Why An Apple Tablet May Not Be Such A Great Thing

Connallmac · 11-09-2009, 07:10 AM

An interesting article on MSNBC.com by Dan Tynan of PC World analyzing Apple's marketing tactics.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33738833..._and_gadgets//

Lemurion · 11-09-2009, 07:54 AM

Sounds familiar.

A good collection of the kinds of reasons why I don't buy Apple.

poshm · 11-09-2009, 09:12 AM

I will probably put myself under fire for this comment but ...

I couldn't care less about Apple's marketing tactics, I only care about the end product.

Let's face it that's business and Apple aren't the only company "guilty" of trying to lock customers into their own products. Er Amazon with the Kindle? Sony also have been guilty of this with their propriatry music formats in the past.

And speaking as an EX Mac user - I moved back to windows just fine! So Apple didn't manage to "con" me into staying with the Mac. I made my own decision.

Gideon · 11-09-2009, 09:27 AM

Pretty much garbage.. some good points but that 'Mac tax" stuff is garbage. A comparable laptop to a comparable macbook doesn't have that huge a price difference and neither do their desktop models.

If you look at the "Pro" line things get MUCH more expensive but your average consumer products are only a bit more expensive for similar work and you have the added advantage of having what is generally very good, QUALITY hardware that lasts longer than your average PC and has Apple's tech support behind it.

You get what you pay for... there is indeed an Apple Tax, but since I switched a couple of years ago I couldn't be happier. My laptops are not 'locked in' - the only place I'm locked in is with the same crap I'm locked in anywhere I go - (used to be with music), video (everywhere that sells it), ebooks (anyplace that has a decent store/selection has some sort of DRM), and the app store (well, better than doing all my shopping at Handango... prices have been insanely reasonable this way.)

Yes these are drawbacks, but I think some people will be willing to take them. Especially given the present alternatives...

Apple is a bunch of control freaks, no doubt about it, but so is everyone else.

dmaul1114 · 11-09-2009, 11:27 AM

I'm more interested in the Apple tablet as with their marketing behind it stands to do well and popularize the tablet devices and then we'll get a deluge of them and I should be able to find one that fits my needs and budget.

mrscoach · 11-09-2009, 11:42 AM

I won't buy anything from Apple because of a bad experience with an iMac years ago. I literally threatened to reach through the phone to pull the tech's testicles back through if he didn't quit talking down to me and callling me "Honey". He wasn't the only one I talked to that treated me that way, and they all told me to do the same thing and call back. Guess what, when I called back they wanted me to do what I had just done. No amount of complaining that I had already done it FIVE times would persuade them that it would not cure the problem. I finally told them I would do it, but they would have to stay on the phone so I could tell them what I was doing and what part of the process I was at each minute. Since it was about a two and a half hour process they declined.

They even argued with the authorized Apple computer repairman that my computer did NOT have problems. He informed them that he was looking at the computer, and it had major problems, none of which I could have caused, unless I knew how to open up the machine and install THEIR crappy hardware. They even claimed to have never heard of any problems with my machine until the repairman read off a list of times I had called and who I had talked to. The records miraculously appeared on their screen at that point.

So, to all the apple fanatics, I hope you have a good life with your equipment, but never again for me. I had even been a big apple person myself until that point.

kindlekitten · 11-09-2009, 01:07 PM

bwahhahahahahaha!!!!!

thanks Mrs. Coach!

tomsem · 11-09-2009, 02:16 PM

My macbook pro has had a couple of failures, both just after 2 year applecare had expired: 1) the switch in the audio out port that is supposed to detect when something is plugged in fails to detect when nothing is plugged in. So the onboard speakers just 'chime' when it is turned on and remain silent after that. Apparently this is a common failure. 2) the graphics module went kablooey a few months ago, necessitating a system board replacement (fortunately they had previously acknowledged this defect & replaced it for free).

An iPod shuffle I had died after less than 2 years.

Meanwhile my 6 year old ThinkPad continues to function flawlessly.

I realize one can't extrapolate from this to say Apple hardware is inferior, however, I am skeptical that they build more reliable hardware than anyone else. If anything they are always pushing limits, cramming things into smaller boxes than anyone, and their laptops are famous for scorching one's lap. Sort of like a sports car, which gives great driving experience, but tends to have higher failure rate.

