[bigstrat2003]

I would say people like the marketing. The average consumer gives no shits about product quality (see: the race to the bottom in basically every industry). But Apple has somehow convinced people that they are cool, so people buy their products.

[hyperbovine]

> The average consumer gives no shits about product quality

It's exactly this sort of contemptuous attitude that "techies" have towards "average users" that enabled Apple to become the most valuable company in history.

[mschuster91]

> But Apple has somehow convinced people that they are cool, so people buy their products.

That "somehow" is pretty easy to explain. Apple creates innovative products - the iPod, iPhone and AirPods were all the first-of-their-kind products - and especially, it creates long lasting products, both in terms of build quality and support.

Good luck getting security updates (including drivers) for your 5 year old typical Windows laptop (or getting a modern OS running on it, see the issue with TPM requirements). Apple, on average, supports a device for ~6 years, and up to 9 years (!) for mobile devices [2].

Meanwhile, you're lucky if your Windows or Android device even lasts that long physically.

On top of that, the battery lifetimes for Apple devices are insane compared to the competition - a feat that neither Windows nor Android can achieve as they lack the complete control over the entire stack, from CPU design over firmware over hardware to the OS and user-space libraries, that Apple has.

[1] https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/some-macs-are-gettin...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_iPhone_models

[sumuyuda]

Not for sure where the claim of Windows machines lasting less than Apple products comes from. Before Windows 11, you could easily be running Windows 10 on a 10-15 year old computer.

[mschuster91]

> Not for sure where the claim of Windows machines lasting less than Apple products comes from.

I'm talking about the entire stack including drivers. Microsoft is left at the mercy of vendors here.

Additionally, I have yet to see a Windows laptop that doesn't develop cracks, broken hinges and whatnot after 2-3 years of use.

[rpmisms]

Never seen a thinkpad, I see. I still use an x61t that's in perfect condition.

[Nextgrid]

Apple is often less shitty than the alternative. Yes, the standards have dropped, but the competition has too, so the status quo stands. It's not just marketing.