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To be fair, I think many of their Mac-related problems over the past few years are a result of no one being able to defend the line internally, too. Management

To be fair, I think many of their Mac-related problems over the past few years are a result of no one being able to defend the line internally, too. Management is a difficult problem.

simonh 6y ago
I think this is a misunderstanding. The problems with the Mac have not been due to neglect, but due to very aggressive forward looking and innovative advancements of the platform some of which just failed. You don’t develop all new low profile keyboard technology, an original touch sensitive display interface system, a new hinge mechanism, a custom integrated security and image processing chip (T2), and a unique 5k display system through neglect. The problem is some of these advancements were simply misconceived. It wasn’t lack of interest or investment, it was poor execution of some of the new developments. Steve Jobs used to say that being better necessarily meant being different, but being different means taking risks and sometimes they don’t pay off.
- Baeocystin 6y ago
  Perhaps we just have a different opinion, and that's OK. I don't work at Apple, so I have no deeper insight, other than to me, it looks like the Mac branch has been flailing with no clear direction for some time now. They may have the money to try things, but there no one steering the ship, so to speak.
- sangnoir 6y ago
  Apple bought fell for the whole "Post-PC" mirage when the iPhone & iPad were on a tear: the desktop Mac was definitely neglected for years with no advancements while manpower was directed at iOS & iOS devices. What they did come up with, was the form-over-function trashcan Mac "Pro" with severe thermal limitations. They only got it right on their next attempt (some 2+ years later), after being publicly called out for neglecting their pro customers (Final Cut Pro X and the trashcan Mac were the final straw for a lot of video professionals who switched to Windows). For a while, the software quality of new OS releases was night and day, comparing iOS and OS X. It was clear where the focus was. Apple's org structure has it's weaknesses.
  - numpad0 6y ago
    The largest issue with the trashcan MacPro6,1 was complete lack of GPU performance. They weren’t even VR capable.
    - rleigh 6y ago
      The biggest problem is the form-over-function design. The same applies to the new one as well, though it's not as bad. In both cases, they are missing out on the business market who need a workhorse. Both are priced out of most people's budgets. We end up buying Mac Minis and struggling with their limited capabilities and expansion options. Their whole strategy here is poor. They don't have any midrange options between the two extremes.

To be fair, I think many of their Mac-related problems over the past few years are a result of no one being able to defend the line internally, too. Management is a difficult problem.

simonh 6y ago

I think this is a misunderstanding. The problems with the Mac have not been due to neglect, but due to very aggressive forward looking and innovative advancements of the platform some of which just failed. You don’t develop all new low profile keyboard technology, an original touch sensitive display interface system, a new hinge mechanism, a custom integrated security and image processing chip (T2), and a unique 5k display system through neglect. The problem is some of these advancements were simply misconceived. It wasn’t lack of interest or investment, it was poor execution of some of the new developments. Steve Jobs used to say that being better necessarily meant being different, but being different means taking risks and sometimes they don’t pay off.

Baeocystin 6y ago
Perhaps we just have a different opinion, and that's OK. I don't work at Apple, so I have no deeper insight, other than to me, it looks like the Mac branch has been flailing with no clear direction for some time now. They may have the money to try things, but there no one steering the ship, so to speak.
sangnoir 6y ago
Apple bought fell for the whole "Post-PC" mirage when the iPhone & iPad were on a tear: the desktop Mac was definitely neglected for years with no advancements while manpower was directed at iOS & iOS devices. What they did come up with, was the form-over-function trashcan Mac "Pro" with severe thermal limitations. They only got it right on their next attempt (some 2+ years later), after being publicly called out for neglecting their pro customers (Final Cut Pro X and the trashcan Mac were the final straw for a lot of video professionals who switched to Windows). For a while, the software quality of new OS releases was night and day, comparing iOS and OS X. It was clear where the focus was. Apple's org structure has it's weaknesses.
- numpad0 6y ago
  The largest issue with the trashcan MacPro6,1 was complete lack of GPU performance. They weren’t even VR capable.
  - rleigh 6y ago
    The biggest problem is the form-over-function design. The same applies to the new one as well, though it's not as bad. In both cases, they are missing out on the business market who need a workhorse. Both are priced out of most people's budgets. We end up buying Mac Minis and struggling with their limited capabilities and expansion options. Their whole strategy here is poor. They don't have any midrange options between the two extremes.