I'm not anti-mac by any means but I think their reputation is not always accurate in terms of hardware quality.

And at this point I'm more interested in Android or Windows7 tablets than something from Apple, because they are open platforms and will be less expensive it seems.

Hellmark · 11-09-2009, 02:30 PM

I have 2 iPods (3g Nano, and 4g iPod), both still work fine. My G4 Mini still works, just without RAM at the moment (had to borrow the RAM for something else, but will be returned shortly). My bluetooth keyboard still works like new. I've never had a problem with apple hardware quality.

And as far as getting locked in, I've really not had a problem with that. All my stuff on my mac and ipods, I use without a problem on my linux boxes, where you would think it wouldn't due to no official support.

delphidb96 · 11-09-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

Pretty much garbage.. some good points but that 'Mac tax" stuff is garbage. A comparable laptop to a comparable macbook doesn't have that huge a price difference and neither do their desktop models.

If you look at the "Pro" line things get MUCH more expensive but your average consumer products are only a bit more expensive for similar work and you have the added advantage of having what is generally very good, QUALITY hardware that lasts longer than your average PC and has Apple's tech support behind it.

You get what you pay for... there is indeed an Apple Tax, but since I switched a couple of years ago I couldn't be happier. My laptops are not 'locked in' - the only place I'm locked in is with the same crap I'm locked in anywhere I go - (used to be with music), video (everywhere that sells it), ebooks (anyplace that has a decent store/selection has some sort of DRM), and the app store (well, better than doing all my shopping at Handango... prices have been insanely reasonable this way.)

Yes these are drawbacks, but I think some people will be willing to take them. Especially given the present alternatives...

Apple is a bunch of control freaks, no doubt about it, but so is everyone else.

Yeah. Right. And those aren't the droids we're seeking, yes?

I have a Fry's right down the street from me. That's right, one of those we-sell-cheaper big-box stores and I can tell you that the 'consumer' *and* the 'pro' MacModels are far more expensive than equivalent Win/Lin models. The MacTax is alive and well. However, if one simply *must* have Mac compatibility, then unless one is willing to 'Hackintosh' a Dell Mini 9 or a Core2Duo/Core2Quad desktop system, buying all-Mac, all the time is the way to go, damn the expense. (Of course, having my second drive of my C2Q desktop with Snow Leopard installed and having a Dell Mini 9 running solely Snow Leopard, I'm quite happy with my 'hackintoshing'.

)

I will say this, if I had to *choose* between Linux and Mac, and money was no object, I'd go Mac every time. While I NEED Windows capability (and I'm in love with Win7), I find Snow Leopard is a joy to use on my Mini 9 and works much better than XP on it.

Derek

Hellmark · 11-09-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delphidb96

I have a Fry's right down the street from me. That's right, one of those we-sell-cheaper big-box stores and I can tell you that the 'consumer' *and* the 'pro' MacModels are far more expensive than equivalent Win/Lin models. The MacTax is alive and well.

Now, I don't find it really to be there. Apple just doesn't have a low end machine. When I've compared the specs on a Mac Pro, and a Dell with the same specs, they were within $50 of each other. Now, most people don't need all that extra oomph, and so are ok going with Intel integrated graphics, and things of that nature. For those people, Macs are too expensive, but so are a Dell, or HP, or <Insert brand here> of the same class.

Gideon · 11-09-2009, 07:05 PM

There was a story reported on Gizmodo showing the same thing with Macbooks compared to similar Windows 7 laptops (within a hundred bucks). And the new 27' in iMac is a VERY good deal.

It's not say you can't get a passable computer for cheap, much cheaper, than a Mac. But if we're going to be fair about the Apple Tax we have to compare it to similar hardware setups from other companies (as Hellmark pointed out.) And the 'pro' models are clearly insanely priced.

I switched a few years back and it was one of the best tech decisions I ever made. My computers all work great pretty much all the time, and with none of my time wasted keeping them up and 'dealing' with them (c.f. spending 3 days getting Windows 7 installed because of their botched download files and crappy DRM). I'm a bit of a power user and I can run my Mac's through the ringer and they never miss a beat.

