Are Apple products overrated?

[sweep_shot]

I always considered Apple products as highly overrated and overpriced. I have never used a single Apple product in my whole life.

Does anyone here think their products are overrated?

 

[finalfantasy7]

I'm with you - never ever bought thr products - way overrated

just type in apple wheels - 4 steel wheels for around £700

and now they have just released a lightning cable-usb/c - which connects to any usb/c ports in any device - including non apple devices - this costs around £120.

They are a joke of a company

 

[PetroDollars]

No, they are of the highest quality available.

wheter thats software, hardware or even casing, nothing comes close to Apple in terms of quality,

Since i moved from dell/HP/toshiba, to Macbook, the difference has been zameen to aasman,

The case is soo strong, its the longest ive had a laptop, and its the only one which has'nt got a crack anywhere, others break easily.

Never have i had to do a virus scan or a reformat, the runs fast and smooth just as the first day, windows is brittle compared to this, with constant breakdowns.

Yes the price is higher, but its worth it and save you in the long run as apple products outlast others that need replacing much sooner.

I always though it was hyped to, till i changed over, now theres no looking back, in quality nothing comes close.

 

[Abdullah719]

They’re not for everyone, but they have their place in the ecosystem.

 

[JaDed]

Thats what i thought for the longest time but they are excellent with high efficiency and availability esp Iphones, atleast Dell XpS gives good competition to Mac and at some features is better but no Android phone is actually better than Iphone.. nearest for me was Nexus.


But yeah the new Mac desktop is avoidable, just wait for the AMD one next year.

The one place where Android phones might be better is privacy(not security), I think Iphones are more secure but have my doubts w.r.t Iphones esp due to Siri.

I have seen most Apple skeptics (incl myself) are ones that have not used Apple products..

 

[Mamoon]

Apple products are pristine quality. If you have the money and are not a tech geek, you have to be bonkers to use Android or Windows.

There is virtually no comparison.

 

[JaDed]

Apple products are pristine quality. If you have the money and are not a tech geek, you have to be bonkers to use Android or Windows.

There is virtually no comparison.

Tech Geeks in USA a lot of em have Apple products (and Android too) its a myth that they don’t use Apple products...

 

[PetroDollars]

Tech Geeks in USA a lot of em have Apple products its a myth that they don’t use Apple products...

Anyone who knows a thing or 2 about tech will choose Apple, those who dont, usually do for financial reasons, but like i pointed out above, you save more in the long run with apple as they outlast anything else by many years.

 

[Itachi]

If you want control over your device, go for non apple. You can control each and every aspect. But it comes with a price. If you don't know what you are doing, you will be disappointed at the performance.

Apple restricts you from above. Hence, you get an uniform experience. But it comes at the cost of controlling your own device along with customization to the core.

In short, depends what type of person you are.

If you are in to lazy type, Apple will suit you better.

If you are the type who wants control over your device, then go for non apple.

 

[Itachi]

Tech Geeks in USA a lot of em have Apple products (and Android too) its a myth that they don’t use Apple products...

They use Apple products in presentations (not in production, goto stack exchange sites and check) because the uniform isolation that Apple provides.

The same blessings and curse at the same for non apple products.

 

[Justcrazy]

It has brand value , if people are buying them , they can have price whatever they want

 

[JaDed]

They use Apple products in presentations (not in production, goto stack exchange sites and check) because the uniform isolation that Apple provides.

The same blessings and curse at the same for non apple products.

Er you are looking at those sites with a bias.. a lot of them use both..

 

[someone21]

The ease where they basically doubled the price of iPhones 8 to X etc. It's heavy marketing and that's makes it overrated. There is a dedicated fan base who will buy anything with apple logo.

Remember the 999$ monitor stand?

 

[Itachi]

Er you are looking at those sites with a bias.. a lot of them use both..

I am talking about stack exchange. their metrices are public.

 

[JaDed]

I am talking about stack exchange. their metrices are public.

Fair enough

 

[Syed1]

I'm in the engineering/software field so using an Apple computer is out of the question because alot of the design software aren't even available for MACs. Other than whenever I have used a Mac I have always felt like a monkey infront of a piano. Really not used to the interface. Windows interface comes naturally to me. For software dev, use Linux. Nothing comes close.


As for phones, iPhone is indeed a high quality product that is easy to use and that is why it is so popular. However, I do not find it "smart" enough because all the user controls are locked and you cannot enhance functionality as you deem fit. It used to have the best camera in the industry but that is old news now. The Google Pixel has it beat in that department. In fact if you ask me the Google Pixel is the best phone out there.

 

[Hitman]

I have an iPhone Xs Max, an Apple Watch Series 5 Cellular, a Macbook Air 2020 and an Apple TV HD box. I love all of my Apple products, and they are all quality.

The only thing that bothers me is the import tax that I have to pay over the original price of the products in India.

 

[Itachi]

I have an iPhone Xs Max, an Apple Watch Series 5 Cellular, a Macbook Air 2020 and an Apple TV HD box. I love all of my Apple products, and they are all quality.

The only thing that bothers me is the import tax that I have to pay over the original price of the products in India.

90k for a i3 processor? Are you kidding me?

 

[andy0204]

Personally I prefer stock android on my phone.

 

[Hitman]

90k for a i3 processor? Are you kidding me?

87k after HDFC card discount.

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

How can you consider something overrated without using? Mind-blowing.

Beauty of Apple products is that they just work and last long due to premium build quality and software support. Apple Ecosystem is best. If you have privacy concerns, Apple is the only option.

Apple is expensive and not meant for developing countries.

I love Windows and Android, reason I was able to afford tech gadgets and become an enthusiast. But once you start earning, can afford Apple then you should not feel guilty or develop hatred towards Apple products.

I have Microsoft Surface devices and Apple products, I have used Google Pixel series phone before and use an iPhone 11 Pro Max now.

