Ten years Apple user. Now it is time to say goodbye (at least for now)

[loby]

I can't believe I read all of these posts. Must have too much time on my hands or this site took the place of watching TV for entertainment. I noticed that MacRumors has become a sociologist heaven instead of informative as what first drew me to it some years back.

Anyway, I thought to comment. Interesting read as I usually like to read people's opinions on things.

Conclusion: People need a passion for something, and for some technology filled that void, especially Apple. At the end of the day, technology is really to assist us to be better...but it seems it has gone to the opposite in many ways.

Times change, people chance (and die), companies make good and bad decisions, Apple is no exception. Apple had a good run in innovation and people will judge them as successful or a failure based on their own convictions and beliefs.

Silly really at the end of the day.

Both companies goal is the same. They want your money. You make the decision which gets it. Plain and simple.

Ok...I am done.

 

[Clix Pix]

I will unabashedly state here that yes, when Steve died I cried..... That day, the world lost a true genius and he left an amazing, truly astonishing legacy; there won't ever be anyone else quite like him.

Moving into the present: right now I am using the rMB and its one USB-C port as my gentle transition to USB-C, etc., over the next year or so; today, for example, I used a few external hard drives to do some backing up of files and folders. Easy to go back-and-forth between the rMB and the rMBP 2015 with the switch of a cable. In a year or two when I'm ready to purchase whatever the rMBP will be at that time, the USB-C ports will be no problem at all and by then we will also also have a lot of native devices with USB-C ports and connecting cables so no more need for dongles and docks and such.

Yes, I do feel that the Apple of 2016 is not the same as the Apple of 2005 (which is when I bought my first Mac) -- but then again, how many other companies are, either? Or any of us, for that matter? Time marches relentlessly on.....

 

[samiwas]

I've got a desk full of old devices, too. No plans on replacing them unless they crap out.

The only ones for me that insert directly into a USB-A port are thumb drives. I rarely use those, so I'll pick up one USB-C to USB-A adapter for those.

For the stuff I use on a fairly regular basis (external HDD for Time Machine backups, iPhone/iPad, digital camera, printer, etc), ... none of them plug directly into a USB-A port ... they all use USB cables. Instead of plugging an adapter on the end of those existing cables, I'm just going to replace the cables entirely with new ones that end in USB-C. For the stuff I use on an irregular basis, I'll use one of the new cables.

So, as I said....buying a bunch of new adapters (or cables). Exactly.

No, if they keep giving you these USB ports, you'll keep using them. That's the problem. You should find ways to get rid of those devices. I get that it kind of sucks since you're stuck in an old paradigm, but you have to understand that this is just a transition and you'll have to deal with change.

So, I should have to get rid of thousands of dollars in hard drives, custom button panels, tablets, monitors, peripherals, many of which were bought in the last few years, because Apple is so forward-thinking, and I'm stuck in the past of just a few years ago? This is really a dumb comment.

So, once I replace all these devices with new devices, will USB-D become the new thing?

Like I said, I have no problem with them moving forward, but this all-or-nothing approach is really quite silly, but pure 100% Apple (and thus why the fanboys love it).

Most devices did, but it took a long time for many of them to get to that state because a bunch of manufacturers wanted to use their own standards or whatever.

I was referring mostly to the last ten years. What basic peripheral in the last ten years has used any other connector? And yes, I know firewire and various video connectors.

No you don't. Apple ships an extension cable for free with each new iPhone.

Which is an adapter...that you need.... Notice I didn't say "buy".

Why do they need to change it, to start with? And what do you mean no features?

I haven't upgraded. I usually don't upgrade OS X until it absolutely requires me to because most of whatever new features they offer these days are barely useful, and the last time I upgraded, it bricked my iMac. And I was really responding to the person who seemed surprised that someone would want to see differences in an OS update. And what are the big updates on Sierra...oooh I can use siri. Don't care. I can cut on one device and paste on another, something I have never, ever needed nor wanted to do. Log in using an Apple Watch, which I don't have. Have my documents folder mirrored around would be nice, but that would require a complete re-design of the way I use my computer. And a host of other things I just have no real need for. Oh well.

They never made much money from Final Cut or whatever. It's time for them to exit that business. And they don't just keep making their devices thinner, they're also substantially more powerful, with the same or better battery life, and the best usability in the market.

Unfortunately, they just never reached the potential I hoped for.

