Apple does not understand value.
I’m a diehard Apple customer. I work as a consultant helping companies with iOS devices (and Android). Since I often “need” new equipment and I buy carefully, I took a look at Apple’s current product line.
My first computer was a Mac Performa. My I’ve had two MacBooks and too many iOS devices to count. When my Retina MacBook Pro died I had to go back to the drawing board.
Granted my 13" rMBP was a base 4GB RAM, 128GB base model, I paid $1299 dollars for it. This is still a lot of money. Currently the base 13" rMBP is $1729. While the RAM has doubled to 8GB, there is no Touch Bar, no dedicated GPU and has less USB ports than my old MacBook Pro (zero). Almost $500 more for no USB ports and the same tiny SSD is a hard sell. Sorry Apple.
Suffice to say I still needed an affordable, portable and quick laptop. I ended up buying the 2017 Surface Pro base model. Same RAM and SSD as my rMBP, but the Stylus and microSD card port made it an easy purchase. Unlike silly gadget reviewers I don’t care that the Surface Pro doesn’t have a USB-C port (I also own an S8 and a Nintendo Switch). Having a DisplayPort instead of Thunderbolt is the actual disappointment but not a deal-breaker for me as an IT consultant. Also $1049 is a cheaper starting point than $1729. TypeCover with the fingerprint scanner, Pen and the Dock were expensive but still cheaper than the base MacBook Pro.
My iPhone 6 Plus is dated and has a cracked screen. I also started working with a client who was working mainly with Samsung phones so I needed an Android. I purchased a brand new Samsung Galaxy S8 on eBay for $750. The cheapest comparable iPhone is the $899 32GB iPhone 7. No user expandable memory, low onboard storage and no headphone jack. Repeatedly Apple is a losing value proposition.
I still love Apple and needed a Mac. I picked up a 2011 iMac with dedicated graphics, upgraded the RAM to 12GB and upgrade to a 256GB SSD for $750. The cheapest iMac from Apple is $1399, has 8GB of RAM and has an old, slow HDD. It even has the same resolution as my 2011 iMac and isn’t easily upgradable.
If Apple’s products were significantly better the valley in pricing between their customers would be an easier pill to swallow. I am hoping Apple either trims prices a bit or gives us a good reason for buying their products. The iPhone 7S (8?) needs to be a game changer or at least a leap forward or I will continue to spend money with their competitors. Sorry Tim.
