In an earlier post, you mentioned some of the innovative initiatives that Apple is working on include AR, health initiatives, self-driving vehicles, etc. I agree with you that there is the potential for both incredible growth from a business perspective and incredible potential to change people's lives for the better via the development of these technologies (which I think was one of your points)...here's where my perspective diverges. I think Apple is pretty well focused on health initiatives...they have a device in the wild, the Apple Watch, that is fairly well-received with mainstream consumers, they have some ideas on where they'd like to go with it, some moderate success health-wise, and as they develop more sensors, huge potential to changes (save) people's lives. But, you seem to have a blind faith that where Apple has exhibited a sense of focus in one aspect to assume it's that way with others. While it's arguable that we don't know a whole lot about the self-driving initiative, there have been many reports that Apple has waffled one way or another in terms of trying to partner with different companies, had setbacks in their time table, redefined their goal to incorporate an employee shuttle, etc. This really appears to be one initiative that doesn't exactly have that kind of focus (I'm consciously avoiding the over exaggeration of "lasar focus") that the health initiative (linked to Apple Watch), or iPad or iPhone lines have. Their AR initiative seems to be similarly ambiguous, at this point. Self-driving and AR may come into focus later or may not.
I think what this illustrates is that Apple has a better handle on somethings then other things. This doesn't mean their focus on the self-driving sector is a waste of time or will be a failure or will drive the company down. Every company does some things better than others. Every company has some initiatives that they really understand, envision, etc. And....they have other initiatives that they are working on in order to get to that point where they can focus their development. That said, I think the laptop line has lost its way...even if it's only going to be for 5 years or so....Many have pointed out that the MB is really evolving in the MBA line. What this means is that it'd be easier for Apple to reposition its current teams on two lines...MB and MBP. Now, you've argued that pro hardware would take too much money to design and pull teams away from other projects...but there are already people working on the laptop lines...it's not like they'd have to create a whole new team from scratch, hire people, or pull people off AR. I think if Apple gave a good hard think about what kind of differentiation they can provide people among the MB and MBP line, given the different form factors, they have enough option where at one end there is ultra-portability (with plenty of power for mainstream users) and at the other a pro machine that equates with some characteristics that have defined the pro machines up to 3 years ago in the MBP line, at least at the 15 inch MBP offering.
Would this mean returning to legacy ports? No. That ship has sailed. (Although, I can imagine them returning the SD port, given the cries from the media folks...I've only used that port once or twice in my life, but it's clear that those working with cameras can use them often.) But, it might mean temporarily restraining the knee-jerk move towards MORE thinness, with some of the other characteristics people have been clamoring for. Geekbench has reported testing of new Mac with 32GB and a CPU that fits with what Apple might put in a laptop...that's possibly news that they are thinking this way. I think it would include more powerful options with the escape key intact. And, the whole line would certainly have a keyboard that is user-centric...not just from a position that users want thin machines, but that doesn't break more often than their older models which have keyboards we've come to love.
Now, I totally hear you when you respond to hyperbolic people that claim Apple is going down and they can't do anything right...Apple is doing fine by all economic indicators...they do have many products that are successes...while I don't care for the notch, I'm not ignorant enough to think that detracts from the function of that device in a way that is more than aesthetic. But, those who support Apple have argued that people like those in this thread that are more knowledgeable of technology and critical of Apple's recent track record with the Mac line don't matter...This is a claim that originates out of hubris and I think Apple would disagree...while it might not seem like it, I think Apple would say they care about all their customers and especially those who have been most passionate with them over the last couple of decades.
[doublepost=1529321564][/doublepost]
When people flame animojis or watchos, I would argue it often originates out of frustration...not hate. They are likely frustrated given some feature of software or hardware they see languishing rather than some innate hatred for animojis or watchos or the people who enjoy them. Obviously, it may not be very productive, but there you go.