Everyone's going to have their own issues.. but it is a lot like the iPhone, customer satisfaction with iPhone's and mac's are very, very high. And we're not all just delusional fanboys. The moment someone does it BETTER I'll bail in a heartbeat, but Windows isn't going in that direction and Linux still has a LONG way to go (mainly because the linux fanboy's can't seem to understand that not everyone WANTS to manually compile their sound drivers)

That being said.. if I was suddenly lost all my computers and had to get something cheap first I'd do a Hackintosh, and if that wasn't an option I'd do a linux machine. I like Win 7 okay but if I'm going to make a 'usability' compromise, I might as well go with open source.

One size doesn't fit all... Apple's aren't 'the best' - but having had a Windows Tablet and the experience I've had with my iPhone... I've a LOT more faith in them pulling something off than anyone else.

Hellmark · 11-09-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

There was a story reported on Gizmodo showing the same thing with Macbooks compared to similar Windows 7 laptops (within a hundred bucks). And the new 27' in iMac is a VERY good deal.

Got a link to that? Didn't have much luck finding that.

Gideon · 11-09-2009, 07:34 PM

http://gizmodo.com/5386155/apple-tax...suggest-its-so

and just a bit of searching comparing prices for the new 27' in imac will come up with a lot. Just getting a 27' monitor that nice is very expensive, but add a potent computer in the mix and it is VERY competitive.

Hellmark · 11-09-2009, 09:31 PM

Yeah, saw the iMac stuff. Apple never makes bad displays. If I had the money, I'd love one.

11-09-2009, 07:10 AM	#1
Connallmac Transplanted NYer Posts: 455 Karma: 520286 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eastern IN Device: Kindle Fire HD 8.9", Kindle Fire HD 7", Kindle Touch	Why An Apple Tablet May Not Be Such A Great Thing An interesting article on MSNBC.com by Dan Tynan of PC World analyzing Apple's marketing tactics. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33738833..._and_gadgets//

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11-09-2009, 07:54 AM	#2
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	Sounds familiar. A good collection of the kinds of reasons why I don't buy Apple.

11-09-2009, 09:12 AM	#3
poshm Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1003580 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cambs, UK Device: PocketBook 360, Sony Reader Touch, Ipod touch & Kindle 2	I will probably put myself under fire for this comment but ... I couldn't care less about Apple's marketing tactics, I only care about the end product. Let's face it that's business and Apple aren't the only company "guilty" of trying to lock customers into their own products. Er Amazon with the Kindle? Sony also have been guilty of this with their propriatry music formats in the past. And speaking as an EX Mac user - I moved back to windows just fine! So Apple didn't manage to "con" me into staying with the Mac. I made my own decision.

11-09-2009, 09:27 AM	#4
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Pretty much garbage.. some good points but that 'Mac tax" stuff is garbage. A comparable laptop to a comparable macbook doesn't have that huge a price difference and neither do their desktop models. If you look at the "Pro" line things get MUCH more expensive but your average consumer products are only a bit more expensive for similar work and you have the added advantage of having what is generally very good, QUALITY hardware that lasts longer than your average PC and has Apple's tech support behind it. You get what you pay for... there is indeed an Apple Tax, but since I switched a couple of years ago I couldn't be happier. My laptops are not 'locked in' - the only place I'm locked in is with the same crap I'm locked in anywhere I go - (used to be with music), video (everywhere that sells it), ebooks (anyplace that has a decent store/selection has some sort of DRM), and the app store (well, better than doing all my shopping at Handango... prices have been insanely reasonable this way.) Yes these are drawbacks, but I think some people will be willing to take them. Especially given the present alternatives... Apple is a bunch of control freaks, no doubt about it, but so is everyone else.

11-09-2009, 11:27 AM	#5
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I'm more interested in the Apple tablet as with their marketing behind it stands to do well and popularize the tablet devices and then we'll get a deluge of them and I should be able to find one that fits my needs and budget.

11-09-2009, 11:42 AM	#6
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	I won't buy anything from Apple because of a bad experience with an iMac years ago. I literally threatened to reach through the phone to pull the tech's testicles back through if he didn't quit talking down to me and callling me "Honey". He wasn't the only one I talked to that treated me that way, and they all told me to do the same thing and call back. Guess what, when I called back they wanted me to do what I had just done. No amount of complaining that I had already done it FIVE times would persuade them that it would not cure the problem. I finally told them I would do it, but they would have to stay on the phone so I could tell them what I was doing and what part of the process I was at each minute. Since it was about a two and a half hour process they declined. They even argued with the authorized Apple computer repairman that my computer did NOT have problems. He informed them that he was looking at the computer, and it had major problems, none of which I could have caused, unless I knew how to open up the machine and install THEIR crappy hardware. They even claimed to have never heard of any problems with my machine until the repairman read off a list of times I had called and who I had talked to. The records miraculously appeared on their screen at that point. So, to all the apple fanatics, I hope you have a good life with your equipment, but never again for me. I had even been a big apple person myself until that point.

