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I suspect that when Steve Jobs was around and running things Apple was earning their reputation for quality and customer support. But I will never again buy anything they offer.
They better be at that price
A macbook-mini can be had for not much more than a MS surface, but you end up with a beautiful machine that is virtually trouble-free. No more MS issues. The darned thing works precisely as advertized without hidden headaches, imagine that.
A few things to consider:
You pay 50% more from Apple for Apple specific hardware,
You have very little choice in how you configure you Apple
You cannot upgrade your Apple
You are buying all your software from Apple written specifically for Apple and priced by Apple.
Still the most expensive
I’ve never even once been impressed with Apple tech support but I do have a mostly good track record with their hardware. The only problem I had that I blame on Apple is that for years they made iMacs using all laptop components except for the hard drive which was a desktop component. The internal temperature of an iMac is halfway between that of a laptop and a desktop. You can figure out how this story ends.
Software wise my biggest complaint with Apple is the overaggressiveness of their spell check. They don’t understand how people really talk. My friend is recovering from the flu and I wanted to send her a message saying “How’s the sicky today?” The amount of time it took me to get the word sicky into my iPhone was ridiculous.
Apple products have been incredible for this family.
Apple ][
Apple III
Mac 128
LaserWriter
Numerous MBP for all members of family
Numerous iPhones
Two Apple TVs
Several iPads
Apple external SuperDrives
Time Capsule
The stuff just works and works and works for years. The only other electronics that beat their stuff for longevity and reliability are the toaster and incandescent light bulbs.
Basic appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, clothes washers and clothes driers can’t hold a candle to Apple reliability.
Typing this on a 2012 vintage Macbook. Still doggedly running Snow Leopard (Luddites of the world, unite!!!)