The Cost of Apple Discipleship
2007 is going to be a good year for Apple. A very good year. Apple in 2007 will ask you to dip into your pocket a bit more than usual. Do you get your money’s worth from Apple products?
Apple Protection Plan
Most people would rather pay a premium and get a higher quality product. Generally they assume higher quality equals longer life. One of the big disappointments in life is paying for quality but getting crap. It does create a feeling of getting stooged.
Apple has something called the AppleCare Protection Plan - a fancy name for a three year warranty. I’m always cynical when I see extended warranties. If the product is good enough, why only give it a twelve month warranty? Why not give it a three year warranty outright? Looks a bit like profiteering from where I sit. Otherwise it’s an admission that the product won’t last three years without failure of some sort. Why spend good money on a computer that the vendor is betting will be having problems by three years of age? If you’re going to have trouble anyway, why not just buy a cheap computer? No wonder people choose cheap PCs over Macs.
iPod shuffle
Excuse my cynicism, but has Apple managed things nicely to make you replace your shuffle every year or so? The battery in the white iPod shuffle is not replaceable. Ours has conked out after a little over a year. Apple recognize this fault and will replace your iPod shuffle if this happens - for a small service fee that is so close to the cost of a new shuffle it’s not worth it.
On this one hopefully Apple’s acknowledgment of the problem means batteries in subsequent shuffles will have a much longer life. But I won’t hold my breath. After all, in an interview with NBC, Steve didn’t seem at all concerned about the idea of people buying a new iPod every year, saying “You know, you keep on innovating, you keep on making better stuff. And if you always want the latest and greatest, then you have to buy a new iPod at least once a year.” Try as I might, I can’t read anywhere between the lines that that bothers him.
Leopard
What do you think Leopard will cost? US$129? Probably. It will have been two years since you bought Tiger so you wont mind, will you? Until you discover you’ve got to fork out more than that again to take advantage of its new features, in particular Time Machine. Time Machine will require a separate disk or volume. Some people will already have a second hard drive but many others will find themselves having to fork out $100 or more for a new one.
Also, if you want to take advantage of Boot Camp and run Windows, that could cost you another $199 or more.
.Mac
I personally think .Mac is worth having. A lot of people talk about how they can get the same services elsewhere (although I haven’t heard of any that will sync your Keychain), but it’s the all-in-one convenience of .Mac that keeps me coming back.
However, I do agree that it’s no longer justifiable to charge for it. Maybe the first time, but an annual subscription is just milking us.
iWork and iLife
Add these two to your annual cost of Mac ownership. Although they are optional and I didn’t upgrade to iWork ‘06 because there were insufficient features in the new version to justify it - which in itself raises the question about being charged for it.
So what could it cost to own a Mac in 2007 (in US dollars)?
- Leopard: $129
- External HDD: $100
- Windows XP Home: $199
- iWork 07: $79
- iLife 07: $79
- .Mac: $100
That totals $686 and of that, Apple will be pocketing $387.
Apple makes great products (that should come with three year warrantees), but it does stretch the budget and friendship when it so regularly cajoles the loyal customer into forking out their hard earned for yet another “necessity”.
Some people will argue it’s optional, and so it is, but that doesn’t and shouldn’t justify it. Although some years more than others, the cost of discipleship is often too high.
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For what they do, especially when compared to their MS Windows equivalents, Tiger, iLife and iWork are very inexpensive. But, I also agree that people tend to gravitate towards what is cheap and easy, bundling the whole Tiger+iLife+iWork as a complete and simple computer solution for about $149, would make many people consider the Mac as a better alternative; knowing that their system and major aps can be updated about every other year for a single price is very tempting. Buying each of these aps, shelling out more and more money for incremental increases actually does make a loyal user feel like they are being taken advantage. Yea, it could be much worse, my computer could be running MS Windows XP, but merely because the alternative is worse is no comfort from the feeling of being manipulated by someone that claims to be a friend.
Apple enjoys thinking far beyond the box, but they seem to be stuck in the same software marketing rut as the rest of the industry.
Apple’s product pricing is fair and insures further development and innovation going.
What I don’t agree on is .Mac. I understand its usefulness and syncing capabilities but I think Apple should offer .Mac as a “c’mon” to entice more fence-sitters to give in and try-out the Macs and iPods. That would be more $$$ than what Apple can squeeze from .Mac subscribers anyway.
As for AppleCare for $250-350 for additional 3 years can be seen as pick-pocketing by many but taking your machine to a chop shop will cost you about the same and can be more. So why not buy the peace of mind as an insurance? I agree with you that Apple makes darn super-duty industrial designs but I’ve worked in a customer care dept of a wireless company and no matter how good you design the hardware to make them idiot-proof, unexpected things happen and they start trickling back for warranty repairs.
That said, everyone should at least buy the most affordable AppleCare support they can afford. If not, one year is a good measure that a product has been design to withstand years of proper use.
“Most people would rather pay a premium and get a higher quality product.”
Totally false. At least here in the U.S. Walmart would not exist if this were true. I think more than any other industrialized country, Americans willingly buy crappy stuff as long as it’s cheap.