I love my iPad Pro most out of all devices I own.

 

[prakash]

They are worth the price. The quality is unmatched. Since I moved away from windows 8 years ago, I have never turned back. We have 3 MacBooks (not personal) and 1 iMac in my family of 5. None of them crashed or hung even once. The BSOD is a thing of past which only the Windows users enjoy.

I agree it is pricey and in India it costs a fortune. But in US, it is affordable. iPhone is expensive but you do not have to replace it for 5/6 years unlike the poor quality Android phones that flood Indian markets. Once you move to Apple ecosystem, everything becomes easy. I am not an Apple fan boy and never buy the latest model. Apple products are huge in US but I do not know how popular they are in other countries. Air Pods, Apple TV, iPads all work really well.
Like someone mentioned, Apple severely restricts you from tinkering with its devices by adopting unibody design.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

Depends what you look for imo.

If its image, some neat features and a good if not long lasting performance, sure (Apple phones notorious for slowdown and hell, wasnt it proven Apple intentionally do this to encourage new sales?)

If your interest is in functionality, reliability and value, absolutely not.

I got a brand new phone for 220 euro 15 months ago. Owned a second hand HTC for about three years prior to that. Have never had a single issue with either, aside from 1-2 minor issues which were easilt and cheaply fixed. My new one has a battery that easily lasts a day, decent storage, OK camera and is reliable and does everything I want. Has survived 1-2 drops no problem. Not even a single performance complaint from me.

Everyone I know with the Apple variant costing a minimum of three times as much either has

1) battery thats already worn and crap
2) replaced it as it shattered on a single drop
3) some performance problems.

I dont give a damn about online debates people are more than entitled to their choices, and my example is obviously a small sample, but imo if your interest lies beyone 1-2 cutting edge features you likely wont need and image, Apple products are borderline theft.

Got a Lenovo laptop for 400 a year ago too, brand new, works an absolute charm. Meanwhile people who use laptops less than I do fork out a grand plus on a Macbook with admittedly impressive specs but, I'll never understand the appeal considering the price. But thats fine, I dont have to. Free market, free choice. Apple is most certainly not mine, and I doubt I ever will unless I win one free or something.

 

[Itachi]

The issue,

Apple fan Boys will always compare MacBook with a laptop installed with windows.... Talks about crash, BSOD etc.

But that comes with the Apple environment. You lose the ability to think out of the box. They fail to remember that laptop has other options excluding windows.

Remove that windows crap from the laptop and use Ubuntu. Then tell me if it crashes or BSOD appears.

 

[MP2011]

How can you consider something overrated without using? Mind-blowing.

Beauty of Apple products is that they just work and last long due to premium build quality and software support. Apple Ecosystem is best. If you have privacy concerns, Apple is the only option.

Apple is expensive and not meant for developing countries.

I love Windows and Android, reason I was able to afford tech gadgets and become an enthusiast. But once you start earning, can afford Apple then you should not feel guilty or develop hatred towards Apple products.

I have Microsoft Surface devices and Apple products, I have used Google Pixel series phone before and use an iPhone 11 Pro Max now.

I love my iPad Pro most out of all devices I own.

This! Well said.

I'm using an iPhone 6 (I know it's an old model, but it's still working like a charm), iPad Pro, Apple watch & MacBook Pro. None of them has given my any issues whatsoever despite being used really heavily especially by my kids.

I've also been using Android phones along with and I've to replace them every 3 years, no matter what.

Thing with Apple products is that you invest once in them and forget about replacing them for at least 5-6 years, if not more. Not only is their functionality far superior than its rivals but the material they are made up of, is far more sturdier, giving you value for money.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Thing with Apple products is that you invest once in them and forget about replacing them for at least 5-6 years, if not more. Not only is their functionality far superior than its rivals but the material they are made up of, is far more sturdier, giving you value for money.

Lie. Your phone cannot have the latest iOS available and many apps will not run on your ancient junk. You cannot even sell it now. Should sell in 2 years or gift away but upgrade to a new phone.

 

[sweep_shot]

Lie. Your phone cannot have the latest iOS available and many apps will not run on your ancient junk. You cannot even sell it now. Should sell in 2 years or gift away but upgrade to a new phone.

This.

I am a simple man. I just need to talk and text. I need a few more apps. Android does the job.

For OS, I don't take Mac seriously. I need control over my device. I like Windows or even Linux.

 

[Itachi]

This.

I am a simple man. I just need to talk and text. I need a few more apps. Android does the job.

For OS, I don't take Mac seriously. I need control over my device. I like Windows or even Linux.

Rephrase it.

Say it once more.

I love Linux.... I can even tolerate windows!

But never Mac.

 

[sweep_shot]

Rephrase it.

Say it once more.

I love Linux.... I can even tolerate windows!

But never Mac.

Haha! Yeah, man.

It is not about money. Apple products aren't that expensive in Canada and I can afford it. But, I just don't want to throw away my money. I am a financially conservative man.

I am a computer programming graduate. In my college, 9 out of 10 students were using Windows. My college taught me Windows administration and Linux administration (never Mac administration). So, yes. Mac is for non-technical people.

It is also about control. If Mac doesn't allow you to have control over device, I don't find it appealing.

 

[andy0204]

Haha! Yeah, man.

It is not about money. Apple products aren't that expensive in Canada and I can afford it. But, I just don't want to throw away my money. I am a financially conservative man.

I am a computer programming graduate. In my college, 9 out of 10 students were using Windows. My college taught me Windows administration and Linux administration (never Mac administration). So, yes. Mac is for non-technical people.

It is also about control. If Mac doesn't allow you to have control over device, I don't find it appealing.

I used iPhone and iPod and no doubt they are great in quality wise but I felt more comfortable with Android.

 

[Abdullah719]

Depends what you look for imo.

