It’s easy to complain about something. “My coffee is too bitter! The office is too warm! The dog didn’t let me give him a bone-crushing hug!” Sure, some gripes are minor, but when it comes to interacting with technology, it can be the little things that push us over the edge. Case in point, Apple. Beautiful products. At least to look at.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of Apple’s products. I use a MacBook at home, an iPhone for a daily driver, and my iPad is probably my most treasured gadget.The iPhone X is an incredibly capable smartphone with some pretty reliable facial recognition tech, augmented reality support to add a little ephemeral spice to your boring, tangible life. The iPad Pro, paired with an Apple Pencil, makes taking notes and drawing a more enjoyable experience compared to offerings from competitors like Microsoft. Plus, they all look pretty svelte and sleek. For the most part, my time with Apple products, starting with my first red iPod Nano, has been pretty great.
That doesn’t mean I don’t take umbrage with some of the company’s more questionable decisions.
Starting on the hardware side, there are a lot of choices in which one could find fault. An all USB-C MacBook, complete with the removal of the MagSafe connector (arguably the greatest power connection method ever conceived for a laptop) is gripe numero uno for me. Permanently affixed hardware components like RAM and storage capacity make upgrades all but impossible, the company’s update cycle for products like the Mac Mini and MacBook Air is abysmal, and the industrial design oddities found in accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Mouse 2 make me wonder who signed off on such an ass-backwards form. Also, have you ever tried to buy USB-C headphones? It’s basically impossible.
That’s all before getting into the missteps in terms of software. As of late, iPhones have been suffering from debilitating bugs involving components as simple as text characters. MacBooks have been compromised by faulty security issues that let users assume the mantle of root. Updates to correct the aforementioned security issue exposed different security issues. In short, it feels like a mess, because it’s been a mess.
So what about Apple products rubs you the wrong way? What are they doing that you absolutely love? Is the the emphasis on form over function to the point where the Magic Mouse won’t work during its recharge cycle? Is it the fact that you can walk into any Apple Store and get some actual help with your products instead of mailing it in and waiting a week like with other manufacturers? How are you liking your new cocaine ring, courtesy of your HomePod? Let us know in the comments, and do your best to remember the fanboy wars have long since ended. We’re grown-ups here.