First of all, let me just say that you could replace every noun in this article with the equivalent by another manufacturer and come up with the same conclusion: upgrades cost money.
Point by point:
“If you’re going to have trouble anyway, why not just buy a cheap computer? No wonder people choose cheap PCs over Macs.”
I love these “there couldn’t possibly be a good answer to this, right?” questions. You don’t buy a cheap computer because it a) breaks more often, statistically speaking, b) works like crap when it works. There is no reasonably complex product in the world that doesn’t break. No Lexus driver has had zero service done on their car.
People who choose cheap PCs over Macs (as opposed to people who choose expensive PCs over Macs, and there’s plenty of those) end up with crappy computers that break more often, sooner, and more seriously than Macs. Is this even debatable?
“Excuse my cynicism, but has Apple managed things nicely to make you replace your shuffle every year or so?”
Using a replaceable battery in a Shuffle would have made it pricier and less elegant. If that doesn’t bother you, you’re free to buy another tiny flash-based player. I’ll take the cheap, awesome (and yes, *cool*) Shuffle myself. And mine hasn’t been replaced in two years (your mileage may vary).
“It will have been two years since you bought Tiger so you wont mind, will you?”
Of course not! If Leopard delivers on the mix of previewed and expected features, it will be absolutely worth it. I pay money for things I need and want; if Leopard is one, why wouldn’t I pay for it?
“Until you discover you’ve got to fork out more than that again to take advantage of its new features, in particular Time Machine.”
You don’t say. And I’ll end up with a new hard drive and what looks like a brilliant automatic backup feature. Are you saying the feature and the hard drive should be free, or are you saying that they’re not things worth owning in the first place?
“Also, if you want to take advantage of Boot Camp and run Windows, that could cost you another $199 or more.”
As opposed to those other dual-boot solutions that come with a free copy of Windows? By the way, if this article is talking about a typical Mac zealot, those will most likely not want to take “advantage” (yikes) of Boot Camp.
The same argument applies to iLife and iWork as does to your other points: if I need/want them, I’ll pay for them.
Here’s the conclusion, then:
“it does stretch the budget and friendship when it so regularly cajoles the loyal customer into forking out their hard earned for yet another “necessity”.”
Who ever said this? Does Apple not support older versions? How often do they phase out hardware or software? I can run most Apple software on a G3 laptop. Let’s have some perspective - running Vista, for instance, will require *most* users to buy a whole new machine.
If the hype surrounding Apple’s products makes them feel like a necessity, you can deal with that mental problem in two ways: give in to it or accept that you don’t need the latest toys. Isn’t that the case with all products? Why pick on Apple? Does Sony run ads saying, “Remember that TV you bought in 1999? It’s still our hottest item. We just wanted to let you know you don’t need a new one.”
“Some people will argue it’s optional, and so it is, but that doesn’t and shouldn’t justify it.”
This is close to meaningless. Why should Apple have to “justify” the fact that they come out with fantastic, desirable new products regularly? Maybe they shouldn’t charge for them?
“Although some years more than others, the cost of discipleship is often too high.”
Compared to what? Compared to the cost of not buying Apple products and ending up (most likely) with lesser ones? Or compared to the cost of not buying every single new thing Apple comes out with?
There are valid complaints to be made about Apple’s products. The iPod scratches. The notebooks get hot. No brand or manufacturer is immune to problems, but the point is that both the intended and the real-world user experience with an Apple product is better than even the advertised experience with most competitors. This isn’t always quantifiable, but just look at the Mac community - we love this stuff the way we don’t love most our other possessions. That’s the *value* of Apple discipleship, and I for one think it’s the best deal around.
I run the awesome Tiger on a PowerBook G4. I’d love to get a MacBook, and I can’t wait for Leopard. In the meantime, here I am, running a beautiful OS on an amazing machine, looking forward to even better toys in the future.
How is this a bad thing?
Chris, this must be among the worst articles on this site ever. You may state that it should not be the case that computers, especially mobile computers, fail. I would happy if it were like that, but it isn’t. They fail. Apple Care for our notebooks saved us several thousand $ over the years. Nobody forces you to upgrade your OS, or your software. It is your own technolust that commands it. You could probaly very well run an OS9, or even OS8 machine if you keep your technolust at bay and be perfectly happy nonetheless. Certain things won’t be fun, admittedly.
Not owning an external HD for frequent backups should be punishable. In fact I would love it if Apple had one, and had it right there next to the other standard accessories when ordering online. Because computers, especially hard drives do fail (and batteries, and screens, and logicboards, and power supplies…). So a backup drive is not a luxury, it is as basic as your keyboard and mouse, it just costs more. Adding XP to the list is where it gets borderline. I can’t hear it anymore. It is a pretty option for geeks, gamers, and the odd person who actually needs a non-Mac app for business reasons. It’s a crutch though. The Mac is OS X. Basically, you are complaining that keeping a computer up to date costs money. Consider changing your perspective.