If its image, some neat features and a good if not long lasting performance, sure (Apple phones notorious for slowdown and hell, wasnt it proven Apple intentionally do this to encourage new sales?)

If your interest is in functionality, reliability and value, absolutely not.

I got a brand new phone for 220 euro 15 months ago. Owned a second hand HTC for about three years prior to that. Have never had a single issue with either, aside from 1-2 minor issues which were easilt and cheaply fixed. My new one has a battery that easily lasts a day, decent storage, OK camera and is reliable and does everything I want. Has survived 1-2 drops no problem. Not even a single performance complaint from me.

Everyone I know with the Apple variant costing a minimum of three times as much either has

1) battery thats already worn and crap
2) replaced it as it shattered on a single drop
3) some performance problems.

I dont give a damn about online debates people are more than entitled to their choices, and my example is obviously a small sample, but imo if your interest lies beyone 1-2 cutting edge features you likely wont need and image, Apple products are borderline theft.

Got a Lenovo laptop for 400 a year ago too, brand new, works an absolute charm. Meanwhile people who use laptops less than I do fork out a grand plus on a Macbook with admittedly impressive specs but, I’ll never understand the appeal considering the price. But thats fine, I dont have to. Free market, free choice. Apple is most certainly not mine, and I doubt I ever will unless I win one free or something.

Interesting perspective.

My (short) experience with Apple products hasn’t been very good.

Someone lent me their MacBook for a few days in the mid-2010s. It was working fine for a couple of days but then just conked off. Couldn’t get it to switch on no matter what. Felt a bit guilty when I gave it back but I did nothing wrong…

A couple of years ago, [MENTION=134551]Muhammad10[/MENTION] had an iPhone 6s. I had a Galaxy S7. I dropped my phone quite a few times and it never got damaged at all besides a few barely noticeable scratches here and there. He dropped the iPhone ONCE and the screen broke.

However, having watched a lot of tech videos, it’s understandable why people would prefer Apple and their ecosystem and in all likelihood, my experience isn’t the norm.

 

[PetroDollars]

This! Well said.

I'm using an iPhone 6 (I know it's an old model, but it's still working like a charm), iPad Pro, Apple watch & MacBook Pro. None of them has given my any issues whatsoever despite being used really heavily especially by my kids.

I've also been using Android phones along with and I've to replace them every 3 years, no matter what.

Thing with Apple products is that you invest once in them and forget about replacing them for at least 5-6 years, if not more. Not only is their functionality far superior than its rivals but the material they are made up of, is far more sturdier, giving you value for money.

I got the iphone6 when it first came out, used for 2 years and gave to the wife, who used and then it went down the family line to pakistan, today it still works like a charm like its new other than battery life but in that period, the rest of the family has been switching around in anroid devices like every year, that is the magic and beauty of Apple products.

 

[Majid Khan]

Interesting perspective.

My (short) experience with Apple products hasn’t been very good.

Someone lent me their MacBook for a few days in the mid-2010s. It was working fine for a couple of days but then just conked off. Couldn’t get it to switch on no matter what. Felt a bit guilty when I gave it back but I did nothing wrong…

A couple of years ago, [MENTION=134551]Muhammad10[/MENTION] had an iPhone 6s. I had a Galaxy S7. I dropped my phone quite a few times and it never got damaged at all besides a few barely noticeable scratches here and there. He dropped the iPhone ONCE and the screen broke.

However, having watched a lot of tech videos, it’s understandable why people would prefer Apple and their ecosystem and in all likelihood, my experience isn’t the norm.

I think you’ve had a bad experience there but generally Apple is known for premium quality and reliability especially talking about MacBooks, they are the best machines out there in my view.

Are Apple overpriced ? Yes agree with that but the same can be said about any luxury or premium brand but are they overrated , certainly not.

Working within IT, one thing I don’t compromise is on getting the best spec laptop every few years and with three MacBook Pro’s over the last 10 years , never had any issues and two of which I’ve passed onto family members and they are still working rock solid and look almost as new as they’ve been well looked after.

I’ve even been crazy enough to spend a fortune on the new MacBook Pro 16 this year with i9/64GB RAM (don’t ask how much it cost) - but you’ve got to bear in mind Apple gives you both the hardware and software and combined together it gives you the best user experience which comes at a price.

Not too keen on Microsoft Windows , but otherwise the latest Dell XPS laptops are also pretty good in terms of hardware and better value for money then MacBook Pro of the same spec , I did consider getting one of those and installing Linux to save a bit of money but went for the MacBook Pro in the end.

 

[The Viper]

I think the IPhone's are worth it, even though they are pretty pricey.

I think all the other Apple products are overpriced, though.

I don't seem the appeal for Air Pods or Macbooks personally.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If Apple is so premium and not overrated, they should be able to manufacture their products at home and not rely on slave labour in countries like China or India. Surely there is a big enough home market willing to pay top dollar for home crafted product built to loving standards by Americans?

 

[MP2011]

I got the iphone6 when it first came out, used for 2 years and gave to the wife, who used and then it went down the family line to pakistan, today it still works like a charm like its new other than battery life but in that period, the rest of the family has been switching around in anroid devices like every year, that is the magic and beauty of Apple products.

Agree. Battery life, as you said is an issue especially due to it being an old phone. But apart from that no other issues regarding its performance and speed.

 

[Itachi]

I think the IPhone's are worth it, even though they are pretty pricey.

I think all the other Apple products are overpriced, though.

I don't seem the appeal for Air Pods or Macbooks personally.

Macbook, in terms of hardware is far behind than any laptop when price is concerned. Iphone actually have a processor that it can boost about and even as Android fan, I'll admit that it is a beast. But Macbook? It has nothing. Expensive garbage.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

I think the IPhone's are worth it, even though they are pretty pricey.

I think all the other Apple products are overpriced, though.

I don't seem the appeal for Air Pods or Macbooks personally.

