This week I took a trip to the nearest Apple Store. I used to go there often but now it’s an every few months thing. Nobody goes to the Apple Store anymore. It’s too crowded and it takes too long to find someone who really knows about Apple’s products.
Oh, and speaking of Apple products, if I bumped into Tim Cook today I would have a list of Apple’s wares that I would not buy that is longer than the list of items I would buy. Yes, it’s been that long since Apple cleaned up the product line and emptied the pipeline that’s been holding products for years that never see the light of day.
Here’s what I bought, what I would buy, and what I won’t buy from Apple.
No Mac For You
With apologies to the famous Soup Nazi, there are plenty of Apple products that need a refresh. But there are plenty I already own, so those won’t count.
Macs – ‘No Mac for you, Jack.’ That’s because I blew my bonus on the new MacBook Pro and I love it. Yes, I wish it had a replaceable battery, replaceable and upgradeable RAM, but it’s smaller, lighter, and faster than the model it replaced.
But Apple, that’s it. The MacBook hasn’t kept up with hardware from Dell and others, and those pretty colors tell me Apple is more about fashion than hardware specifications. What’s wrong with the Mac mini cottage industry that Apple can’t put out a quad-core CPU option? Or, just keep the price competitive? When did this thing last get upgrade? It was the Bush administration, right?
Worse, both iMac and Mac Pro are sorely in need of upgrades to newer CPUs from Intel, newer ports– I’m thinking USB-C and Thunderbolt 3– so there is no way I can recommend to anyone to buy an iMac or Mac Pro until Apple realizes that selling a nearly four-year-old device as new is just wrong. It’s just as wrong to sell the MacBook Air even if it’s priced only twice as high as a Dell notebook with a touchscreen. These are not new devices and should not be priced as such.
iPhones – No complaints here. I have an iPhone 7 Plus and picked up iPhone 7s for my parents. We’re good to go. Nobody in the family misses the headphone jack. Boy, that was much ado about not much.
Watch – My original was replaced with the Nike version of Watch Series 2 and it’s no wonder Apple owns the smartwatch segment. It just works. Now. Battery life runs closer to two days and charging to 100-percent takes just a couple of hours. It took months of pruning, but I’ve finally figured out how to mix and match watchfaces with Complications, apps, notifications, and alerts, and all is well. I’ll upgrade again when Watch goes standalone and isn’t tethered to an iPhone.
But why would anyone buy the original Watch Series 0? Apple sells it for less, but it’s not new.
iPads – Alright, we’re back to where the only recommendation for an iPad I could make these days is iPad Pro and only if someone absolutely, positively must have one today. Otherwise, Apple is selling a device that is ancient by technology upgrade cycles. iPad Air 2. iPad mini 2? How can Apple sell these as new devices? They are not. Supposedly, 2017 is the year of the iPad upgrade but it better be a good one.
Dear Apple, if I were in the market for any of these I would not buy them because they’re not new. Mac Pro, Mac mini, iMac, iPad Air 2, and any iPad mini. You should be ashamed of your hubris for selling them as new devices.
That said, the new AirPods are absolutely cool and typical Apple.
BDK says
Who can tell me what’s wrong with this statement?
cal worthington says
Nothing. It comes from Yogi Berra.
Basically, it means a place has become sufficiently popular among the average people that the cool people don’t go there as much. That fits the Apple Stores.
Jack Palmer says
Which is it?
Tracy says
See the link in the comment by cal worthington above.
Sign.
Kevin says
MBP – I waited patiently for the 2016 release only to be extremely disappointed. I’m keeping my Late 2010 MBP until releases a MBP that I find acceptable. Apple may have to rid it self of Tim Cook before that happens.
iPhone – Several years ago I gave my iPhone 5 to a friend and I have not replaced it, in fact I no longer own a cell phone. However, I do enjoy my iPod Touch 6th Generation.
Watch – No Thank you, I own 8 Swiss watches that I enjoy.
iPad – Always thought about buying but never could justify the cost for a gadget used for surfing the internet & emailing.
SteveS says
Kevin, maybe tech equipment just isn’t for you.
Rasmus says
Apple does not sell Watch “Series 0”. The very first version of Apple Watch is dead and not sold by Apple.
Apple introduced two new watches in September. Watch Series 1 (which is not discounted Series 0 as many people assume and Watch Series 2.
Series 1 has the same new processor, its splash resistant and lacks GPS, Series 2 has a new processor, GPS, its water resistant and has a brighter screen.
Carlton says
Watch Series ‘0’ is used as an insult, which is what Watch Series 1 is. An insult. It’s much the same as the original, minus all the improvements in Watch Series 2.
Watch Series 1 more closely mimics the original, so the term is used to point out Apple’s arrogance of selling old technology and passing it off as new.