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How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

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Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#31

Post by mozumder »

superninja234 wrote: post #21
beat wrote: post #16

My main computer is a five year old 17" MBP. I've upgraded it to the max and done repairs to maintain it. I need the computational power - I use it for programming, photo editing at scale, and recording/mixing music. It would cost me $3000 to replace it with a computer that is not significantly more powerful, has a smaller screen and less I/O functionality, and would be incompatible with my audio interface unless I d…

I honestly doubt it would cost $3000 to replace your 5 year old macbook.

I also have the same type of maxed-out 2011 17" MacBook Pro.

The replacement for that I am looking at costs $3500-$4200.

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#32

Post by Recurecur »

deedubaya wrote: post #13

I still think macOS/OSX provides the best user experience for personal computing. It's the lack of substantial hardware updates which is driving users away. If creatives are going to pay a premium for a Mac, there should be something to differentiate it between the competition besides the privilege to run macOS. Heck, it should have something to differentiate it from the last model! I'll still recommend Macs for my f…

Not just lack of hardware updates, but the lack of complete system categories. It's the height of hypocrisy to tout a green approach to things, while not even offering an upgradable machine, e.g. a tower. All-in-ones like the iMac are usually discarded if either the motherboard or the display goes south, whereas a tower is easily fixed.

Also, power users are left out in the cold, with the Mac Pro the only system fitting that category - and it's dated and deficient in many ways.

Apple should bite the bullet and license macOS for third-party hardware. The Hackintosh community has things working pretty well today, and Apple could charge substantial money per license (notionally at least $200). Pretty good for just selling bits. That move would completely revitalize the Mac landscape, and would be a giant boost to iDevice adoption. Think Different!

Sadly, I don't think current Apple management has the vision to do the right thing. Apple will likely continue a slow decline unless that changes.

(BTW, "ctrl-[" is an excellent alternative to the regular Escape key...personally I prefer it.)

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#33

Post by SomeStupidPoint »

beat wrote: post #16

My main computer is a five year old 17" MBP. I've upgraded it to the max and done repairs to maintain it. I need the computational power - I use it for programming, photo editing at scale, and recording/mixing music. It would cost me $3000 to replace it with a computer that is not significantly more powerful, has a smaller screen and less I/O functionality, and would be incompatible with my audio interface unless I d…

I switched from a MBP to a Surface, and eventually to a $500 generic "hybrid" laptop (with decent Linux support).

Turns out moving to the cloud for developer work and not playing videogames on my laptop really cuts down on my computer needs. (Also, saving that much money justifies more cell data to tether with, so it's actually more convenient at times.)

YMMV though, because I worked in ML, and so had to make the cloud move because no laptop was going to be a 4GPU, 32core machine, much less a cluster of them. Once that's your workflow anyway, the switch in hardware is pretty seamless.

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#34

Post by jasonlotito »

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #7

Well I've migrated back to Windows for my latest computer, but part of that was also because I already had a reasonably functioning mac ( although starting to stumble) and ubuntu installation. I plan on buying another mac later next year - however that is because my wife is a mac loyalist. to say that losing developers is losing mac loyalists is pretty weird actually, traditionally developers have not been the core m…

Traditionally, no. But they are the canaries in the coal mine. I remember the articles coming out about "alpha geeks" moving to Macs after Apple moved to a Unix desktop.

In truth, I'm happy to see the migration. It just means competition. Apple will need to step up their game. They can't rest on their laurels.

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#35

Post by dragonbonheur »

DigitalJack wrote: post #28
dragonbonheur wrote: post #6

Maybe the time is right for SGI to get back into making workstations again now that Apple doesn't seem to care as much as before.

Why? Just buy something from newegg and call it "workstation." Apple has two things going for them: top notch physical quality laptops and macOs. That's really it. Who cares how shiny a desktop workstation is... ideally you don't even see it. the only reason to buy a desktop from Apple is macOs. And if that doesn't matter to you, why by from apple at all? And for that matter why buy a desktop from anyone when you can…

Why? Because a lot of people are begging for a Mac Pro upgrade. Not a concept trashcan computer, not a thinner laptop. A serious computer for serious people who do serious work like video editing, special effects, running TV studios, high performance computing, chemical engineering, etc.

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#36

Post by FLGMwt »

> For a 2016 MacBook update, some Apple engineers wanted to add a Touch ID fingerprint scanner and a second USB-C port (which would have made some power users happy)

"power users" is humorous here, considering an additional port would allow a literal power cable and a peripheral.

