Popular Mac Developer Slams Apple for 'Sad State of Macintosh Hardware'

[brdeveloper]

I can't imagine any PC brand providing the same long term support as Apple provides to their customers. That is, Apple is known for fixing products with some manufacturing defect/design flaw years after warranty expiration. Although this isn't more than Apple's obligation, at least from an ethical point of view, most manufacturers don't care if they lose a customer.

I appreciate that from Apple: their products are expensive, but 1) they'll last or 2) they'll fix them for you at reasonable costs or even at no cost at all. Can you imagine Dell, HP or Lenovo doing the same?

 

[dumastudetto]

How does one make an app for the iPad/iPhone?

On a Mac that still exists, as I said. There are still use cases where a Mac makes sense and is even necessary. But for the vast majority of people, iPad is the perfect device to replace all traditional computers. So this is why Mac developers should quit crying about lack of new hardware that will help them sell software to end users. Get your apps on the platform where the users are heading en masse.

The hardware currently on offer is more than good enough for xcode and software development, and eventually, probably not far into the distance, you'll be doing app development on an iPad. Apple will get there.

 

[typecase]

Removing the glowing logo is also frustrating.

Don't forget the startup chime. Losing that was like the finger to longtime Mac users.

 

[dumastudetto]

The only way devs can develop apps for iOS is to use a Mac, you do realise that don't you? Xcode only works on Macs.

Yes but the article is largely from a Mac dev whinging that Apple isn't bringing out new hardware that will help him sell more Mac software to customers buying new Macs. The answer is to forget about the Mac and start thinking about how you get your tools working on iPads and iPhones.

 

[sog1927]

Agree or disagree, Mac value holds up extremely well and lifespan are increasingly pushing the boundaries...Look at MacBook Air from 10 years ago still fetching over $100 dollars on eBay. People are keeping their devices longer and longer no need for product refreshes every year. IMO.

The reason why I haven't refreshed my work Macbook Pro is because I can't buy a Macbook Pro with more RAM than I already have. I'm two years past due for a refresh. Yes, I'm holding onto the machine longer - but in the absence of a meaningful increase in capability why wouldn't I?

 

[mistasopz]

I gave up waiting and went back to Windows. I'm super surprised at how great it has become, and now I wonder why I carried the old "Windows is bad" stigma for so many years. Ironically, my experience so far is that things "just work". More software selection, everything is built so it runs well. Drivers are optimized and it recognizes an ungodly amount of different peripherals and hardware. Maybe Apple doesn't care anymore about non-iOS gadgets because it isn't their cash cow anymore.

 

[dirtylilhobo]

Ever since Apple revised their focus to iPhone and iPad the Mac lineup has suffered. Developing Memoji, which cost manpower, money and resources, that resulted in a useless gimmick, except in the minds of a very few, promoted a feature that I nor anyone I know will ever use. Meanwhile, the Mac-Mini hasn’t seen an update since October 2014 and that was really a downgrade in performance and user utility with soldered ram.

For Apple to insure they retain my loyalty I need to see that Apple is willing to regularly upgrade their existing hardware on the Mac side including MacOS with all of its associated problems. iPad will never be the new Mac for me!

Apple, either update your existing hardware and software or eliminate your Mac lineup altogether. Since Apple’s focus is iPhone/iPad and is clearly ignoring the Mac user they heavily demonstrate corporate greed by doing so.

 

[Jmurgen]

"Apple needs to publicly show their commitment to the full Macintosh hardware line and they need to do it now."

No statement made in the last decade can be more true.

I totally agree, there is no excuse for Apple to continue to sell systems like the mini with old parts at their premium price. The Intel Nuc is an example of the specs the mini could have with very little change. I’ve been a Apple user since the IIgs but currently don’t own a Mac. I tried the new MBP but couldn’t stand the keyboard, so I’ve been waiting to see anything new for a while. I loved my last mini a 2012 model, that finally died. There’s just no way I’ll replace it with a ‘new’ dumbed down mini that’s is only slightly newer than the one I’m replacing and isn’t even as powerful. Hey, it’s 2018, stop trying to sell me a four year old computer?

 

[Nieval]

Shoutout to when Phil Schiller ridiculed people who were using 5-year-old computers and recommended they all switch to the iPad Pro - the "ultimate PC replacement" in his words.

