Well as some may already know I recently upgraded my iPhone to the new 5s and over-all I am pretty happy with it.
HOWEVER - There are some things that I have noticed that really upset me about Apple in general, such as:
1) Apple seems to hold back its customers in ways... For example with my new 5s it's more powerful in terms of speed and processing power than my Desktop! In fact on the back of Time Magazines "Year in pictures" Apple made an ad that claims their new 5s is powerful enough to be a desktop. Only one catch... APPLE! That's right, Apple allows the use of a Blu Tooth keyboard, but they will not allow the use of a mouse! It's not that companies can't make a blu tooth mouse, in fact I even purchased one with my BT keyboard but it is actually APPLE who is blocking the use of a mouse on the 5s, which I find to be wrong on every level. Here I am, the customer who paid $800+ for the top of the line phone, but I am unable to use it how I want, or even how it was advertised. If Apple is going to make claims "Powerful enough to be a desktop" they damn well better allow it to be!
2) Apple support is VERY poor. Regardless if it's iTunes, or Apple support... The bottom line is they really dont care what you have to say. I voiced these concerns on Apples website and they were deleted with a message for me to submit my request to Apple directly so it will get the proper attention it needs. Let's be honest, they deleted the threads because it made them look like the fools that they are. Funny part is that I did submit my suggestions prior to voicing them on their forum, and I never heard nothing back! Not even a thanks! So to me Apple support is all but pointless as I have songs I purchased from iTunes that are still corrupt to this day dispite having spent WEEKS trying to get the problem resolved. It's just crazy... So if you have a problem with Apple, dont waste your time trying to contact them because they are so arrogant they cant handle "The customer is always right" mentality. It's sad really.
3) iPhone 5s is quarky... Reliable, but a lot of funny screen issues. Flickering and otherwise odd things you NEVER seen in the 3 and 4 versions of the iPhone. Sometimes the phone will crash and leave you at the home screen wondering WTF happend. Not exacly what I consider to be "Apple" quality.
4) Apple selling used phones as brand new - This is a big one, and one that I may even sue over. My "New" iPhone actually showed 7 days of use prior to my buying it! And this was straight out of a brand new shrink wrapped Apple box! AT&T made the right moves by giving me all kinds of credits but the bottom line is selling someone a used phone as "New" is fraud. This may very well end up paying for my entire contract when I have their Attorney backed up in a corner at court. Apple on the other hand took no responsibility and instead pushed it all off on AT&T, who by the way subsidized over $2k worth of hardware for me, and then turned around and gave me almost $500 in credits to make it right. Things like this are not what you would expect from Apple... I might have thought this was a rare case, but it would appear my sons iPhone 5c was also used prior to us getting it... While the other two phones I purchased we in fact "Brand New".
5) iPhone 5s has a click sound when you press the home button - unlike past iPhones the new 5s has a finger print sensor and the resistance of the button and the clicking sound it makes when you press it threw a lot of people off. I myself use the resistance and the click to gauge the push of the button and I think this is not a design flaw, rather the way it works now that it has a fingerprint scanner. Also when using Siri (Voice activated commands) you hold the center button down until she asks what you need. Without the click you might not know the button is pressed. Same with the finger print scanner... It only scans when the button is in the normal up possition. So if this is normal what am I bitching about? Well while on their forum I was reading a 100 page thread about all the people who returned their brand new 5s iPhones because they thought this was a defect, only to figure out the new one did the exact same thing. Now I know why my "New" iPhone had 7 days of usage prior to my getting it... They re-boxed it and sold it to AT&T as new! LOL
6) Poor performance when connected to a Windows computer - I guess this would be considered to be normal given the fact Apple and Microsoft have been fighting like cats and dogs ever since day one... But it really upsets me that Apple would not spend the time to make sure their products work good on any system given the fact that 64 gigs is all the storage you can get on an iPhone at this time. So naturally one would have to have a computer to dump data, photos and music to another system with more storage. iTunes for the desktop is bulky and actually installs software on a PC that will always run regardless if iTunes is open or not! Slowing down the system and causing issues that should not be! To me this is Paramount to spyware that only serves to hurt their competition. I imagine the iPhone would work great pluged into a Mac, but thats not the point! It's not right and Apple again could care less.
7) They use Barclays for credit... Everyone knows Barclays is a euro-trash bank not trustworthy of a penny, yet thats who they use. You would think with all the billions of dollars they have sitting around they could do their own financing but that's not the case. Hell if it werent for AT&T footing the bill on my devices I would still be using a 3G iPhone, so hats off to AT&T in this regard.
