An Apple A Day
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So much so, that the first week in the city, while paying for our new prepaid internet data card, we struck up a conversation with the Vodafone salesman, in an attempt to understand the infatuation. Imagine our surprise when his response stated it to be an attempt at mirroring the US. Again, only his personal opinion, not one that can be generalized, but even then – he went on to explain that the US TV commercials aired on Australian television, movies and even US periodicals like US Weekly, Entertainment, Vogue or the New Yorker always portray people using iPhones or in a broader sense of the term – Apple products. So according to him, it was simply another trend supporting the Ape-the-west syndrome. Duh! And I thought that only applies to developing nations in Asia! And let me tell you, having stayed a good seven years in Minnesota (again, not that it can be applied to the whole of THE United States of America, as Sridevi put it in English-Vinglish) that is so NOT the case. Americans seem to be a lot more open to cell-phone brands. Even brands like LG and Motorola find a whole lot of buyers!
Now I own my share of Apple products, but I am not an Apple-person AT ALL. I have my reasons, I talk more about the iPhone here, but hear me out!
1. Exclusive accessories. Other brands use the generic USB cable; no worries if you forget your charger on a trip.
2. No bluetooth. Cannot share files/songs with non-Apple users. Should I only befriend iPhone owners?
3. No basic Radio. I love the Indian FM channels! Sure, there are downloadable apps available, but they use internet data.
4. No emoticons available in either WhatsApp or SMSes. Those are fun!
5. Exclusive apps and file formats. Its difficult to transfer files/upload files to sites which require specific formats.
6. Don’t even get me started on the price. The higher the price is, the more novel a product is supposed to be?
7. iTunes dependant – can only sync with one library. Watch out before you delete a file from the library!!
8. Micro SIM – so in case of an emergency where my battery might be dead, I still cannot use my SIM with other phones. PS 25/01/2013: On a recent trip to NZ, a friend of ours who had been to NZ recently loaned us his prepaid SIM cards which we could use there. Guess, what normal SIMs! Won’t work with iPhone!
I recently posted a status update on Facebook which read ‘In what seems to clearly be an iPhone crazy city, my dear little HTC feels like an outdated dinosaur!!!!’. The overwhelming feeling of being surrounded by iPhones did make me contemplate a switch to the league of iPhone lovers in the near/distant future, but with every passing day that I use my HTC, I feel my don’t-do-that resolve building!
I’ll be the first one to admit that by itself, the iPhone is a good product. But what sets it apart from other phones? I am sure iPhone lovers would be quick to defend my accusations, but lets be honest, isn’t it just one of THE MANY good phones in the market, not just THE good phone? If you ask me, one word for the iPhone – Overrated. There I’ve said it.
Let me end this note on a funny quote I found online.
“I found it amusing that iPhone’s website demonstrates how it can help you find a Starbucks just about anywhere. We all know you don’t need to pay $600 for that kind of information. You just need to turn around. A Starbucks will be there.” – Craig Wilson
Over to you, Apple lovers.
I would love to hear your views!
It does, but non iPhone devices cannot connect to it. Yes, the style and looks are awesome. But then that's a huge tradeoff if you have to give up some basic requirements for style. I hate that it is not compatible with other systems. I recently bought MS office for my Mac because I was getting serious about writing (atleast started with contests and stuff) and you have to send .doc formats. Pages doesn't save to .doc. I ended up buying MS office (Thankfully got a great deal) but then even MS Office for Mac is different than the one for windows. You cannot default paragraph settings and margins and such. Did everything I could to not bash my head against the wall.
iPhone has no bluetooth???? But my iPad has it….
What I don't like about Apple — the fragile construction (try dropping an iPhone and see how it blows to bits :P), the sky-high prices, and the incompatibility with other devices. But you gotta admit, their stuff is sleek as hell 😛
I agree, they're great but in isolation. But yes, most iPhone people buy it only because of its brand value and in establishing itself as a brand, there is no doubt that Apple has done a magnificent job! I completely agree about HTC One – I haven't used the others but I guess they're not behind if not ahead! Yes, that's the most important – being able to use the functionality! What's the point in buying a smart phone if one cant even use it as it intended to be used! Sorry about the delay in responding, for some reason this got tagged as spam!
