Losing faith in Apple?

[Gedankenspiel]

I am a die-hard Apple fan and even worked for Apple and some point in the late 90s. I grew up with LCII's, Performas and even until today have bought into just about every generation of Powerbooks Apple has released.

However, my passion and fascination with Apple products is starting to fade, and here is why:

1. Web browsing still unbearably slow
Come on - the web is not a new thing anymore. Many years have passed since Mozilla 0.9 and peoples attention span for slow downloads and slow app open times was long. I work on both platforms and many times have tried to use the Mac for flash and ColdFusion development. Every time I start a bigger project I decide to use the PC because using the web is a miserable experience on the Mac. IE still crashes all the time and renders pages incomplete. Navigator (the tiny version) is quicker but QT and Flash work horribly in it. Other alternatives are not really viable as a developer. So here is my quesiton:
What is it about the Apple platform that makes the web browsing experience so horrible?

2. Launch of web services too much for Apple to handle?
I just tried publishing some iPhoto pictures on .mac and once again it failed miserably. Thinking it might be my own DSL connection or my machine I eliminated any potential issues on my side with the same result. Everyone has been witness to the .mac website and mail fiasco last month and I thought Apple had finally gotten a grip on it. Yesterday I discovered yet again that .mac was temorarily unavailable - on a MONDAY morning?
The point is - is this really Apple's expertise? Not only am I questioning the value of the services i get from Apple for my $100, but I am also losing trust in the service itself.
Apple should focus on hardware and operating system and on developing partnerships and incentives for developers - not to create their own web ASP service - that's very 2000.

3. Where is the future?
This one is simple - where is Apple going? My emotional attachment to the brand is wearing off and my excitement for what's next is also limited. What happened to the anticipation before a Mac World Expo? The last 1 has left us with nothing much new to engage in. Sure, processors are faster - yet again - and video cards are slightly faster - yet again - and screens are slightly better - yet again. But that doesn;t make me dish out a premium for Apple machines anymore. Processor speeds are close to reaching a plateu and people don't abandon their old machine to buy one that is three times faster anymore. The only way you get people to switch is by giving them a REAL reason and that simply hasn't happened for a while.

So anyways, on I go with my PC on the left to make a living (developing) and my Mac on the right for fun (iTunes, iPhoto and Photoshop) on the right.

G

[masternew]

Sir you have expressed my sentiments exactly, I think Apple should encourage developers and also the company itself should focus on what they do be which is innovation.



Just my two cents

[ksv]

They are drowning in their own ideology.

[ManicDevlin]

My predictions will materialise. Apple will soon or later switch to PC for its software and hardware support starting by 2005. It is inevitable.

Apple can't close it's doors forever!

[ksv]

Originally posted by ManicDevlin
My predictions will materialise. Apple will soon or later switch to PC for its software and hardware support starting by 2005. It is inevitable.

Apple can't close it's doors forever!

That's the most laughable crap I've heard in a long time.

[ScottW]

I have been a Mac user for a long time, and a Apple user before that. I have switched many people from Windows to Macs. But you know, when you can buy an awesome top of the line Dell desktop system w/ monitor for $600-$900, it makes you think twice.

I hate Windows, don't like it at all. But, I can run every program I run on a normal basis on a Windows box, with the exception of iMovie. All the graphics programs, business apps, you name it, I wouldn't feel limited in any way.

I don't see myself being a convert to Windows any time in the near future, but the price point might be a major factor in my next major purchase.

Aqua is slow, no one can deny.

Admin

[Rhino_G3]

Apple will make a big, floppy, nose dive to the ground before they'll switch to a software only company. It won't happen.

originaly posted by ksv

They are drowning in their own ideology.

You're completely correct in that one. I think they need to make things a little simpler.

[Trip]

I've only been using macs for about 5 years now but i've learned one great thing about Apple: they know what they're doing, even though they may not show it. They know what they want the future to look like and they're heading in that direction, not entirely fast, but they're getting there. Apple as a group doesn't like the public to know too much about their future idea's so they keep them quiet, and wait until the last minute to release information.

Give 'em at least 2 years...I, personally, assure you: you will not be let down.