I have the exact same opinion.

 

[Bigboii]

If Apple is so premium and not overrated, they should be able to manufacture their products at home and not rely on slave labour in countries like China or India. Surely there is a big enough home market willing to pay top dollar for home crafted product built to loving standards by Americans?

Interesting point tbh

 

[Bhaijaan]

Apple products and an Apple mobile are two different topics of discussion.

When you talk about Apple products in general, you are talking about a well established secure and seamless ecosystem and it is absolutely top notch experience with no rival.

Apple phones, if looked at separately aren't well suited to all users because of the checks in place to discourage any intended use disruptive to their ecosystem.

Data transfer was always a nightmare for us desiz when it came to Apple phones. Exchanging those latest movies, Game of Thrones torrent files wasn't easy But it's changed so much now, everyone has a Netflix, Prime account so who even exchanges data.

Apple playstore always has the most secure and we'll optimized apps there is no doubt about it. Even Google apps work better on Apple than on Android phones.

Siri functionality has improved a lot.

With mid range Android phones getting more premium and expensive and with this new wave of Anti Chinese products, I see Apple growing its base in India if it can come.up with competitive prices.

 

[Robert]

I always considered Apple products as highly overrated and overpriced. I have never used a single Apple product in my whole life.

Does anyone here think their products are overrated?

Apple prices are too high.

But Apple kit is excellent. I have had two iPods, an older iPhone and a iPad. They always work. I love how my iPhone and iPad talk to each other and how I can take phone calls via the iPad. My next desktop will be Apple too.

So basically you get what you pay for.

 

[Technics 1210]

When Apple 'broke' on the scene with the IPhone, their products were worth the premium; Apple renovated a tired mobile with their HCI (even a kid can use an iPhone), build quality (felt premium), and the ecosystem (everything worked).

But there's only so many times you can stretch a screen and sell it as the new Iphone/Ipad. Renovation and innovation are now almost dead at apple now. Now it's all about more camera lenses, more mem, more battery life, screen size etc.

The Smartphone market is where the mobile market was in early 00s. I don't want a glass slab; I want features, something which Apple doesn't have - Micro SD support for example. Apple is playing catch up when it comes to features.

Apple gained market share through simplicity and quality; but simplicity comes at a price.

 

[Technics 1210]

If you want to expand on Apple's ecosystem, Apple users are carrying extra kit, more charging cables and accessories. This isn't convinience, it's arrogance. How many time have I been asked for an apple charger, I mean USB-C hello?

 

[JaDed]

When Apple 'broke' on the scene with the IPhone, their products were worth the premium; Apple renovated a tired mobile with their HCI (even a kid can use an iPhone), build quality (felt premium), and the ecosystem (everything worked).

But there's only so many times you can stretch a screen and sell it as the new Iphone/Ipad. Renovation and innovation are now almost dead at apple now. Now it's all about more camera lenses, more mem, more battery life, screen size etc.

The Smartphone market is where the mobile market was in early 00s. I don't want a glass slab; I want features, something which Apple doesn't have - Micro SD support for example. Apple is playing catch up when it comes to features.

Apple gained market share through simplicity and quality; but simplicity comes at a price.

What disruptions do you expect in the phone market right now?

 

[Technics 1210]

What disruptions do you expect in the phone market right now?

Not sure what you mean?

But in terms of market I think we're moving back to retro universal. Nokia's latest 'old skool' range is a good example.

 

[Mamoon]

When Apple 'broke' on the scene with the IPhone, their products were worth the premium; Apple renovated a tired mobile with their HCI (even a kid can use an iPhone), build quality (felt premium), and the ecosystem (everything worked).

But there's only so many times you can stretch a screen and sell it as the new Iphone/Ipad. Renovation and innovation are now almost dead at apple now. Now it's all about more camera lenses, more mem, more battery life, screen size etc.

The Smartphone market is where the mobile market was in early 00s. I don't want a glass slab; I want features, something which Apple doesn't have - Micro SD support for example. Apple is playing catch up when it comes to features.

Apple gained market share through simplicity and quality; but simplicity comes at a price.

Apple’s innovation pretty much died with Steve Jobs. You have to wonder what the iPhone would have looked like today if he was alive.

 

[Muhammad10]

Interesting perspective.

My (short) experience with Apple products hasn’t been very good.

Someone lent me their MacBook for a few days in the mid-2010s. It was working fine for a couple of days but then just conked off. Couldn’t get it to switch on no matter what. Felt a bit guilty when I gave it back but I did nothing wrong…

A couple of years ago, [MENTION=134551]Muhammad10[/MENTION] had an iPhone 6s. I had a Galaxy S7. I dropped my phone quite a few times and it never got damaged at all besides a few barely noticeable scratches here and there. He dropped the iPhone ONCE and the screen broke.

However, having watched a lot of tech videos, it’s understandable why people would prefer Apple and their ecosystem and in all likelihood, my experience isn’t the norm.

Not only was the screen cracked, but its touch functionality also got all messed up. There were areas where the touchscreen stopped working and over time it became unusable.

 

[Technics 1210]

Apple’s innovation pretty much died with Steve Jobs. You have to wonder what the iPhone would have looked like today if he was alive.

Indeed.

 

[JaDed]

Final nail in the coffin, to all who said Apple innovation died I waited so we have a conclusive evidence on this and yes it is::

"You can arguably say Macs built on the new M1 will be worthy of the heritage of the Macintosh name, which hasn’t been the case over the last few years. With the M1 and Apple’s future iterations, heads can be held high again."