I think Apple products are good products. Especially in computing and for design. I also think that people buy iPhone as it's a brand, and a cool one too. In terms of what iPhone offers over its rival smart phones, well, in my view it offers nothing different. In fact, I will go as far as saying that iPhone rivals such as Samsung S3 and Note 2, and HTC One X are better phones, because they are less restricted, so you can talk to other branded phones without any issues, and they offer allot more in terms of functionality and phone ability.
Those people who I know, who own an iPhone – clearly don't use the to its full potential. They can't as not everyone is a geek.
🙂 Wow, you had no idea how much I can relate to everything you have said. I hate the part where songs go missing too! Yes, the iPad is a good product but I wonder if and how people owning other tables find it comparable! Hopefully those status updates of yours don't happen too often! Good luck!
Ha Ha. Maybe I do. I never thought about that! 🙂 Thank you Megha!
Thanks Ruchira! 🙂 Rightly said!
🙂 Yes, I agree with you there – if you're completely an Apple person, it would work well for you – except for websites which demand uploads in certain formats – which can still be resolved with buying the Mac versions! But that's still an additional cost. But you're right, the craze is not dying down anytime soon!
Hi Deepa, been here a couple of times, but not sure if I ever commented. Anyway, a big hug to you for this post. I hate iiiiiiiii products. I don't hate apple, but the usability. You just can't do one thing straight. You can't sync one thing properly. If you have a book/song in the ipad and not in your laptop, that's it. It vanishes when you sync it. Doesn't have an USB. My sis is a hugeee i-fan. The first smart phone I got is a Samsung S3. It's so easy to use, though big in size.
But, I have an ipad which we use it 24/7 for the price we paid on it. Whenever a book gets deleted from my ipad, you can see my FB status message as, "I hate itunes". Can you believe I didn't sync my ipad for more than a year and half for the fear of losing my downloaded books? 🙁 🙁
LOL 🙂 One starts and everyone follows (including me!) 😀
I think they were under the imprssion it was 1st November 🙂 missed the 1 next to the 1
I enjoyed reading what you wrote..it was like a conversation, I wonder if you talk like that.. 😀
I am not an I-phone user..and I got to know about all these limitations while I was comparing phones..to shortlist one for my brother..I agree with whatever you wrote.. 🙂 ..
Hmm I always wanted an iphone till I read this post 🙂 Another thing I hate about apple products is their dependency on other apple products ..
I loved the quote in the end cheeky but so true 🙂
Hi Deepa.. Nicely written. 🙂 You have hit all the right points here. I own Apple products too but I am no Apple fanatic. 😛 So I don't intend to defend it. 😉 But you are right.. if you have a wide array of Apple products (Mac, iPhone etc..) they work very well together and that makes quite a difference. But agree with the fact that they do have their share of problems and are in fact overrated. The whole Apple brand is quite overrated and seems like the craze is not dying down.
This is so funny Jaish. I actually sobered down my bashings of the iPhone thinking there would be people fighting over the defense, but strangely, not one has done that so far! (for the iPhone specifically). I use my husband's from time to time but yeah I can't wait to switch back to mine. Really hate that non-sharing mode of its. Thank you for the vote of confidence 😉
All credit to Craig Wilson there! 🙂
Got it! Totally in agreement!
If you do a lot of emailing etc. on your iPad, it is a good gadget to own. It is neat, the interface is good, the processor is faster and it does feel like a desktop. But otherwise, other tabs do the job. No, in my comment, I meant Ipad compared to other tablets is superior in its looks, feel and functionality for a geek like my hubby. For me a lesser tablet is equally good. And iPad3, why pay so much more for cosmetic addons. Totally against the non sharing part of Apple.
Hi Deepa
I am an iPhone owner, yet I totally agree with you. I really hate the iTunes dependancy and the lack of FM…Not just Melbourne…In Singapore 6 out of 10 mobile phone owners have an IPhone! Phew!! There are things really cool about it but again it is overrated, I totally agree! 🙂 There! Me Too Brutus! ha ha
the last quote nails it.
Here it seems to be beyond that VK. Everywhere I look, I mean that literally, everywhere – all I see are iPhones. Probably the 7 million would have been an exaggeration, but if I count the number of Apple devices in a train or a tram, I am sure there would be a hundred, coupled with maybe a couple of Samsungs, a couple of HTCs, a Blackberry at most. No Sonys. No Google phones. LG and Motorola are unheard of. At times I have this itch to grab an iPhone and throw it out the window, am so tired of seeing them! 🙂
I was of the same opinion until some time back, even as everyone around me switched to smart phones I still held on to my slider phone steadfastly, but I had to leave it behind with a friend in an emergency. Since that meant that I had to buy another phone, I decided to take the plunge and try a smart phone this time. So far, am liking it 🙂
Nice! I am still waiting to talk to an iPhone user who admits regretting it 🙂 Yes, I agree about it being a status symbol and over-priced for the same/less capabilities as other phones! 🙂 11th November? I'll keep that in mind 🙂 But how come everyone's already wishing you a Happy Birthday on your blog?
