“Whether you’re purchasing a $1,500 gaming laptop or a $200 Chromebook, the brand matters,” LAPTOP Magazine writes. “That’s why we rate the top 10 laptop brands each year, based on their support, design, innovation, value/selection and, most of all, product quality.”
“For 2018, Lenovo retained its place for a second year as the best laptop vendor, but it just barely edged out second-place HP and third-place Dell,” LAPTOP Magazine writes. “Apple, which used to dominate this contest, fell all the way to seventh place, down from fifth last year.”
“Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Apple just doesn’t seem as focused on its laptop business as it used to be,” LAPTOP Magazine writes. “The company did nothing to innovate or even tweak its designs in the past year, and only one of the company’s laptops earned an Editors’ Choice award. However, Tim Cook’s company still has the best tech support you can get.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: When you’re unfocused, mismanaged, and confused, it eventually shows in your products.
That said, LAPTOP Magazine ignores a major part of a laptop computer, the operating system, which — even given Apple’s current lack of focus, mismanagement, and confusion — makes any Apple laptop #1 by a wide margin.
Some publications and pundits equate smearing fingers around on laptop displays with “innovation” and award bad ideas like that many points in their rankings. They are even more confused than the three interns that Tim Cook has left in charge of Apple’s Mac division.
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s laptops have hit rock bottom – April 20, 2018
….but it has really great sound
……..the iPad the new laptop
…….all excuses for software ineptitude, and no hardware vision
But don’t you know that the shills have proclaimed the iPad a PC for a few years now? The only way to do that is to demote the PC…
You’re right and this has been going on for awhile on two fronts.
1) Apple’s ignorance of pro computer needs with the painfully NON upgradeable 2013 Jony art object trashcan Mac Pro. I don’t remember who said it, but change “can’t innovate my ass” to can’t upgrade my ass.
2) Any person that works for Apple who seriously believes a lowly, underpowered, software deficient iPad can REPLACE a POWERFUL PC, is drunk on the Apple Kool-Aid …
The Mac? Has great sound? Lol, not unless you put Boom3D on it, and even then Windows Sonic for Headphones beats it, soundly.
>
I was referring to the software crippled HomePod…. Apple can’t innovate, my !@#$R….
You’re being too generous. It’s hardware crippled too….
Should have an AUX in.
Somewhere in Cali, six feet under, Steve must be rolling in his grave. Damn! I spend 20 times the amount of hours on my Macs than with my X. I’ve been wanting to upgrade my Macs for years, but there is nothing there that makes me want to pull the trigger. What the hell are these people doing? Is this fat and happy phase the norm now; lounging around the reflecting pool at Apple Park? They should tear the damned building down, buy a big ass warehouse, and dump themselves in there until they can produce something again.
You mean “Somewhere in Cali, steam must be emitting from Steve’s cryotube.
☁🌬~~I changed my mind Tim! You really should ask “What would Steve do?~~🌧🌩
– Steve Jobs, departed
Five star GRANDE!!! …🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“What the hell are these people doing?”
If I had to guess, I’d say milking the Mac for all it’s worth.
Apple has NO vision.
No vision for the Mac.
No vision for the iPhone.
Just mediocrity.
Why? Because their CEO has no vision.
I never thought I would be writing this but I have finally come around to say that perhaps it is time for Tim Cook to go. Apple is going downhill both in vision and in quality. My wife;s new MBP is a joke. The keyboard sucks with its feel and the keys jam. Taking to the Genius bar they say that it is a problem for them because of the top of the keys being flat with the laptop. Dust now gets in and prevents the keys from recoiling back so they jam a lot.
It is depressing since I have always defended Apple. A true Fanboy. No longer. I am starting to HATE iTunes. I downloaded an album and it only synced 3 of 11 tunes to my iPod. WTF???
the iPhone is getting more and more expensive so no wonder they are not selling more. The stock is tanking these past few days.
Sigh ……..
I’m with you all the way on this one Buster.
Welcome to the club. I wish neither of us were part of it, but Apple has abused our good graces and good will with their tone-deafness for too long.
It took awhile for many of us to come around to this way of thinking really attributing Job’s virtues to Apple in terms taking care of us and really staying on top of things. And importantly knowing what we want and the innovations are ones that were worthy, not just an Infinite Loop circle jerk, and desirable.
As time has worn on it’s obvious there are huge problems of vision, product line awareness and attentiveness in Cupertinoville. Remember Tim Cook has no real vested history with Macs. Before Apple he was a PC user so I don’t think Macs resonate as much with him, nor does he truly understand how they have resonated historically with loyal Mac fans. Despite the lip service otherwise. If you don’t make Macs special and desirable there’s no reason for people to buy them and they simply go elsewhere.
