What's so fantastic about Apple?

[Darat]

Way to address the argument. From a mod, no less.

It addresses what the opening post asked...

 

[Babbylonian]

Personally I think this gets right to the heart of the question raised in the opening post, Apple has had about a decade of outstanding marketing and some good, some excellent and some not-so-good products to go with that but it is their marketing that has been consistently fantastic.

What I think is fantastic is their transition into a consumer electronics (particularly portable) company instead of a dedicated PC manufacturer. They managed to make a hit out of the iPod and had the smarts to extend that through their subsequent portable devices. Only a relatively small number of consumers care about the style of the computers sitting on their desks but a very large percentage of consumers care about the style of what they carry around every day.

Add in the creation of a good portable operating system and their ability to stay ahead of the portable technology curve (aided by their closed devices - the wide variety of Android devices is both an advantage and a flaw), and you've got the extreme financial success Apple has enjoyed this century.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

It addresses what the opening post asked...

If you say so.

How about you also address this post ?

Or this one ?

Or this one?

Unfortunately for some folk in this thread just not declaring everything that Apple ever has or ever will do is fantastic is taken as some form of heresy - Apple does everything perfectly don't you know!

It amuses me to discuss something like apple vs microsoft more so than liberal vs conservative or (fill in the blank).

I enjoy a discussion, even a heated discussion, where people are willing to defend their opinions, not just fall back on pedantry and ignoring posts.

If you think I am one of those who take it that seriously or that I think criticizing apple is some form of heresy, then you've come to a mistaken conclusion.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

Again, most Android phones/tablets have options for memory expansion. Apple doesn't do that, at least partially to ensure that when people want more memory they have to buy a new/better Apple device.

And you know this...how?

 

[Babbylonian]

And you know this...how?

Because that's one of the logical reasons not to offer a MicroSD (or whatever format is desired) slot. Another is to close off a potential hacking route. Yet another is to save space on motherboard (this one shouldn't apply given how tiny the necessary components have become). Still yet another would be to prevent trading of content. I'm getting tired now, but yet still yet another is to avoid paying any licensing fees associated with using the applicable flash memory format.

Since I accept as a given that Apple is charging a premium (small or large - unknown without having access to the details of Apple's memory purchases) for the installed "extra" memory, and since making money is the name of any corporation's game, I believe that the primary factor is the desire to sell their products with more memory installed. It also has the advantage that if someone buys, say, the 16GB version and loves it but wants more space, they'll try to sell their current version and buy another. If there was a memory card slot, they could spend less than $20 on a 16GB MicroSDHC card to double their storage or less than $40 to triple it.

ETA: It's easy to find evidence that Apple is charging premiums for extra memory by just looking at their pricing structure. Going from 16GB to 32GB is $100 extra, as is going from 32GB to 64GB. That's the same price for two different amounts of memory - 16GB and 32GB.

 

[Stray Cat]

Of course some of it is just ribbing and a bit of fun but it really doesn't seem that way for some folks, to them it is deadly serious - it's a "How dare you say my mother is not the best mum in the world!!!!". I find it a fascinating phenomena. And (another) of course it isn't just in regards to Apple you see this type of behaviour but this thread is about Apple.

This I have to disagree with.
The vast majority (if not all) of the humour in this thread has come from the Apple Users... On the whole, Apple users have a fantastic sense of humour as well as fantastic products from a fantastic company... and they're fantastically modest too.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

Because that's one of the logical reasons not to offer a MicroSD (or whatever format is desired) slot. Another is to close off a potential hacking route. Yet another is to save space on motherboard (this one shouldn't apply given how tiny the necessary components have become). Still yet another would be to prevent trading of content.

Got it - you're just speculating as to possible reasons for Apple's decisions. Before you sure made it sound quite a bit more authoritative.

I'm getting tired now, but yet still yet another is...

I'm not surprised! Speculation on that level must be hard work!

 

[Babbylonian]

Got it - you're just speculating as to possible reasons for Apple's decisions. Before you sure made it sound quite a bit more authoritative.

I'm not surprised! Speculation on that level must be hard work!

If you have a better reason, or better yet Apple's official reason (of which I would obviously reserve the right to be skeptical), please reveal it. I've looked but can't find an official statement on the issue.

If I made it seem like I was speaking from some special knowledge, then I apologize.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

If you have a better reason, or better yet Apple's official reason (of which I would obviously reserve the right to be skeptical), please reveal it. I've looked but can't find an official statement on the issue.

If I made it seem like I was speaking from some special knowledge, then I apologize.

This article Why Google wants to kill SD cards, and what's holding them back has some insight into what is bad about sd card slots.

