I often hear a lot of mixed feelings here. With apple charging slightly over the top for their products, then out dating them so quickly. Charging over the top for accessories which should have come with the device as standard. then starting wars against every other company out there adobe, google etc. What's left for the consumer, I think many of us have been loyal enough but where/ when will it end? Are you close to giving up on them? What is the last straw for you?

Or

Do you still love apple, agree with every new upgrade they do, and agree with their pricing? Will you always be a fan boy/girl? What keeps you with apple? Do you look at competitors fairly? Why do they keep your business? Why do they deserve such a loyal fan as you?

It will be interesting to see the results.

No arguing though please, this is a thread for freedom of speech, remember everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and should not be ridiculed for expressing them.

I have no issue with anything Apple does.

Originally Posted by jmbarker58

I have no issue with anything Apple does.

Same here. It's just a matter of feeling at all. In fact, Apple does things really well to build a strong support from their customers. They provide a good service, and I cannot complain the price of their products at all, because in general, you get what you pay for.

Why does it have to be such utterly polarised positions?

Am I a fan? Yes.
Do I agree with everything they do? No.
Are they overpriced? Yes.
Is the Android / Windows tablet landscape any better? No.

Isn't it OK to just enjoy the Apple products I own for what they are... Great gadgets and productivity tools which add value to my life?

Apple not providing IOS6 on the iPad1 and making a bit of a hash of their first version of Maps isn't the end of the world from where I'm sitting. YMMV.

So long as their products are superior to those of the competition, and tie in to my existing equipment, they'll continue to sell to me. When another company offers a superior product, I'll go with that product, so I guess I have no loyalty. I shop by features, not by brand.

I don't love or hate Apple. I do not like some of their pricing schemes and I think they did the connector thing wrong. Still, the customer service is second to none. I see myself using their products where it makes sense for me to do so. I like the iPad and iPhone, but I have Android toys too. No problem. The whole Maps thing doesn't phase me a bit...though I do hope they put forth the effort and expense needed to build a great alternative and I hope they allow Google to offer their own Maps for iOS, if they choose to do so. If they were to deny Google an app, I don't think that woudl be wise for them.

Bottom line, as long as the offer products I like, I will buy them, assuming I want them. I see no reason to change anything. I will also buy from the competition, where it suits me, just as I have always done. When I do something I think is anti-user, I'll say so. When other attack them just for spite, I will defend them. But I will do that for their competition as well.

I favour Apple products because of ease of use, durability and look.

I did a lot of research before purchasing an iPad 2. Nothing it does or doesn't do disappointments me because I knew its capabilities before plunking down cash.

Same with my iPhone 4.

AA

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I was looking at the iMac and MBP yesterday. I couldn't imagine NOT buying either of them if I was in the marketplace right now.

Originally Posted by KevinJS

I was looking at the iMac and MBP yesterday. I couldn't imagine NOT buying either of them if I was in the marketplace right now.

I have to agree with that. The points I made above where merely just examples, to get you thinking that's all. Just interested in people's views.

Didn't Clint Eastwood say in some movie that there's no such thing as deserving or not deserving? I tend to be of that mind (not the Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair thing, though, lol.)

Anyway, I have no loyalty toward companies, Apple or otherwise. When they do right by me, I'm happy to acknowledge and / or use their products. When they do things that I think are stupid or self-serving, I'm realistic as well.

I don't think Apple or any other company has my best interests in mind generally; as a customer, I'm a means to their ends as businesses, and sometimes our interests overlap. That's the sweet spot for me as a consumer.

This is one example of where I think my interests and Apple's diverged:

Apple had over a year left on Google Maps contract, Google scrambling to build iOS app | The Verge

And this offers what I think might be evidence of that story above:

Good News: Apple Still Uses Google Maps Where It Matters Most