Year in Review: Everything Apple Introduced in 2017

[MH01]

Compete hyberbole and you're twisting your own view on mine. To reiterate, my post is listed below. That said, the consumer needs to find a reason to justify the purchase based on what they can afford and what they want from the product, or; there are cheaper alternatives if need be reasons that they find more suitable. Not sure how you derived from my Post "Telling people to leave", that's a false assertion on your behalf, which I clarified twice now.



And-



Yes, it is my view, and my opinion. Which you're on an opinionated website that entails others beliefs. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, I'm contradicting your own statement contrary to your own beliefs. It doesn't make it right or wrong. Two different things that are not mutually exclusive.

Time to move on, as your More off point from the original Post.

Yet again you are trying lecture and enforce your view. it's getting boring.

My comment was simple, prices have gone up in 2017, and you lecture me on premium goods.... try simple maths. Your being hypocritical as your not even allowing me to have an opinion on prices. Look in the mirror

 

[StevieD100]

The new mac mini is almost certainly coming.

Haha ROFL.
I'd love one but I'm not holding out much hope. The Mac design team (3 people and a dog) must be wiped out after the iMac Pro.

 

[MH01]

The beauty of Apple is that they still cater to both ends of the spectrum: the power user or elitist


2013 Mac Pro? Was that the silver tower "PC-like" version with the mesh screen-metal front? Miss that design....looked like a freaking tank.

Trash can - and at £2500 good value in my book

 

[Mescagnus]

It was a substantial year:

I upgraded from iPad Pro 9.7" to 10.5", and have not regretted it.

I went from iPhone 7 (4.7") to iPhone X – well worthwhile: display size, device size, build, Face ID, dual camera, etc. iPhone 8 Plus would be too big for me, and after X, I could never go back to 4.7". The X is a sweetspot for me – now I just need to decide do I keep the Silver or Space Gray X as my daily driver.

My original Apple Watch SS (series 0) is still going strong (okay, Apple exchanged it for a new one this Spring due to a swollen battery of the 2015 purchase), yet I could not resist the Space Gray AW Series 3 – with a dark gray leather loop it's perfect, and I can use the same watch band with the S0.

Apple TV 4K – after the 11.2 update that automatically adjusts to SDR / HDR / Dolby Vision & frame-rate – is so much better than LG OLED's smart TV & apps. ATV 4K shines on LG OLED (2017 models). A perfect 4K media box.

I got both Space Gray 2017 MacBook i5/512GB and 2017 MacBook Pro 13" TouchBar i5/512GB this Christmas – and I am having a really hard time deciding which one to keep. Portability vs. a little less portability but much more power. Maybe I'll keep both. MacOS, iOS and iCloud Drive makes it so easy to keep all my devices (files) in sync (on iPad Pro, MacBook and MacBook Pro AND MacMini).

My late-2012 MacMini with 16 gigs of RAM and an SSD (upgraded myself as this model was user-upgradeable and I consider it the best MacMini ever) is still going strong – but I do hope Apple will refresh MacMini in 2018 with configurations that I feel are worth upgrading to. I got the MacBook, and MacBook Pro, to replace the aging MacMini (with Belkin's USB-C/TB dock for desktop use). MacBook is not much of an upgrade over the beefed-up 2012 MacMini speed-wise; MacBook Pro is.

Too bad HomePod did not make it for Christmas: I would have bought 2 (a pair) for my living room to work as stereo pair and one for bedroom. I hope they're available soon enough!

So: Apple did good in 2017. A lot of products I didn't necessarily need – but still wanted. And none of them have been a let-down in any way. They've all been a joy. For example the 2017 MacBook is much more than I dared to expect from it – and I can say the same of all the 2017 products I got.

That has left me excited about what Apple will present in 2018!

No other consumer electronics / computers / smartphones manufacturer provided such a new and refreshed product line as Apple in 2017. And still some people are complaining here!

 

[Basic75]

Still hopeful to see Mini refreshed in 2018.

From a 2009 Mini user

And a 17" MacBook Pro refresh, with 4K display.

Actually they should alo make a matching 17" iPad Pro, same 4K display.

 

[appleofmyibook]

If iOS 11 wasn’t so buggy on my X I would say that it was the standout, but the truth is that the iPad 12.9 Series 2 is the highlight product of the year. What a stunning and capable machine with one of the most immersive and beautiful end user experience. I just love it - my only gripe is that the MacBook Pro I spent over $3k on last year is being used less and less.

 

[jonnysods]

Hardware: grade A+, a somptuos return to insane greatness.

Software: grade C-, a lot of good stuff marred by too many bugs.

High Sierra is driving me crazy, so many bugs, even after a fresh install. Mail, Excel, Preview, Safari crash completely from time to time, more often than I've ever seen before.

 

[vooke]

I never knew there iPad Air 2 was relaunched in March

 

[BMcCoy]

This year, I stuck with my iPhone SE, my iPad Mini 2, and my Apple TV 4.

I was going to buy a HomePod, and that would have been my only 2017 Apple purchase, but hey-hoo... let's see what 2018 brings.

