Have never understood the “Apple” thing... They are a propriety group that makes it very hard for normal people to modify or upgrade their systems. That is why I can understand the PC crowd - at least they can make changes as needed.
I’m sure that Apple folks here will counter, but really, do you have to pay so much for upgrades? It is all about proprietary business options...
I want to upgrade my PC system at will and can do so economically, can’t say the same about Apple products.
I would guess that it has become a “in thing” to own an Apple device but eventually that will fade with age...
That is why I see Apple as a younger age thing and a temporary advance into the market. It will eventually catch up with them (after all, the average age is going up and the birth rate is going down...)
Yeah I agree. I have an iPhone and it is a great little piece of technology that I primarily use as just a phone/GPS but I would never have a Mac as a primary computer for the reason you give.
Apple is The Sharper Image of computers. They sell shiny stuff that is easy to operate. It doesn't mean that the product does much or is cheap or reliable or versatile or it comes with on-site service. It's mostly shiny. Apple took all the sharp tools from users of i{Phone,Pod,Pad} and made sure they can't get them. So if someone wants to take up residence in an "assisted living" house of computers and walk in a straitjacket, more power to them.
I believe Apple will lose their market if the country tightens its belt further. Already Apple has to limit itself to people with disposable income, people who can afford to buy a $500 gadget that they don't really need, people who then will be nickel-and-dimed for primitive software that often doesn't do anything useful. iPad doesn't even have a filesystem, and conversions from Apple's own wordprocessor are lossy. In contrast, there is plenty of absolutely free software for Windows and Linux, and often that software is excellent. Try Paint.Net, GIMP, GnuPG, Dia, OpenOffice, Firefox and many other programs - they are free and they are very functional. But happy owners of iPads, after they go through the honeymoon, will discover that iPad software is not free.
Apple makes luxury products, just like Toyota makes some luxury cars. Lexus doesn't do anything much differently than Corolla; there are just improvements, accessories and overall polish. But if you need to get from A to B then any car will do. Apple's market is the market of luxury computers - not just functional computers, but computers that are more of status symbol than a processor of machine instructions. Versatility is sacrificed for simplicity; less is more. Apple will be OK as long as there are people with cash to burn and with desire to own fashionable stuff. But if you need performance, versatility or low cost, look elsewhere. Carpenters don't walk around with golden hammers. I have several computers and I made some myself, I have a board next to me that I'm writing firmware for. For me Apple boxes offer no value whatsoever.
Probably why Apple does better in the laptop market than desktop. Giving up easy upgrades is a general mark against laptops and not just Apple. Laptops are also probably more in with young people.
Not that I think Apples are limited to only young people, both of my parents have Macs for instance.
I have a ‘07 macbook. I’ve upgraded the ram, hard drive & repaired a dead exhaust fan myself. Zero money paid to Apple for the upgrade or the repair.
Also have a 2009 Mac Mini. I’ve upgraded the hard drive & and the ram myself. Zero money paid to Apple for these upgrades.