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3600897/tested-how-apples-m1-chip-performs-against-intel-11th-gen-and-amd-ryzen-4000.html?page=2

 

[Lego20]

- Not overrated but over priced. So kind of luxury segment for the elite.
- Depends on specific products. For phones, samsung android is arguably better if you are willing to compromise on data privacy. For computer, macbook pro is great if someone else is paying for it (company laptop).
- Depends on the kind of user. If you are an advanced user trying to customize/hack, apple products are a no-no. For example you can literally transform your firetv stick and download all sorts of apps (legal and illegal) which you cant in apple tv.
- Depends on your renewal timeframe. If you intend to keep the product for 5+years, apple products win over any brand.

Personally, the only apple product I own is a company macbook pro. Great product but too expensive for me to pay out of pocket.

 

[JaDed]

M1 has proven in the last month what its capable of, no one believed Apple’s claims lol (including myself) but they have literally challenged the x86 and gone beyond, in the next 5 years unless AMD does something spectacular ARM -(M1 so on) ill take over the laptop market.

Iconic naming M1, Apple has successfully disrupted the CPU industry, guess money does buy you R&D .. American Tech getting stronger and stronger!

All the ones that hated Mac books now have absolutely no excuse.

 

[PetroDollars]

Apple is all about perfection and most people with tech are just kids, who love gimmicks, which Samsung and android provide a lot of.

The over priced aspect isn't even true anymore, iPhone flagships are light years better than Samsung/huaweis and others and are cheaper.

M1 chips have now enabled MacBooks to be priced a lot cheaper, there so much more cheaper now then before when they had intel.

 

[Tubs]

Heard the new Apple chips are pretty good. Almost many of my computer science/engineering mathematics/AI/robotics lecturers and professors use Macbooks, because it is part of the UNIX/UNIX-like family and they're at least decent laptops. Though many use non-Apple machines and use linux. So there definitely is utility and wide-use of the Macbooks with people who know about tech.

I do believe the phones, while very good, are overrated, however.

 

[Stewie]

Heard the new Apple chips are pretty good. Almost many of my computer science/engineering mathematics/AI/robotics lecturers and professors use Macbooks, because it is part of the UNIX/UNIX-like family and they're at least decent laptops. Though many use non-Apple machines and use linux. So there definitely is utility and wide-use of the Macbooks with people who know about tech.

I do believe the phones, while very good, are overrated, however.

I disagree. For engineering, most CAD softwares run on Windows. For computer science, particularly for those work on servers, cyber security linux is the go to platform.

MAC OS was always the go to for those in graphic design sort of stuff. It’s a myth that all tech/engineering people prefer Apple. Some do but the vast majority in corporate America, are too embedded in Windows and Linux to use macs.

That being said, I like apple products. I use all three (Apple, Windows and Linux) for different things. On the desktop/server computing side I prefer Linux. I use Windows because unfortunately for some things I don’t have an option. But when you are mobile, Apple is best, because if the perfect hardware/software marriage. You don’t have to worry about incompatibility problems and this and that. And if your laptop or phone needs service, their customer service is top notch and you can get both hardware and software support and replacement from them. A bit expensive but the quality of service you get from them makes up for it.

 

[Stewie]

I haven’t personally tried the arm processor based newer apple machines but I’ll tell you this much, this is where the world is headed. Intel shot themselves in the foot by being too complacent and not coming up sooner with energy efficient arm designs of their own.

Microsoft will follow Apple soon and it makes sense. With the modern advancements in chips, your basic computing needs can easily be satisfied by ARM and you don’t need x86.

 

[silentkiller187]

Apple products are well designed, but functionality wise aren't the greatest. Phones for example my friends were getting really excited about facial recognition on their new iphones, i was very surprised as i have been using this functionality via android phones 2/3 years ago. You can pick up a stock android phone that will do everything an iphone does and more, for a fraction of the price. Also other products like airpods for example, again very catchy design which people are trying to mirror now however the actual sound quality of an airpod compared to say a bose or even cheaper brands does not stack up.

Apple is a cool brand , and has almost been sold as a luxury brand. Therefore people will always desire to have "luxury" and are therefore drawn to apples sleek designs, under the bonnet however is where the differences are apparent.

 

[Technics 1210]

Since the new privacy updates, developers now have more restrictions to what can be accessed via the kernel.

More and more Apple users I know of are inclined to wait a few years before upgrading.

 

[JaDed]

I haven’t personally tried the arm processor based newer apple machines but I’ll tell you this much, this is where the world is headed. Intel shot themselves in the foot by being too complacent and not coming up sooner with energy efficient arm designs of their own.

Microsoft will follow Apple soon and it makes sense. With the modern advancements in chips, your basic computing needs can easily be satisfied by ARM and you don’t need x86.

Don’t think X86 is designed to work in energy efficiency mode, also one would be surprised to know how ARM came into picture in 80s and 90s..

Microsoft already has ARM based Surface Pro-X but just didn’t sell much -apparently due to lack of programs also has lag issues, Apple though lol has created a new environment(its next level check out the games and graphic designers on youtube ) and major softwares are ready to rewrite - Adobe being one.

The biggest impact would be on Cloud though- Amazon, Oracle are going ARM way..

I’m inclined to believe Nvidia’s buyout of ARM will take it to next level by 2025 unless and US will hold every tech innovation then for next 20 years.(assuming its cleared).Qualcomm will be a big loser if the deal happens.

 

[Stewie]

Don’t think X86 is designed to work in energy efficiency mode, also one would be surprised to know how ARM came into picture in 80s and 90s..

Microsoft already has ARM based Surface Pro-X but just didn’t sell much -apparently due to lack of programs also has lag issues, Apple though lol has created a new environment(its next level check out the games and graphic designers on youtube ) and major softwares are ready to rewrite - Adobe being one.

The biggest impact would be on Cloud though- Amazon, Oracle are going ARM way..

I’m inclined to believe Nvidia’s buyout of ARM will take it to next level by 2025 unless and US will hold every tech innovation then for next 20 years.(assuming its cleared).Qualcomm will be a big loser if the deal happens.