Sorry. I've been an Apple user since I was a kid in 1983. While all of my work computers are Windows, all of my personal ones have been Apple since then. I'm just not a fan any more. Nothing about Apple excites me any more. It's all pretty "meh".

I'm guessing, though, that there will be external hubs made that give you all the ports, and maybe even send the charging down the one cable, so you can connect just one cable to the laptop and have all the ports available. That would be cool.

 

[aristobrat]

So, as I said....buying a bunch of new adapters (or cables). Exactly.

If you plan on keeping those devices on your desk for another 3-5 years, isn't that virtually inevitable anyway? Sure, if you buy another Windows computer this year or next, it'll probably come with at least one USB-A port, but how long do you think laptop manufacturers are going to keep including that port seeing how versatile USB-C ports are (in the sense USB-C supports so many different protocols over the same port) and how inexpensive new USB-C cables are?

And how useful will a laptop that keeps one USB-A port around for legacy be when you run across a situation where you need two devices at the same time? Then you're right back to spending $6 for a new cable so you can plug the other one in a USB-C port.
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I'm guessing, though, that there will be external hubs made that give you all the ports, and maybe even send the charging down the one cable, so you can connect just one cable to the laptop and have all the ports available. That would be cool.

What the heck? Those have been available since last year. Just search for "usb-c hub" on Amazon.

 

[loby]

Honestly it sounds to me like you jumped ship to Apple while things were really dire in the Windows world. The PC world is a lot more welcoming than it was 10 years ago, so I understand the desire to take another look. Based on what you write, you sound to me more like a Windows guy who never really made the transition to Apple's way of doing things.

If you don't understand what's special about the AW vs the alternatives, you aren't looking very hard. Touch screens on laptops continue to be a completely 'meh' experience. Apple is right on this one, at least for the time being.

The kind of changes you are complaining about are quintessentially Apple. I guess you've been able to be part of the ecosystem for most of the last 10 years without really realizing that, because the Mac side of things has remained quietly stable for that entire time period. But that's exactly what Apple does. Makes a big change which feels risky and out of touch at the time, and then rides out that change, continuing to refine it for the next decade. That's what they did with the Mac line in about 2006. It's what they started with the iPhone in 2007 and the iPad a couple of years later. With the new Macs you are seeing the first big change in your tenure.

I've owned a couple of Surface devices now. For PC hardware they are above average. Reliability is well below average. And Microsoft's customer service is among the worst I've ever dealt with in any industry. The problems with these devices are legion. I'd be interested to hear how you feel after 6 months or a year.

Great points and should be considered.

Many on this site (it seems) came over to the Apple plateform during the times of the "had enough" of Windows and PCs during the Apple-Microsoft "I'm a Mac" Ad wars (great ads) when Apple's products basically "just worked" era. If you retain the old while embracing the new, you will have grief. Probably why so many complaints here. Basic life principle and does apply to technology. Apple and Microsoft's views on technology differ and if you try to mix the two, you have grief and distress as to "why" things occur.

I am maybe one of the few that agree with Apple's approach to touch screens. I worked for an innovation company back in the late 80's during the touch screen attempts into the mainstream season. Found it a great idea and potential...but practically not appealing in normal or daily task type computer usage. Screen gets all oily, hands and arms get tired quickly etc. Using your one finger all the time gets cramped for complex tasks, many things to consider. Larger screens....don't even have to comment on the issues that come with that. iPad and iPhone touch screens are a different story of course due to it function and purpose and Apple thought out the better way of just swipes and basic motions. For complex computer tasking, touch screen generally are disappointing.

Apple may go that way sometime...but hopefully when they figure out the better experience first.
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So, as I said....buying a bunch of new adapters (or cables). Exactly.



So, I should have to get rid of thousands of dollars in hard drives, custom button panels, tablets, monitors, peripherals, many of which were bought in the last few years, because Apple is so forward-thinking, and I'm stuck in the past of just a few years ago? This is really a dumb comment.

So, once I replace all these devices with new devices, will USB-D become the new thing?

Like I said, I have no problem with them moving forward, but this all-or-nothing approach is really quite silly, but pure 100% Apple (and thus why the fanboys love it).



I was referring mostly to the last ten years. What basic peripheral in the last ten years has used any other connector? And yes, I know firewire and various video connectors.



Which is an adapter...that you need.... Notice I didn't say "buy".



