I've just been reading a thread on RMWeb about the new digital version of Model Rail which has intially been launched for iPads with an Android version to follow.

I have an iPad which I really like and an HP laptop which is a bit old and slow - like me. What I don't really understand is why there is so much animosity towards Apple products from some quarters. 

I do like Apple products beacause they are so easy to use and look beautiful but if something else that I like comes along and it makes sense to buy it then I will do so.

Regards

Veronica.

Part of the human psyche, people become attached to brands (which manufacturers take advantage of), and some people are defensive of something they have bought.  If the item bought is criticised then the person who made the purchase may feel criticised for their decision.  This is also apparent in the car market.  Do you know anyone who always buy the same marque of car? Oh and the software market.  My OS is better (bigger) than yours.
Note I have not mentioned gender.

I am not completely anti apple, I dislike they way you need to use things like itunes when other mp3 players you just bung a load of mp3 files on and you are off, bit of a monopoly there 

Apple computers are superb if you are working with graphics, they leave Windows based PC's way behind.  It has been a while since I used an Apple computer but when I did I found the software easy to learn to use and it was Apple who invented the GUI which made computing much easier for folk to grasp 

cheers John.

Interesting question Veronica. I have to say people I find people who are vocal on either side of the apple / anti-apple camp just as annoying.

I currently use Win 7, a Linux based distro (hats off to Etched Pixels ) and have a number of apple portable devices (iphones, ipads, ipods). My favourite is probably Windows - generally because of its flexibility and ease of use.

Linux derivatives are fun (I've played with a number over the years) plus I really like the fact thats its a community product - but dont particularly like the faffing about thats sometimes required. Its not that Im scared of terminal (or even cutting code) but sometimes I just enjoy a nice ui to happily guide me along.

I really love apple's portable devices - very easy to use, intuitive, apps a-plenty (even if feature limited...) but I generally dont like their desktop os.... perhaps its just because I'm not used to its nuances.

Each to their own I guess - its just an os.

Apple V Micorsoft,  Apple V Samsung, Model Railways Scale wars  N V 00,O   OO V P4,EM etc  we just like to argue its what makes us human, oh that and making tools and killing anyhting that moves....

And no  scotsoft Apple did not invent the GUI, we can thank XEROX PARC for that one, Apple just make a nice one thats all. 
Bit like patenting large black rectangles (got any cave men with cow bones to hand??), or rounded corners....

Quote from: AndyGif on November 13, 2012, 11:07:51 AM
And no  scotsoft Apple did not invent the GUI, we can thank XEROX PARC for that one, Apple just make a nice one thats all. 
Bit like patenting large black rectangles (got any cave men with cow bones to hand??), or rounded corners....

Speaking of making less than less-than-descript objects patentable/copywrited- but I found this quite amusing....

http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/fuzzy-logic/57380-clock-shock-apples-timely-$21m-payment-to-swiss-railways

Sorry for taking this off topic - but its almost railway related... 

Apple have undeniably been responsible for several innovations and popularising new product types,  and are very good at marketing them - generating hype and brand-loyalty making them for some 'must have' items as much as a status symbol as a productive tool...

However other manufacturers very quickly catch up (and generally surpass in terms of functionality, compatability, and flexibility) usually at a significantly lower price point.

So why do people buy Apple products? For the same reason they buy a BMW 3 series or Mercedes C class rather than a Ford Mondeo... The Mondeo is probably the better all round car, most reliable and significantly cheaper for the same spec, but loyal followers of the 3 pointed star or the blue & white propeller precieve the blue oval will not make the same impression on their neighbours when parked on their driveway...

Because they spend all their time sueing people and trying to block others from doing cool stuff ? And then behave badly when they get caught out, even to the courts ?

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/apple-to-pay-samsungs-uk-legal-fees-due-to-lack-of-integrity/

As Alan says - primarily because they paint themselves as whiter than white yet behave badly!  Add in closed shop software, overpriced hardware etc etc.

Having said all that I have access to a variety of W7, XP, Debian, Android and IOS devices and all have strengths and weaknesses.

My new laptop will be either something running W7 (not W8!) or OSX.

Cheers, Mike 

Quote from: PLD on November 13, 2012, 11:51:01 AM
So why do people buy Apple products? For the same reason they buy a BMW 3 series or Mercedes C class rather than a Ford Mondeo... The Mondeo is probably the better all round car, most reliable and significantly cheaper for the same spec, but loyal followers of the 3 pointed star or the blue & white propeller precieve the blue oval will not make the same impression on their neighbours when parked on their driveway...

This is bit of the whole discussion (not just here) that winds me up.

I bought a Mac because I like OS X.  It has a GUI that feels unobtrusive, smooth and intuitive to me.  It has a proper working Unix underneath.  It has reasonable access to both flavours of software - closed / commercial and libre / gratis - at least for the programs I'm interested in.  It has a good development environment.  I know it's going to Just Work on the computer I bought it on.

Yes, I could have paid less for a PC with bigger numbers in the spec sheet, but I wouldn't have had OS X.  (Hackintosh not withstanding; I don't have the free time or the interest).  I'm prepared to pay a certain amount of price premium to get that.

That people disagree, and prefer Linux or (heaven forbid!) Windows, fine.  That people object to Apple's business activities or the closed nature of the products enough to not buy them, fine.  But please do me the courtesy of assuming I'm able to evaluate products and make a rational decision based on what I value, rather than being a fashion-following sheep who wants a cool badge to show the other sheep.

Rant over, I'll get my coat...

Looks like the brown smelly stuff has been thrown into the rotating thingy

I am following this with interest, albeit with not 100% comprehension
Please don't let it get personal

Quote from: newportnobby on November 13, 2012, 01:06:01 PM
Please don't let it get personal

It wasn't intended to be - PLD, my apologies if that came across as an attack in any way, it was just the right point in the discussion to jump in.

I've left one model railway club already due to them not being able to comprehend my wish to use a computer & smartphone that work properly and don't sell my information to the highest paying advertisers and use "Apple Fanboy" as an attempted insult or throw whatever rubbish has been talked about on the net to try and make me use something not quite as good.

I've used Apple computers and software since before the Mac and will probably be using them after I retire. I've even used them to develop Xbox games for Microsoft (running Windows virtually on a Mac turned out to be a lot more reliable than running it on PC hardware). I use them because theywork properly, I trust the company to be looking after my interests as a customer (along with their own of course, which is why they look after their customers) and I've done pretty well so far.

Abit like Toyota and Lexus
Subaru and Daihatsu are also owned by the same company Fuji Heavy Industrys

I can see your point tim-pelican.  I've been a user of Apple products since 1989.  I currently have an iPhone 4S because the brand is reliable, I needed a 64gb hard drive and the phone does what I need.  It's not because other people have bought it.  Generalising all Apple customers as only following fashion is clearly wrong!