Apple Thread - The most overrated technology brand?

[AnOminous]

I remember when I was a kid, for the longest time, I never saw a Mac computer inside anyone's home, only at libraries and schools

Everyone I knew used Windows.

I actually didn't even ever have a computer of my own until the '90s and usually used things like Trash-80 and Apple ][ in school and later Apple //e in a friend's house. The first computer I ever had personally was literally made out of trash from a job at a repair store, with a motherboard with blown out ISA slots, a hard drive full of bad sectors, etc. It started out its life in a literal pizza box, not the case kind, but a box that had a pizza in it.

My Doom deathmatch party LAN consisted of this kind of crap. Some of it got better and eventually got into actual cases.

I actually also never saw actual Mac desktop computers outside of institutional environments like education. The first I started seeing actual normies having Apple products was the iMac.

 

[Fcret]

The battery on my 13 went to shit end decided to upgrade. Thought about buying a Galaxy or Pixel. But with the courts looking to break up Google and that every Android phone i’ve used since the Galaxy S1 always seem to go to shit a year after use, i decided on Iphone 16 Pro Max. Really like it compared to my 13.

And this is coming from someone who thinks Apple as a brand is overrated by normies. And i hate Google more than Apple.

I actually moved from a Pixel 5a to an iPhone 16. I'd mostly stayed on Android for custom ROM autism but as I've gotten older that entire scene has interested me a lot less and I've started to normify my phone usage.

Few things I really like:
1) Face ID is really good. Even in the dark it recognizes my face. I don't think I'll be able to go back to using a pin to unlock my phone screen. I know Android has something similar but it's not really consistent and I ended up just disabling it the last time I messed with it.
2) Consistency. Everything seems to use the same set of APIs to do shit. There's no weird apps trying to get me to manually enter payment information or use their own handrolled fingerprint/face scanning shit.
3) The screen is really fucking good. It's only 60hz but the image quality is leagues above what my Pixel 5a had.
4) Mac integration. I have to call/SMS a lot of people for my job and being able to do that from my laptop instead of using a phone keyboard is pretty fuckin sweet. Also all my Apple shit just moves between my phone and computer seamlessly.

Few things I don't like:
1) It's really expensive for what you get.
2) eSIM is absolute fucking cancer and having to spend an hour on hold with T-Mobile just to confirm my details and read out an IMEI because their nearest store is an hour away fucking sucks. I wish they still sold models that used physical SIMs so I could just move mine over.
3) Increased aggro from urban youths.

In summation - say what you will about Apple, but their dedication to muzzling corpo apps and keeping them from being unduly annoying is pretty nice.

 

[Betonhaus]

2) eSIM is absolute fucking cancer and having to spend an hour on hold with T-Mobile just to confirm my details and read out an IMEI because their nearest store is an hour away fucking sucks. I wish they still sold models that used physical SIMs so I could just move mine over.

I just installed the app from my carrier and logged into my account and it was like five clicks and five minutes.

 

[Fcret]

I just installed the app from my carrier and logged into my account and it was like five clicks and five minutes.

tbh I didn't even know esim activation via carrier apps was a thing. My relationship with my carrier previously was, "here's a CC number for autopay, mail me a SIM card and don't talk to me."

 

[Betonhaus]

tbh I didn't even know esim activation via carrier apps was a thing. My relationship with my carrier previously was, "here's a CC number for autopay, mail me a SIM card and don't talk to me."

I admittedly don't use the app much, I did once in a while check if a better plan is available but now I got this weird thing where if i switch my data plan for any reason i lose the $60/month discount on my phone loan payments.

Turns out Fido never expected to move the Motorola Razr Plus as well as it did. I snapped up that discount on launch day and it disappeared from their site two days later.

 

[Susanna]

Having to install an app to get your phone number activated is pure nightmare fuel. I hate apps.

Good thing the European models still have physical SIM, and that that’s not likely to change any time soon.

 

[Get the rope Macaulay!]

4) Mac integration.

honestly this feature feels like it should be more of a selling point than people make it out to be. it feels like getting half the experience if you aren't also shelling out for the mac.

Good thing the European models still have physical SIM, and that that’s not likely to change any time soon.

surprised they still have apple stores in russia.

 

[Susanna]

surprised they still have apple stores in russia.

Apple products are imported through other countries and then sold at retailers. Availability is good.