In India too people are Apple crazy. But there are people who are fans of other brands too. I agree with the points you have put across about Apple. Till date I have never had a Apple product 🙂
ha ha 😀 loved the ending quote. I am not too fond of iPhone.. Infact I am not too fond of having lot many tings on my phone… bluetooth and radio are good enough as add ons. So I am glad this iPhone frenzy hasn't caught on to me.
The one reason I have not bought Iphone and probably never will.. 99% of my friends who own it are regretting buying it .. more over i think Iphone is jsut a status symbol now.. and also I cant afford it he he he 🙂 too expensive ..
which brings me to the point 11th nov is my birthday HINT HINT HITTttttttt 🙂 Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Bikram's
Ditto for the first part of the first line. I love the looks and the interface too on the iPad 2 (no clue about the iPad – it's superior, how?). But all said and done, its adds to my work 🙁 I guess it also depends on the usage. If all we need to do is games, e-book readers/net browsing I guess other tablets seem to work fine too. But then what kind of usage would really warrant an iPad or iPad 2?
Agree!
At the risk of attracting ire, I'll say good decision! 🙂 Its a good laptop, don't get me wrong, but like you said, in isolation. And my personal opinion, its just as good as any other. As Rachna says, I like the looks and the interface but it adds to my work!
Amazing!! I recently changed my laptop and had done a lot of research on the available models. Hubby was pushing me for Macbook, and I was tempted too but then had seen a colleague struggle with his Macbook, so just dropped the idea!
LOL. That's the only way I can get a .doc format on my Macbook. Unless I get a Mac version of the Word which again, takes me to #6. Most times, I try working directly online on Google docs, but even there, its a basic edition – doesn't have all the fancy stuff that Microsoft Word has. So at times when the other laptop is busy, I type everything up on Google docs, download it later on the HP, format it on Word and then upload. Crazy I tell you! If I am only working on blogposts, Pages or Google docs works just fine.
I love the looks, the interface, I enjoyed my MacMini a lot. But, I own an Android phone. I enjoy free sharing and interaction. And, damn those prices. In the tablets, iPad is superior but I prefer the iPad 2, the cost works fine as well. For my younger son, I have a Micromax tablet; it is for a jaw dropping 6K. Works great if you just need it for games and e-book reader. Both my sons dig it. And the last quote was really good. I buy a gadget as per my requirement not because it is hip or in vogue :).
My God, that's TOO much of pain and efforts to just upload a simple document!! 😐
Been there, done that, so I completely empathize! Our old video iPod (a little bulky one, first or second generation kinds) had this option of manual sync and I loved that. But no one uses those things anymore because they're bulky compared to the tiny little shuffles. Well, win some lose some I guess. I hope your problem gets resolved soon! Best of luck!
You hit the nail on the head. I usually work on the Macbook for no other reason than it being available and charged 🙂 But yes, for documents or something to upload to websites, I either got to type it up on Pages offline, then maybe upload it to Google Docs and then download it as a word document – now why would I want to go to all that effort every time?
A few days back my laptop died and all the songs in Geet's Iphone were synced with it. Now when I tried to add more songs to its playlists using Geet's laptop, the Iphone would not allow me to do it.
You simply CANNOT do it. That was the first time it hit me that we were breeding a selfish monster.
I still haven't found the solution to the problem. All I can think of is to move the hard drive from my old laptop in Geet's laptop, put all the songs in one place and resync.
It is irritating. It's like going back in time.
Apple products are simply great if you work in isolation.But the fact is that most of us don't… so it's simply pointless… no USB, data transfer etc etc. You rightly mentioned it's simply overrated!
Hehe. I honestly do love it too. But I don't have comparison points with other tablets like I have for the iPhone. I am itching to know what other tablet owners think about theirs! 🙂
I loved the quote at the end! :))
Its a bummer that one cannot share files and true about the rest of the points too. But I still love my iPad. Well not mine any longer, my younger son has it now.