Correct, x86 is not and intel which has been at the forefront of the traditional x96 processors promised a lot but failed to deliver on low footy print, which is why we see this major shift.

But Microsoft is catching on. They have introduced an emulator that runs 64 bit x86 programs on arm. Eventually they will get there. Point is ARM will have a major market share it seems. X86 may be relegated to server side of things in the near future.

 

[shaz619]

Always been a big fan of Android / was excited to get the s20, when I ordered it during normal use it was excessively overheating and was too warm to hold in the hand, you can consider the temperatures potentially within the high end smart phone range but this was close to the max in that range, there were some other alternative products which were packed with a lot of tech but I felt the brands were not established enough and went with iPhone 12 which has been decent for the most part besides a few software niggles, the display is beautiful and the build quality / blue colour is great.

 

[RajBan]

Here is my take on Apple when it comes to tablets and phones.

Apple is costly but it's worth it for specific products. For example if you want to buy a tablet, in my experience there is no better option other than iPad. Yes some of the Samsung tablets apparently provides more hardware at a lower price but if you consider longivity , user experience, app ecosystem and most importantly optimized hardware architecture then do not think about any other option.

In case of phones however it is very different. The competition is intense between Android and iOS and rightly so. While iphone still is the most efficient in terms of integrating all the hardware and software, it comes at a premium price. The app ecosystem in Android is extremely good and matches apple in terms of UI and experience. In case of android what you do need to consider is the model or product that you want to go with. If you go with a regular phone model even from companies like Samsung , Resmi, Oppos then likely in 2-3 years you will have performance issues because they put lot of bloated software. Personally using One Plus and it is one of the best Android phones at price it comes. It's latest editions does not create the same buzz though but 3T, 5T and 7T used to be considered as great android phones. I have not used top end Samsung or Google mobiles but One Plus is pretty close to vanila version of Android and has been an excellent choice in the mid to high range phone.and is certainly a worthy alternative to iPhone

 

[Itachi]

Here is my take on Apple when it comes to tablets and phones.

Apple is costly but it's worth it for specific products. For example if you want to buy a tablet, in my experience there is no better option other than iPad. Yes some of the Samsung tablets apparently provides more hardware at a lower price but if you consider longivity , user experience, app ecosystem and most importantly optimized hardware architecture then do not think about any other option.

In case of phones however it is very different. The competition is intense between Android and iOS and rightly so. While iphone still is the most efficient in terms of integrating all the hardware and software, it comes at a premium price. The app ecosystem in Android is extremely good and matches apple in terms of UI and experience. In case of android what you do need to consider is the model or product that you want to go with. If you go with a regular phone model even from companies like Samsung , Resmi, Oppos then likely in 2-3 years you will have performance issues because they put lot of bloated software. Personally using One Plus and it is one of the best Android phones at price it comes. It's latest editions does not create the same buzz though but 3T, 5T and 7T used to be considered as great android phones. I have not used top end Samsung or Google mobiles but One Plus is pretty close to vanila version of Android and has been an excellent choice in the mid to high range phone.and is certainly a worthy alternative to iPhone

When it comes to redmi, realme if you haven't unlocked bootloader, then you are essentially not pushing the phone to its potential and stuck with bloatwares. Just remove them and you'll get a performance phone at much cheaper price. Who else gives a SD 855 at 20k INR!

 

[Tubs]

I disagree. For engineering, most CAD softwares run on Windows. For computer science, particularly for those work on servers, cyber security linux is the go to platform.

MAC OS was always the go to for those in graphic design sort of stuff. It’s a myth that all tech/engineering people prefer Apple. Some do but the vast majority in corporate America, are too embedded in Windows and Linux to use macs.

That being said, I like apple products. I use all three (Apple, Windows and Linux) for different things. On the desktop/server computing side I prefer Linux. I use Windows because unfortunately for some things I don’t have an option. But when you are mobile, Apple is best, because if the perfect hardware/software marriage. You don’t have to worry about incompatibility problems and this and that. And if your laptop or phone needs service, their customer service is top notch and you can get both hardware and software support and replacement from them. A bit expensive but the quality of service you get from them makes up for it.

It may not be their main laptop perhaps, but many academics I have seen are carrying around Macbooks. I suppose the reason for that is, it doesn't require a dual boot on a Windows machine, which sometimes can have undesirable consequences. General programming works pretty well on Mac I've heard, you can use the command line and it supports all major IDEs. Mac is far superior to windows for robotics, as many of the software have support for Mac and Linux, but not Windows. I'd say it's Linux>Mac>Windows in general terms, but there are some exceptions. I am mainly talking from a CompSci/Robotics/AI perspective here, I haven't had much to do with CAD myself.

 

[JaDed]

[MENTION=146370]Tubs[/MENTION] [MENTION=17315]Stewie[/MENTION]
you can use below site to check softwares on M1 :
https://isapplesiliconready.com/

I recall reading on autocad forum ,it was available with rosetta 2.

Haa everyone is bringing out updates for M1.. insane , this is getting me super excited for future.

 

[Tubs]

[MENTION=146370]Tubs[/MENTION] [MENTION=17315]Stewie[/MENTION]
you can use below site to check softwares on M1 :
https://isapplesiliconready.com/

I recall reading on autocad forum ,it was available with rosetta 2.

Haa everyone is bringing out updates for M1.. insane , this is getting me super excited for future.

That's really cool, thanks! Luckily my uni is giving me a free laptop (it's a Dell, can't remember which one but it's better than my current XPS 15 9560), but I would be tempted by these new Macs otherwise (and if I could afford it!).