I haven't upgraded. I usually don't upgrade OS X until it absolutely requires me to because most of whatever new features they offer these days are barely useful, and the last time I upgraded, it bricked my iMac. And I was really responding to the person who seemed surprised that someone would want to see differences in an OS update. And what are the big updates on Sierra...oooh I can use siri. Don't care. I can cut on one device and paste on another, something I have never, ever needed nor wanted to do. Log in using an Apple Watch, which I don't have. Have my documents folder mirrored around would be nice, but that would require a complete re-design of the way I use my computer. And a host of other things I just have no real need for. Oh well.



Unfortunately, they just never reached the potential I hoped for.

Sorry. I've been an Apple user since I was a kid in 1983. While all of my work computers are Windows, all of my personal ones have been Apple since then. I'm just not a fan any more. Nothing about Apple excites me any more. It's all pretty "meh".

I'm guessing, though, that there will be external hubs made that give you all the ports, and maybe even send the charging down the one cable, so you can connect just one cable to the laptop and have all the ports available. That would be cool.

Ah..."Hello", This is how the machine works. Once you get everything you need to do what task you are doing, some new technology comes out or changes and now you have to now rebuy everything to do the same thing again. This is how the industry continues. Why is this surprising?

 

[zoomp]

yeah and now they don't make that stuff anymore. It was over. Move on. Other great products are out there.

Woha. Who said I didn't? Otherwise, I wouldn't have a feature playing in theaters in your country right now. Ha!

 

[petvas]

With what Microsoft did to the UI with Windows 8, ... I appreciate how consistent OS X's has been over the years.

Microsoft made a big mistake that made a lot of users move away from Windows, but at least they had the guts to dare something new. They got through the pain of the transition to touch on the desktop. Windows 10 is a big step towards the right direction and if you ask me it is much better than macOS Sierra. Windows 10 works as a desktop OS and when you need the tablet functions it becomes more tablet friendly. Microsoft almost nailed it this time.
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Im not sure how original the OP was. After every major Apple announcement, there's always some long-time Apple user that peace out's. They all have their own unique twinge, but it's the same basic sentiment that people have been expressing over the last 12 years I've been reading posts here.

I understand that there are always people saying goodbye to Apple after an Apple event, but for me it was different. It was not just the last event. I lost faith in Apple's execution ability and their ability to innovate. I also believe that Apple has its focus on areas that do not interest me at all. At the same time, my Windows background makes me thing favorable towards Microsoft. After all, I make my living by consulting companies on Microsoft technologies. All these things together made me go back to Microsoft.

 

[satcomer]

I feel ever sense Fashion executive Angela Ahrendt and she influenced Apple to raise the prices on Apple products!

 

[petvas]

If anyone is interested to read about my first days with the Surface Book, I posted some infos here: http://forums.windowscentral.com/mi...-my-first-impressions-coming-macbook-pro.html

 

[smallcoffee]

So, as I said....buying a bunch of new adapters (or cables). Exactly.

No, just don't buy any and start putting your stuff in the cloud.

So, I should have to get rid of thousands of dollars in hard drives, custom button panels, tablets, monitors, peripherals, many of which were bought in the last few years, because Apple is so forward-thinking, and I'm stuck in the past of just a few years ago? This is really a dumb comment.

Yeah you should get rid of most of that stuff, or make sure you don't buy new things unless they are either wireless or USB-C.

So, once I replace all these devices with new devices, will USB-D become the new thing?

No, by then we will have wireless everything.

Like I said, I have no problem with them moving forward, but this all-or-nothing approach is really quite silly, but pure 100% Apple (and thus why the fanboys love it).

If you don't do it all or nothing, people will cling to their past paradigms.

I was referring mostly to the last ten years. What basic peripheral in the last ten years has used any other connector? And yes, I know firewire and various video connectors.

Well those you mentioned are enough of a problem.

Which is an adapter...that you need.... Notice I didn't say "buy".

Doesn't matter. It's a transitioning phase, so Apple is helping users here until they can transition to wireless.

I haven't upgraded.

Stopped reading there. If you don't upgrade you can't complain about a lack of new features.

Unfortunately, they just never reached the potential I hoped for.

Sorry. I've been an Apple user since I was a kid in 1983. While all of my work computers are Windows, all of my personal ones have been Apple since then. I'm just not a fan any more. Nothing about Apple excites me any more. It's all pretty "meh".

Idk what you're expecting. What isn't "meh"? Apple's last two huge successes have been iPhone and iPod. Those are two truly revolutionary products. For most companies they never make one. I don't expect every single press conference to completely change my life, and neither should any body else.