There are some other "little" things that bother me, but overall I am very happy with the 5s otherwise. I have since set up another desktop and have shelved my dreams of using my iPhone as a desktop if only because Apple is preventing me from doing so.. Perhaps to keep alive their desktop market? Who knows...
The fact they sold me a used phone as new is going to cost them though. I had to wait for my first payment to post because I am going to rake them over the coals for this. Seems Apple has gotten too big, too fast and they feel they can do anything they wish. We will soon see about that as I am not paying $800 for a used item that can not do what it was advertised to do. Then to act like their word is gospel and blame AT&T who unwraped it infront of my face also upsets me. Still both Apple and AT&T must be listed on the summons and complaint, just incase.
So that's my review of Apple after almost two months of ownership... Please feel free to add more if you have had problems.
Since I am not able to use a mouse with my 5s I have resorted to installing a fresh copy of Windows on my best computer... Seem's I am still a Windows guy and word is that Windows 8 now offers a new skin to allow the new OS to be used like a traditional version of Windows, sans the touch screen stuff! At least they are listening! Unlike Apple, who I have to SUE in order to get anywhere. Just crazy!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Okay... So maybe suing is a little overboard... I really had this grand vision of being able to get a nice massive Network Hard drive and that I could ditch the Desktop. Really with the size of the new Mac Pro it does not seem out of order, plus the external Nework Drive is, for all intents and purposes "like" a desktop. Plus it's a whole lot of money.
Given the fact AT&T financed it, and under the program I get a new (better be new) Iphone 6 when it comes out, then I guess I will just have to let it pass. One thing important to take into consideration here is the amount of money, not only in the equipment, but in the service plan. People not used to what it cost for Business service (telephone, advertising, internet) could feel it's a little too much, outragous in-fact.
So perhaps I have made a mountian out of a mole hill, but the bottom line is Apple needs to get a mouse worked out for the iPhone ASAP. Upgrades for better use of the screen while being used as a desktop and a much more polished and cleaner opperation. That's not to say it's not an amazing device, it's just saying Apple is either holding me back intentionaly, or they lack the know-how. Both upset me.
Sometimes it helps to just blow off some steam, even if I am having to type this on my PC.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
If they gave you a mouse now, what else could they offer you with the i-6 ?
Rastus
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
If they gave you a mouse now, what else could they offer you with the i-6 ?
Rastus
That is a good question... But at $800, I don't feel I should have to wait for the iPhone 6 to come out. Keeping in mind of course, that no promises have been made to offer the use of a mouse with the iPhone 6. Yet they advertise the iPhone 5s as being "Desktop" strong.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
I'll tell you what Rastus... This whole issue with Apple blocking me from having a mouse on my iPhone 5s has only served to hurt Apple. Prior to that I was "All In" as far as Apple products went. I was very serious when I said that I'd make the switch to a Mac (a used one of course). But since dealing with them on problems and their overall lack of consideration I have come to the realize that there is no way in hell Apple will ever own my Desktop, thus a new PC with Windows 8 is on the horizon, while I will maintain my Apple phone, if only because I am on contract and at some point they OWE ME a "New" phone.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
The new lap-top / note-book of mine has a 64-bit operating system, 500GB of storage, accepts 16GB Ram, i-3 architecture ( quad-core ), 2.4 ghz processing speed per core, & actually runs pretty-well once you've removed all the i-phone / i-pad applications LOL. Even over here in Oz, the cost for it was well-under your i-phone, not quite 1/2, but nearly...Why not consider one of these ? At least the mouse & other things can plug into it !
Cheers,
Rastus
PS It runs surprisingly very-fast, & isn't the top-of-the-line, but I guess kitting it out with the 16GB of ram has maybe gotten the best out-of-it.
-- Edited by Rastus on Thursday 6th of February 2014 09:30:07 PM
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
Sounds like a bad ass chunk of hardware you got there! Right now I am running an outdated Gateway P4 2.0 Ghz Single core w/ 512 megs of ram on an XP Professional opperating system. I guess now you can see why I'd want to use my phone as my desktop! LOL!
Not quite up to the standards of todays needs, but really it's just more or less an internet and accounting software computer. Sooner or later I am going to have to make the upgrade.