 

[PetroDollars]

People who think Apple is still expensive need to wake up, your living in the past

M1 MacBooks are now almost half the costs of there intel ones.

you can buy a super fast and super thin MacBook Air for £1000 now.

iPhones are itself cheaper than android ones, even the flagships

and most importantly Apple is a hardware company that makes cheap software, on the other hand if you use windows, you get skanked with software fees.
Let me give you an example

If your a creative professional, you can buy a powerful iMac for £2000, while the software such as Final Cut Pro comes for £300 with free lifetime upgrades

If you were going with windows, sure you can save abit on the desktop, but when it comes to software, you will need Adobes premier pro, where you will be shelling out £50 every month and most software on windows is nowadays a subscription.

The same is the case with all softwares, apple makes phenomenal software and gives it away for a fraction of the cost in order to drive hardware sales. In the end you spend less money when your with Apple and there hardware also seems to last almost twice as long if not more than any other brands.

 

[JaDed]

That's really cool, thanks! Luckily my uni is giving me a free laptop (it's a Dell, can't remember which one but it's better than my current XPS 15 9560), but I would be tempted by these new Macs otherwise (and if I could afford it!).

I have xps 15 as well , but hopefully next one would be Mac with M1 or M1X.

 

[Stewie]

Tubs, I think you do have a valid point about most engineering softwares being available on mac. I guess I didn’t look into it in detail. But you are right most of them are now available. I last owned a MacBook in 2009 or so. I also had a Mac mini but I was not patient enough to continue using it for n a regular basis. I still have the Mac mini gathering dust somewhere. For my immediate needs, a combo of Windows and Linux is more than enough. But I can see why academics prefer macs. It’s mainly for the same reason I prefer iPhones. It’s the marriage between hardware/software ease of use and excellent service from Apple. If you don’t want to be in a situation with downtime, conflicting hardware software issues and whatnot, apple products are definitely the best.

I might purchase an M1 MacBook in a few months.

For the android users here, I have a question: what android hardware do you recommend? I used Samsung back in 2011 and I few frustrated with it because it felt half baked, battery died too quickly, and it seemed Google updates for the OS came too slow.
Has this situation changed now? How easy is it to upgrade android OS on a 3-4 year old phone these days? Is it always universally compatible with all android phones?

 

[Tera Gawaandi]

I have 2013 MBP with dual core processor alongside work provided 2020 i7 16GB Lenovo Laptop. I pick MacBook 9 out of 10 times. Windows laptop is faster and everything is snappier but it cannot compete with 500 nits colour accurate Ratina Display, clarity of MBP speakers, great trackpad and keyboard. Specs matter, but for overall experience Apple has nailed it. I wish they bring back MagSafe and all ports. I gifted my GF a new M1 MB Air, that thing destroys any Intel machine I have ever used, that too without a fan lol.

I think Android, iOS and MacOS have pretty much peaked. But windows is still improving, and catching up. New UI changes are promising, 2020 H2 version already looks amazing. XPS and Razer Blade are nice laptops. Surface line-up had so much potential but Microsoft's pricing makes them dead on arrival.

I am planning to keep my 8 year old MBP, its useful as secondary display with iPad Pro via sidecar and general web surfing machine.

Apple products are not over-rated but expensive, if you are someone who sticks to a product for years then Apple is best option. If you easily get bored and want latest and greatest specs and design year after year then Apple will disappoint you as they don't experiment and only launch a feature once they perfect it in their labs. Apple changes iPhone design after 3 years, MacBook design after 5 years.

 

[Shaddy86]

Laptops and tablets: Apple every day.

Phones: Android if you're a tech geek, I have a Samsung which is pricier than the latest top spec iPhone and I'd never trade it with an iPhone. I feel I can do a lot more on an android than and there's always some fun tweak or something new to do and that was the case with iPhones with the first 4/5 when you could jail break and have tons of tweaks through cydia but things have changed since and I've never looked back at an iPhone again.

Overall apple products are top quality there are no doubts, they don't do half measures and that works for most people but they're definitely over priced and they're the also the reason for hiking prices for the likes of Samsung and one plus.

 

[Itachi]

People who think Apple is still expensive need to wake up, your living in the past

M1 MacBooks are now almost half the costs of there intel ones.

you can buy a super fast and super thin MacBook Air for £1000 now.

iPhones are itself cheaper than android ones, even the flagships

and most importantly Apple is a hardware company that makes cheap software, on the other hand if you use windows, you get skanked with software fees.
Let me give you an example

If your a creative professional, you can buy a powerful iMac for £2000, while the software such as Final Cut Pro comes for £300 with free lifetime upgrades

If you were going with windows, sure you can save abit on the desktop, but when it comes to software, you will need Adobes premier pro, where you will be shelling out £50 every month and most software on windows is nowadays a subscription.

The same is the case with all softwares, apple makes phenomenal software and gives it away for a fraction of the cost in order to drive hardware sales. In the end you spend less money when your with Apple and there hardware also seems to last almost twice as long if not more than any other brands.

Xiaomi, realme, or even samsung has different price brackets for India, China and then rest of the world. In India no flagship android phone is even close to price of iPhone.

Secondly, not every one is a video editor here. Paying for overpriced hardware for the benefit of softwares you will never going to be use is meaningless.

 

[Giannis]

Overrated or not, green messages make you a social outcast in America so one has no other choice but to give in to peer pressure at least for those of us that are more sociable. Personally I actually enjoy my iphone more than my android phones, it's just simpler, faster, and got a clean layout and imessage is superior to texting.

 

[RajBan]

Tubs, I think you do have a valid point about most engineering softwares being available on mac. I guess I didn’t look into it in detail. But you are right most of them are now available. I last owned a MacBook in 2009 or so. I also had a Mac mini but I was not patient enough to continue using it for n a regular basis. I still have the Mac mini gathering dust somewhere. For my immediate needs, a combo of Windows and Linux is more than enough. But I can see why academics prefer macs. It’s mainly for the same reason I prefer iPhones. It’s the marriage between hardware/software ease of use and excellent service from Apple. If you don’t want to be in a situation with downtime, conflicting hardware software issues and whatnot, apple products are definitely the best.