I recall being personally attacked when I stated this in the past, such as
– when Apple killed off a real workstation to deliver a trashcan in 2013 instead
– when Apple took a decent Mac Mini and neutered it in 2014
– when Apple walked away from Aperture users
– when Apple silently stopped all improvements to Airports and Displays
– when Apple dumbed down Mac iWorks apps into Google Docs wannabe apps optimized for the icloud rental
– when each iteration of Mac OS took away personal computing features and skeu in order to push in social media bloat and forced icloud accounts
– when MacBooks arrived with horrid keyboards and single data ports
– when Apple fell 2, 3, and 4 generations behind on Intel chipset implementation
– when Apple stopped allowing Mac owners to repair their own machines
– when Apple prioritized thinness over usability in all devices, including Macs with a Pro label
– when emojis and gimmicks became the focus of keynote addresses
– when the management team admitted that they had to form a committee to figure out what Mac Pro users want (HINT: multiple model options!)
– when accessories like speakers, watch bands, and charging mats became the focus of all non-iPhone hardware development
– when formerly pleasurable and robust apps like iTunes stopped being updated and stopped working reliably
– when Apple chose to become just another corporation, playing financial shell games and using near-slave chinese labor to sell overpriced non-upgradeable products that generation after generation attempt harder and harder to push users into subscription based computing
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the rapid decline in Apple product value accelerated dramatically after Cook became CEO.
Glad you all are waking up to the sad reality.
All good observations. Sorry you took the brunt of criticism. But who wanted to believe the Apple core was rotting? For me it was the day after the 2013 Mac Pro was introduced and reality set in and then all the unbelievable follow up to that and them all but admitting they were paying no attention to much of the Mac line and especially the Mac Pro.
It’s funny (or not) when you realize how little it would take to do things right by us and unfortunately no one is in charge to direct the Apple troops in the correct direction. It seems like the floundering of a bunch of many petty kingdoms without a clear king among them.
Me was with removal of Expresscard in 2009. Non-upgradability path was obvious.
Yeah, non upgradeable closed mindset Apple is really pissing me off! They have enough money for chrissake! …
Yeah, and at the time they justified it as less than 10% of the people used it. The “most people” argument. Call me old fashoioned, but not being “most people” is “personal”, as in Personal Computer!
ANd before anyone goes missing Jobs, this was under Jobs that pompous control freak.
The “most people” argument is about popularity, sales and poll numbers. The shiny objects that attract crows like Cook.
Apple needs to pay the same amount of care and attention to ALL THEIR PRODUCTS!!! …
But it was under Jobs. He “signed off” on it…
Fine. I’m talking about Clueless Cook …
Cook is an Ops guy. Is it reasonable to expect “magic” from an Ops guy? A snake oil salesman, yes.
An Ops guys gets jazzed up when Unibody reduces their parts count at the expense of upgradability, a snake oil salesman gets worked up when Unibody prevents upgrades, thus forcing the next sale quicker, all while making his users believe it’s for their benefit.
Amen, Buster.
I have been an Apple owner since my Lisa and I no longer feel the same sense of magical anticipation, bug free products that just work.
As a Mac power user I feel discriminated against the last five years sitting in back of the bus.
The yearly updates of iOS and MacOS is not necessary. That said, if the yearly and semi yearly updates arrived BUG FREE, only then would I support this hyper scheduling.
Yes and unfortunately, Apple management is fat and happy, yet seriously adrift and simply cannot deliver the basic standards.
Tim Cook MUST GO! The sooner, the better …
Got out my Mid-2012 Pro 13″ last night just to do some updates (I seldom use it since retiring, before that it traveled everywhere with me).
Maxxed out 16 GB RAM and 512 SS drive, 2.4 Ghz Core I5, USB 3, Firewire 800, Thunderbolt 1, Apple remote IR sensor, SDXC, Optical in/headphone out, Bluetooth 4.0, better keyboard feel then newer models and backlighting.
I wouldn’t notice anything different that’s better in a newer one (speed, screen, USB-C) other than the weight.
Thanks Apple!
I’m still running a late-2013 MacBook Pro Retina. I would like a new machine, but I have absolutely ZERO interest in blowing nearly three grand on a machine running the same processor as my old machine with the same memory and storage option minus a mag safe power port, standard USB, HDMI, and SD Cards slots I use regularly to replace them with 4 USB-C ports I have no use for (Johnny Ive is high if he thinks dongles are good design). If Apple had just replaced a Thunderbolt port (or two) with a USB-C port(s) and increased the max memory MacBook Pros can accept then they’d’ve sold a new machine. But new machines with less functionality deservedly drop in the rankings.