I'm guessing, though, that there will be external hubs made that give you all the ports, and maybe even send the charging down the one cable, so you can connect just one cable to the laptop and have all the ports available. That would be cool.

Those already exist, and are possible because of USB-C.
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Woha. Who said I didn't? Otherwise, I wouldn't have a feature playing in theaters in your country right now. Ha!

)

So you're responsible for all of these bad movies lately

(just kidding)

 

[KassyKat]

USB was the same connector for 20 years. Except for monitors, nearly every other device used that connector. Networking has been the same connector for eons. There was all that FireWire stuff, though.

Just a note on that, Apple was the one that pushed in the USBs. Until then, it was a bunch of different connectors - much as what we have now for many devices.

Bluetooth is fine if you use bluetooth headphones. Otherwise, you apparently need yet another adapter.

In case you did not look, the adapter was in the box with the iPhone.

What's the point of an OS release if there are no features or differences? And when the heck has Apple ever done a "complete UI redesign? iOS still looks almost exactly the same as it did on day one. OS X also looks almost identical to what it did 15 years ago.

Well then, looks can be deceiving. The operating system 15 years ago was Mac OS 9.1 (aka Classic Mac OS), and it was designed to work with the Power PC processor. Spaces, Launch Pad, Mission Control, Photo Booth, Photos, iMessage, and many, many other parts of Sierra were not available on that OS. In fact, that OS was not able to be run for very long as it had limitations on the memory and processor limitations.

They are a consumer devices company. They used to be a hardware and software company with a heavy lean towards higher-end audio and video. Then they essentially just abandoned that market. Then they decided that their business was seeing how much thinner they could keep making the same devices.

Apple has always been a consumer devices company. The first Apple computers were not sold to major corporations. They were sold to individuals and small businesses mainly for resale. You are looking at just the last few years of Apple and thinking that IS Apple.

 

[samiwas]

No, just don't buy any and start putting your stuff in the cloud.

The cloud works great when you have endless, reliable internet. I do not always have that. I don't do anything in the cloud. I am not a cloud type.

Yeah you should get rid of most of that stuff, or make sure you don't buy new things unless they are either wireless or USB-C.

OK, sure.

If you don't do it all or nothing, people will cling to their past paradigms.

Oh, so Apple is teaching me how to live. Got it.

Well those you mentioned are enough of a problem.

Well, they haven't been. The laptop is now the problem which I would have to find solutions to use.

Doesn't matter. It's a transitioning phase, so Apple is helping users here until they can transition to wireless.

So, again...doing it Apple Adapter Company's way.

Stopped reading there. If you don't upgrade you can't complain about a lack of new features.

Sure I can. I didn't upgrade because there weren't enough features to compel me to. Seriously. Try to make a little bit of sense instead of sounding like you bleed Apple.

Those already exist, and are possible because of USB-C.

Really? So multi-port hubs never existed before? Whatever you say....
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Well then, looks can be deceiving. The operating system 15 years ago was Mac OS 9.1 (aka Classic Mac OS), and it was designed to work with the Power PC processor. Spaces, Launch Pad, Mission Control, Photo Booth, Photos, iMessage, and many, many other parts of Sierra were not available on that OS. In fact, that OS was not able to be run for very long as it had limitations on the memory and processor limitations.

Uh, no. Mac OSX 10.0 was released in March of 2001. That is more than 15 years, 7 months ago.

 

[smallcoffee]

then please go buy a different computer. Go to AsusRumors.com or something and post there. Apple is making the right move with their computing devices. If that's not the right move for you, cool, go away.

 

[KassyKat]

Uh, no. Mac OSX 10.0 was released in March of 2001. That is more than 15 years, 7 months ago.

Uh yes, Mac OS 9.2 was released in June 2001, Mac OS 9.2.1 was released in August 2001, and Mac OS 9.2.2 was released in December 2001. Max OS X 10.0 Cheetah was also released in March 2001. They were concurrent for a while. And NEITHER had Spaces, Launch Pad, Mission Control, Photo Booth, Photos, iMessage, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and several other parts of macOS that are now standard. So, either way, I stand by my comment.

 

[Teon]

You could go a year ago, my next device will be based on Android.
Apple lost the atmosphere of "the very apple"

 

[smallcoffee]

You could go a year ago, my next device will be based on Android.
Apple lost the atmosphere of "the very apple"

People say this until oops I guess HTC doesn't support this latest version of Android.

