I will admit, I am not an Apple fan. I had an Apple computer when I was in high school for a year, and I never really enjoyed it, or got why there was such a hype about it. I'm a Windows and Android girl through and through. But for those that want to learn more about Apple, here's Nancy Evans to teach you all about it.Apple is a unique company. It has grown from humble beginnings in a small garage in 1976, to sitting atop the corporate heap as the world’s most valuable company. Its path is strewn with plot twists, failures, comebacks and incredible successes.
Apple made personal computing easy and accessible. It pioneered the graphical user interface (GUI) with Lisa and Macintosh. Mp3 players weren’t new, but the iPod made them a “thing.” Tablets weren’t new either, but nobody took them seriously until Apple gave the world the iPad. And then there’s the iPhone. Apple changed the world.
What makes Apple products so popular?
Apple is frequently compared to a cult and its millions of devoted customers to religious zealots. Millions are willing to pay premium prices for Apple products. It’s not just the company’s great marketing. Apple brand loyalty is based on simple, predictable ingredients.
- Quality. Apple’s popularity begins and ends with product quality. A better user experience is the prime directive. Apple quality is the standard against which all other industry players are measured. It crafts products that its creators want to use themselves.
- Value. Yes, the most prevalent criticism is true. Apple hardware costs more. But when products are intuitive, dependable and work perfectly out of the box, many of us are willing to pay more. Apple stands for superior value. Resell and trade-in values for Apple products are unsurpassed. We know when it’s time to upgrade, we’ll get more for our old devices. There are several places that can take care of your iPad trade in and make it easy to upgrade to the latest version of the products you love.
- Simplicity. Apple demands that its products be simple to use and easy to understand. The Macintosh introduced the world to “point and click.” The iPod put 5,000 songs in our pockets with one control wheel. iPads and iPhones came with only a home button for navigation. Apple was always first to drop old technologies. Floppy drives, slow accessory interfaces, headphone jacks and even the home button were jettisoned – all in the name of simplicity.
- Innovation. Apple isn’t often the first to introduce a new kind of device. But it only makes a product if it can make it better than anyone else. It demands that its product do things faster, better and with less effort. And because it also controls the software ecosystem, apps run seamlessly and smoothly.
The usefulness factor
Apple critics have often asserted that Apple’s products are more toy than serious tool. It’s not a legitimate or accurate critique, but there are still some who hang on to false notions.
Not long ago a couple embarked upon an extended teaching gig in Europe. They brought along two MacBook Pro laptops, two iPads (one 9.7” and one Mini) and two iPhones. They used them all.
Laptops. The MacBooks stayed in their apartment. One was tethered to a 27” monitor and an outboard keyboard and mouse. It was used it for writing lesson plans and filling out reports. It was also used to build and edit several video projects. It was indispensable for creating visual aids and browsing the Internet. Banks in both the US and Europe were accessed. Bills were paid online. Money was transferred. They FaceTimed nearly every day with family and friends back home.
iPads. These were indispensable teaching aids. They downloaded videos and showed them to students in their homes and in their offices. They built Keynote presentations and displayed illustrations and photographs. They took them when they traveled and used them for just about everything the laptops did. And, when they stayed in hotels, they Skyped with stateside tutors and family. When it was time to relax, they opened up Netflix and enjoyed a movie.
iPhones. How did any of us survive before iPhones? The only cameras they ever used were on their iPhones. They snapped stunning photos of castles, seascapes, lush countryside and people they met. They frequently downloaded video and displayed it on the video projector in their teaching space. They used them to playback music during social gatherings. And, last but not least, they used them to make phone calls.
Yes, Apple and its products are unique. It’s why everyone else tries to copy what it does... with limited success. Hopefully, Apple will keep innovating for a long time.
See my disclaimer.