I’ve been called a fanboy too many times…an Apple fanboy. Let me get things straight for all of you anti-apple cool kids, “I’m not an Apple Fanboy!”.
Possibly the best definition of fanboy is from wikionary:
Someone (normally male) who is utterly devoted to a single subject or hobby, often to the point where it is considered an obsession
By that definition I could call anti-apple trolls “anti-apple fanboys” since it’s their obsession to point out their distrust no matter what the original subject was about.
Anyways…
I do tend to show appreciation for my Apple products, only because they have a positive impact more than any other. And since I’m a “techie”/gadget hobbyist and I make a living from the technology and the internet I’ve spent a lot of time preferring one product over another.
The desktop computer: It’s arguably the most essential piece of technology in our lives and the OS plays the largest roll of providing what we need and how we need it. From experience OS X is hands-down the best operating system out there; Linux at a distant second; Windows at an even further distant 3rd last.
Yes, Windows is the most popular OS but even though Microsoft did something right with Windows in the past to get them into this position it doesn’t mean their doing what’s right with Windows now. The only advantage they have, which is huge, is the ability to install the OS on any computer hardware you want ( if you purchase the correct version out of the four
billion available 
). BTW: that’s not “freedom”, that’s a business decision.
With that bit of history out of the way, to hopefully distill and prevent the anti-apple fanboys ms lovers…I’ll continue…
Unlike any other OS: OS X allows me to work 10 hours in front of a computer without frustration, we all know if you useWindows you’re more than likely to get frustrated with it–daily; that’s my overwhelming experience ( I dread the 3-5 hours a week I need to use it ); I used Windows for a long time, too long, every job in my adult life included working at a Windows machine ( except one short stint at a GL where I was able go 80% OSX and 20% Linux as a sys. admin. ).
Another building block of the desktop computer is applications, regardless of what you believe Apple’s developer community is rich. It may not be as large but the quality of these applications are great, largely attributed by the developer tools that Apple provides. Anyone that says functionality defines an app is wrong, it’s the user experience. The iPhone is a great example.
Computer Wrap:
- OS X is not perfect but in relation to any other OS it is the closest we’ve got.
- It’s also constantly improving and innovating.
- Developer community is exceptional
- Negative: while perfection does cost only $29 to upgrade you are required to purchase a quality piece of Apple hardware. Premium cost should be expected from a hardware and digital distribution company.
The phone may be the acclaimed as the number one technology tool it’s a close second for me:
Again, “why would I use an iPhone over a X?”, like OS X the iPhone user experience and functionality doesn’t frustrate me.
There’s only one other phone out there that didn’t frustrate me, it’s the Blackberry. Partly do to the BB stability.
I choose to use the iPhone over any blackberry or any other mobile phone because of it’s superior UE and quality
applications. There should be no doubt the Apple store was/is the best thing to happen to the phone application market, it accomplished something handango couldn’t and it’s something all major handheld venders ( MS, BB, Palm and Android ) are moving to. Even other verticals, like the DSi and PSP have adopted something very similar.
In comparison the difference between these new app stores are/could-be restrictions but no-one really knows. The
current stores ( android ) are rather small but still have their problems of removals and rejected apps.
Phone Wrap:
- The app store has been successful for all parties involved: Apple, the developer and the biggest successor is the consumer. You could also include any future or present alternatives.
- The iPhone hardware is solid, it’s changed minimally over the last few years and it’s only now that some vendors are catching up ( e.g. G2 ) but…
- …like the desktop OS the phone’s OS is critical to UE and the iPhone OS is exceptional compared to the competition. Partly attributed by the application restrictions that also cause a negative downside…
- Negative: Apple is making some really bad decisions for their customers and whether ATT is pulling them or requiring apple to do so shouldn’t matter.
- No-one knows what the real motivation or calculated business decisions was/were/are made behind rejecting apps or removing applications.
One would take the opportunity to theorize a master planned conspiracy for world domination with that last point; instead I’ll refrain from concluding anything ( except [1] ); but and if those unlikely theories do come to pass my continues review of alternatives will lead me to the best user experience and productivity in my digital life/work–regardless of the company.
[1] …except to point out that all media rights owners ( music and video ) and iphone application vendors have a choice to deal with Apple distribution channel and their restrictions.
