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

[imageWIS]

Without a Mac I do not buy or use an iPhone. I am not the only one.

Apple doesn't seem to understand this.

 

[aleni]

I bought a SurfaceBook 2 with Nvidia GPU - amazing hardware. I truly love it. I also have bought Galaxy S8 and S9+ phones. I love them, kinda. The real problem is the ecosystems don't mix. With my iPhone 8, MacBook Pros, and trusty iPad, I have an amazing ecosystem where everything works together nicely.

Apple has made it easier to use Macs with the famously popular iPhones. It really could be so much more, if only Apple would also take a portion of its employees and decide that Macs are a substantial portion of its profits and they could be a larger portion, like services, if it only gave people a real reason to believe.

Make the hardware far more compelling. Hire an innovator who wants to pull a Mac out of an envelope that blows people's minds. Make the software work flawlessly. Apple is wasting so much money upgrading its MacOS annually, but only upgrading some Macs after four plus years!

Steve Jobs used car and truck analogy for using iPads, but now we are on the cusp of using new technologies that transform transportation and shipping. Apple needs to revolutionize something again. To do that, it needs an innovator at the helm. Sorry, but Tim's social agendas aren't going to grow anything. He maximized shareholder value but not stakeholder value. It's all about money to this CEO, and it all can come tumbling down.

Right now, people simply want a better port selection, the fastest or most updated processor, and a real Nvidia GPU. Forget thinner bezels and revamping everything, just update RAM, GPU and CPU selections annually. Then, bring in an innovator who can help grow Mac sales by innovating and teaching iOS users what's possible by switching to the Mac. The people need to be able to do the same types of things they do on Windows, but much more.

Hire Forestall or Elon Musk, and swing for the fences. Go for stakeholder value rather than just shareholder value. Make an iPhone I want to upgrade to, as I cannot stand using the X ams holding it up to my face and smiling like a jackass in a meeting for my damn iPhone to unlock. Just my gripe, but put TouchID on the back of the iPhone and give people a choice.

Why did you need to hold your iphone right in your face and smiling like a jackass? I just took my x out from my pocket and swipe up. Viola. It’s really effortless.

 

[wigby]

Without developers, there would be no software to run on your iOS devices, no? Even if you don't have a Mac, you should care about them, because a solid computer lineup is needed to keep the iOS ecosystem healthy.

Agreed. That’s why I specifically mention developers. And what about Google? They having a thriving mobile market share and no desktop market share to speak of.

 

[pgwalsh]

Dear Apple,

Please bring back the cheese grader Mac Pro, it was your best desktop design. Please bring back iMac's that can be upgraded. Please bring back upgradable MacMini's. Please bring back your own monitors. Please show us you actually care about your customers and not just your bottom line.

 

[calderini]

I can’t believe how stupid this comment actually is. This is what almost lead Apple to bankruptcy in the 90’s and why they stopped doing EXACTLY that. Who the heck wants to buy cheap plastic crap? I know I don’t. It’s macrumors not junkyard 101.

I would. In a heartbeat. I would buy cheap plastic crap with the mac OS if they gave me the ability to use a decent GPU and get a decent VR experience.

And that is the problem. I've been reading this never-ending thread for a while and from what I have seen and experienced I can tell you one thing.

Apple has done EXACTLY the right thing to keep their business profitable and "elite".They are right.
MOST people DO NOT care, know, understand or even WANT to understand how the sausage is made.

They want to buy their great-looking products, have them work flawlessly for what THEY want them to do,
while also being able to show off their "bling-ness" and hipster chic. As a content consuming culture Apple has, and STILL makes the perfect computer and computer platform for CONSUMERS. (Unless you are a gamer)

BUT. Apple ALSO built and made their brand by being the "go-to" for professionals and content creators as well. It used to be you PAID a premium, but you GOT premium in return.

Apple, like our culture in general, is REALLY hung up on looks these days, and regardless of what others have argued they have proven time and again that now, as a company, they WILL sacrifice function over form.

That is all well and good, and it still leaves an awful lot of people happy.
But NOT the Apple enthusiasts, Creative Professionals, and envelope pushers.
And even that is okay.
But they HAVE to let us know.

What I wish would happen? Give me a box.
A big old freaking UGLY box. A box SO UGLY it would NOT cannibalize any sales.
Hell. Make it out of cheap plastic.
Hell. Make it out of recycled bedpans and ADVERTISE the fact to keep the fashionista's FAR away from it.
Paint it Neon Purple and Puke green, and have the start up chime be a bleating goat.
Make it Fat, Heavy, and boxy. Use industrial orange cable for the power cord with a big black three prong on the end of it.

