Quote Originally Posted by frenchtower View Post
Why are some people critical when Apple comes out with a new product (or update a product)? It's just one of those companies trying to make money. Much like Toyota, BMW, McDonalds, Nokia, HP, Sony, Nikon, etc. Don't splurge in a (FILL IN WITH YOUR PREFERRED BRAND, MAKE AND MODEL) if you don't have money or just want to be in.
Short answer: Because Apple as a company is arrogant, and its fanboys even more so.

Now before Apple fanboys start hurling stones, Molotov bombs, grenades, and the kitchen sink at me, listen up.

One of the earliest computers I used to program was the Apple IIe way back in the mid-80s. I learned my graphics stuff (desktop publishing and graphics design) on a Mac classic in 1989. In the 90's I used Mac clones such as Power Computing and Daystar for much of my graphics work. Today, I own the iPod, iPhone, and iPad 2.

However, my programming work and sysad work always had me using x86 products, and I am a very loyal ThinkPad user since 1994. Today, I use a ThinkPad when working with Windows and Linux.

My point? I am not an ignoramus when it comes to Apple products, neither am I a newbie. Been there, done that. I am the sort of person who uses whatever computer make is appropriate for a given task, and I appreciate each one for its capability. Apple products have their strengths in many areas, and it really stands -- hands down -- the best in graphic design (barring workstation-class specialist machines of course).

However, it cannot be denied that partly due to Apple's culture and Steve Job's personality, the Apple marketing machine has taken great liberties in proclaiming Apple's greatness, and the Apple cult members are the most zealous of evangelists, to a fault: "Apple is the greatest. It always makes superior products. It's a lot more stable and Intel/Windows products. All other products are worthless" -- you get my drift.

If people can only learn to temper their enthusiasm, then there wouldn't be any of these brand wars (Windows versus MacOS, Intel versus Apple, IOS versus Android, iProducts versus everybody else). These brand wars are a result of one group thumbing their noses down at the "unwashed masses" while the other group attempts to get even. It's also a result of some of the "unwashed masses" trying to correct certain "wrong impressions" propagated from the Apple camp (too many... it deserves its own thread ;) )

Some have said that "Once you go Mac, you won't go back." Not really. To people who actually do real work, it doesn't matter what brand you use: you use that which is appropriate for a given task.