Here is some info about how MS has an approved list of sd cards for WP7. (ETA: I think that would be a very un-apple like thing to do)

I would also throw out there that apple has probably done some studies about how consumers actually use and perceive SD cards. I believe that number of users who buy (any/large) sd cards for their smartphone or tablets to be a rather small percentage. Although I admit this paragraph is conjecture on my part.

I think its some combination of the reasons you put forth, maybe some of the things referenced above, maybe a dash of steve jobs craziness thrown in the mix too. So yeah, I wouldn't doubt it's *partially* about profit. But then again, that may just be a side effect and not the major reason.

 

[Fast Eddie B]

I would also throw out there that apple has probably done some studies about how consumers actually use and perceive SD cards. I believe that number of users who buy (any/large) sd cards for their smartphone or tablets to be a rather small percentage. Although I admit this paragraph is conjecture on my part.

I think I mentioned I bought the Apple "Camera Connection Kit" which allows SD card use with both my iPhone and iPad. Thought it would be handy.

It sits in a drawer.

Admittedly, part of the issue is somewhat poor and inflexible implementation on how it can be used. But there are also very easy ways to get stuff into and out of the devices without messing with hardware. I suspect that the average iDevice owner just wants to keep it simple, whether it's a child or an octogenarian.

 

[Babbylonian]

This article Why Google wants to kill SD cards, and what's holding them back has some insight into what is bad about sd card slots.

That's an interesting article but in large part it's about the limitations of the OS rather than the limitations of SD cards. For example, the fact that apps can't load automatically from an SD card is absolutely the fault of the OS (SD cards aren't even mounted until the OS and background processes have fully loaded). The assertion that the cloud is a substitute isn't terribly convincing either. While streaming or re-downloading is great when you're on a solid, free WiFi connection, it's a [potentially expensive] burden when you're using a 3G/4G connection and it's not an option at all if you're using a WiFi device while away from a hotspot.

Finally, a big part of Google's problem with manufacturers is that they wanted everyone to jump into Android early, before they were ready to roll out high-quality products and, even now, manufacturers are installing Android on low-end products. Goole's low system requirements were great for market share but I think the end result is that early Android products made consumers wary of the OS.

I bought a Samsung Moment at the wrong time and it turned out to be a dud; only a quarter of the way through my contract Google had rolled out 2 new versions of Android (with a subsequent delay by Samsung in making them available for my phone) and when 2.2/Froyo was released using new apps was virtually out of the question for me since I was never going to have that OS without hacking, and it would have run poorly on my hardware. I still liked Android well enough to get a Nook Color specifically to install a custom version on it for a cheap tablet, but I was also skittish enough that when my Sprint contract was up I moved back to a pay-as-you-go feature phone instead of either continuing to pay for use of the Moment or buying a new smartphone.

This has all been a bit off topic but it does show that the closed systems of Apple can provide measurable advantages...though I would hesitate use the word "fantastic" in this connection.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

That's an interesting article but in large part it's about the limitations of the OS rather than the limitations of SD cards.

Understood - the point being that by not having a sd slot, iOS *never* had to make the same design choices or deal with that type of problem.

I still liked Android well enough to get a Nook Color specifically to install a custom version on it for a cheap tablet,

BTDT - I eventually got rid of the nook. Currently running cm9 on my touchpad

This has all been a bit off topic but it does show that the closed systems of Apple can provide measurable advantages...though I would hesitate use the word "fantastic" in this connection.

For the average user, it probably is fantastic.

 

[kajata]

I think I mentioned I bought the Apple "Camera Connection Kit" which allows SD card use with both my iPhone and iPad. Thought it would be handy.

It sits in a drawer.

Admittedly, part of the issue is somewhat poor and inflexible implementation on how it can be used. But there are also very easy ways to get stuff into and out of the devices without messing with hardware. I suspect that the average iDevice owner just wants to keep it simple, whether it's a child or an octogenarian.

On a related note:I just bought a knock-off camera connection kit from Amazon for five bucks. Used it for the first time yesterday to import pics from my SLR. Worked well plus it has a USB on the same unit instead of two separate ones.

 

[This is The End]

Uhm I don't think little kids in china are doing the transcription

You don't sound completely sure!

Here's more stuff for TheL8Elvis to frame our perception on :

Gripes about new iPad: The list goes on

So you have one of the 3 million-plus new iPads sold over the last week. What’s not to love about it? We've got a running list:

<snip>

The hot-selling device can reach up to 116 degrees during intensive use, according to a test by the Consumer Reports.

<snip>

Tests from warranty seller SquareTrade showed that the new iPad suffered greater damage than iPad 2 when dropped from waist and shoulder heights.

<snip>
PCWorld tested 43 tablets and found that the third-gen iPad takes the longest -- almost six hours -- to fully recharge its battery.

