Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

The Prodigal Son Returns

michael.pryke

michael.pryke

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 9, 2013
14
19
London, UK
I bought my first iPhone on launch in 2007, despite being mid-way through a contract with another carrier and despite being an impoverished student at the time. I made a stupid mistake by going to try one in an O2 shop (I'm based in the UK), and came out with a shiny new phone, and a new monthly contract to boot.

Fast forward 9 years, and I'd had an iPhone upgrade every year, and was a huge evangelist for the brand. I upgraded to the 7 from the 6S and, after about 5 months' use, felt a bit - meh - about the whole thing. I found the software to be buggy, the battery life was annoyingly short, and a big part of me wondered whether the lustre had gone from my iPhone experience, and I was just over the whole thing.

I've now been with a Google Pixel for about 4 months, and have decided to go back to the iPhone, and have just bought myself a (second hand) 7 Plus (mostly for the photography upgrades), with the anticipation that I'll upgrade again when my contract is due in September and the new phones come out.

I have to admit, I'm really stoked - although the Pixel is a decent phone, I've missed the seamless experience of my Mac-iPhone-iPad configuration.

Apologies for the pointless post, but I thought it might interest (some) people to read.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrJM, BigMcGuire, I7guy and 1 other person
michael.pryke said:
…I've missed the seamless experience of my Mac-iPhone-iPad configuration.
Click to expand...
I will just say here that I've been an Apple convert since 2001 and and iPhone user since 2012.

But Apple and I chose different paths in 2006 when Apple went Intel and I stayed PowerPC.

As a consequence I don't presently (and never have) enjoyed the seamless experience you speak of because I've only owned one iPhone that can sync with any of my PowerPC Macs.

Apple's ecosystem seems to be a big reason for a lot of people to stay with Apple. It's much easier for people, such as myself, who have long used alternative services.

I love my PowerPC Macs and my 6s+ and I have an understanding (it's fugly and it knows it, but it will still do what I ask) but as far as Apple's services to make the experience seamless, it's just not something that I have much interest in.

Welcome back to iPhone!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sunny1990, BigMcGuire and 44267547
Newtons Apple said:
Can not ever see me leaving Apple, all just works so well together and never been a fan of Android or Google
Click to expand...
:D :D :D

steve_koolaid21.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peter K., DrewDaHilp1, Sunny1990 and 4 others
michael.pryke said:
I bought my first iPhone on launch in 2007, despite being mid-way through a contract with another carrier and despite being an impoverished student at the time. I made a stupid mistake by going to try one in an O2 shop (I'm based in the UK), and came out with a shiny new phone, and a new monthly contract to boot.

Fast forward 9 years, and I'd had an iPhone upgrade every year, and was a huge evangelist for the brand. I upgraded to the 7 from the 6S and, after about 5 months' use, felt a bit - meh - about the whole thing. I found the software to be buggy, the battery life was annoyingly short, and a big part of me wondered whether the lustre had gone from my iPhone experience, and I was just over the whole thing.

I've now been with a Google Pixel for about 4 months, and have decided to go back to the iPhone, and have just bought myself a (second hand) 7 Plus (mostly for the photography upgrades), with the anticipation that I'll upgrade again when my contract is due in September and the new phones come out.

I have to admit, I'm really stoked - although the Pixel is a decent phone, I've missed the seamless experience of my Mac-iPhone-iPad configuration.

Apologies for the pointless post, but I thought it might interest (some) people to read.
Click to expand...

It's not a pointless post. A lot of forum members post there experiences with other cell phone manufacturers and why they returned back to the iPhone. It really just shows you how the iPhone integrates so well with other Apple products and the overall experience really is that much better with the iPhone versus the other competitors.
 
  • Like
Reactions: michael.pryke and eyoungren
  • Like
Reactions: Sunny1990, imanidiot and eyoungren
No shame in posting. I am a total techie (and family and friends frequently come to me for phone advice) and have used every OS out there at one time or another. I was a big Blackberry fan for years.

I was late to the party in trying an IPhone. I’d find myself periodically switching back and forth from IOS to another OS out of boredom, but more and more I found myself coming back to Apple. I got an IPad which I preferred over any android tablet and finally someone gifted me an Apple Watch. I am pretty much now immersed in the IOS sphere now with an occasional foray into an Android. However, like a lot of people say, Apple just works, it’s seamless and everything works together; so I think I will be here for a while. (Although I do have my eye on the latest Blackberry Keyone if will work on Verizon; I am still a sucker for a keyboard)
 
  • Like
Reactions: michael.pryke and Newtons Apple
eyoungren said:
My wife would argue that it's called the living room, but yes, yes it does. :D

Summer however…well, you live in Florida so you get it. But we average around 104-106º from May to September. The fans get a workout on the Mac. :D
Click to expand...


:) Your room reminded me of a movie called Transcendence w/Johnny Depp.

As far as Apple, I fully converted after using the 5c before I got the 6, in 2014 because of yes the ecosystem, but also the support, especially with OS updates. Cliche' I know, but its true. I'm sure my Galaxy S6 never made it to Noguat, or it will stay there. I didn't care to research before I made that last mark about the S6:D
 
  • Like
Reactions: eyoungren
iApple_man said:
:) Your room reminded me of a movie called Transcendence w/Johnny Depp.

As far as Apple, I fully converted after using the 5c before I got the 6, in 2014 because of yes the ecosystem, but also the support, especially with OS updates. Cliche' I know, but its true. I'm sure my Galaxy S6 never made it to Noguat, or it will stay there. I didn't care to research before I made that last mark about the S6:D
Click to expand...
Updates, LOL!