In fact we got the MacBook Pro M4 before the rest of the world, because why should our retailers care about when Apple set the release date?

 

[Fcret]

Having to install an app to get your phone number activated is pure nightmare fuel. I hate apps.

Good thing the European models still have physical SIM, and that that’s not likely to change any time soon.

Well like I said, you can also just call them. Although apparently a lot of Euro carriers don't even support eSIM.

SIMs in general still feel like a 'new' thing to me because I didn't get my first phone with one until 2012 when Verizon started offering LTE. Up until that point, my family had been using CDMA because none of the GSM carriers had good coverage in our area.

 

[Betonhaus]

Having to install an app to get your phone number activated is pure nightmare fuel. I hate apps.

Good thing the European models still have physical SIM, and that that’s not likely to change any time soon.

If you don't want to use the app you can just scan the QR code for the eSIM

 

[GeorgeFloydFentanylStash]

I actually moved from a Pixel 5a to an iPhone 16. I'd mostly stayed on Android for custom ROM autism but as I've gotten older that entire scene has interested me a lot less and I've started to normify my phone usage.

Few things I really like:
1) Face ID is really good. Even in the dark it recognizes my face. I don't think I'll be able to go back to using a pin to unlock my phone screen. I know Android has something similar but it's not really consistent and I ended up just disabling it the last time I messed with it.
2) Consistency. Everything seems to use the same set of APIs to do shit. There's no weird apps trying to get me to manually enter payment information or use their own handrolled fingerprint/face scanning shit.
3) The screen is really fucking good. It's only 60hz but the image quality is leagues above what my Pixel 5a had.
4) Mac integration. I have to call/SMS a lot of people for my job and being able to do that from my laptop instead of using a phone keyboard is pretty fuckin sweet. Also all my Apple shit just moves between my phone and computer seamlessly.

Few things I don't like:
1) It's really expensive for what you get.
2) eSIM is absolute fucking cancer and having to spend an hour on hold with T-Mobile just to confirm my details and read out an IMEI because their nearest store is an hour away fucking sucks. I wish they still sold models that used physical SIMs so I could just move mine over.
3) Increased aggro from urban youths.

In summation - say what you will about Apple, but their dedication to muzzling corpo apps and keeping them from being unduly annoying is pretty nice

The screen on my iphone 13 minus the 90HZ was on par with my Pixel. The last time i was interested in using a custom rom was back when I had my S1. The stock rom was terrible and i flash Cyanogen.

I was a die hard Android user from 2011 to 2021. I know everyone’s mileage varies with this shit. But every phone minus the Pixel just went to shit on the software side. Even would have to wipe my phone after a major update.

What i like:
1. Screen on the 16 PM is really fucking good. May be the best screen I’ve used on a phone.

2. The camera and zoom are really nice. Never used a phone that had a zoom that went more than 5X. And I don’t get horrific water painted pictures if i go passed 3X.

Speaking of camera, the camera button is really useful. First day i had the phone, we went to go look at Christmas lights. And the gloves i had on, would not let me use the on screen button. Without taking off my gloves, i was able to use the button to take photos. And it feels more natural to use a button rather than the screen

3. Ecosystem is still nice with my watch and apple tv. But i still find ecosystems to be a scam to lock people in a tech company’s offerings.

What I don’t like:

1. Keyboard is still trash. Wish we could get a 3rd party keyboard that isnt knee capped by Apple.

2. Wish that you could use a browser without Safari webkit. Just terrible IMO.

 

[Fcret]

The screen on my iphone 13 minus the 90HZ was on par with my Pixel. The last time i was interested in using a custom rom was back when I had my S1. The stock rom was terrible and i flash Cyanogen.

I was a die hard Android user from 2011 to 2021. I know everyone’s mileage varies with this shit. But every phone minus the Pixel just went to shit on the software side. Even would have to wipe my phone after a major update.

Yeah I've been using custom roms going back to the Motorola Droid. Mostly Cyanogen and later LineageOS. Although the last phone I had before the Pixel 5a was a Galaxy S3 because I kinda fell off the grid for a few years and stopped wanting to pay for phone service.

My experience with Android is basically 1) if you want long-term software support, you better hope your phone has an active custom ROM scene and 2) even if your phone does have a custom rom scene, updating custom ROMs to new major android versions is a major pain in the ass.