Thanks, I forgot to mention the Magsafe advantage!
I really don’t get this one – what was wrong with the Magsafe? It was awesome. Step backwards.
Exactly my point.
I, too, miss MagSafe. Apple was coerced into removing MagSafe and moving to a standards-based connector (USB type C) by the EU. It’s the truth — look it up.
I disagree. There is no EU law that bans magsafe. You can buy the 3rd party Magsafe-like breakaway cables in Europe.
Apple obviously is prioritizing device thinness and going cheap by using the less robust USB-C for everything. Plus think of how many new overpriced white adapters Apple will be able to force you to buy. Cha – CHING!
What used to be much more durable machines are now glued thin boxes that don’t allow for any port repair. USB ports are soldered directly to the motherboard, so when you trip over your USB-C cable, good luck.
https://ifixit.org/blog/8527/apple-no-magsafe/
Good point, I knew that affected the phones (forcing Apple to include an adapter for the EU), but I hadn’t considered how that would affect computer sales. How do PC makers handle the same situation?
I am beginning to really do believe that Timmy was indeed firmly convinced that he was such a visionary, predicting the conversion of iOS and Mac platforms. Now he concedes that’s not what the market wanted. Really? Now? Did he just realize it after all these years? No wonder he is no Steve Jobs. He has been methodically destructing traditional Apple mojo, taking years. But I am seeing Apple laptop everywhere on TV. Still a glimmer of hope. People who know are using them. Apple once spent a lot of time and money, for clever advertising and promoting Mac vs. PC and they actually won, which was the amazing feat. Then, they are losing it, together with a totally abandoned educational market, which is also amazing. Remember Blackberry? Brrrrr….
Now, pls bring in a competent CEO before it becomes really too late.
Those with NO true vision inevitably have to wait until the last possible moment to confirm trends resulting in product chaos as we’ve seen.
True visionaries see the trends before that and divert the Mothership before crashing on the rocks and having to deal with repairs – while passengers abandon ship and book passage on another ship.
I have a different take.
After Steve’s death, Tim was left in charge but didn’t have the control or ability to motivate other top brass at Apple like Jobs did. They all fell into a routine with a vague roadmap that kept changing directions and never had a clear destination.
Cohesiveness of products is nothing like it used to be in the Apple world. Cook really is great at a number of things, but I can never see him walking into a meeting after a disaster like the MobileMe rollout and firing someone to put the fear of God into everyone else. Of course, with the way things have been going the Mothership would be half empty by now!!
It reminds me a lot of the disciples of Christ or even Muhammed, many saw a different light after their passings also (no, this is NOT a direct correlation, just an analogy). Same could be said of Wal-Mart after Sam Walton died and many other businesses started by a man with a fiery imagination and attention to detail.
“glimmer of hope”
The time is far beyond hope. They’re going to keep hacking at iOS until it’s halfway serviceable for 80 percent of the newly minted mac folks and then that’s it for macOS. Think Mac OS9 and OSX. OSX didn’t even read PCMCIA cards in it’s first few releases, but it eventually got “good enough” and then Mac OS9 went byebye.
There is no hope. You’re either happy about an iOS future for Apple or you’re not. The mac isn’t coming back.
I’m still running a late-2013 MacBook Pro Retina. I would like a new machine, but I have absolutely ZERO interest in blowing nearly three grand on a machine running the same processor as my old machine with the same memory and storage option minus a mag safe power port, standard USB, HDMI, and SD Cards slots I use regularly to replace them with 4 USB-C ports I have no use for (Johnny Ive is high if he thinks dongles are good design). If Apple had just replaced a Thunderbolt port (or two) with a USB-C port(s) and increased the max memory MacBook Pros can accept then they’d’ve sold a new machine. But new machines with less functionality deservedly drop in the rankings.
Write letters to Cook. Be polite, but tell him how you feel about Apple’s current direction.
That’s the problem: I get so mad at Apple for neglecting Macs I can’t be polite! $&&$@$)(;/()/)/)/:8):&7?/&7?397))):9)7 that’d be cussin’ if I cussed.
When you’re talking about mediocrity in general, you’re talking about other companies, not Apple. The MDN take is right on target. And also for the earlier iPhone no vision comment–yeah right. That must be the reason iPhone X has been the best selling phone for the past 6 months.
most successful (profits).
Well, when you sell a device that has been estimated to cost ~$380 to make for $999, I’m sure your profits will be huge.
The problem with the MDN take is the assumption that the MacOS is still vastly superior. It is a beautiful OS by any contemporary standard, but it is no longer so superior to Windows that I could never imagine switching permanently.