I had an HTC Touch Pro before my iPhone 5. Got it in May 2009. Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro. In the settings it had a Windows Update area which I checked for the first month or so. Always errored. :D

I sent the phone on to someone on a Sprint SERO plan some time in 2013-14 I think. Still no update! :D

Yeah, lots of people like Apple's frequency of updates. It isn't something that attracts me, but I can appreciate the feeling of being updated and secure (or as secure as Apple knows to make).

Right now, my iPhone 6s+ is on 9.0.2 though and my iPad on 8.1. Both firmwares that were what they had or what was current when I first got them (October 2015). I'm sitting there because I don't want to lose my jailbreaks. I do however have an iPhone 5 on 10.3.1 and a 4s on 9.3.5. Which I find funny because both of those phones are older than my 6s+ but running newer firmwares. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sunny1990, BigMcGuire and iApple_man
I recently returned to iOS after a year with Android

I could go back to android at any time. There's a lot of things that work better than iOS counterparts (namely Google voice is much better) as are widgets (real widgets, which ironically are more like apple's old Mac implementation of widgets), and spending that time away let me appreciate that iOS is not the end all be all to a quality smart phone experience

But to me they're the same thing at the end of the day....I just need a fast phone that answers my calls texts social media and listen to music. The one big advantage iOS has is not really an iOS advantage for me, it is more of what Apple offers which is apple care plus. I don't use cases, I don't like them and never will use them. And I tend to Drop my devices especially when I'm doing outdoor activities (lots of hiking)

Hasn't happened in a while but it did happen with my S7, and that made me wish I had apple care because the servicing was a headache and much more expensive.

I like the peace of mind and neither Google nor Samsung offer an equivalent service in Canada especially not one where I can walk to a local store and get any issues sorted out or in the case of damage, get the device repaired.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nburwell, BigMcGuire, iApple_man and 1 other person
eyoungren said:
Updates, LOL!

I had an HTC Touch Pro before my iPhone 5. Got it in May 2009. Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro. In the settings it had a Windows Update area which I checked for the first month or so. Always errored. :D

I sent the phone on to someone on a Sprint SERO plan some time in 2013-14 I think. Still no update! :D

Yeah, lots of people like Apple's frequency of updates. It isn't something that attracts me, but I can appreciate the feeling of being updated and secure (or as secure as Apple knows to make).

Right now, my iPhone 6s+ is on 9.0.2 though and my iPad on 8.1. Both firmwares that were what they had or what was current when I first got them (October 2015). I'm sitting there because I don't want to lose my jailbreaks. I do however have an iPhone 5 on 10.3.1 and a 4s on 9.3.5. Which I find funny because both of those phones are older than my 6s+ but running newer firmwares. :)
Click to expand...


The future is HERE:

P5.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: decafjava, Craiguyver, Sunny1990 and 1 other person
I flirted with Android last month by purchasing a used Pixel on Swappa. Did I really consider switching? Not really. I've had each and every iPhone since the original. I guess I just wanted to see if Android improved any since I tested out an HTC phone way back in the day. While I enjoyed the overall experience of the Pixel, I am really not into customizing or rooting the phone (and my jailbreaking days are long behind me).

In the end, I sold the Pixel after using it for a few weeks because I knew I would miss the Apple ecosystem. I said to myself that 99% of my friends and family have iPhone's. iMessage and FaceTime are pretty important features for me personally. I know Android has alternatives, but everything just works so seamlessly between my iPhones, iPad, rMBP and Apple TV. Plus, I think my wife would disown me if I switched to Android.

Although I baby my phones (though I despise cases), I know that if something ever happens to any of my iDevices, I know I can go to my local Apple Store and get it serviced. You can't get that with Samsung/Google.

Who am I kidding, Apple has me as a customer for life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iApple_man, eyoungren and Newtons Apple
nburwell said:
…I know I can go to my local Apple Store and get it serviced.
Click to expand...
The last time I took my 2003 17" PowerBook G4 in to be looked at I was informed that other than answering my questions they couldn't touch it. That was December 2009.

Don't suppose they could do anything for me now either.

:D

/tongue-in-cheek(y) statements.

:)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: iApple_man, Newtons Apple and Sunny1990
My first real smart phone was the T mobile G1. I think I got one , maybe two updates. I then got a Samsung Galaxy 1. It was a flagship phone at the time. I got one update. I then got a jail broken and unlocked (back when you could do that) original iPhone. I have never looked back. My 5s is about to get iOS 11. For me I like how Apple supports their products. The only Apple product I had that did not get a lot of updates was the original iPad but I understand it had technological limitations that precluded future updates.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eyoungren
Many Apple fans cite the ecosystem or the Apple Store. For those of us with no iMacs or iPads, and whose closest Apple Store is more than three hours away, our choice is driven purely by comparing the phones.

I switch between a 5s and a Moto G4 every few days. The 5s is decidedly more pocketable and the G4 is decidedly better to use/read. I imagine a 7 or 7+ would change the balance, but I see no reason to spend more than $200 on a phone, when spending less still meets my needs.

For me, it's a question of value. I have trouble enjoying things when I know I've spent much more than I really needed to. It's a personal handicap, I know. ;)
 
For OP: You aren't alone. I have left for the Dark Side and returned to Apple many times. Had a Pixel and LG G6 but missed Apple. Got an Iphone 7. I also have a Galaxy S8. Love em both. They each have a different appeal to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: michael.pryke
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back