From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

Well, it's not targeted at idiots. Apple has built success on carefully
a crafted ecosystem designed around a comprehensive offer of product and service. It appeals to those how are willing to pay for the entire
offer, not just the hardware.

I was personally dubious of Apple until I bought an iPad to get
ForeFlight for free to replace Garmin Pilot I was paying for.
When I went to the Apple Store for the first time to get some advice on
this tablet it was a revelation. Having essentially no support for my
many Android devices this was a whole new level of value. Those Apple
techs are really well-trained. The store was crowded, and listening to
other people being helped out was amazing.

Then I bought my first iPhone, also because of ForeFlight. FAA
recommends, but does not require, a backup to the tablet version. The
phone was purchased on eBay. It was advertised as new, but something was
not right. It came in non-Apple packaging, duh. So I took it to the
Apple Store. The tech confirmed that it had been activated about 24
months before my purchase. I filed a complaint with eBay and returned
the phone. It was replaced with an iPhone phone purchased from Verizon.

Wow, the tight integration of the Apple phone and tablet was amazing.
too. Never had that before with Android either.

Android was not a disaster by any means. But the total Apple offer is
simply too compelling for my purposes. I doubt I'll never go back.

As for complaints about Apple device privacy, I could care less.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.advocacy

On Aug 8, 2025 at 10:03:21 AM EDT, "Tom Elam" <thomas.e.elam@gmail.com> wrote:

Well, it's not targeted at idiots. Apple has built success on carefully
a crafted ecosystem designed around a comprehensive offer of product and service. It appeals to those how are willing to pay for the entire
offer, not just the hardware.

I was personally dubious of Apple until I bought an iPad to get
ForeFlight for free to replace Garmin Pilot I was paying for.
When I went to the Apple Store for the first time to get some advice on
this tablet it was a revelation. Having essentially no support for my
many Android devices this was a whole new level of value. Those Apple
techs are really well-trained. The store was crowded, and listening to
other people being helped out was amazing.

Then I bought my first iPhone, also because of ForeFlight. FAA
recommends, but does not require, a backup to the tablet version. The
phone was purchased on eBay. It was advertised as new, but something was
not right. It came in non-Apple packaging, duh. So I took it to the
Apple Store. The tech confirmed that it had been activated about 24
months before my purchase. I filed a complaint with eBay and returned
the phone. It was replaced with an iPhone phone purchased from Verizon.

Wow, the tight integration of the Apple phone and tablet was amazing.
too. Never had that before with Android either.

Android was not a disaster by any means. But the total Apple offer is
simply too compelling for my purposes. I doubt I'll never go back.

All of the above is very true. So many haters dismiss Apple as "overpriced toys", but there is no other single company with such an astonishing consumer ecosystem of hardware/software/services. All powered by Unix BTW.

All I can add is this: Wait until you get a Mac. The whole idea of cobbling together an Android phone from THIS company and an Android tablet from THAT company and a Windows PC from whoever, today just seems as quaint as a text Adventure game from 1980.

I started with a hand-me-down iPhone 5, back when I still thought Windows Phones were great. Then I bought a used iPad Air 2 on eBay. 10 years later
and now I have 4 Macs (old and new), 3 iPhones (old and new) and many iPads of all sizes, ages and models. And the iPad Air 2 still works fine. Slow of course, but still works.

As for complaints about Apple device privacy, I could care less.

Such complaints are sheer jealousy from The Haters. Apple Unix is a sealed vault compared to Android and Windows.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2