4 ms·

MobileMe? Really? I've never registered for that, and I don't think I'm benefit deficient. iTunes, only if you have an iPod, and I think most people recogniz

by brk 17y ago

MobileMe? Really? I've never registered for that, and I don't think I'm benefit deficient. iTunes, only if you have an iPod, and I think most people recognize what they are opting in to if you go down that road. (Is the Zune any better in that regard?). I've bought Dell and HP home and corporate desktop machines (again, though not in the last few years). Both were burdened with a lot of pre-installed junk. If I have to reinstall the OS on a new PC, I think that is sort of a non-win. I suppose it is a matter of perspective, but the Apple machines I've purchased have not come burdened with a ton of 3rd party crap, and have not made removal of what IS installed (iWork as an example) overly difficult if you choose to do so.

Tichy 17y ago
I haven't registered with MobileMe either, it was just an example that Apple DOES try to push things on you. And you mention the difference: one is 3rd party stuff, Apple pushes Apple. It still pushes. Again it is the useless comparison between "Apple" and "PCs". There are bad PC vendors and, OK, less bad PC vendors. Shop smart, and you don't have to put up with preinstalled crapware. Not even with Dell. "Overly difficult" is entirely in the eye of the beholder...
- stcredzero 17y ago
  Does "Shop Smart" mean "Reinstall the OS from Scratch?" Apple pushes Apple. It still pushes Difference between Apple and Dell: Apple prompts you fewer times, doesn't try to make you feel insecure about opting out, and looks respectable throughout the whole experience. Last time I set up a PC, it was like passing an aisle of carnival hawkers.
  - notauser 17y ago
    In many ways it's more irritating when it happens with Apple software because they have set expectations about usability higher. I _know_ I'm going to need to zap a new PC, so it doesn't bother me so much. Compare to OS X where I was promised a good experience. I can't even do a clean install of OS X as the junk is baked into the operating system.
    - mmt 17y ago
      I _know_ I'm going to need to zap a new PC This would seem to support the article's thesis of degradation of trust. Still, I would say that the ability, let alone expectation, to reinstall an OS, marks you as being more technically apt than the average user.
  - Tichy 17y ago
    With my recent purchases I did not have to reinstall from scratch. I suppose Dell still tries to sell you Norton or something like that in their PC configurator, but if you don't chose it, it should not be on the PC. They are capable of learning... The worst experience I had was with an expensive Sony Vaio Notebook (which did not have an OS installation CD either). Luckily I could send it back. But if you buy Sony, you must not complain, after the rootkit debacle.
- brk 17y ago
  So much of it is in the presentation. Sure, there are a couple of places where Apple tries to upsell you, but the process of ignoring those offers is not overly difficult or confusing. The impression they give is, to me, one in which they are more concerned about the overall user experience. Microsoft and Dell/HP/et al seem to have almost no concern for how the customer perceives their initial experiences with the product. Getting an MS/Dell PC, you also automatically get 8 other vendors along for the ride. The specific benefit, and long or short term value, of any of those vendors is often not made very clear. Some of the products pop right up in your face, while others sit in the background and/or practically hide from any uninstallation attempts.
jhancock 17y ago
_Not_ registering for MobileMe is a benefit unless you are blowing cash on iPhone 3G data plans and really get value from iPhone and Mac data and email sync. For everyone else, its a net loss. me.com's web site is painfully slow (sorry SproutCore, somethings's just not right with this app). I've been working for over a year to migrate away from my mac.com email address so I won't have to renew in a few months.

by brk 17y ago

Tichy 17y ago

I haven't registered with MobileMe either, it was just an example that Apple DOES try to push things on you. And you mention the difference: one is 3rd party stuff, Apple pushes Apple. It still pushes. Again it is the useless comparison between "Apple" and "PCs". There are bad PC vendors and, OK, less bad PC vendors. Shop smart, and you don't have to put up with preinstalled crapware. Not even with Dell. "Overly difficult" is entirely in the eye of the beholder...

stcredzero 17y ago
Does "Shop Smart" mean "Reinstall the OS from Scratch?" Apple pushes Apple. It still pushes Difference between Apple and Dell: Apple prompts you fewer times, doesn't try to make you feel insecure about opting out, and looks respectable throughout the whole experience. Last time I set up a PC, it was like passing an aisle of carnival hawkers.
- notauser 17y ago
  In many ways it's more irritating when it happens with Apple software because they have set expectations about usability higher. I _know_ I'm going to need to zap a new PC, so it doesn't bother me so much. Compare to OS X where I was promised a good experience. I can't even do a clean install of OS X as the junk is baked into the operating system.
  - mmt 17y ago
    I _know_ I'm going to need to zap a new PC This would seem to support the article's thesis of degradation of trust. Still, I would say that the ability, let alone expectation, to reinstall an OS, marks you as being more technically apt than the average user.
- Tichy 17y ago
  With my recent purchases I did not have to reinstall from scratch. I suppose Dell still tries to sell you Norton or something like that in their PC configurator, but if you don't chose it, it should not be on the PC. They are capable of learning... The worst experience I had was with an expensive Sony Vaio Notebook (which did not have an OS installation CD either). Luckily I could send it back. But if you buy Sony, you must not complain, after the rootkit debacle.
brk 17y ago
So much of it is in the presentation. Sure, there are a couple of places where Apple tries to upsell you, but the process of ignoring those offers is not overly difficult or confusing. The impression they give is, to me, one in which they are more concerned about the overall user experience. Microsoft and Dell/HP/et al seem to have almost no concern for how the customer perceives their initial experiences with the product. Getting an MS/Dell PC, you also automatically get 8 other vendors along for the ride. The specific benefit, and long or short term value, of any of those vendors is often not made very clear. Some of the products pop right up in your face, while others sit in the background and/or practically hide from any uninstallation attempts.

jhancock 17y ago

_Not_ registering for MobileMe is a benefit unless you are blowing cash on iPhone 3G data plans and really get value from iPhone and Mac data and email sync. For everyone else, its a net loss. me.com's web site is painfully slow (sorry SproutCore, somethings's just not right with this app). I've been working for over a year to migrate away from my mac.com email address so I won't have to renew in a few months.