up is so slow - you may as well go and buy an iBook now anyway!
You really notice dial up speeds when you computer is as fast as a MacBook (and faster), so it would be painful. At least the speed of an iBook is closer to the speed of dialup, in relative terms.
Apple is a premium brand. Although they make user-friendly products, they really don't target every users' needs (they could easily do this if they wanted to). They make better products (not the best) than other companies and laugh all the way to the bank.
Apple products are status symbols! They offer what they think is good for you (read products/services that can help them make more money)!
Apple discards obsolete technology. Really?
* Apple Airport Extreme doesn't have Gigabit Ethernet ports.
* Apple Aiport Express doesn't support 802.11n wireless standard.
* Apple upgrades/refreshes their hardware slower than the rest of the industry.
Apple adopts or discards technology solely based on the profit it can make and has nothing to do with what is hot in the industry or what users really want!
Apple products are status symbols! They offer what they think is good for you (read products/services that can help them make more money)!
Apple discards obsolete technology. Really?
* Apple Airport Extreme doesn't have Gigabit Ethernet ports.
* Apple Aiport Express doesn't support 802.11n wireless standard.
* Apple upgrades/refreshes their hardware slower than the rest of the industry.
Apple adopts or discards technology solely based on the profit it can make and has nothing to do with what is hot in the industry or what users really want!