 

[nnoble]

I moved to Apple stuff by accident and stayed by design. But I hate this emotional stuff and the cult that, in my opinion, taints Apple. Embarrassing and self indulgent.

 

[Moof1904]

OP, I feel much the same way. I came up with the Apple II and Amiga computers, too, so I think we've been at this about the same length of time. Earlier this week someone posted a link to an interview with Steve Jobs in which he outlined the reasons that Xerox fell from greatness, which was primarily when the sales and marketing people, not the product people, took control of the corporate culture. It's sadly ironic that Apple is doing the same thing.

I think Johnny Ives' drive towards thinner, lighter, more elegant has forced functionality into a back seat. When the new MacBook Pros can't have more than 16 megs of memory because of the way they're designed then that's not a good design, no matter how beautiful, thin, or whatever, it might be.

Apple has a mind boggling amount of money yet they devote paltry resources to their pro tools and let their included apps erode into frustrating embarrassments. iTunes is the worst piece of software on my Mac. It's horrid.

They're not going away any time soon and they still make some great products, but in my opinion, Apple has very much lost its way.

 

[-hh]

Uh yes, Mac OS 9.2 was released in June 2001, Mac OS 9.2.1 was released in August 2001, and Mac OS 9.2.2 was released in December 2001. Max OS X 10.0 Cheetah was also released in March 2001. They were concurrent for a while.

But of course they were, because OS X had the "Classic" mode where one was able to run an OS 9.x session. As such, OS 9.x continued to be maintained.

And NEITHER had Spaces, Launch Pad, Mission Control, Photo Booth, Photos, iMessage, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and several other parts of macOS that are now standard...

Sure, these are elements of the 'standard' today, but they didn't all miraculously spring forth with some event like the Intel transition. Case in point, "Photos" didn't exist until just a few years ago, but its Apples intended replacement for iPhoto, which started back in 2002.

But in any event, the point which you're disputing is essentially a minor aside. The more meaningful element there is those posters' disagreement on peripheral interfacing methods and how USB-C drove the non-WiFi approaches off of a pretty ugly cliff. And while we can say "oh, just use Wifi", the reality is that the performance of WiFi is grossly deficient for users who are a step above the 'Joe Sixpack' stereotype.

For example, I'll use a real world example I researched very recently, namely the use of a $50 Canon WiFi card in their 7Dmk2 dSLR body: its hardware specs have a max theoretical bandwidth of ~10GB/hour.

At 10GB/hr, this means that dumping my 64GB cards will effectively take 6 hours...each.

Now from a workflow standpoint, we could try to rationalize that this is tolerable because we could let it run unattended overnight while we sleep, but there's two hitches (at least) with that workflow. First, the camera's battery pack (even if it starts full) won't run that long while burning transmitter power. Second, it kills that battery, so I'm now starting a photo work day with a flat battery, which means now carrying even more spare batteries.

But what was the legacy status quo? Well, if we go back a decade to pre-TB Macs and look at the ancient interface of Firewire 800, its bandwidth is 800Mbps, which is ~6GB/minute. Yes, this old wired port has 30x higher bandwidth than contemporary WiFi.

So just do you want your workflow to be? Especially when you have a project which doesn't afford you the opportunity to go take a 6 hour nap while you're waiting for your WiFi synch? Still want to call it "progress"?

Nevertheless, I do see that the trend is for Apple to be pushing their customers over to wireless anyway. Of course, considering that they charge $120/year for 1TB, it falls in nicely with their business model to transform their customers from an occasional hardware buyer revenue stream to monthly subscribers. However, just because that's a direction that's in Apple's interests does not magically mean that it is actually what's best for their customers.

 

[KassyKat]

But of course they were, because OS X had the "Classic" mode where one was able to run an OS 9.x session. As such, OS 9.x continued to be maintained.



Sure, these are elements of the 'standard' today, but they didn't all miraculously spring forth with some event like the Intel transition. Case in point, "Photos" didn't exist until just a few years ago, but its Apples intended replacement for iPhoto, which started back in 2002.

But in any event, the point which you're disputing is essentially a minor aside. The more meaningful element there is those posters' disagreement on peripheral interfacing methods and how USB-C drove the non-WiFi approaches off of a pretty ugly cliff. And while we can say "oh, just use Wifi", the reality is that the performance of WiFi is grossly deficient for users who are a step above the 'Joe Sixpack' stereotype.