BUT Give me some PCIE slots, 1151 and AMD sockets, some octane, multiple SSD and NVM slots.
Give me monitor choice. 60hz? 144hz? G-Sync? Free-sync? Kitchen sink?
Hell. Just give me some RAM slots.
You know. Desktop Ram. Old school.
I promise i will buy it.
I will buy it at the Apple markup.
Hell. I'll even by the RAM from you, at Apple prices if you do this for me.

I don't care what it looks like.
I just care what it does.
I have a Vive. A Vive Pro. A Rift. A Samsung Odyssey. (Along with a PSVR Pro and Oculus Go, but they are not part of the conversation)
I have proven myself to be a fool who does not MIND being parted with his money.
I want to run decent VR with my Mac OS.
I don't want this buggy Hackintosh that refuses to upgrade to High Sierra so I can at least TRY to run
steam VR with my 1080ti.

Apple please. I understand how addictive running with the cool kids is.
But throw this nerd, and nerds like me a bone every now and then.

Or, if you are out of the game, have the decency to let me know.
I've ended relationships before. Keeping me hanging on like this is just cruel.
I don't MIND you seeing other people. It's a good thing. A healthy thing.
But if you are not going to dance with the one who brought you, at least let me know.

Rant over.
Sorry.

 

[Abazigal]

Apple was once very much a Computer company. It is where it all started for them. The iPod is where things started to change from a computer company to a technology company imo. Anyway its clear Apple has changed directions and is no longer focusing on Desktop Computers no matter which way you try to spin it. Personally ill be happy if they can fix the MBP line, I want a reliable keyboard and some actual ports thank you Apple

Apple absolutely should improve the keyboard, but I don’t see them walking back from their decision to use only usb C ports. That ship has long sailed.

 

[curtvaughan]

904 comments on this article as of 8:37 PM - or so my Dell XPS13 running ArcoLinux tells me (no more Apple laptops here). That, folks, even you who think that desktops and laptops are old fashioned historical anachronisms, presents to Apple - if their current corporate heirarchy even reads or cares - the concern of decades of loyal Apple computer users over the direction of product development since the death of Steve Jobs. Nine Hundred and Four comments - how wrong can such a huge plurality of current/former Apple users be?

 

[torana355]

Apple absolutely should improve the keyboard, but I don’t see them walking back from their decision to use only usb C ports. That ship has long sailed.

I agree I guess the ports is just a dream lol. I love OSX, I will do ANYTHING to avoid going to a Windows Laptop, I work in the Graphic arts industry so I use Macs all day and it just feels like home to me. Apple are capable of making Astonishing machines, my 2011 MBA is the best computer I've ever owned. Im really hoping they can release a MBP that will be able to do as good a job as my MBA has for the past 8 years. I guess thats why there are a lot of upset people in this thread, because they want an Apple machine but Apple is not making one that suits them.

 

[iGobbleoff]

It would be nice to see the hardware refresh on the same cycle as the phone. Every two years, a major update, every other year, a minor one (speed/ram/whatever).

 

[ZZ Bottom]

Just climbing on the pile: Apple get your head out of your ass and keep the Mac lineup alive.

 

[curtvaughan]

I agree I guess the ports is just a dream lol. I love OSX, I will do ANYTHING to avoid going to a Windows Laptop, I work in the Graphic arts industry so I use Macs all day and it just feels like home to me. Apple are capable of making Astonishing machines, my 2011 MBA is the best computer I've ever owned. Im really hoping they can release a MBP that will be able to do as good a job as my MBA has for the past 8 years. I guess thats why there are a lot of upset people in this thread, because they want an Apple machine but Apple is not making one that suits them.

It isn't going to happen with Apple. I suggest that you move on and look at other computers - PCs. Windows is doing better things than in the past, but I haven't done Windows since I retired from my IT job 11 years ago. What I have done is learn to make PCs work with Linux. I'm no graphical artist, but you might at least explore Linux/Windows 10 offerings in the software arena. Things are improving in a large way, as PC hardware/software folks are filling the void left by Apple neglect in the desktop/laptop offerings. It's a bit of a pain adjusting, but it is really doable - and your monetary savings in avoiding the Apple tax will be a plus as well.

 

[StyxMaker]

People are used to a CEO with power. A CEO is typically hired to lead a company. Usually they are chosen to replace a CEO who is doing a poor job of leading the company.

The success of a company usually depends on how effectively the CEO leads. And when they make enough mistakes, they get fired.

In this case, a very successful CEO lead Apple to the top. And unfortunately passed away. Tim was essentially “willed” the position of CEO by Jobs. Same as some might inherit a piece of furniture.

Tim’s job title is CEO. But Tim’s role is not CEO. Tim’s role is that of delivering official statements (likely written by someone else), and acting as a figurehead much like Tony the Tiger for Kellogg’s.