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#37

Post by electic »

beat wrote: post #16

My main computer is a five year old 17" MBP. I've upgraded it to the max and done repairs to maintain it. I need the computational power - I use it for programming, photo editing at scale, and recording/mixing music. It would cost me $3000 to replace it with a computer that is not significantly more powerful, has a smaller screen and less I/O functionality, and would be incompatible with my audio interface unless I d…

I did take a close look at the Surface Pro. Sorry, the build quality is nowhere near a MacBook Pro. Secondly, I found the touch screen very gimmicky. I tried using it for a week and found that my hand just hurt lifting it up repeatedly and also hated switching context from the keyboard to the screen. Not to mention, the screen was full of smudge marks after awhile.

To be honest, I really found myself using the keyboard and touchpad the most on the Surface and when you think about it, the MacBook Pro has the best touch pad. I think Apple needs to do some minor things to get the MacBook Pro back on track:

- Fix the battery issue. They really need to fix that from a hardware perspective. Also, the OS needs to be optimized to preserve battery. The burden can't be fully on hardware.

- Put magsafe back or some sort of USB-C magsafe solution.

- Bump the specs. The whole point of the Pro is it is leap years ahead of everyone on processor, HD, and RAM.

- The keyboard is getting better, but I still think it needs more travel time.

- The screen could be further to the edges a bit for a more modern look.

- The ports. Look, I get it, you want to embrace the future but then please include free cables to help in the transition. A power extension cable was not even included in this MacBook pro release, that is just sad.

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#38

Post by bloomca »

beat wrote: post #16

My main computer is a five year old 17" MBP. I've upgraded it to the max and done repairs to maintain it. I need the computational power - I use it for programming, photo editing at scale, and recording/mixing music. It would cost me $3000 to replace it with a computer that is not significantly more powerful, has a smaller screen and less I/O functionality, and would be incompatible with my audio interface unless I d…

Which Chromebook do you use?

I've bought Acer R11 to myself, and gave my MBPr to my wife. Of course it is a huge downgrade, but my idea is to relax from writing code in the evenings for a few months, and then later install some linux on it.

It is very portable, and tablet mode is nice, but performance in web apps is pretty bad (so I even use MBP to use for stuff like AirBnB) – they work, but with quite frustrating experience. I am fine with it, but if someone will decide to go with it, be careful that it is really slow machine.

I still think though that for linux that would be more than enough.

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#39

Post by dbg31415 »

beat wrote: post #16

My main computer is a five year old 17" MBP. I've upgraded it to the max and done repairs to maintain it. I need the computational power - I use it for programming, photo editing at scale, and recording/mixing music. It would cost me $3000 to replace it with a computer that is not significantly more powerful, has a smaller screen and less I/O functionality, and would be incompatible with my audio interface unless I d…

> It would cost me $3000 to replace it with a computer that is not significantly more powerful, has a smaller screen and less I/O functionality, and would be incompatible with my audio interface unless I daisy-chain multiple adapters to get Firewire. Fuck that, as long as possible.

To be fair, with the new Macs you still get to daisy chain adapters...

Here's the thing, nobody can take away how great the Macs we have now were when they came out. The fact that it was so well built and so powerful that you're still using it after 5 years speaks exactly to what we loved about them.

But the new MBPs aren't the same. They're just as expensive as they always were, but they don't have forward-looking specs. Unlike the old ones, we don't see the new ones being machines we can keep around for the next 5 years.

I've got a 2013 MBP and it's got virtually identical specs as the new 2016s. (Used similarly upgraded from base units both times -- with Apple care this cost ~$3,300 then and would cost ~$3,300 now.)

--- 2013 MBP

16 GB RAM

NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M with 2GB memory

2.3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7

512 GB SSD

Apple Build Quality

vs

--- 2016 MBP ($2,800)

http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=MLH42L...

16 GB RAM

Radeon Pro 455 with 2GB memory

2.7 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7

512 GB SSD

Apple Build Quality

vs

--- 2016 Razer Blade ($2,200)

http://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-blade-gtx970m

16 GB RAM

NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 970M with 6GB memory

2.6GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7

512 GB SSD

Razer Build Quality

Re: How Apple Alienated Mac Loyalists

#40

Post by natch »

beat wrote: post #16

My main computer is a five year old 17" MBP. I've upgraded it to the max and done repairs to maintain it. I need the computational power - I use it for programming, photo editing at scale, and recording/mixing music. It would cost me $3000 to replace it with a computer that is not significantly more powerful, has a smaller screen and less I/O functionality, and would be incompatible with my audio interface unless I d…

Sounds like you are pretty happy with your MacBook Pro. Awesome.

If you want to replace it, maybe you should get a MS Surface Pro, and let us know how that works out for you.

BTW did Apple hold a press conference? I thought it was just an internal memo type thing for the employees, no?

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