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

[Bryan Bowler]

I’m beyond frustrated with Apple. My iMac Pro is still littered with obvious bugs 6 months after it launched and nothing is being done. Plus it’s like pulling teeth to get Apple to actually update their hardware in the first place.

There is only one last thing that is making me hold on to Apple and that is FCPX. I use it extensively to put the food on my table and the roof over my family’s head. But I am only a couple of inches from begrudgingly moving to a different video editing software workflow and leaving Apple. Sad to say because I’ve been a die-hard full-time Apple pro-level user for 12 years, but their operating systems are rotting from the inside out and no matter what kind of lip service Apple gives us about being “committed to pro users”, their actions do not indicate so.

 

[Khedron]

It sure seems like we get an article like this every year. Complain, complain, complain. You don't like it? Don't buy it!

We aren't buying it. We'd like to. That's the problem.

Your opinion may vary, but as for me: I'd rather overpay for an outdated Mac than a brand new up to date windows machine any day of the week. I went all Mac 2 years ago after a lifetime in windows and I'll never ever go back to windows again.

Apple was still decent 2 years ago

 

[Jaekae]

Apple should just start licensing/selling Mac OS on standard PC hardware and stop fooling themselves and everyone else with hardware. No reasonable person would buy a brand new Mac mini today and think to themselves that they made a smart purchase.

Its just sad that people with no tech skills buy those still and think they are new because they got it today

 

[jazz1]

It used to be kind of like a horse race. Hardware and software had always been in the race. I love the MacOS! But the desktops need new hardware to get back into the race.

 

[Khedron]

This chart pretty much explains why they haven't come out with a new model desktop or laptop in almost a year. It's about the money.

And the longer they don't update Macs, the smaller its sales become on the pie chart

 

[Macalway]

Blame Intel

It's Intel that's the weak link. No one thought they could screw up this bad, so it caught Apple off guard, even though they have contingencies, and are fairly ahead of the curve. This has happen a bunch of times over the years.

Of course i'm guessing here, trying to make it sound all officious. It's a RUMOR forum after all

 

[Seanthesheep]

I have two words that sums up Apple's unfortunate and dissapointing change in direction:

Tim Cook

 

[pmau]

And the longer they don't update Macs, the smaller its sales become on the pie chart

... and at some point it will affect iOS development. Because my Mac Pro from 2008 does not run a recent version of Xcode.
I will not buy any iMac, iMac Pro or completely overpriced Mac Pro.
So, no iOS development for me right now.

 

[jjudson]

Apple should just start licensing/selling Mac OS on standard PC hardware and stop fooling themselves and everyone else with hardware. No reasonable person would buy a brand new Mac mini today and think to themselves that they made a smart purchase.

It's interesting that these days, users aren't so locked into their laptops and desktops based on OS any more. Most of the programs out there that are used by the majority are available both on PC and Mac, and since all are purchased online these days, it's easy to switch to a new platform and just download the different software instead with no added charge. So if Mac just dried up and withered away, I don't know that it would be a huge impact (outside of emotional to the fan boy set).

Even more reason why Apple needs to aggressively improve their hardware to stay even or ahead of the curve...

 

[amegicfox]

I keep reading comments saying the ipad is the future and Mac/PC is the past.

the FUTURE for any creator and working person is the MAC/PC not the iphone/ipad

People will work and use the most powerful machine they can and get the biggest screen FOREVER,
especially as massive computation will be required to deal with enormous amount of data in a timely manner.

the FUTURE is NOT downgrading to smaller screen and cripled devices like iphone/ipad.

Only a fool likes to work with a tiny screen and underpowered, un-upgradable, un-expandable device.

 

[DesertNomad]

We aren't buying it. We'd like to. That's the problem.

I have bought about 30 Macs over last 30 years. I am still using my 2014 MacBook Pro because:

1. SD Card slot.
2. MagSafe. This was one of Apple's best ideas in the history of the company.
3. A useable keyboard.
4. I don't have to carry a bag of dongles.

First Apple got out of the printer business, then out of the display business, and it looks like soon they will be out of the computer business. They always produced the best hardware in whatever they were making, but sadly those days are fading away. Sigh.

 

[navaira]

I have two words that sums up Apple's unfortunate and dissapointing change in direction:

Angela Ahrendts.

I both understand that Apple is a business, i.e. a bunch of people who gathered to make tons of money, and wish that they updated their hardware half as often as Dell somehow manage to.