This didn't feel as bad back when major Android versions lasted longer, but now that we're on a faster cadence and Google does everything they can to pester you into upgrading, having to dig out ADB and wipe my user data every few months to properly update my phone has become annoying.

In terms of functionality, I think the issue I have with Android hardware/software is the same issue I have with laptops - everyone is in a race to the bottom to copy Apple but do it as cheaply and half-assedly as possible, so why wouldn't I just buy Apple? Even if I wasn't particularly well-off, an iPhone SE is like $400 and you'd be hard-pressed to find budget Android phones that perform better than it at that price point. Android has lost a lot of its unique identity that made me like it (warts and all) in the first place.

 

[GeorgeFloydFentanylStash]

In terms of functionality, I think the issue I have with Android hardware/software is the same issue I have with laptops - everyone is in a race to the bottom to copy Apple but do it as cheaply and half-assedly as possible, so why wouldn't I just buy Apple? Even if I wasn't particularly well-off, an iPhone SE is like $400 and you'd be hard-pressed to find budget Android phones that perform better than it at that price point. Android has lost a lot of its unique identity that made me like it (warts and all) in the first place.

Everyone trying to copy Apple has turned me off from even buying their product. While the new OneUI looks good, it just looks like a half baked version of iOS. Why would i want to go out of my way to switch and put effort into it when i can just continue to use an iphone?

One thing you have to be amazed by, is how Apple can change product lines. Apple gets rid of the headphone jacks. Companies laughed until they did it themselves. Apple introduced the notch. Several android phones introduce it as well.

Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that I’m super happy Apple dropped lightning. Never had so much problems with a connector like I did with Lightning.

 

[LegoTugboat]

An interesting little announcement at TGA 2024.

Crimson Desert's been announced as coming to the Mac App Store, in addition to Windows, XBox and PS5.

Noteworthy because up until Sequoia, the Mac App Store had a 100 GB limit, which now seems to be gone.

 

[1999 prick]

Everyone trying to copy Apple

Still waiting for them to continue OS support for devices older than 3 years, have them AD free and to just fucking work and not shit itself from updates or even daily use.

It's the only thing that has me using Apple on a daily basis, Is it really too much to ask for?

 

[Total Annihilation]

I wish Apple would let me install a torrent client on my phone, but that’s probably never happening outside of the EU.
I’d be interested in a folding phone, even with a plastic screen, if it was more durable when it came to scratches on the screen and longer term reliability. Having seen how a fingernail can scratch foldable phone screens is a major turn off for what is usually a $2k device. That said if it could ever be toughened to be similar to current smartphones, I’d probably make the jump (iOS or Android). Having a capable tablet size device that can be put in you pocket would be my go to device for all things outside of what I do with my laptop and desktop.

 

[LegoTugboat]

The Flint Center for the Performing Art's been demolished.

It's the building where Apple had it's first public shareholders meeting (1981), the introduction of the Macintosh, and the G3 iMac.

Last used by Apple to introduce the Apple Watch and iPhone 6 in 2014.

Also had a fair few other people there as well. Interesting history behind it.

 

[Total Annihilation]

I got an unexpected gift (M4 Pro 16in MBP) for Christmas from a family friend, going from the M1 13in MBP 8gb ram to this (same 512gb storage) is quite something. Planning on giving the M1 mac to my nephew soon as an early graduation gift.

 

[Enig]

You ever get bored at night and think "wow I really want to torture my 19 year old Power Mac G5 by seeing how long it takes to post a desktop pic because this shitty Geforce 6600 hates the holiday confetti"

Waiting on a 16GB kit and a 6-pin power cable so I can flash a 1900GT and make this thing halfway competent with modern tasks, that and get a cheapass firewire XLR interface box, you can get a 24/96 with bus power for like $20 or below on ebay.

 

[Fcret]

You ever get bored at night and think "wow I really want to torture my 19 year old Power Mac G5 by seeing how long it takes to post a desktop pic because this shitty Geforce 6600 hates the holiday confetti"
View attachment 6792222
Waiting on a 16GB kit and a 6-pin power cable so I can flash a 1900GT and make this thing halfway competent with modern tasks, that and get a cheapass firewire XLR interface box, you can get a 24/96 with bus power for like $20 or below on ebay.

This was probably the peak of Macintosh in my opinion. Modern MacOS is fine but the big cat era felt so fresh and vibrant. I was only using macs at school at the time but I remember thinking how far ahead of the curve the overall design was.