Bonus: Don't miss the expression of pure disgust among Apple executives, especially Dan Riccio - Apple's SVP of hardware engineering of all people.

(Relevant part starts at 46:10 in case embed isn't working properly)

 

[sog1927]

Maybe they should spin off the mac division into a wholly owned subsidiary! Ha, never would happen.

They could call it "Next" - I think they still own the trademark ;-)

 

[Naraxus]

Apple doesn't give two **** cents about Macs anymore and that's been clear for a while. All Cook does is pay lip-service to the Mac community. Macs & macOS should be spun off to someone who actually cares about it.

 

[TechZeke]

On a Mac that still exists, as I said. There are still use cases where a Mac makes sense and is even necessary. But for the vast majority of people, iPad is the perfect device to replace all traditional computers. So this is why Mac developers should quit crying about lack of new hardware that will help them sell software to end users. Get your apps on the platform where the users are heading en masse.

The hardware currently on offer is more than good enough for xcode and software development, and eventually, probably not far into the distance, you'll be doing app development on an iPad. Apple will get there.

I actually have to concede to the iPad Pro. I hated on the iPad Pro at first, but after graduating college my 2013 15" rMBP is literally collecting dust. I have an iMac and Gaming PC for my major needs which can wait until I get home. Once I got the hang of iOS 11, I found that the split screen feature and use of Microsoft Office works very well. I'll probably never need to buy another MacBook, although I'll definitely keep an iMac around. Once I have some extra money saved, I'll probably pull the trigger on a 5K.

There will always be a place for Mac, but after trying out the iPad Pro with iOS 11 I can definitely see someone who simply browses the web, watch a couple of videos, and plays candy crush abandoning a full Mac computer.

With that said, support the Mac platform properly or don't at all. The Mac is still important, and it looks bad on Apple to half-ass support it.

 

[Naraxus]

The only thing keeping me in the iPhone lineup is iMessage on my mac. Without my Mac, i'd get an andriod.

And that's exactly why we'll never see iMessage on Android despite Jobs's statements to the contrary

 

[NY Guitarist]

Don't forget, Apple dropped 'computer' from its name some time ago.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Follow the money. Prioritize on what makes you rich.

View attachment 766370

There’s no guarantee that will always be the goldmine, so diversifying is useful. If it is about the ecosystem, the benefit is spread.

 

[Roadstar]

Maybe they are trying to get people to hold on to their machines longer, just like the new iOS 12 is going to do for older phones. Who knows? Not that many people care. I read these comments a lot if I am interested in the subject.

Considering the amount of computers (including the mid 2011 mini I also have) they’re abandoning with the Mojave release, that’s definitely not the case as the only macOS release where you can expect to have all relevant security issues fixed is the latest one.

 

[DakotaGuy]

People are still opening their wallets for the Apple logo so why spend more development money when it’s not necessary? When your brand is as strong as Apple you can maximize profit by minimizing unnecessary development cost. It’s smart business when you have a brand so popular nothing can hurt it. I too would love to see some new Mac stuff, but I totally understand where Apple is coming from on this stuff.

 

[Royksöpp]

You can’t defend Apple for this, you simply can’t. It’s reprehensible. The current lineup is undesirable and pitiful, there is no excuse for that. In the mid 2000s the iPod and Mac shared the spotlight, both were exciting and innovative. The advertising was simplistic and spectacular without being pretentious or gag worthy. You felt love and passion for every product they designed and sold. They thought of the consumer, now they only think about the money they can make with the least amount of effort. They could shine in every area and really take over the world, unfortunately for the time being we’re going to have to settle for emojis and watch bands.

 

[augustido]

It’a really so sad this situation! I need a MacBook Pro to work video and photography and for now really so expensise and they don’t update from too much...I loved Apple but now I really hate for this situation...

Rogue Amoeba developer Quentin Carnicelli, who works on Mac software like Airfoil, Audio Highjack, Loopback, and Fission, this week penned a critique of Apple's Mac lineup and the company's recent lack of Mac updates, and that missive has been gaining some attention from Mac fans.

Using MacRumors' own Buyer's Guide, Carnicelli points out that it's been more than a year since any Mac, with the exception of the iMac Pro, has been updated.

It's been 375 days, for example, since the iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air machines were last updated, and it's been 437 days since the Mac Pro saw the price drop Apple implemented as it works on a Mac Pro replacement.