 

[timborama]

The harsh reality is, Apple would rather sell you an iDevice that obsoletes in 1-2 years, than a Mac which will last 5+ years. Hence they don’t put much effort into that area.

 

[tn-xyz]

i understand the criticism regarding the mac mini and mac pro, but why do we need a fresh lineup each year?

 

[Mago]

i understand the criticism regarding the mac mini and mac pro, but why do we need a fresh lineup each year?

becasue no body wants to buy 2yr old hardware, maybe that.

 

[BigMac?]

The iPad hasn't missed any A-series processor generation yet. They simply haven't gotten them always at the same time as the iPhone.

One could also argue:
MacBook Pro hasn‘t missed a cpu circle yet, it hast not gotten 8th gen until now.

But thats exactly 9 months too late.
Update when it’s hot!

By the way: i don’t think we will see A11 in iPad Pro.

 

[odvan]

Can't see any problem personally. For what needs you need new mac every year? With new design. You need design or performance? The difference in performance with each new intel chipsets are marginal, so...

My Imac 27" 2011 still works perfectly except dust inside matrix. Appeared couple of years ago. Will buy awesome Imac 27" 5K 2017 with 512 SSD instead. Which I believe would serve for another good 5-6 years.

Because it well built and all teething problems has been addressed. That's the only things that matters.

 

[BigMac?]

I have bought about 30 Macs over last 30 years. I am still using my 2014 MacBook Pro because:

1. SD Card slot.
2. MagSafe. This was one of Apple's best ideas in the history of the company.
3. A useable keyboard.
4. I don't have to carry a bag of dongles.

First Apple got out of the printer business, then out of the display business, and it looks like soon they will be out of the computer business. They always produced the best hardware in whatever they were making, but sadly those days are fading away. Sigh.

You forgot: out of router business!

 

[Septembersrain]

I've always wanted to try an Apple computer but the prices? The logic board issues, the reflective coating peeling, the butterfly keyboard, etc added with the high prices keeps me leery. Why can't they just give us an affordable base model we can upgrade ourselves? Is it such a control over the walled garden that they've basically blocked out people like me who want a laptop?

Are the desktops even any better on terms of ability to upgrade?

 

[hans1972]

It literally feels like Apple pushed me into Windows 10 with a custom built machine to suite my needs. ...and I'm now OK with that...

If I didn't need a computer for "work", I'd be entirely happy with my 2013 MacBook Air for home use. ...and really, we are. I love that little computer and have zero intention to update it, as it fits our home needs perfectly.

Do you pay for your own machine? Doesn't your employer do that?

 

[geromi912]

I really cannot understand why Apple doesn't keep its Mac line updated. Cannot figure it out. There is really no good reason and not one given in this thread. It just doesn't make any sense.

How can they scam you into buying

We’re not working on consoles here, who gives a **** about TDP ratios? We want the best and fastest available hardware and today that’s nVidia. Cuda is also far more supported.

funny thing is if you take into account TDP ratios Nvidia pulls even furth ahead. It’s actually hilarious.

 

[Defthand]

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.

Spot on. Each device and OS has its purpose and audience. Aside from portability, there is nothing superior about iOS and mobile devices. It’s ridiculous to dismiss desktop hardware because it’s more tool than what some leisure person needs.

Apple is definitely the consumer products brand it imagined being. Yet it wasn’t consumers who supported and defined the brand before the iPod was conceived. Apple owes their financial success to consumers, but it owes their existence to the artisans and scholars who adopted the platform.

 

[jweinraub]

What boggles the mind to me you need to have the best technology to make the best technology. How can engineers at Apple seriously not demand to have the latest technology? Heck, I have people at work that complain their two year old laptop needs an upgrade. And Dell delivers for them. Just like Siri, Apple is lagging behind when the competition whooshed over.

Their thinking that their core-market, the "fan boy" will just buy anything they produce and no matter how much garbage they may make, will be purchased. It took them a LONG time to realise how wrong they were with the trash bin Mac Pro.

Even if the world will run on the iPhone, you still need a computer to make that phone.

I really want Apple to succeed. I think we all do. I just wish they started using their money to make stuff. And honestly how does a nearly trillion dollar company not have the resources to work on several things at once?

 

[robotica]

Apple should spin off the mac into a separate company who sole purpose is to make great computers. It seems like there is too few people doing far too much currently. The share of macs could be sooooo much higher than it is now with the right people making the right computers.

 

[Helpfixit]

View attachment 766463

Does that 2012 Mac Mini have a standard hard drive ?