<snip>

A number of customers have been complaining on the Apple Support page about weaker Wi-Fi connection, as Gizmodo pointed out. This has some wondering whether it's another Antennagate.

New iPad Slow to Recharge, Barely Charges During Use

To conduct these tests with the new iPad, I waited until the tablet had dropped to 3 percent battery life before plugging it in to begin charging. I then used it, plugged in, for at least five consecutive hours, with Wi-Fi on but the Verizon LTE disabled.

Surprisingly, the new iPad's battery percentage indicator showed no increase in charge during those hours of use. Some of the reports I've seen online indicate that the battery fails to charge only when performing processor-intensive tasks such as displaying videos and running games, but I found that the problem persisted across a wide range of activities.

 

[kajata]

You don't sound completely sure!

Here's more stuff for TheL8Elvis to frame our perception on :

Gripes about new iPad: The list goes on




New iPad Slow to Recharge, Barely Charges During Use

Well, hopefully I don't drop it from shoulder height!

Also, the battery is huge (like twice as big as before) so yes, it takes a while to charge.

I've had mine since launch day. So far I havent had any wifi problems. It does run warm but not a big deal. But have just been reading and surfing with it for the most part. I'm sure with certain games it'd run quite hotter.

 

[TheL8Elvis]

You don't sound completely sure!

Here's more stuff for TheL8Elvis to frame our perception on :

That's an interesting way to frame the discussion. I approve

Gripes about new iPad: The list goes on
Quote:
So you have one of the 3 million-plus new iPads sold over the last week. What’s not to love about it? We've got a running list:
<snip>
The hot-selling device can reach up to 116 degrees during intensive use, according to a test by the Consumer Reports.

But how hot is 116 degrees?

"During our tests, I held the new iPad in my hands. When it was at its hottest, it felt very warm but not especially uncomfortable if held for a brief period,"

<snip>
Tests from warranty seller SquareTrade showed that the new iPad suffered greater damage than iPad 2 when dropped from waist and shoulder heights.

I got nothing for this. Don't drop it ?

<snip>
PCWorld tested 43 tablets and found that the third-gen iPad takes the longest -- almost six hours -- to fully recharge its battery.

It probably has the largest battery by far of those tablets, I would surmise.
Anyway - is that really a legit complaint ? "High power consumption by a beautiful screen and screamingly fast LTE radio come at a slight cost of a bot of additional charging time on the beefy battery."

<snip>
A number of customers have been complaining on the Apple Support page about weaker Wi-Fi connection, as Gizmodo pointed out. This has some wondering whether it's another Antennagate.

I'm sure it does. Then again, apple has the pickiest damn user base, and they find flaws with everything. I'll wait until there is something more than complaints on apple support, and reports from someone other than gizmodo.

New iPad Slow to Recharge, Barely Charges During Use
To conduct these tests with the new iPad, I waited until the tablet had dropped to 3 percent battery life before plugging it in to begin charging. I then used it, plugged in, for at least five consecutive hours, with Wi-Fi on but the Verizon LTE disabled.

Surprisingly, the new iPad's battery percentage indicator showed no increase in charge during those hours of use. Some of the reports I've seen online indicate that the battery fails to charge only when performing processor-intensive tasks such as displaying videos and running games, but I found that the problem persisted across a wide range of activities.

Granted, the new iPad has a larger battery--41 percent bigger than the one in the iPad 2, with the largest mAh (milliampere-hour) rating of any tablet we've tested

IDK, sounds like it just goes with the territory of a really large battery and driving 4x more pixels, etc.

You forgot to mention the 1.6 oz of extra weight.

Seriously, if all that is the tradeoff for having a tablet with 4x the resolution, lte, etc, all for the same price as the original ipad 2 years ago, it sounds fair to me.

 

[Darat]

What I think is fantastic is their transition into a consumer electronics (particularly portable) company instead of a dedicated PC manufacturer. ...snip...

Good point.

 

[Brian-M]

But how hot is 116 degrees?

Dangerously hot, hot enough to cause burns, hotter than boiling water... oh, wait... American degrees. In that case, uncomfortably warm, no danger of burns, barely hot at all.

 

[megaresp]

Dangerously hot, hot enough to cause burns, hotter than boiling water... oh, wait... American degrees. In that case, uncomfortably warm, no danger of burns, barely hot at all.

Yeah, it will be those weak-ass American degrees.

It certainly won't be hot enough to fry an egg on the screen using the residue grease from your own fingers. And if it can't do that I'm simply not interested

 

[Brian-M]

It certainly won't be hot enough to fry an egg on the screen using the residue grease from your own fingers. And if it can't do that I'm simply not interested

Don't worry, the iWok has an app for that.