He presents what the board tasks him with.

The confusion is to be expected. Kind of like the false impression that the Royal Family rules and runs England. We are educated to learn how Kings ruled the kingdoms and countries. So we would expect a King or Queen of England to run the country. But they don’t.

In the same way, we expect CEO’s to run companies. And typically they do. But in this case, Apple is more like England. So people are understandably confused.

There is absolutely no evidence for your bazaar theory.

 

[pgwalsh]

904 comments on this article as of 8:37 PM - or so my Dell XPS13 running ArcoLinux tells me (no more Apple laptops here). That, folks, even you who think that desktops and laptops are old fashioned historical anachronisms, presents to Apple - if their current corporate heirarchy even reads or cares - the concern of decades of loyal Apple computer users over the direction of product development since the death of Steve Jobs. Nine Hundred and Four comments - how wrong can such a huge plurality of current/former Apple users be?

My last two computer purchases were a Dell laptop and a custom built PC; both currently running Mint. I still have an iMac that runs Adobe software, Ableton, Reason etc. I would love to be able to fully let go, but there are certain applications the hold me back. Sure there are alternatives, but you know what you know and as I get older I don't have the time to learn new things.

Now I have a mid 2011 iMac and I'd like to replace it, but with the lack of upgradability and the pricing Apple has on hard drives and ram etc, it's difficult to justify.

 

[fairuz]

Yep. Especially for folks who don’t know how to fix their OS problems macOS is more likely to be running well years later compared to a Windows install that is filled with junk and hasn’t been properly maintained. For us it’s not a problem but Geek Squad wouldn’t exist making any money if tons of people didn’t need help constantly.

True. Lol, I know how to fix Windows-only problems but would rather not. Also swapped out my grandma's Win7 PC for a Mac cause she kept getting it infected with crap.

 

[Aldaris]

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.

I agree! And while they spin off the Mac, they should also spin off their “original content” to a subsidiary. Fun fact Walt Disney had tinker bell be the mascot of Disneyland in case it flopped, just so the mouse wouldn’t be tarnished... I’m afraid Apple’s elite are having too much fun trying to “the cool kids” in Hollywood and tarnishing the principles that were Steve’s Apple.

 

[fairuz]

I don't think Apple is ever committed to any single product. That's what makes them uniquely Apple - their ability to first start with the user experience and then work backwards from there to see how best to deliver that experience.

So where you think - just update the Mac mini and Mac Pro already and call it a day, Apple is thinking - let's see what people use these products for and how we can better deliver that experience. A lunchbox doesn't have to be a box (it just needs to fulfil that role of letting you carry your food around), just as a "Mac Pro" doesn't have to be a headless Mac tower just to let you do the sort of professional work that you do. Hence the iMac Pro.

Creative pros are never committed to any single product. They start with what they need and buy something matching it. And Apple doesn't sell that anymore. They pretend the best way to deliver that experience is by never updating their hardware, selling 2012 parts in 2018, but really it's reasonable to accuse them of just doing that to maintain their profit margins in the short term.

Also, the point of the Mac Pro is that sticking 12-core Xeons and pro GPUs into an all-in-one like the iMac Pro is a maintainability and heat management disaster (already shown that they underclock!), plus you can't fit more than one CPU or GPU in one unit like you're supposed to. Pros don't care that it looks nicer.

 

[duffman9000]

I agree I guess the ports is just a dream lol. I love OSX, I will do ANYTHING to avoid going to a Windows Laptop, I work in the Graphic arts industry so I use Macs all day and it just feels like home to me. Apple are capable of making Astonishing machines, my 2011 MBA is the best computer I've ever owned. Im really hoping they can release a MBP that will be able to do as good a job as my MBA has for the past 8 years. I guess thats why there are a lot of upset people in this thread, because they want an Apple machine but Apple is not making one that suits them.

You nailed. I want another MBP but Apple doesn’t make one that suits me.

 

[torana355]

It isn't going to happen with Apple. I suggest that you move on and look at other computers - PCs. Windows is doing better things than in the past, but I haven't done Windows since I retired from my IT job 11 years ago. What I have done is learn to make PCs work with Linux. I'm no graphical artist, but you might at least explore Linux/Windows 10 offerings in the software arena. Things are improving in a large way, as PC hardware/software folks are filling the void left by Apple neglect in the desktop/laptop offerings. It's a bit of a pain adjusting, but it is really doable - and your monetary savings in avoiding the Apple tax will be a plus as well.