11-09-2009, 01:07 PM	#7
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	bwahhahahahahaha!!!!! thanks Mrs. Coach!

11-09-2009, 02:16 PM	#8
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,905 Karma: 27013865 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	My macbook pro has had a couple of failures, both just after 2 year applecare had expired: 1) the switch in the audio out port that is supposed to detect when something is plugged in fails to detect when nothing is plugged in. So the onboard speakers just 'chime' when it is turned on and remain silent after that. Apparently this is a common failure. 2) the graphics module went kablooey a few months ago, necessitating a system board replacement (fortunately they had previously acknowledged this defect & replaced it for free). An iPod shuffle I had died after less than 2 years. Meanwhile my 6 year old ThinkPad continues to function flawlessly. I realize one can't extrapolate from this to say Apple hardware is inferior, however, I am skeptical that they build more reliable hardware than anyone else. If anything they are always pushing limits, cramming things into smaller boxes than anyone, and their laptops are famous for scorching one's lap. Sort of like a sports car, which gives great driving experience, but tends to have higher failure rate. I'm not anti-mac by any means but I think their reputation is not always accurate in terms of hardware quality. And at this point I'm more interested in Android or Windows7 tablets than something from Apple, because they are open platforms and will be less expensive it seems.

11-09-2009, 02:30 PM	#9
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	I have 2 iPods (3g Nano, and 4g iPod), both still work fine. My G4 Mini still works, just without RAM at the moment (had to borrow the RAM for something else, but will be returned shortly). My bluetooth keyboard still works like new. I've never had a problem with apple hardware quality. And as far as getting locked in, I've really not had a problem with that. All my stuff on my mac and ipods, I use without a problem on my linux boxes, where you would think it wouldn't due to no official support.

11-09-2009, 07:05 PM	#12
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	There was a story reported on Gizmodo showing the same thing with Macbooks compared to similar Windows 7 laptops (within a hundred bucks). And the new 27' in iMac is a VERY good deal. It's not say you can't get a passable computer for cheap, much cheaper, than a Mac. But if we're going to be fair about the Apple Tax we have to compare it to similar hardware setups from other companies (as Hellmark pointed out.) And the 'pro' models are clearly insanely priced. I switched a few years back and it was one of the best tech decisions I ever made. My computers all work great pretty much all the time, and with none of my time wasted keeping them up and 'dealing' with them (c.f. spending 3 days getting Windows 7 installed because of their botched download files and crappy DRM). I'm a bit of a power user and I can run my Mac's through the ringer and they never miss a beat. Everyone's going to have their own issues.. but it is a lot like the iPhone, customer satisfaction with iPhone's and mac's are very, very high. And we're not all just delusional fanboys. The moment someone does it BETTER I'll bail in a heartbeat, but Windows isn't going in that direction and Linux still has a LONG way to go (mainly because the linux fanboy's can't seem to understand that not everyone WANTS to manually compile their sound drivers) That being said.. if I was suddenly lost all my computers and had to get something cheap first I'd do a Hackintosh, and if that wasn't an option I'd do a linux machine. I like Win 7 okay but if I'm going to make a 'usability' compromise, I might as well go with open source. One size doesn't fit all... Apple's aren't 'the best' - but having had a Windows Tablet and the experience I've had with my iPhone... I've a LOT more faith in them pulling something off than anyone else.

11-09-2009, 07:34 PM	#14
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	http://gizmodo.com/5386155/apple-tax...suggest-its-so and just a bit of searching comparing prices for the new 27' in imac will come up with a lot. Just getting a 27' monitor that nice is very expensive, but add a potent computer in the mix and it is VERY competitive.

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11-09-2009, 09:31 PM	#15
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	Yeah, saw the iMac stuff. Apple never makes bad displays. If I had the money, I'd love one.