As the Digital Markets Act antitrust law passed in the European Union, Apple has until March 2024 to let users...
Japan prepares regulation requiring Apple to allow sideloading::As the Digital Markets Act antitrust law passed in the European Union, Apple has until March 2024 to let users...
I like Apple products because they just work. I have tried Windows, Linux, & Android, but I ultimately decided on just using the Apple Ecosystem (except for my gaming computer) because the products just work well. Sure they cost more and are locked down but I am willing to sacrifice those things for things for the boost in productivity.
Apple isn’t for everybody but their products have upsides.
Why downvotes? They are both right, with an exception of MacBooks. Otherwise, you are limited by use cases predicted by the manufacturer, even if it "just works".
I use both iPhone and MacBook, with the latter mostly as a Unix that, again, "just works", but I can even go as far as compile whole GNU userspace natively with Gentoo Prefix (one of many options).
Cuz it makes no sense. You wouldn’t complain that the iPhone doesn’t work as a skateboard because they don’t want you using it as a skateboard. It doesn’t work as a skateboard because it’s not a skateboard. All companies design products to be used the way the company wants you to use them. If op is talking about it being super locked down, that’s also incorrect. I can disable plenty of the security features on Mac and it continues to work just fine, compared to windows where if you disable UAC you literally cannot use your computer the same way and it will bug you constantly. It’s just a trope that isn’t really true at all.
Thinking I am referring to using a computer as not a computer is pretty ridiculous. A computer is a tool that in capable hands can do many things not originally expected by their creators.
I generally like macOS and agree that it isn't locked down. I've used Apple computers since the Apple 2, but the first one I bought myself was an iBook G4 and later a Macbook Air. I haven't kept close attention since MacOS X went beyond version 11 though.
Certainly not an all-inclusive list but some examples off the top of my head:
Use industry standards like OpenGL/Vulkan instead of Metal
run 32-bit apps if I so desire
hiding config options like monitor DPI settings
copy media to/from iPhone without iTunes or 3rd party apps
extend the life of hardware by upgrading components
reducing the life of hardware by soldering the components to the motherboard
use another voice assistant or web browser engine in iOS
virtualize their OS on non-Apple hardware
run emulation or virtualization apps on iOS
iMessage
native backups on self hosted storage
Some of these have workarounds or 3rd party apps to handle. Others may not be a problem on all hardware models or is simply a EULA matter. Or Apple has a solution for it if you buy their product for it but if you want to use your existing hardware you're SOL.
My concerns boil down to the choices Apple has made to keep you in their ecosystem and extract as much $$ as possible from their end users.