The issue is the Windows 10 laptops are not perfect either. The Dell XPS, HP Spectre and Microsoft Surface Book all have their own set of issues. Also the UHD screen on the Dell XPS 13" costs more then the MBP with Retina screen. 2500 aud vs 2200 aud so its not like the Dell is any cheaper either. On top of that I have to put up with Windows and lose Apples fantastic customer service all for a better CPU and GPU which I don't really need. If Apple can fix the keyboard on the MBP I think it will be perfect fit for me.

 

[imageWIS]

Apple was never a computer company, and if we want to be pedantic about it, the iPhone and Apple Watch too are computers we carry in our pockets and wear on our wrists respectively.

Apple is a design company who is focused on making technology more personal for its users. In this regard, there is so much more that can bdone with wearables than with PCs, and of course Apple would want to focus on the former more.

The way I see it, Apple has 3 “real” Macs in their lineup. The 13” and 15” MBP, and the 5k iMac and iMac Pro. You can further turn the MBP into a desktop with the 5k monitor and E-GPUs. If they don’t suffice for you, then it’s probably time to start shopping elsewhere.

While Apple has promised a new Mac Pro for 2019, knowing the way Apple works vs what the people here want, you will be disappointed.

So, 'Apple Computer' was never a computer company? Go on, tell us another one.

 

[DesertNomad]

I have built my life on developing Mac software and it's how I make a living running a small software company (just my wife and I). We develop for macOS as our two main products don't really work in a mobile context. If Apple leaves the desktop market, then my company will likely go with it. I am too old (46) to start learning Windows and a whole new way of writing code. Fortunately we are at a stage in life where I could retire if I had to.

I use iOS only as a consumer. I'm a private pilot and use ForeFlight on my iPad mini 4. Apple seems to be dropping the mini line which is a shame since it is the only one that fits nicely on an aircraft yoke. I don't know a single pilot who doesn't use this setup.

Between Apple's lack of support for macOS as well as the dim prospects for an iPad mini 5, I am just a bit forlorn. I don't need a new Mac every year, but I do need to know that Apple still understands that iPhones require apps and those apps are created on a Mac... in fact very little is created on iOS. I think it is a general reflection on society as a whole in that we have become consumers rather than creators.

 

[QCassidy352]

Also didn’t mean a redesign. And unless you work in either industry, none of us know how much time it actually takes

I know that Dell, Lenovo, MS, HP, and others seem to be able to go from one generation of chips to the next as soon as intel makes the new ones available.

 

[jchap]

That leaves the MacBook Air, but that one’s lacking a retina display and I’d also like to future-proof with at least 1 USB-C port. So for me it’s a case of a valid upgrade need, but Apple’s not selling a viable machine.

Yeah, I can see how the combination of features in the existing lineup might not quite meet the needs of users of previous models looking to upgrade.

 

[alien3dx]

I have built my life on developing Mac software and it is how I make a living running a small software company (just my wife and I). We develop for macOS as our two main products don't really work in a mobile context. If Apple leaves the desktop market, then my company will likely go with it. I am too old (46) to start learning Windows and a whole new way of writing code. Fortunately we are at a stage in life where I could retire if I had to.

I use iOS only as a consumer. I'm a private pilot and use ForeFlight on my iPad mini 4. Apple seems to be dropping the mini line which is a shame since it is the only one that fits nicely on an aircraft yoke. I don't know a single pilot who doesn't use this setup.

Between Apple's lack of support for macOS as well as the dim prospects for an iPad mini 5, I am just a bit forlorn. I don't need a new Mac every year, but I do need to know that Apple still understands that iPhones require apps and those apps are created on a Mac... in fact very little is created on iOS. I think it is a general reflection on society as a whole in that we have become consumers rather than creators.

No profit enough for me on develop ios , i think most of ios developer on loss situation .

 

[8CoreWhore]

I'm using a 15" MBP from 2013. It's 4.5 years old. It only has 8GB RAM and I'd love to get a new one. But the ones since 2016 have terrible keyboards that cost several hundtred dollars to fix if a single key stops working. Of course there's no way to upgrade what I have. I hate the Touch Bar and if you want a 15" you have no choice but to pay a $400 premium for the stupid Touch Bar. Seriously, I will use this MBP for as long as I can possibly can, then who knows...

Steve Jobs was a "product guy" - There is no "product guy" at Apple any more. Cook is a distribution and social diversity guy, Schiller is a marketing guy, Jony Ive is a "isn't it pretty" guy on acid. BUY APPLE IT WAS NICE KNOWING YOU.

 

[jchap]

...I believe we're still a LONG way away from software leaping over the capability of hardware.

I can see why you might say that. That said, it seems safe to say that every time a new OS version is released, the demands it places on hardware increase right along with it. With iOS devices, it gets to the point where the hardware might have been fine for the software a few years ago, but offers dismal performance with the upgraded software.