The Mac Pro has not seen a hardware update since December of 2013, more than 1600 days ago. Apple has promised its professional users that a high-end high-throughput modular Mac Pro system is in the works, but we thus far have no details on when it might see a release.

The Mac mini, Apple's most affordable desktop Mac, has gone 1338 days without an update, with the last refresh introduced in October of 2014. While Apple has made promises about a refreshed Mac Pro, no similar statement has been provided about a future Mac mini, aside from a comment from Apple CEO Tim Cook stating that the Mac mini continues to be important to Apple.

According to Carnicelli, the state of the Mac lineup is "deeply worrisome" to him as a person who works for a Mac-based software company. Customers are, he says, forced to choose between "purchasing new computers that are actually years old" or "holding out in the faint hope that hardware updates are still to come."As Carnicelli points out, Apple could reassure its Mac users with updates and speed bumps to its Mac lineup on a "much more frequent basis," calling the current lack of updates "baffling and frightening to anyone who depends on the platform for their livelihood."

Apple in 2017 refreshed much of its Mac lineup (iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook) at its Worldwide Developers Conference, but this year, Apple opted to focus instead on software, with no new Mac hardware announced. With no new hardware in June, based on past release history, we could be looking at an 18-month upgrade cycle this time around, as pointed out by iMore's Rene Ritchie, with new Macs making an appearance in September or October.

Some of the blame for Apple's lack of updates can perhaps be placed on its reliance on Intel, and in the past, some Mac refreshes have been pushed back due to delays with Intel chips. This is likely one of the reasons why Apple is planning to transition from Intel chips to its own custom made Mac chips as early as 2020.

MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, and MacBook Air upgrades are not in the dire state that Mac Pro and Mac mini upgrades are in, but increased attention on issues with the MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards has left Apple customers eager to see those machine updated, especially as Apple has not acknowledged these keyboard issues despite their prevalence in the media.

"Apple needs to publicly show their commitment to the full Macintosh hardware line and they need to do it now," writes Carnicelli.

Carnicelli's comments on the state of the Mac lineup came just before Apple released a new Mac advertising campaign. Called "Behind the Mac," the campaign highlights creators who use their Macs to "make something wonderful."

The first ad spots in the series focus on photographer and disability advocate Bruce Hall, who uses his Mac for editing photographs, musician Grimes, who uses the Mac "from start to finish" to write all of her music, edit music videos, and more, and app developer Peter Kariuki who used his Mac to code the SafeMotos app, which is designed to connect passengers with safe motorcycle drivers in Rwanda.

These ads, while inspiring, may be seen as too little too late by those who have grown frustrated with Apple's Mac lineup and have come to see the lack of updates as an indicator of a lack of commitment to the Mac.

Article Link: Popular Mac Developer Slams Apple for 'Sad State of Macintosh Hardware'

 

[corebeliefs]

Agree or disagree, Mac value holds up extremely well and lifespan are increasingly pushing the boundaries...Look at MacBook Air from 10 years ago still fetching over $100 dollars on eBay. People are keeping their devices longer and longer no need for product refreshes every year. IMO.

This isn't someone complaining because Apple delayed the latest iPhone refresh. Apple often lagged in hardware areas in the past, but today the current state of the Mac is unprofessional.

Anyone who can find a silver lining in this can't be running their computer very hard. MacOS from the last 2-3 years is needed to run the latest software and to get security updates. I understand some people can use the same computer for 10 years, but that's not a realistic use case for why people buy expensive Apple machines with the pro name.

 

[brdeveloper]

There will always be a place for Mac, but after trying out the iPad Pro with iOS 11 I can definitely see someone who simply browses the web, watch a couple of videos, and plays candy crush abandoning a full Mac computer.

Well, a person who only do these things could abandon nearly anything, not just a Mac, but even iPads. Any three years old 6" screen phone would do the trick.

 

[corebeliefs]

Part of the issue is the state of the industry. People aren’t buying home computers at the rate they previously did. It’s now possible to live entirely with your mobile devices. In some ways the Mac (and PC) are relics in the consumer world. The situation will look more dire in 10 years. Only dinosaurs like me will probably be buying another Mac.

These aren't home computers, except maybe the Mini for some. They're used in business applications. I understand your comment about the home computer going away, but we're not paying $1,500 with a pro name on the chassis to use it for light email and solitare.