The MacBook Pro is a great laptop, but it’s most current incarnation is nowhere near as useful as my Razer Blade Pro under Windows 10. The Razer Blade Pro is thicker by about a quarter inch, but it also has an Nvidia 1080 GPU, 32GB of ram, and space for 2 SSDs. Not to mention a mixture of ports including USB-C.
Windows 10 is a joy to use, compared to previous versions of Windows, and Windows is the place where cutting-edge things happen now, not on the MacOS with tends to lag behind by a couple years or so. Not to mention I can get a black computer and not some pink rose gold nonsense or space grey.
I’m starting to feel boxed in with the MacOS. Just a bit, but just enough that when I think about trying something new, my first thought is of Windows.
A while back Microsoft lost track of the puck and Apple rolled right over them. Now Apple seems to have forgotten about the puck in terms of computers altogether.
They live in their little bubble fantasy world where pretty people and children spontaneously burst into beautiful dance and create fantastic projects on iPads and I wish I lived there with them, but I don’t.
They have people with titles like Director of Hip-Hop.
Tim goes from venue to venue clasping his hands together in the semblance of prayer, as if he believes he is the leader of some cult.
They say they are not focused on services, but most of their existing services are mediocre.
Any kid can go down to the local electronics store and buy the parts to build a more powerful Hackintosh than anything Apple builds, for less money, and do it in a day or 2, but Apple takes a year to put together a team to study “Workflow.”
Let me shorten that for you Tim. My work flows from my mind to my computer and out. The faster that happens the happier I am.
Maybe my Razer Blade Pro is larger and heavier, but I like having the choice and at least I don’t have to buy a big expansion box and a $1000 graphics card to sit next to it to get desktop performance out of it.
“A while back Microsoft lost track of the puck and Apple rolled right over them. Now Apple seems to have forgotten about the puck in terms of computers altogether.”
They’re doing something worse. They no longer go where the puck is, they’re thinking the whole time about where they think the next big game is… forgetting that if they don’t focus on the HERE AND NOW even with their longtime fans screaming at them to pay attention, they won’t GET to the next big game.
Yeah, to put it bluntly they don’t know where the puck they are going…
Most companies are still running Windows 7 2009 version, OS X is still way ahead Windows anything, but the current trends aren’t good.
In 2009, Snow Leopard was the better OS. However, Windows 7 became stable. As Microsoft wandered through the wilderness with Metro apps and touchscreen convergence, a horrible mess that was Windows 8, Apple sat and did nothing. IOS got all the resources and OS X was slowly dumbed down with iOS like features. The reigns were passed at Microsoft and voila, they backtracked on metro apps and other mistakes. Windows 10 was ugly and flat like iOS but it was solid, had efficient file system, and excellent customization and legacy support. Apple only got around to a modern file system by 2017 with another lazy rollout that has poor legacy support and constantly loses features.
MacOS high sierra is simply not better enough versus windows 10 to justify the Apple premium price, the hardware compromises, and the loss of software options that come with the mismanaged Mac platform.
Apple needs new management pronto to get back on track.
Agree with every point, Sarah.
My employer uses WinDoze 7 and they will never spend the money to upgrade thousands of computers until MS renders them obsolete like they did with XP (security concerns).
At home I have a host of Macs running different OSes. My favorite for eye candy is Panther and Snow Leopard for stability. I stopped upgrading at Mountain Lion for what I need to do. But I have been reading unflattering reviews of what Cook’s Apple have been doing flattening the modern OS and removing or hiding key features.
Apple seems to forget legacy users and thousands of companies have NO NEED FOR A NEW OS EVERY FSCKING YEAR!!!!
Too much disruption, software concerns, security, et al. And the fact that they have brought in Pro users to tell the CLUELESS COOK TEAM what we simply want in a pro product? That is the icing on the clueless cake.
Agreed, Cook needs to go — PRONTO! …
Got a 2016 MacBook Pro Retina with MagSafe, all the connections and no gizmo bar.
If the damn thing had a replaceable battery, expendable memory and replaceable HD it would be just fine.
Use my Desktops first- mostly iPad Pro mobile. The laptop is mostly a backup.
Amen to above, no need for me to say anything…jerks at Apple, I will say that.
I’m not worried. When Apple comes out with the next update, 4 or 5 years from now, everyone will want the new Macbook Performa!
And 15 years from now, the iOS users will be up in arms because it seems like Apple’s focusing all their attention on the Apple Ephemera when they KNOW it was folks like them that MADE APPLE WHAT IT IS! 🙂
Eyes
Off
The
Ball
(O_o)