I still think my iPhone could run my day to day... It's a damn shame I can't use this equipment the way I would like on account of something as stupid as "Mouse" support! I'll stay on Apple about it, and in the meantime AT&T has gone above and beyond with new plans so the bill is even less every month by about $1k a year! Amazing!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Don't be too hard on your old computer ! It still seems to be running well at the least ! Yeah, all the flashy figures I just threw at you were only a matter of coincidence, not choice, as I was only ever going to spend around $5-600:00 on my replacement lap-top, & the specs are just what happened to be in there LOL ! I've always up-rated the Ram on any of the computers I've owned (this is my 3rd), since it brings them up to its original design plan, plus I can then disable the paging-file to extend disc-life, & better security / privacy.
A $1,000:00 a year is quite an energy saving, & not to be glanced over ! For the sake of a mouse, that's a lot of money you get to keep in your pocket ! Electricity is pretty expensive down this way, but I bet it's nothing compared to what you have to find during your winter months !!! So it looks like your little apple might be helping you out a little this way too.
Cheers,
Rastus
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
I don't think energy savings would be quite $1000.00 but as you can see, having made the switch to my iPhone has caused me not to spend a lot of time at the desktop outside of actual paperwork. And while I am still quite peeved about the lack of functionality to turn my iPhone into a desktop, I'm still using the old computers. I got a used Dell laptop to handle my iTunes and iPhone transfers and my good old Desktop handles the email and shop manager software. The iPhone complements the two I guess, as I can do a multitude of things with.
I recently outgrew my 500 GB hard drive and upgraded to a 2 TB cloud. Still working with the permissions but it would seem this is implementing well considering the whole family is racking up photos and videos and needing to dump them somewhere. Still think things could be much better, and my website is all but outdated.. These activeboard people seem to keep plugging along, rather pleased with that. Somehow need to tie it all together. Spending a little time tonight getting some new photos transfered, cropped and posted. The amount of work I have to do on my end to edit photos, upload them and the sorts is a bit painful, given my new camera is the iPhone. It's taken some getting used to, but I feel like if I do decide to make an upgrade to a newer PC or MAC, at least all my data will be in order.
All in all, I really had high hopes for the 5s, and while its a great phone and much, much more... It's limited by it's maker to ensure desktop sales live on... For now anyway.
Seems anymore you almost need an "App" to be in the game. I'd imagine I'm not the only guy thinking the same thing and spending less time at the desk screwing off on the computer! LOL!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
Well here I am... Two, maybe three years later bonded on some Jim Beam -- one eye open just trying to respond while lying in bed with nothing but an iPhone 6 plus and a totally passed out sexy woman beside me. What shall I do? Complain about Apple and its homo CEO who has me wondering if my next desktop purchase should be a Windos or Apple system.
Strange I should mention.. Since I really am typing this post aka (pecking) this post whilst only one eye open. Clearly every bone in my body is telling me to make the ultimate switch between Windoes and Apple. Who else could possibly allow me to lye in bed and type whilst totally inebriated.. Apple.. That's who ..
I'm going to get a Mac Mini within the next few hours.. I just hope it sparks the creativity I was known for in years past!
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
It looks like the Mac Mini hasn't sparked too much creativity....Is Windows 10 now a consideration ?...
Cheers,
Rastus
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
Actually I never did pick up that Mac mini. Still using windows XP and even though I feel like I've got my money's worth out of XP, I'm still on the fence. It infuriates me that I'm even having to consider both! I really seem to enjoy hating Apple, I don't know why but since the 5S I've pretty much not given a fuck about sitting at the desk or computers for that matter.
I could use a lame excuse like Democracts back in 2007 and say "not in this economy", but the truth is I simpily can't afford to do the things I'd like to do... Partly in fault of the fact my 6+ cost me an arm and a leg (in interest free payments thankfully). Still seriously considering upgrading to the 6S+ on the 18th or 19th but only because I pretty much use my phone as my computer unless I'm writing invoices or typing up documents. So really at that point who needs a super fancy computer?
I think regardless of brand, Apple or PC, the hurdles most in my way pertain to web diversity. So many different browsers now days plus a major shift to smart phones. I been doing my homework on the new software and there is some pretty good programs out there, from Xcode to Dreamweaver and even Apple has a nice server setup.