 

[ThatSandWyrm]

It's why I am really starting to hate Apple products now. Don't forget that more dongles are now required for everything
.....

That's true enough for the new MBP (hate that thing, but I needed a laptop refresh). The iMP at least has plenty of ports. So maybe (maybe...) they've learned a lesson. Whether or not they'll admit it is another matter.

But at the end of the day, they're still better overall than the competition. I have to reinstall Win10 periodically (and spend 2 hrs disabling all its spy settings/processes) to remember that.

 

[Peperino]

One of the worst years for Apple Hardware.

1- Mac mini - no refresh
2- Macbooks Pro- a complete fiasco and way overpriced
3- iMac- Same design as 2012- only internal upgrades
4- iMac Pro- Not able to upgrade RAM in a $5000.00 entry level computer??? Really??
5- Mac Pro- Still waiting
6- iPhone 8- The glass enclosure cracks easily.
7- iPhone X- Very nice. Though too expensive.
8- Watch- Same design. no changes.
9- Home Pod- Too expensive. Amazon Echo and Echo plus is less than half the price.

Fastest product growing category in Apple is the adaptors...

Way to go Apple!!!

 

[Mescagnus]

That's true enough for the new MBP (hate that thing, but I needed a laptop refresh). The iMP at least has plenty of ports. So maybe (maybe...) they've learned a lesson. Whether or not they'll admit it is another matter.

As a rMB (2017) and MBPtb user, my solution was to change cables to USB-C -> whatever is at the other end, and an all-in-one Belkin Desktop Hub for the MB.

No dongles. Sure, the cost might hurt, but I see USB-C lasting for quite a while as a standard, so it only hurts once. Instead of dongles, go for new cables. It's simpler & easier.
[doublepost=1514490871][/doublepost]

One of the worst years for Apple Hardware.

1- Mac mini - no refresh
2- Macbooks Pro- a complete fiasco and way overpriced
3- iMac- Same design as 2012- only internal upgrades
4- iMac Pro- Not able to upgrade RAM in a $5000.00 entry level computer??? Really??
5- Mac Pro- Still waiting
6- iPhone 8- The glass enclosure cracks easily.
7- iPhone X- Very nice. Though too expensive.
8- Watch- Same design. no changes.
9- Home Pod- Too expensive. Amazon Echo and Echo plus is less than half the price.

Fastest product growing category in Apple is the adaptors...

Way to go Apple!!!

I disagree with many of these complaints (2, 4, 6, 7, 9). Let's take HomePod for an example: if the sound quality of Amazon Echo or Echo Plus is enough for you for music listening, HomePod will be the wrong product for you. HomePod is about music (sound quality), especially when used as a stereo pair.

And what's wrong with internal upgrades for products that already have a great design?

 

[62tele]

Yes, they introduced the HomePod but couldn't meet the release date.
Good products overall if only incremental in their updates. (Excluding iPhone X)
I upgraded my original iPad Air to the 2017 iPad base model and upgraded to an iPhone 8 Plus (although it required a repair after three weeks).
I have rethought whether I will purchase a HomePod. I won't be an early adopter. It will need to get excellent reviews for it's personal assistant functions in addition to being a quality speaker experience.

 

[Smearbrick]

My 2013 Mac Pro for £2500 was a premium apple product at a premium price. Are you telling me the iMac pro is twice as premium as my Mac Pro was in 2013? Sorry that is rubbish, the 2013 Mac Pro was far more innovative.

You are completely ignoring the price hikes, no one here is arguing they are not premium devices. Though telling people to leave if they don't like it, and it has to be like this, that's your view not shared by many on here, good luck convincing others that the price hikes are fair.....

Totally agree. The entry level price for the 15" MBP is completely ridiculous. Not to mention they are still pawning off a 2015 machine as NEW in some instances.

 

[coolfactor]

I still think there's a place in the product lineup for the MacBook Air. It's such a sweet device, but the MacBook and MacBook Pro have encroached onto its territory with the latest releases. Instead of retiring it, I think Apple should evolve it, to keep the "Air" namesake. Maybe a transparent casing? Bring fun back to the design.

Anybody remember these? We had one as a kid...

[doublepost=1514494358][/doublepost]

... You are completely ignoring the price hikes...

So many people forget that newer generations of products are far more powerful (so more value), but quite often retain the same price as the previous generation. Rare are price hikes with Apple products. If anything, they are bringing more and more value each year, so the price is cheaper, on a per-feature, per-capability basis.

 

[EvilEvil]

The rechargeable wireless magic keyboard was the best thing Apple released this year.

 

[Pearple]

Haha ROFL.
I'd love one but I'm not holding out much hope. The Mac design team (3 people and a dog) must be wiped out after the iMac Pro.

It’s like the Apple II Design Team. They had to go, the MacIntosh was the future.

