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Apple Products Obsolescence

Is anyone as frustrated as i am regarding changes Apple makes to products without notification to users so better buying decisions can be made? Example, Nano changed from 12 volts to 5 amps, it now does not work with with my car audio system and the Bose Sound dock. To have full use of the new Nano, i have to buy a new car cable as well as sound dock. There is no "transformer" to adapt to these accessories and I'm not about to spend another 1,000.00 to use a 300.00 piece of equipment. Apple seems to change products far too fast without consideration for economics. What do you do with an ipad you just bought and the ipad2 comes out? There is no provision for trade in, i suppose all Apple users are made of money or have enough to just blow for amusement? Has anyone experienced this frustration and problem?

Message was edited by: CLY4911

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6), ipad, iphone, nano

Posted on Mar 13, 2011 3:07 PM

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45 replies

Mar 13, 2011 3:30 PM in response to CLY4911

I am then assuming you both have enough capital to throw out products without thought to cost. I just bought the ipad for over 1K and three months later, ipad2 comes out. That is just one example, what do you do with your "old" apple products? Throw them out? I can understand if you have had the equipment for an acceptable amount of time but months?

Re comment about Commodore, that's just a snarky remark and not helpful.

Mar 13, 2011 3:37 PM in response to CLY4911

Your frustration is understandable but it is the price we pay for technology changes. While some changes may be to increase the bottom line, most changes that I have witnessed in more than 30 years of buying high-tech products have been for the better. What I try to do before I buy something is research on the forums to see if a new product is expected out. The iPad is a case in point. There were many, many credible rumors that a new iPad would be out early spring, so anyone buying within the last few months could have been aware of that. In addition, with some products, such as the iPad, you can easily sell your old one if you wish and make most of your money back. Personally, if I had an iPad I would not be rushing to buy an iPad 2. I see nothing in the new product that makes the old product obsolete. If Apple brings out iPad 3 this fall, as rumored, with a Retina display, that might be a big deal.

Mar 13, 2011 3:41 PM in response to CLY4911

I keep a product until it no longer meets the requirements I need. If you want to be a "latest and greatest" gadget chaser, you do need deep pockets and hope you can sell it on ebay or Craigslist to recoup some of the difference. And far from being "snarky" the Commodore comment was accurate, without advances, our cell phones would be the size of a brick, we would still be using 5" floppies, etc. Product improvements and advances have been a way of life in high-tech electronics for as long as they have been around. Frustrating, yes. But nothing to loose sleep over.

Mar 13, 2011 3:46 PM in response to stedman1

it means that in general, changes to Apple products are too frequent causing additional output to adapt to the changes in equipment. It is not limited to the ipad, the nano is another problem - the 12 volt is obsolete, is is now charging on 5 amps - another cable for the car and another sound dock needed - more money due to a change Apple made, MacBook Pro - new model coming out. If everyone is ok with technology being obsolete when you buy it, then i suppose i should just go back to the PC base where even old software works within Windows regardless of the version. PC software changes but it does not force you to purchase new accessories to even operate the device.

Mar 13, 2011 3:51 PM in response to CLY4911

the 12 volt is obsolete, is is now charging on 5 amps

Incorrect. It used to be 12vdc FireWire 500 mAmps now it's 5vdc USB 500 mAmps.
another cable for the car and another sound dock needed

Why not simply use a $20 adapter such as made by Scoshe?

And changing from FireWire to USB was announced by Apple 3 years prior to the changeover. Manufacturers simply did not bother to follow Apple guidelines. Blame them.

Mar 13, 2011 4:00 PM in response to Chris CA

perhaps you should send this information to Apple Support, what i posted is what i was told. I asked about any device to accommodate the change and they knew of none.

I am far from a technology geek and therefore rely on Apple Support for help on issues with their products. So as far as understanding your explanation of the particulars on the change, helpful but it's a foreign language to me, Like I said, if Apple Support could not answer the questions, maybe you can help them with your expertise with the very specific information you just posted.

Mar 13, 2011 4:00 PM in response to CLY4911

CLY4911 wrote:
I just bought the ipad for over 1K and three months later, ipad2 comes out.


When you bought is really isn't relevant. Are you suggesting, perhaps that Apple stop selling iPads for six months so that there is no possibility that some one will have just bought one? How about those of us who bought an iPad when they first came out, should we have to wait for a new one just because you didn't buy one until a month ago?

There is always newer, better, cheaper tech just about to come out. That is a given, no need for additional announcements. More specifically, Apple tends to update products approximately once a year. A little research might have lead to a more informed buying choice.

I give my older devices to friends and family members who might not otherwise be able to afford them. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction.

Mar 13, 2011 4:12 PM in response to CLY4911

CLY4911 wrote:
...MacBook Pro - new model coming out. If everyone is ok with technology being obsolete when you buy it, then i suppose i should just go back to the PC base where even old software works within Windows regardless of the version. PC software changes but it does not force you to purchase new accessories to even operate the device.



Odd. I have a MacBook Pro that is now 5 years old. Yet it runs the latest operating system, works with both new and old software, is still plenty fast enough to do everything that I need it to do (and I do some fairly processor-intensive tasks), and it works with pretty much all of the latest accessories. Even though there have been several new models released in the past 5 years, I wouldn't call it obsolete.

I think your definition of "obsolete" may differ from other people's definition.

Mar 13, 2011 4:11 PM in response to CLY4911

CLY4911 wrote:
If everyone is ok with technology being obsolete when you buy it, then i suppose i should just go back to the PC base where even old software works within Windows regardless of the version. PC software changes but it does not force you to purchase new accessories to even operate the device.

This is the one point that I agree with to a certain extent. It has bummed me out in the past when Apple releases a cool new "doo-dad" as my dear departed mother used to say, and it would not work with the "older" versions of software like OSX Tiger 10.4.11. I realize in the Apple World that OS is archaic, but the newest Windows gadgets will still work with MS DOS.

OK - thats a bit of a stretch, and was said with tongue in cheek, but it does seem to me like some of the newer Windows devices will work with the older Windows OS compared to Mac systems and Apple devices. Now having said that, I will GLADLY trade the reliability of the Mac OS and the Apple devices for the additional cost to upgrade any day of the week - IF I truly want the device. Unfortunately, sometimes in the Apple world, you have to pay a little more, a little sooner ... but IMHO, as the saying goes, you only get what you pay for.

And in closing, like Stedman said - your original iPad still does everything it did when you bought it and still works for your needs. Don't get so caught up in the iPad2 envy going on out there these days. Use your iPad and enjoy it like you have for the past three months. It is NOT obsolete. BTW ... I have had my iPad only one month longer than you have had yours and I don't plan on dumping it any time soon.

Message was edited by: Demo

Mar 13, 2011 4:11 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

NO i am not suggesting they stop selling ipads and other products that have been brought out. I am ASKING if anyone else has had an issue with what i originally posted. Your answers are not germane to my question for the following reasons, I am NOT suggesting any sales strategy, product Apple should be selling and i only want fact based opinions on the question posed.

Your comments almost sound personal and it is not helpful to my questions. Did you have a problem when the iphone4 was introduced? A lot of people did which is why Apple faced a class action lawsuit, or were you just accepting of the fact that the device had a design flaw causing users to an inordinate number of dropped calls. If you are going to post, please be constructive in your responses as others have. Your answers are sophomoric and unappreciated.

Apple Products Obsolescence

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