I might purchase an M1 MacBook in a few months.

For the android users here, I have a question: what android hardware do you recommend? I used Samsung back in 2011 and I few frustrated with it because it felt half baked, battery died too quickly, and it seemed Google updates for the OS came too slow.
Has this situation changed now? How easy is it to upgrade android OS on a 3-4 year old phone these days? Is it always universally compatible with all android phones?

One Plus has been pretty good in recent times except the latest model. Atleast for me I am working on 3T for last 4 years and its still as good as some of the latest models from Redmi, Oppo, Vivo, Honor used by my family. Motorola used to be awesome 6-7 years back but Lenovo have destroyed the brand name. Nokia is likely going through a rejuvenation but personally did not use the android version. Problem with Samsung is the mid range phones do not last long and the high range phones are as costly as iPhone with bloated hardware and software.

 

[RajBan]

Xiaomi, realme, or even samsung has different price brackets for India, China and then rest of the world. In India no flagship android phone is even close to price of iPhone.

Secondly, not every one is a video editor here. Paying for overpriced hardware for the benefit of softwares you will never going to be use is meaningless.

I agree with this. Don't go for specifications for the sake of it, it does not makes sense if you don't use them or worse if the integration between HW and OS/SW is not proper.

 

[RajBan]

Overrated or not, green messages make you a social outcast in America so one has no other choice but to give in to peer pressure at least for those of us that are more sociable. Personally I actually enjoy my iphone more than my android phones, it's just simpler, faster, and got a clean layout and imessage is superior to texting.

If you and your family/friends are using apple products then nothing like it. It will cost you more but the ecosystem is really awesome. Not just iMessage , I am big fan of FaceTime. The clarity of audio and video is top of the class.

 

[RajBan]

Laptops and tablets: Apple every day.

Phones: Android if you're a tech geek, I have a Samsung which is pricier than the latest top spec iPhone and I'd never trade it with an iPhone. I feel I can do a lot more on an android than and there's always some fun tweak or something new to do and that was the case with iPhones with the first 4/5 when you could jail break and have tons of tweaks through cydia but things have changed since and I've never looked back at an iPhone again.

Overall apple products are top quality there are no doubts, they don't do half measures and that works for most people but they're definitely over priced and they're the also the reason for hiking prices for the likes of Samsung and one plus.

This sums it up pretty much.

 

[James]

Definitely not.

I was a long time Apple user, so much so that I really needed to try something different, and so I deliberately moved away from them last year.

I went for an Android phone and a Microsoft Surface / Windows laptop. The phone was, frankly, terrible — and, although the laptop is pretty neat, its software and hardware are both showing signs of serious wear after less than 12 months, and I was also affected by the known “cracked screen issue” for no apparent reason, which really hacked me off.

Anyway, I went back to Apple in the first week of this year. Treated myself to an iPhone SE 2nd Gen and a MacBook Air. Compared with the rest of the market when I was shopping around, they weren’t even as overpriced as I remember. And the performance of both devices is absolutely top notch — so utterly smooth, well-engineered and dripping in quality.

The only thing I am a bit mixed on is the new Big Sur operating system on the MacBook Air. Which takes some getting used to.

But, otherwise, it is unequivocally Apple for me. Now, and for the long term!

 

[James]

People who think Apple is still expensive need to wake up, your living in the past

M1 MacBooks are now almost half the costs of there intel ones.

you can buy a super fast and super thin MacBook Air for £1000 now.

iPhones are itself cheaper than android ones, even the flagships

and most importantly Apple is a hardware company that makes cheap software, on the other hand if you use windows, you get skanked with software fees.
Let me give you an example

If your a creative professional, you can buy a powerful iMac for £2000, while the software such as Final Cut Pro comes for £300 with free lifetime upgrades

If you were going with windows, sure you can save abit on the desktop, but when it comes to software, you will need Adobes premier pro, where you will be shelling out £50 every month and most software on windows is nowadays a subscription.

The same is the case with all softwares, apple makes phenomenal software and gives it away for a fraction of the cost in order to drive hardware sales. In the end you spend less money when your with Apple and there hardware also seems to last almost twice as long if not more than any other brands.

This is spot on. I got my iPhone SE 2nd Gen for £399 from Apple, and my MacBook Air for £929 from Amazon. Both brand new. Both very competitively priced versus the non-Apple market. Both superb, durable, beautiful products.

 

[Itachi]

I believe this thread, Since different people from different regions are here, the pricing comparison becomes distorted.

Apple products are way costly in India but a bit fair in US for example. On the other hand, the same product from xiaomi or realme will be way cheap in India but it will be costly in Europe.

Since we are comparing price with specifications, both the arguments can be true at the same time since the price is itself a variable depending upon the region.

 

[Stewie]

I believe this thread, Since different people from different regions are here, the pricing comparison becomes distorted.

Apple products are way costly in India but a bit fair in US for example. On the other hand, the same product from xiaomi or realme will be way cheap in India but it will be costly in Europe.

Since we are comparing price with specifications, both the arguments can be true at the same time since the price is itself a variable depending upon the region.

People in those areas where Apple doesn’t have quality service (or any service) available also would not understand the value of Apple. For instance my cousins in Pakistan always seem flabbergasted why someone would buy apple unless it’s for “show”
That’s because they didn’t have the experience of simply walking into an Apple store or calling their support for help. Good luck getting that quality of service with Android. Because it’s splintered .. the hardware vendor can blame it on the software or Google (if you manage to get hold of them) will refer you to the hardware vendor. It’s a maze you have to navigate.

I had a Samsung tablet years ago and the screen gave up in a few months. I took it in to the local Samsung service dealer and they replaced the screen but it seemed like they used off the shelf cheap glue. The whole thing came off in a week. It was a terrible experience.

Like someone already mentioned, their software itself adds so much value.