But yeah, clearly I've been less creative in the web department every since I ditched the PC and went strictly iPhone.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
7) They use Barclays for credit... Everyone knows Barclays is a euro-trash bank not trustworthy of a penny, yet thats who they use. You would think with all the billions of dollars they have sitting around they could do their own financing but that's not the case. Hell if it werent for AT&T footing the bill on my devices I would still be using a 3G iPhone, so hats off to AT&T in this regard.
This is what I love about old threads! LOL
Back in 2014 when I wrote this I didn't do business with Barclays... in fact I think I may had been declined for a Barclays card around the time of this writing in 2015...
Fast forward a few years and it turned out that Barclays would finance three of the four iPhone X series phones at ZERO interest for two years! I might add that I still own and use these phones today! Fast forward a few more years and yes, I paid them off in the two year promotional period and didn't have to pay a single dime in interest! Not bad!
But then, out of nowhere after having paid my cards in full I had my credit lines cut with Barclay! My Barclays Apple Rewards card was cut in half, and my Barclays "Ring" card hacked down to a paltry $500 credit limit! At that time I wanted to dump them, but remembered that they were there for me and kept their promise of free financing for two years... So I sock drawred the Ring card and soon after Apple went with Goldman Sachs as their finance company, then my once was Barclays "Apple Rewards" Card turned into a Barclays "View" card! Guess they werent going to advertise for Apple anymore! LOL
Fast forward to a few weeks ago... as usual I check my monthly balance to ensure it's ZERO... but this time on my $500 "Ring" card account there is an un-read message! So I checked it out... apparently Barclays wanted to give me $24,000 CASH with nothing more than a signature! No collateral, NOTHING! Just a signature! I kind of chuckled and thought to myself, "Let's see if they are just bullshitting me"... so I clicked "Accept" and sure as shit, that $24k was in my account the NEXT DAY!
Not bad for people I once called Euro-Trash, who couldn't be trusted for a penny!
I'm still somewhat in shock... the payments aren't that bad per month and so long as I make two extra payments between now and the end of the loan it will be paid off before I even make my first payment on my differed payment guberment loan! If anything it keeps me busting ass every month instead of taking it easy for the next two and a half years! I honestly didn't need the money, and I only clicked on "accept" out of morbid curiosity thinking for sure it would just be some BS... But it wasn't! Turns out Barclays is for real!
So I guess I should apologize for calling them Euro-Trash who couldn't be trusted for a penny... I'm sorry Barclays, clearly I didn't know who I was fucking with! LOL
As for Apple, I still have some serious issues with their business ethics and products... I have no plans on upgrading to a new iPhone until the unit I have now (X) is no longer supported! Why? Because they really have been slipping! And the arrogance is a bit much at times for me, as a paying customer... Wish I could offer Apple an apology, but Frankly, they just don't deserve it.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
So I guess I should apologize for calling them Euro-Trash who couldn't be trusted for a penny... I'm sorry Barclays, clearly I didn't know who I was fucking with! LOL
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I see your reasoning SELLC, & it's fair enough, & turned-out OK it seems...
But don't forget it was / is a marketing scam regardless, & I hate to say it, but you fell for it...
I wouldn't apologize at all to Barclay's, or any other mofo bank for giving anyone money they didn't need, or ask for...
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
But I only appoligized because of the age of the thread... back when this thread was made I wasn't doing business with them... but in the years since, that is a different story!
Sure, I didn't need that money... and I could just send it all back and only be out a few hundred bucks (as of right now because I have not spent it) but that's not the point...
The point is, I judged them prior to doing business with them... Sure, Barclays is nothing compared to what the USA has afforded the company... but they have worked for and earned some respect around these parts...
Keep in mind, this offer was sent VIA private direct message on a credit card that only has a $500 limit! I think they did this because they pretty much knew I'd have a hard time believing it and thus apply! LOL, they were right!
But ultimatly you are right, Rastus... I have to pay the money back (with interest)... in the end it has nothing to do with nothing but doing what we say.
I was just pleasently surprised... and thought, hey... why not update the thread to reflect that!
Things are so crazy right now, I dunno... I'm sure somewhere there is a Russian Oligarch that is wringing his fist that his Barclays card limit has been reduced $24,000... LOL, but hey... My McDonalds still has French Fries! LOL
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
I'm just saying there is nothing wrong with French Fries either! lol
I'd imagine giving away them little tiny one shot bottles of Vodka in the kids Happy Meals at the new Russian Bootleg "Tasty" welfare burger joint isn't going to go over well with most parents... probably be better to leave some potatoes for the kiddo's, no?
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