Now the Apple Watch is the future. We don’t need anything else at all. That’s why the Mac team has to leave the spaceship.
[doublepost=1514496777][/doublepost]

I still think there's a place in the product lineup for the MacBook Air. It's such a sweet device, but the MacBook and MacBook Pro have encroached onto its territory with the latest releases. Instead of retiring it, I think Apple should evolve it, to keep the "Air" namesake. Maybe a transparent casing? Bring fun back to the design.

Anybody remember these? We had one as a kid...

View attachment 744112
[doublepost=1514494358][/doublepost]

So many people forget that newer generations of products are far more powerful (so more value), but quite often retain the same price as the previous generation. Rare are price hikes with Apple products. If anything, they are bringing more and more value each year, so the price is cheaper, on a per-feature, per-capability basis.

Forget that. Competition Pro all the way...

 

[jonnysods]

An iPad Pro with an A11X chip could be on the cards next year for me. A handy sidekick to my MBP.

 

[neutralguy]

Where is the article with headline "Year in Review: Everything Apple screwed up in 2017"??

 

[DVD9]

I'm still using my 15 inch Macbook Pro Retina from Nov 2012, the first edition. Until Apple brings back the 17 inch in this thin form factor I won't be replacing this one. 15 inches is too small (regardless of what she says).

I bought a NUC I5 7th edition to hook up to my Tv. What a piece of flickering crap it is. I want a $499- Mac Mini for this task with Samsung pcie hard drive as I have installed on my NUC.

If Apple isn't going to do these two things than I'm probably done with Apple. I'm a Samsung phone guy.

 

[Rob_2811]

As a rMB (2017) and MBPtb user, my solution was to change cables to USB-C -> whatever is at the other end, and an all-in-one Belkin Desktop Hub for the MB.

No dongles. Sure, the cost might hurt, but I see USB-C lasting for quite a while as a standard, so it only hurts once. Instead of dongles, go for new cables. It's simpler & easier.
[doublepost=1514490871][/doublepost]

I disagree with many of these complaints (2, 4, 6, 7, 9). Let's take HomePod for an example: if the sound quality of Amazon Echo or Echo Plus is enough for you for music listening, HomePod will be the wrong product for you. HomePod is about music (sound quality), especially when used as a stereo pair.

And what's wrong with internal upgrades for products that already have a great design?

Have you actually heard it?

 

[Oh-es-Ten]

High Sierra is driving me crazy, so many bugs, even after a fresh install. Mail, Excel, Preview, Safari crash completely from time to time, more often than I've ever seen before.

I think that Apple had a fairly good year, but High Sierra feels like a big QA misstep. Works OK on my daily driver 2012 Macbook Pro, however when trying to use it in a business environment, there are numerous show stopping bugs. Today, I had it running on a 2015 Macbook Pro and it was going to take 3 hours to copy a folder over corporate ethernet connection, same conditions when rolled back to 10.12 and copy was in 4 minutes. There are numerous other examples - not just small bugs, but big fundamental show stoppers.

 

[Falhófnir]

Is that really anything to rate Apple of? We already know they charge a premium for their products, but given the durability and build quality, you get exactly what you pay for. It's almost an expectation knowingly the quality product Apple puts out. I personally would rather pay a higher dollar amount for something I know that will last versus a cheaper product that may not meet the expectations that I would expect for longevity.

Traditionally that's been true. More recently, Apple have pumped up their prices beyond all reason and it's no longer completely valid to say you're getting better quality kit than the competition can offer. Flaking finish, questionable biometric security, buzzing earpieces and unresponsive or green lined screens on their flagship iPhone, issues with the keyboards on the MacBook Pros, removing the extension cable of the charger from a $2,500 laptop, battery dependent throttling iPhones, offering computer models with 4th and 5th gen intel chips without even a price drop, an absolute litany of software bugs, need I go on? It's a good thing they have such good after purchase care, but that shouldn't be a substitute for good design and quality control.

 

[D4rL0t]

Hardware wise , thumbs up.

Software wise, thumbs down

Price , huge thumbs down.

There was one more thing...
https://www.macworld.com/article/31...and-numbers-are-now-free-for-mac-and-ios.html

 

[44267547]

Flaking finish, questionable biometric security, buzzing earpieces and unresponsive or green lined screens on their flagship iPhone, issues with the keyboards on the MacBook .

For someone as a tech user as myself, I'm very well aware of those issues that you listed and they are accurate based on what's discussed on here. What you're not considering, is you have to be able to distinguish what's being reported on a tech forum versus undisclosed information on how many other users would be experiencing those issues for the other millions of iPhones sold.

I also want to add, you listed biometric security, which in general is not perfect and all of them are 'questionable'. None of them have a 100% certainty of anything that's offered on a smart phone. So that I'm going to exclude you from your Post being an issue. Touch ID, Face ID, Iris scanning, all of those are susceptible to issues and future refinements are needed in the sense of protecting security.

Reported issues are more concentrated and focused because this is what the form is, you have those to congregate and discuss their defects to see what remedies or others are experiencing as well. But that doesn't speak volumes across the board for iPhones as a whole, nor can we classify those issues you listed as a epidemic.