Apple removing links to Consumer Reports study from forums

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Apple is still O.K as far as their desktop hardware (except for being too cheap to include cables so that your brand new Apple monitor can work with your six months old Mac Book Pro).

But the iOS environment is right out of 1984.

As far it being Ferrari, the iPhone and the iPad are probably a bit more reliable, but require you to use only Apple gas, from Apple stations, and Apple can remotely kill your engine, if you dare to add an aftermarket stereo.

Oh, and your car refuses to drive on any streets starting with the letter "F".

(I used to know a guy who worked for Amoco, now BP. He told me to use Amoco regular, but every 5th tank, use premium. Been doing it for 25 years & never had engine problems.)

I think that Apple users tend to view their devices from a different perspective than non-Apple users. Basically, we are buying an ecosystem. The same is true, I think for Kindle users. So what you see as an intolerable restriction on a device, we see as an essential feature of a system. You think I have an iPad, an iPhone and an iMac. I think I have a computer which can be accessed at different locations using different stations.

I plan to graft a K3 to my system. It will fill a niche that Apple has yet to address.

And you should be aware that if I want to drive down F street, I just use the iMac station.

[corona]

Originally Posted by Harmon

Basically, we [Apple customers] are buying an ecosystem...

An "ecosystem"? Oy vey. Maybe that's what sets Apples and PCs apart. My nice high-end, pimped-out Lenovo Thinkpad here -- it's just a machine

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by corona

An "ecosystem"? Oy vey. Maybe that's what sets Apples and PCs apart. My nice high-end, pimped-out Lenovo Thinkpad here -- it's just a machine

I've owned a string of ThinkPads and IdeaPads, too. Nice machines. And yes, they lack an ecosystem, or whatever you call the structure that allows you to conveniently buy content. You might not see the value of that. Shrug. That's why it's great that we all get to vote with our money.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by corona

An "ecosystem"? Oy vey. Maybe that's what sets Apples and PCs apart. My nice high-end, pimped-out Lenovo Thinkpad here -- it's just a machine

But you had to pimp it out yourself. Fine if you enjoy that. Some people like customizing their rides. Others don't.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I've owned a string of ThinkPads and IdeaPads, too. Nice machines. And yes, they lack an ecosystem, or whatever you call the structure that allows you to conveniently buy content. You might not see the value of that. Shrug. That's why it's great that we all get to vote with our money.

And it's not just "buy" content. It's access content - and without having to spend time making all the parts play well together.

Vote with our money - you nailed it.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by Harmon

And it's not just "buy" content. It's access content - and without having to spend time making all the parts play well together.

Vote with our money - you nailed it.

Yup. I'm tech-feeble, and iPad has allowed me to easily access books from plenty of sites, all via free apps. I don't buy iBooks, because they're tethered to iDevices. I figure iPad is the best available tablet now, and I'll see what else emerges later and upgrade. Amazon gets my book money now, because it offers apps for many devices. If another company offers me better hardware or access to books, I'll take my money there. I have zero loyalty to companies.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Maggie Leung

I don't buy iBooks, because they're tethered to iDevices. <snip> I have zero loyalty to companies.

I don't mind buying tethered ebooks if they are books I want to read but not keep. The issue for me is convenience, & that is a variable. I tend to read on my iPhone when I'm out & about. But sometimes I buy the ultimate tethered book - a pbook! Usually that's a book I plan to keep, but more often it's just one which is measurably cheaper than, or not available as, an ebook.

I am loyal to companies that treat me fairly. But that could be described as simply a rational economic calculation.