When I think back to what got me so interested in Apple computers, it was three things. First it was how user friendly they were (and still are). My friends were spending their summer days downloading drivers and staring at Dos screens, while I was actually accomplishing something. Maybe I didn’t have the all of the software options, but what I had worked, and well for that matter.
Second was the customer service/community that Apple had for their products. Being an Apple user was as good as gold because if you ever had a problem, it felt like there would be a support system there to help you out. It was almost like belonging to a secret alliance of some sort. Does this sound familiar? “Hey bro, do you use Apple? Oh you do.” And before you knew it you could strike up a conversation or even get tech support. On top of that, it felt like most users were moderately intelligent, or at least possessed a certain kindness and patience with other users.
Thirdly was how exclusive Apple was. Apple would not sell its code out to half assed companies such as ACER, HP, and everyone under the sky. Even in rough economic times, they held their foot in the ground and made very few moves to “Sell out.” The exclusivity also crossed into software ranging from OS software to specialized music and film programs. The exclusivity meant something to the user and we rallied around that.

So what is my gripe with Apple? What is slowly killing Apple? I will start with the Apple store, which in my mind is accidentally ruining the company. The Apple Store was “The Shit” for the first 4-5 years. I would just go in there and buy a new Mac and get a round of applause when I walked out the door as others did. So then Mac switched from Motorola on over to the Intel chip and the ipod exploded along with the addition of the whole PC/Bootcamp thing, which was genius. However, the geniuses over at Apple never accounted for what would happen if they had a ton of PC users actually come over to Apple. Well, they did and it really took flight with the release of the iphone. This led to a mass production of the Apple stores with a mass hiring of employees to meet the demands. When the iphone exploded it took the focus off the CPU, and put it on the phone. Then you started to get this not so nice feeling when you walked into the Apple Stores. It resembles the feeling I get when I walk into Best Buy or Sprint. Smiling faces of the Apple sales people suddenly becoming exceptionally unknowledgeable, except for matters in dealing with the iphone. I actually was asked to leave an Apple Store multiple times because I didn’t have an appointment to get in. This is the result when companies try to extend themselves to far to fast. They simply don’t account for customer service like they used to. The Apple store has turned into an oversized cell phone store ala The Sprint Store. Without wasting my breath, here are a few other things that are leading to Apple downward spiral.

Apple Care – An extra year of coverage? SOLID GOLD! Sounds like the insurance package that sucks at every other store.

Support for Pro Software – Gone to the wayside. What I would give to have Emagic still own Logic. You ask half the staff at the Apple store a question about Logic and they will tell you Borders is on the other side of the mall and it has a big selection of Logic books.

Would I ever use a PC? If Apple didn’t exist I would be trying to hook up my Commodore 64 instead. PC makes me hate using computers as Apple might for others. I’m not above PC’s, however they are a last resort in my mind.

Do I hate Mac? Not at all, I just see them flushing loyal customers down the toilet over financial gain. Something they didn’t do in the past. You know it’s funny I hear a lot of users say “I have owned about 8 Macs since I was 10 years old, and the sales people at the Apple Store could care less.” It almost reminds me of the loyalty my parents generation had with American made cars like GM and Ford. Owning Macs since you were 10 used to be a badge of honor you wore around. Hell, companies spend millions of dollars trying to create that very thing. Yet Apple has it, and they are throwing to the wayside. Simply pissing longtime customers away. How long will the PC iphone users stick around when Company X makes something bigger and badder?

I actually think there is a window opening up for a new computing platform. One that takes back the place Apple used to hold. A company that offers community like Wordpress and customer service like a Trader Joes. Something that caters to the arts, not cell phone users.

By the way I do own an Iphone, Mac Pro, and about 6 other Macs. But as Apple is choosing money over customer service I might be willing to switch to a new platform if ever one did exist that catered to the arts.

Tags: apple, Apple Care, Commodore 64, computer, customer support, hate, I own many macs, intel, iphone, long time customer, loyal, what happened