does apple abandon their customers ?

[matt_90036]

hi, apple iPad will be practically my first purchase of an apple product. i was wondering if the company has a history of abandoning users who own their older hardware. what i mean is whether i will still be getting iOS upgrades on my iPad 2-3 years from now or will they provide those only to newer iPads and thus leaving some customers behind?

 

[RAC]

hi, apple iPad will be practically my first purchase of an apple product. i was wondering if the company has a history of abandoning users who own their older hardware. what i mean is whether i will still be getting iOS upgrades on my iPad 2-3 years from now or will they provide those only to newer iPads and thus leaving some customers behind?

I think that their record is good but not unblemished. I would expect them to maintain reasonably active support for the current hardware for at least 5 years. They do have a fair-minded attitude towards early adopters.

Some blemishes in this regard include the Apple III, Lisa (the precursor to the Mac) and the Newton Message Pad, in my opinion at least.

The fact that iOS is a common platform for the iPod, iPhone and the iPad provides good insurance for all of us. It's clever idea.

 

[Seadog]

A true Microsoft user. Apple is noted for maintaining a connection with past models. iOS 4.1 is the first to have nothing for the original iPhone(2007). The newer models have way more cababilities. My wife's iBook (2004)will not support OS10.6 but still runs fine on 10.5 and still gets updates. Safari, iTunes, and other programs will still be the latest version. This is significant since the iBook was based on a totally different chip design then the current Intel chip. The big problem with maintaining older equipment is that so much is obsolete quickly. Serial ports, Scuzzi, parallel ports, floppies disks, and so many other items are long gone.

 

[gentlefury]

Apple is one of the most customer experience driven companies I've ever dealt with. Expect there to be a point that your iPad will be out of date...but by then you should just get the most current model anyway.

I was working at a studio a few years ago and we had a g5 burn out on us. It wasn't under warranty anymore, so we brought it to an apple store to see how much a repair would be...they said the liquid coolant had leaked on the CPU, and since this was a known problem they gave us a $2,000 credit to purchase a new mac pro....even tho the g5 was out of warranty and any other company would have just said too bad...buy a new computer.

My mouse stopped functioning a couple months ago, they gave me a new one.

I bought an iPod touch when it first came out and went looking for a case, well one of them put a scratch right down the center of the screen. I went to an apple store to ask if there was any way to replace the glass as it would drive me crazy having it scratched....they gave me a replacement!!! For free!!! Name any other company that would do that!!

Apple is one if the best companies I've ever dealt with and that is why they have me as a lifelong customer! Now if only they would stop doing business with att, my most hated company in the world.

 

[iPadCharlie]

At some point, they will obsolete the product - all companies do this. I have a 1st generation iPod Touch and the highest level of iOS that can be used on it is iOS 3.1.3 even though iOS 4.1 is out. This is because the 1st generation units can not take full advantage of the software's capabilities. I also have a 2nd generation iPod Touch and even though it has iOS 4.1, it still can't multi-task because of the hardware limitations.

Its about half technology and about half marketing, but as others have said, taking care of the customers is one place where Apple does a better job than most.

 

[matt_90036]

ok thanks guys. i have been recently considering an iPad - something for a change from windows. i wanted to know that they are a reliable company.

 

[djricekcn]

iPad (or iPhone, iPod Touch) is not a good replacement or changes over Windows. If you're going to change from Windows, use the OSX instead.

But to be honest, at least around California, if you use a OSX, you will most likely use Windows anyway, due to applications and convenience with outside environment with other businesses. OSX has it's own ups and downs, while Windows has their own. Both OS are equally needed, imo.

 

[matt_90036]

iPad (or iPhone, iPod Touch) is not a good replacement or changes over Windows. If you're going to change from Windows, use the OSX instead.

but i am not trying to join the dark side, i only want to taste it.... i love windows 7 on my laptops. i want iPad for my portable computing....

 

[iVan]

Apple computers are supported for a longer time than their portable product lines but that's understandable because you can't just open them easily to change hardware in an economical way. The further the miniaturization the more difficult.

 

[col.bris]

I have been a specialist reseller since 1993 known as VAR in USA
Apples policies world wide is now 5 years max it use to be 7 years. That means once a product reaches 5 years parts are no longer available from Apple but in saying that. It is not worth relating computers of that age group. My customers upgraded average every 2 - 3 years as they had no choice it was not about hardware it was about software that required more power when upgraded like Photoshop. In respect to iPods iPads iPhones I would think 3 years is about it. This also applys to any other platform regardless of brand. This day and age it is not worth repairing the hardware as labor plus hardware after warranty expires will cost a fortune.
Hope that explains it. Oh one more thing......... One reason -Apple went to 5 years was to reduce inventory of product thus be more efficient.

 

[col.bris]

iPad (or iPhone, iPod Touch) is not a good replacement or changes over Windows. If you're going to change from Windows, use the OSX instead.

But to be honest, at least around California, if you use a OSX, you will most likely use Windows anyway, due to applications and convenience with outside environment with other businesses. OSX has it's own ups and downs, while Windows has their own. Both OS are equally needed, imo.

What you are saying does not make sense please explain. I have 400 high end customers whom use Mac OSx they do not need windows, vista , 7 or what ever. In every case they communicate with as you call it with the out side world without any issues some of these sites have 30 or more Mac workstations with a few pc's usually accounting only.

IPads etc are not a replacement for windows nor OSx they compliment either platform by providing a method of accessing day to day chores fast and efficiently like browsing, email, music, movies etc. And please DONOT mention flash or I will self destruct lol. Again this day and age mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads fill the gap for portability and that is what makes it so great. Other technologies are coming like RIM tablets , and many more and that's great. Remember in the world of IT 12 months is a long time.

Col

 

[DaveSt]

A true Microsoft user.

I guess I don't understand that comment. My two most used MS products are Windows XP and Office 2003. I still receive weekly updates for both. Does that mean I should expect the same from Apple when my Ipad is 10 years old? I use and like products from both Apple and MS. I don't feel abandoned by either company.

 

[gentlefury]

iPad (or iPhone, iPod Touch) is not a good replacement or changes over Windows. If you're going to change from Windows, use the OSX instead.

But to be honest, at least around California, if you use a OSX, you will most likely use Windows anyway, due to applications and convenience with outside environment with other businesses. OSX has it's own ups and downs, while Windows has their own. Both OS are equally needed, imo.

You obviously don't understand or use OSX....I have windows on my mac to play games.....and that's it, once I'm done with gaming it's back to Mac.

 

[TJK]

iPad (or iPhone, iPod Touch) is not a good replacement or changes over Windows. If you're going to change from Windows, use the OSX instead.

but i am not trying to join the dark side, i only want to taste it.... i love windows 7 on my laptops. i want iPad for my portable computing....

I think you will really like the iPad as a complement to your Win 7 machines. With a few apps like Goodreader, DropBox and Skype I find that I can do about 95% of what I need to do (review and edit documents, email, web) away from the office. My HP laptop stays home more and more. My wife hardly touches her Win 7 laptop anymore.

 

[Pingles]

The iPad was the first Apple product I bought after many years of being bitter as an abandoned Newton user.