Chris, Chris, Chris. When you are going to learn that even though this site promises an “irreverent” look at Apple, that the Mac-tard community is only interested in an uncritical REVERENT look at Apple. And the more reverent the better. Too often, the beleagured Mac-tards here have to pipe in reverence from OTHER sites, like Daring Fireball and Roughly Drafted.
So please stop. Get back to the tried and true rehashing of why Macs are cheaper, virus-free, make you smarter, more creative, bound to reach doublt-digit marketshare any minute now, cure acne, and save kittens. We will simply label everything else the “worst article on this site ever.”
I’m amazed at the depth and breadth of evidence and reasoning in Beeblebrox’s post regarding the cost and value of Apple products.
Somebody needs a new cookie-cutter, I think…
Beeb, it is a rant from a - in our economic system - hopeless position. It blames a principle “wrong” on Apple. You may discuss the wrong, but you may not blame Apple for selling new products at a given price. It’s their job, they are a company. If you want a world where great software flows free, and you get a new cool computer each year, for free, then reconsider your economic value set, maybe read Callenbach for some more inspiration, and go out and change things.
Basically, you are complaining that keeping a computer up to date costs money.
The title of the article is “The Cost of Apple Discipleship.” Discipleship goes beyond merely keeping your computer up to date. It’s shelling out dough for the Apple lifestyle, whether or not you are truly getting your money’s worth.
Mac-tards are fond of pointing out the hidden costs of Windows, but balk at the notion that there are any such costs associated with Macs. Apple Care is a significant one, often 10% or more of the product’s sticker price.
Somebody needs a new cookie-cutter, I think…
This from someone who’s initial post can be summed up using every Mac-tard apologist cliche in the books. “What about OTHER companies?! No one is forcing you to upgrade! Besides, it’s cheaper when you add up the numbers right! And it’s worth it! Macs just work!” And blah blabady blah.
And just so we’re on the same page and I understand where you’re coming from, this is what consitutes “depth and breadth of evidence and reasoning” to a kool-aid swilling Mac shill:
“I run the awesome Tiger on a PowerBook G4. I’d love to get a MacBook, and I can’t wait for Leopard. In the meantime, here I am, running a beautiful OS on an amazing machine, looking forward to even better toys in the future.
How is this a bad thing?”
The only “depth” I see is how far you’ve got your head up Steve Jobs’s ass.
The “Cost of Apple Discipleship” is nothing more than economics - a product will survive in the market at a given price point as long as people are willing to pay for it. I like the Microsoft Office suites but I don’t care for the Windows operating system. I have owned and used Windows xx, Mac OS/OS X, Solaris, AIX (IBMs Unix), Redhat, and Suse, and managed all of them in fairly large deployments.
Mac-tard, Mac-turd, Machead, Macbutt…call me what you will, I prefer Apple. I personally think it is a better (more elegant and better quality) system (OS and hardware) than any of the others on their respective hardware. Now, the first 4 months of owning my Titanium PB I had to deal with a weekly “grey screen of death.” This was most disconcerting to my Mac-tardedness but it eventually was fixed and my Macvangalism was quickly dealt a swift blow of humility. I guess according to Beeblebrox that makes me a Mac-tard…ok…
Is the cost of Discipleship too high? Not for the disciple. It will be when they stop paying for it.
I have owned a [used] Beemer before and I think it was the best built car I have ever driven. Is it worth the new sticker price - I don’t think so - I wouldn’t pay that. Would I own another one at the right price? Absolutely. Will something cheaper (less expensive) do the job? yes.
Based on the market, I think the cost of owning the Apple lifestyle is not too much…yet…but I am just a Mac-tard…what do I know…
You offer no disproof or counterpoint to my points. Do you have some aversion to specifics, or are you just practicing your epithets?
And way to quote an illustrative final paragraph as the gist of my post. Here, I’ll use the same distillation technique on your last post:
“ass.”
P.S. “who’s” is not a word.
My post was in reference to the article as written by the author and was a general opinion on the work as titled - it had little to do with you or your post so I am a bit confused as to why you took offense.
Forgive me for improper spell checking, you can blame the PC I am working on…
To the odious a*$hole above that I opine a parasitical maggot in the Mac universe, I am beginning to like you.
Not because I have a budding affection to your meritless and foul-odored comments but I can see that without you to kick and slush around, it wouldn’t be much fun to be a Macbot, a Mac-tard, or a Mac-zealot any longer.
It would hurt me more not to see your unkind, hypocritical blabber in matters of technology of any kind.
So, pleeze stick around and feel free to swagger us Mac faithful because we admit, we love you. Our lives would be so one-sided and yes, boring.
How ‘bout throwing us more of your f%&king; shit at every meaningful article that comes out of A.M.‘s genius writers? FYI, I admit to have great respect for Roughly Drafted’s creative genius myself but don’t peep your A$$ for a swarm of ruthless Mac-tards populate the site and at Digg’s Apple HQ. You have been dutifully warned…
<i>You offer no disproof or counterpoint to my points. <i>
There is no way to prove or disprove “Apple sure does have fantastic products, so just shut up with the criticism.”
And that you provide no particular depth or breadth of reasoning while demanding it from me (and, not it should be noted, from anyone else) is indicative of exactly what I’m talking about.