For example, I'll use a real world example I researched very recently, namely the use of a $50 Canon WiFi card in their 7Dmk2 dSLR body: its hardware specs have a max theoretical bandwidth of ~10GB/hour.

At 10GB/hr, this means that dumping my 64GB cards will effectively take 6 hours...each.

Now from a workflow standpoint, we could try to rationalize that this is tolerable because we could let it run unattended overnight while we sleep, but there's two hitches (at least) with that workflow. First, the camera's battery pack (even if it starts full) won't run that long while burning transmitter power. Second, it kills that battery, so I'm now starting a photo work day with a flat battery, which means now carrying even more spare batteries.

But what was the legacy status quo? Well, if we go back a decade to pre-TB Macs and look at the ancient interface of Firewire 800, its bandwidth is 800Mbps, which is ~6GB/minute. Yes, this old wired port has 30x higher bandwidth than contemporary WiFi.

So just do you want your workflow to be? Especially when you have a project which doesn't afford you the opportunity to go take a 6 hour nap while you're waiting for your WiFi synch? Still want to call it "progress"?

Nevertheless, I do see that the trend is for Apple to be pushing their customers over to wireless anyway. Of course, considering that they charge $120/year for 1TB, it falls in nicely with their business model to transform their customers from an occasional hardware buyer revenue stream to monthly subscribers. However, just because that's a direction that's in Apple's interests does not magically mean that it is actually what's best for their customers.

Okay, so following that line of logic, if someone is trying to transfer large amounts of data, wouldn't it make MORE sense to get a card reader and use the port that has a MUCH faster transfer rate, the Thunderbolt3? My point was not a "minor aside" as you called it, it was the point. Apple has done this for years, decades actually, and let's face it, Apple pushing the boundaries is the REASON we have some of the tech we do now because the others all follow. So essentially, you are telling the leaders to stop leading so we can stagnate.

 

[-hh]

Okay, so following that line of logic, if someone is trying to transfer large amounts of data, wouldn't it make MORE sense to get a card reader and use the port that has a MUCH faster transfer rate, the Thunderbolt3?

Maybe.

What it really gets into is system optimization and capability matching: it doesn't really do you any good to use an über-fast port on a device that can't adequately workload it.

For example, USB-C is 40Gbps, which is 5GB/sec ... while USB3 is 5Gbps, which is 0.6 GB/sec.

A state-of-the-Pro-shelf 800x CF card can be read at roughly 0.1 GB/sec. As such, the bandwidth of both of these protocols are overkill, with USB-C being gross overkill.

From a resource allocation standpoint, if you had both to choose from, you would use USB3, not USB-C, as it is the better match.

Using the faster USB-C port will not speed up the transfer because it is bottlenecked elsewhere.

My point was not a "minor aside" as you called it, it was the point. Apple has done this for years, decades actually, and let's face it, Apple pushing the boundaries is the REASON we have some of the tech we do now because the others all follow. So essentially, you are telling the leaders to stop leading so we can stagnate.

Sorry, but Apple hasn't really had this history of dumping all legacy like they've done with USB-C.

For example:
* the inclusion of Mac OS 9 "Classic" capability in OS X ... for SEVEN years (2000 - 2007);

* the inclusion of "Rosetta" for OS X for the PPC to Intel CPU conversion

* The "Fat Binary" code implimented during the 68K to PPC CPU conversion

* The MacOS Control Panels to disable "32 bit clean" back in the 24 bit days of the pre-PPC 68K CPUs;

Similarly, with hardware:

* Firewire ports, side by side with USB & TB1 ports. Even restored FW on one of the laptops after they did try to kill it;

* Not getting rid of USB ports when TB1 shipped

* And while everyone remembers the iMac with USB, they forget that the 1999 "Blue & White" PowerMac shipped with both ADB and USB ports.

Plus there were internal expansion cards that could add USB to older PowerMacs to upgrade that older hardware to the new USB interface, so that buying a new printer didn't also mean buying a new Mac at the same time too.

These are just a few examples of how Apple has historically had customer-focused technology transitions, which differs substantially from today's crass "Go take a leap off a cliff" attitude.

 

[R3k]

Bye!

 

[5684697]

I am not sure this is the right forum to post this, so Mods, if there is a better place for this, just feel free to move it.

The title of the article says it all, but I would like to post why I am leaving the Apple ecosystem. Please note that this is not a rant and it is not supposed to be provocative in any way. It just describes my personal situation and views regarding technology. It might reflect on others too, but it might also not. Everybody is different and has different views and opinions, which are of course respected.
Please excuse the length of this post, but since this is going to be my (for the time being at least) last thread I create on this forum, please bare with me. Thank you.

