It feels like Apple is making the same mistake pre-Jobs return

[senttoschool]

I distinctly remember reading about how Steve Jobs killed most of Apple's products when he returned as CEO.

It seems as though Apple is repeating the same mistakes pre-Jobs return which is shipping many versions of their products, often gimped, in an effort to squeeze every dollar from people. Instead of truly innovating and building revolutionary new products, Apple seems content letting the marketing/MBAs dictate the product line.

A prime example is the Macbook line of products. Now you have the Macbook, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro 13" without the touch bar and a 2-year old processor, Macbook Pro 13" with touchbar, Macbook Pro 15". Each version feels very unsatisfying. It feels like Apple is forcing you to give up something crucial in each product.

On the iPhone side, Apple still sells the XS Max, XS, XR, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7 on their website.

Gone are the days of two choices for Macbooks and two choices for iPhones.

In fact, Apple’s range architecture was as messy in 1997 as General Motors’ was in 2008. The company had been making multiple versions of products to satisfy requests from retailers, including twelve versions of the Macintosh computer.

After weeks of meeting with product people he had heard enough. According to Walter Isaacson in the book Steve Jobs, Steve shouted “Stop!” in the middle of a product meeting and said, “This is crazy.”

Taking a marker he drew a chart that was to form the basis of Apple’s product range for years to come. The simple insight was to help people choose a computer using only two questions — are you an everyday consumer or pro? Do you want portable or desktop?

https://blog.hellostepchange.com/bl...pples-products-a-lesson-on-range-architecture

I really really hate this version of Apple. I got hooked into Apple's ecosystem because I loved their products. Now it just feels like Apple is releasing **** and just trying to squeeze my wallet.

 

[Juicy Box]

I think the differences between now and the post-Jobs' return Apple is this:

Jobs was passionate about making a great product that was user focused, easy to use, and was better than the competition. Then, Apple made superior software that justified the premium price of the hardware.

Apple of today focuses more on $$$$ and Marketshare, which was one thing I think Jobs did not really care about.

The company had been making multiple versions of products to satisfy requests from retailers, including twelve versions of the Macintosh computer.

It is not nearly as bad as it was back in the 90's, especially due to having retailer specific Macs back then.

Having used Mac during the Jobs' transition period, I have noticed a huge difference between quality, on both HW and SW, but especially on the software side of things, over the past 5-6 years.

Some products seem half-baked, tvOS/ATV for example.

Due to the outdated A8, the ATV4 was underpowered to be the rumored "console killer" that it was suppose to be. So, that and the huge missteps Apple made at the tvOS launch, the ATV got turned into an expensive streaming box.

The ATV4K could be used for so much more, but it is being sold and promoted as a Netflix and HBO streaming box. A very expensive, way over-powered streaming box.

For the people that like car analogies, it would be like getting a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon for the purposes of getting groceries.

On the Mac side, I see your point about all the different versions. It still is not as big as a mess like the mid 90's, but not nearly as clean as the early 2000's.

The line up is very different than the Macs, post-Jobs' return. Besides the clean line up, there were regular spec bumps, and not 6 year intervals that we see on the Mac Pro and Mac Mini. Yeah, I know the Mac Mini was updated in 2014, but the 2014 update was more like a downgrade from the 2012's.

We now having gimmicky stuff like the Touch Bar, and just poorly design things like the keyboards.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Some products seem half-baked, tvOS/ATV for example.

Yep - I still can't stand the remote, despite "dealing with it" on a variety of units.
It's not the worst, but just not even close to something "I enjoy" or find "well designed".

We now having gimmicky stuff like the Touch Bar, and just poorly design things like the keyboards.

It makes me sad when I think about these current keyboards..

Was just at a store yesterday and killing a few minutes on a new ThinkPad..
God those keyboards are great. Such an amazingly key feel and still very thin/compact.

Oh...and actually reliable...(helps!)

 

[Juicy Box]

still can't stand the remote, despite "dealing with it" on a variety of units.

I really didn't want to bring up the remote. I could type for hours discussing issues related to the Sir Remote, the design, the lag, the lack of a D-pad, the original requirement to use it for app development.

There are things about it I like, well, mostly just Siri, and that is when it works, but overall, I think it is horrible, and I really don't like to use it.

It's not the worst, but just not even close to something "I enjoy" or find "well designed".

This is kind of how I am starting to feel about all of Apple's HW and SW... I am not saying that Apple is there yet, but maybe trending in this direction.

I have used Apple products for 3 decades. Not too long ago, I was a huge Apple fan, because using their products was something "I enjoyed" and I felt the products I used were "well designed".

I still use Apple's products, but I am no longer passionate about them. If Apple continues on this trend they are on, I could picture myself totally outside of Apple Ecosystem in the next few years.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I still use Apple's products, but I am no longer passionate about them. If Apple continues on this trend they are on, I could picture myself totally outside of Apple Ecosystem in the next few years.

I'm in the same state of mind and I've been enjoying Apple stuff since the late 80's.

I've intermixed with Windows in the mid 90's-2003, and even now with my gaming PC, but I've always really been an Apple fan and evangelist.

They've honestly killed off my evangelism almost totally at this point.
I'm really still here simply due to the inertia of already being in the eco-system.

It's so disappointing/frustrating...