 

[rumplestiltskin]

I do not use an iPhone any more. Android does everything I need to do on my phone. Smaller overall size with larger screen, as well. Plenty of resolution. Google saves all my photos to its cloud which is where I then download those photos to my (new, leftover, discounted 30%+, 2015) iMac and put them into Lightroom. Can also do this on my Windows 10 boxes with ease. I don't rely upon anything iCloud; used to, but no reason to do so any more as Google's cloud is the basis for my contacts and calendars, as well. Thunderbird with a few add-ons takes care of mail, contacts, and calendar on my PC.

Why am I mentioning my Windows experience? Think back to 2005. Steve revealed that little building at the Cupertino campus whose employees were tasked with maintaining OSX so, if it ever became necessary, OSX could be installed on an Intel box instead of one containing a PowerPC. The maintenance, as it turned out, was necessary and, within a year, the entire Macintosh line was transitioned over to Intel chips with hardly a hiccup.

Here and now, in 2018, I am doing a fairly similar task except the transition for which I am preparing is the move from macOS to Windows. I am finding the appropriate apps that either run on both platforms (preferred), or finding replacement apps in Windows for the ones I preferred on macOS.

Apple continues its lemming-like march to the cliff with portable machines lacking the most basic of USB3 type A ports, SSDs soldered into place instead of easily replaceable, underpowered CPUs (and can you say old?) and, worst of all, a defective short-travel keyboard that has absolutely no reason to exist. I, for one, will not sit by idly, waiting for Godot. I am preparing my transition if/when Apple proves itself institutionally incapable of escaping Steve Jobs' legacy. And I can tell you the moment that will occur: When the "new" Mac Pro is announced and it is, essentially, still a sealed, completely proprietary system for which standards are ignored because Steve's legacy is never leaving money on the table. This is why everything new from Apple has no user upgradeable parts...and if possible, no upgradeable parts at all. Look at the iMac Pro: Want a RAM upgrade? Tear it apart to reach the RAM modules voiding the warranty.

BTW: Please do not tell me that the iMac Pro is a better deal than an equally spec'd Windows PC. Who actually cares except Apple and its fanboys? The goal is not producing a $5000-8000 machine. It's producing a $1500-2500 machine that sells 1000 units for every one of the iMac Pro.

No thank you, Apple. You are stuck in a reality distortion field of your own making.

 

[TheIntruder]

While I, too, lament the state of the Mac, those who believe it might be much different if Jobs was still around ignore a couple things:

-Jobs wasn't afraid to bury the past, and he considered the Mac to be part of it, whose time had passed. Except for the few who still wanted what he termed "trucks."

When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks. But as people moved more towards urban centers, people started to get into cars. I think PCs are going to be like trucks. Less people will need them. And this is going to make some people uneasy.

-Cook was his hand-picked successor, and after working closely with him for years, and seeing him fill in during his leaves, Jobs no doubt knew the person he anointed to fill his shoes.

Jobs' absence probably has affected the company in some ways, but his presence would not have made all the difference.

He made mistakes as well, and Apple is a much different, larger company than when he returned, in a different world. It was an amazing run, but one cannot assume it would have continued, even with Jobs still at the helm.

Personally, I think the company could have gotten fat and complacent anyway, but if there's one thing it does miss, it's the ying/yang, counterpoint, moderator, leash, whatever relationship Jobs had with Ive. Giving him unchecked authority might have been a mistake.

 

[corebeliefs]

I can't imagine any PC brand providing the same long term support as Apple provides to their customers. That is, Apple is known for fixing products with some manufacturing defect/design flaw years after warranty expiration. Although this isn't more than Apple's obligation, at least from an ethical point of view, most manufacturers don't care if they lose a customer.

I appreciate that from Apple: their products are expensive, but 1) they'll last or 2) they'll fix them for you at reasonable costs or even at no cost at all. Can you imagine Dell, HP or Lenovo doing the same?

Apple is creating problems that it is so far refusing to solve, like the keyboard issue. Every generation it does some design thing that becomes a serious issue for a lot of users, and it drags its feet for a long time before begrudgingly acknowledges something might be wrong.

Maybe 15 years ago Apple had this halo reputation of being over-generous with its service, but in the recent history of Apple I found Apple to be devious in its ability to hide issues until enough heat is applied.

PC makers will sell you a five year warranty, which Apple doesn't offer, as well as come to your house if you want to pay a little extra.