First, some things about my background. My first computer was an Amstrad 6128, but I quickly moved to the Amiga platform. I was in love with the Amiga, and its capabilities. After the death of the Amiga it was a sad time for me in technology, but I ended up going to Microsoft.
I also started working as an IT Professional, specializing in Security, Identity Management, Collaboration and Messaging, with a deep focus in Microsoft products and technologies. In those years I didn't have any connection to Apple and the Apple ecosystem. I was also working for Microsoft as a Technology Specialist..

Around 2006 I was worried about the direction that Microsoft was taking under Steve Ballmer. Windows Vista was a major misstep and it made me look for the first time to Apple.
I was impressed by Steve Jobs and its convincing, charismatic personality. I was impressed and convinced by his vision of computing. Designing high quality products that just work, that are easily accesible by everyone, but also satisfy the demands of power users and professionals.

I bought into the Apple ecosystem. I bought Macbooks, iMacs, Macbook Airs, Mac Pros. I think that the only thing I didn't buy was a Mac Mini.
in 2007 the iPhone came and I was ecstatic. I was very deep into the ecosystem, buying everything I could.
On a professional level I had to work with Microsoft products, but privately I was full Apple.

When Steve died, I cried like a baby. I felt that a part of me was gone. He was a great personality and he is still greatly missed. Despite Steve's death I continued using Apple products. I believed that Tim Cook was doing everything right. I knew that Tim will never replace Steve completely. Noone can!

The last years a feeling started growing in me, that Apple is complacent.
I also saw a clear direction towards consumer products only and I did not like that. Aperture was discontinued (which I really loved), and the worst for me was that OS X (or macOS) got worse over time. I had the feeling that Apple is not focusing on its roots. Apple was focusing on areas where the most money are, something that I understand but do not like.
On the other side, iOS became stale, or to put it differently, it didn't develop like I would like. I felt that Android (not all incarnations of Android though), were better suited for me. iOS became boring (for me). Especially I was disappointed to see other OEMs making better hardware than Apple. HTC and even Samsung (which I really do not like) caught up. Apple was not alone.

Microsoft changed too. Windows 7 was a very good OS, followed by the disaster of Windows 8. Windows 10 is a great OS and I am sure that the next versions will be even better. Why I am so sure? Because Microsoft has changed its leadership, and it shows in its products. The Surface, the Surface Book and the Surface Studio are great products at least on par with Apple's offerings. Add to that my affinity to Microsoft in the enterprise field, and the feeling that I should return to Microsoft grew even more stronger.

Going back to Apple, I see a lot of missteps that make me think that the direction Apple is taking is not what I want from technology.

Apple is not innovating as fast as other companies do. Google is (for me) better in cloud services. Microsoft has a more versatile OS and ecosystem. Both Google and Microsoft are creating premium products and are of course asking a premium price for them (which I do not mind - I am used from Apple...)

What are the major missteps that made me decide to leave Apple?

• Apple is increasingly ignoring power users. Look at Aperture, look at how Final Cut Pro developed. macOS has become almost like iOS..The Mac Pro hasn't been updated for three years!
• Apple is showing little innovation. I am sorry Apple Watch users. I understand you might like the Apple Watch, but for me this is not innovation.. It is a products that answers problems that do not exist. Apart from that I do not see what Apple is doing that is so innovative. I doubt that Apple has the right people to continue innovating. I lost faith.
• The last Macbook Pro refresh. I believe that the Touch Bar is nice, but it would be better to have laptops with touch screens. The argument that it is not productive to work with touch screens on a Mac because of the verticality of the display, is for me not valid. There are many examples that show that it can work very well. My wife every time she uses my Macbook Pro, tries to scroll by touching the screen This shows how people that are not technology experts think about simple things. Microsoft was right. The Windows 8 implementation was a disaster, but with Windows 10 they corrected a lot of their missteps. I believe that Microsoft is on the right track here (but not 100% there yet).
• The latest Macbook Pro (take 2): Why no SD card? Why the need for so many dongles? I understand forward thinking and I am all for it, but why on earth not at least include some of the most important dongles in the Macbook Pro package?
• The last iPhones: Design wise no changes (still a great phone), but without a headphone jack (yes, I know it had to go and eventually it will go). I believe it should be replaced by a better technology. Apple didn't present a better technology (yet). If they did that, then I would be all for it. In the meantime I enjoy high res sound on my HTC 10. If Apple was serious about it, they would get rid of the headphone jack from all new products.
• macOS Sierra: I see zero differences to the previous version. Zero.
• macOS Apps: For years I have experience how bad the underpinnings of some apps are (especially Mail, iCal and contacts). Apple has changed nothing in the last ten years in the way these apps work (in the background, not end user features). I see no improvements whatsoever.

