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Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

bloomberg.com

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Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#211

Post by bloqs »

Given the other comments highlighting this is an editorialized headline, I must add that I found the M1 generation of machines to be absolutely fantastic. It got me to buy a Mac for the first time in 10 years. They convinced me to spend £800 on a machine with un-upgradable 8GB RAM / 512GB SSD. That's an achievement.

Naturally, I wanted to reccomend them to people (many less technical) getting frustrated with Windows machines. The M2s were at least 40% more expensive.

This is really not more complicated than this. Their pricing model was wrong. I genuinely would have sold and upgraded if they were priced similarly. But 2020 M1s didn't decay in price at all over 2 years. So what else could they do?

If they had reduced the M1s and M2s, they would have sold an extraordinary amount of computers.

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#212

Post by corry »

Could it be that the initial set of M1s was just “too good”? Mine is several years old now and I have zero desire to upgrade to an M2 or whatever we’re at. It’s so fast and snappy, even when doing 300k row DB updates (to pick a potentially meaningless example).

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#213

Post by mikhael28 »

Dalewyn wrote: post #91
belltaco wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> These days laptop PCs are unreliable across most brands I have tried and supplied with crapware and the operating system is hostile and forces stuff like OneDrive on you and begs you not to install Chrome. That is true but Apple's OneDrive equivalent thing iCloud is the same way, they even show fake red notifications on program icons to make you sign into iCloud and use dark patterns to make you use iCloud. They do…

As an avid Windows wizard who strongly dislikes Apple, I will give credit where credit is due: Apple's shit Just Fucking Works(tm). Seriously, they just work. An M1 or M2 Macbook Air is the ideal laptop and computer for the vast majority of people. Games? There are game consoles for games, which also Just Fucking Work(tm).

You can also play a decent amount of games on M1 Macs, but nothing spectacular or amazing. They can emulate almost anything with DirectX 11, but 12 is just not operational in any way at all.

Most emulators work swimmingly.

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#214

Post by trinsic2 »

mikhael28 wrote: post #200
insane_dreamer wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a 2017 model; other than replacing the keyboard (for free) I've been happy with it (also keyboard replacement ended up being a good thing as I got a whole new top-case with it for free). Would like to get an Mx but will probably wait until it does (I don't "need" to upgrade at this point, more like a "want").

I feel the same way about my 16' i7 from 2019... but I also have an 14' M1 Pro for work, and if I didn't already have that, I would have definitely upgraded. It's just a much better machine, if nothing else from a battery life perspective. Twice as better, and that counts a lot for me.

I can't understand why anyone would want to support a manufacturer that designs a configuration that has the storage an memory soldiered in.

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#215

Post by mikhael28 »

nickpp wrote: post #180
crossroadsguy wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Their hardware are quiet good and often worth cost. But their software are barely average and services (iCloud et al) downright pathetic. Definitely much worse than OneDrive which in itself it’s not great. I mean any data I have in iCloud I assume it’s gone — I don’t even consider it a safe copy of mu data. There’s barely any transparency around it (which is actually Apple’s DNA - lack of transparency in general).

I never lost data in iCloud - is this a common occurrence?

No, they just don't like Apple software and are looking for a reason to ding them. Which, fair, XCode is trash.

If they don't think either service is great, they can just run a local media server or use dropbox. Apple doesn't force you to use iCloud, and I personally think it's less obtrusively advertised on the OS than OneDrive. Personally.

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#216

Post by viridian »

TuringNYC wrote: post #108
stametseater wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The term "personal computer" predates the IBM PC by a few years, and was generally a synonym with "home computer" (which Apple computers also were.) For instance, the TRS-80 was not an "IBM compatible PC", but was advertised as a personal computer. When these terms were new, they weren't yet technical jargon with subtle meanings. "Personal computer" meant simply a computer intended for personal use.

That might have been the case at one point, and perhaps again, now, but i've see PCs to not include Macs in common usage for decades. Here is one example directly from Intel: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/tech-tips-and-tricks... Mac* vs. PC: Choose What’s Right for You When it comes to the choice between a Mac or PC, selecting a device that offers the features and flexibility you need is what matters most.…

I think Mac v. PC as a tribal dividing line has largely been replaced by PC v. Phone, given that most of the population no longer interacts with computers outside of work at all any more.

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#217

Post by acedTrex »

JimDabell wrote: post #67
marinhero wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This makes sense. Amongst my friends, a number of them maxed out an M1 machine not just because of the processor but also because of the improved I/O and new form factor. The M1 machine ticked so many boxes that the purchase decision was not solely pushed by the CPU. The machines are so good it’s hard to justify a new one!

Same here. I maxed out the M1 14” MacBook Pro as soon as it came out. It was a huge upgrade in every way. The M2s look great, but the only real difference is a slight bump in horsepower. I’ll wait a release or two before upgrading. Apple haven’t lost an M2 sale because they’ve done anything wrong, they’ve guaranteed an M3 or M4 sale because they nailed it. It’ll take a while for that success to show up in their books…

Yep I maxed out the 14" M1 and Its incredible

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#218

Post by soneil »

rchaud wrote: post #92
soneil wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's almost entirely Sweden having a high tax rate though. I just priced out an M2 MBA with ram & ssd maxed out. $2499 USD in the US and 33009kr in Sweden. $2499 is 26163kr, +25% VAT is 32705kr. So you're paying 304kr / $29 more than the US price.

There's a sales tax in the US too. 7.25% in CA, on top of the product price.

Of course. But when people are comparing EU & US prices they're usually not accounting for that either - just the price on the site. And it's too easy to miss out that a) european prices are advertised inclusive of sales tax, and b) we lean towards much higher taxes.

So just going "what's that in dollars" either ignores the real discrepancy, or at the very least, misplaces the blame.

Also, fun fact - since I did that math 3 hours ago, SEK has changed enough to wipe out that $29. Right now, (33009 * 0.8) SEK in USD = US$2460.46, making the pre-tax price in Sweden cheaper than the pre-tax price in the US.

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#219

Post by achow »

mikhael28 wrote: post #202
smni wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m still using a 15” MBP from 2012 for my personal computer! Waiting to see if a 15” MacBook Air gets released soon, as per the rumors.

The Macbook Air that's out right now is like 13.6 inches. The screen is much better than the 2012 models, so with the resolution it will feel as big probably if not bigger.

As big as rumored 15" or as big as 2012 13"? Both does not make sense.

Re: Apple’s plunge in PC shipments is steepest among major computer makers

#220

Post by dogma1138 »

illiarian wrote: post #192
dogma1138 wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is if you don’t get caught at customs… you’ll have to pay at least the VAT on the value of your purchase and possible a duty as well. So if you want to do it legally you’ll have to add 20-25% to the price which no longer makes it very appealing.

The probability of getting caught is low. Unless you're bringing back several boxes. Unpack, put it in your backpack, boom it's your personal item.

Again this isn’t about the probability it’s about the legality, saying that things are cheaper when you avoid tax is like saying water is wet.
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