Now, add my affinity to Microsoft on top of that and the direction Microsoft has taken in the last 2-3 years, and you might understand why I feel like that.
Today I placed an order for a Surface Book i7 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM. An expensive laptop, maybe more expensive than a Macbook Pro.
It is not about the price.

I just have the strong feeling that it is time to go back to my roots, to Microsoft. Microsoft has corrected its big missteps and has brought great products on the market.

I wish Apple a lot of success. I wish they prove me wrong. I hope they change their direction and correct their missteps too. When they do that, then I might come back. In the meantime I will give Microsoft another chance. They deserve it.
On the services front I am using Google and I am impressed by them.

I have been a member of this site for many years, and I have spent many hours here in the forums. I am a bit sad that I am leaving the Apple ecosystem. Who knows, maybe sometime in the future I will be back.

Please do not start insulting posts. I would like to have a good discussion about the points I mentioned. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Please do that respectfully. Thank you.

Well written with some very valid points. I wish you well as you press on...

 

[KassyKat]

Maybe.

What it really gets into is system optimization and capability matching: it doesn't really do you any good to use an über-fast port on a device that can't adequately workload it.

For example, USB-C is 40Gbps, which is 5GB/sec ... while USB3 is 5Gbps, which is 0.6 GB/sec.

A state-of-the-Pro-shelf 800x CF card can be read at roughly 0.1 GB/sec. As such, the bandwidth of both of these protocols are overkill, with USB-C being gross overkill.

From a resource allocation standpoint, if you had both to choose from, you would use USB3, not USB-C, as it is the better match.

Using the faster USB-C port will not speed up the transfer because it is bottlenecked elsewhere.



Sorry, but Apple hasn't really had this history of dumping all legacy like they've done with USB-C.

For example:
* the inclusion of Mac OS 9 "Classic" capability in OS X ... for SEVEN years (2000 - 2007);

* the inclusion of "Rosetta" for OS X for the PPC to Intel CPU conversion

* The "Fat Binary" code implimented during the 68K to PPC CPU conversion

* The MacOS Control Panels to disable "32 bit clean" back in the 24 bit days of the pre-PPC 68K CPUs;

Similarly, with hardware:

* Firewire ports, side by side with USB & TB1 ports. Even restored FW on one of the laptops after they did try to kill it;

* Not getting rid of USB ports when TB1 shipped

* And while everyone remembers the iMac with USB, they forget that the 1999 "Blue & White" PowerMac shipped with both ADB and USB ports.

Plus there were internal expansion cards that could add USB to older PowerMacs to upgrade that older hardware to the new USB interface, so that buying a new printer didn't also mean buying a new Mac at the same time too.

These are just a few examples of how Apple has historically had customer-focused technology transitions, which differs substantially from today's crass "Go take a leap off a cliff" attitude.

And when Apple ditched the diskette drive, the CD/DVD drive, went to the USB in the first place (nobody else was using it until Apple put it on their systems), the 30 pin connector, for a few that Apple transitioned without leaving the legacy tech in place.
Also, if someone wants a Mac laptop with the USB 3.0 ports on it, they can buy either the entry level MBP , or buy the previous MacBook Pro with retina. Both the 13" & the 15" are available with the previous USB ports, and they are still customizable. You just can't get the latest greatest tech and still keep the legacy tech, so I don't know what all the whining is about.

 

[-hh]

Also, if someone wants a Mac laptop with the USB 3.0 ports on it, they can buy either the entry level MBP , or buy the previous MacBook Pro with retina.

Nope.

As soon as a new model comes out, Apple's practice has been to promptly pull the old one from the shelves. One has to then go seek it out - - hit or miss, and no BTO - - on the "refurbs" page.

Both the 13" & the 15" are available with the previous USB ports, and they are still customizable. You just can't get the latest greatest tech and still keep the legacy tech, so I don't know what all the whining is about.

Show us where one can still go buy a BTO Mac Pro of the 2012 "Cheese Grater" version (the one prior to the trash can).


-hh