Skip to main content

Comment: Dissing owners of older PCs, even accidentally, may not be the best way to sell them an iPad

ipad-pro-schiller

One remark Schiller made during yesterday’s launch event raised a few eyebrows. In noting that the majority of 12.9-inch iPad Pro customers had actually switched from Windows PCs, he pointed to the huge potential switchers market still out there for Apple. There are, he said, over 600 million PCs more than five years old.

What he said next generated laughter in the room, but may not have gone down quite so well with those owners.

This is really sad. It really is.

Now, he may be right. A Windows PC more than five years old is going to be creaking somewhat by now. But it seems to me that there are three types of owners of old PCs, and the remark may well offend all of them …

First, there are those who are still very happily using an older PC. It does what they need it to do. They are using it to access the Internet, store recipes, write, store their unedited photos – all of the many things that don’t demand much in the way of processing power. They could easily interpret Schiller’s remark as meaning that they are sad, to be using such outdated tech.

Second, there are those who’d love to have newer tech, but who simply can’t afford it. In a difficult economy, not everyone has disposable income available to invest in the latest gadgets – especially not the premium-priced tech sold by Apple. Again, they could easily see a very rich man making a joke at their expense.

Third, those who are already considering a new toy. They have the desire, they have the budget and they may well be taking a look at what Apple has to offer. But again, they may well be offended at a seeming dig at people who have left it so long.

There’s also an additional factor. While Apple always uses the term PCs to refer specifically to Windows machines, that isn’t always clear to everyone. Indeed, Tim Cook previously had to clarify this point when talking about the original iPad Pro, asking why anyone would use a PC any more. There are plenty of people happily using Macs that are more than five years old (their usable life being one of the selling points of a Mac), who may have felt they too were being addressed.

I don’t for one moment think Schiller meant it that way. I don’t think he meant to apply the term ‘sad’ to the owners of those older PCs, but I do think there’s a considerable risk that it may be interpreted in that way.

Selena Larson at The Daily Dot also pointed out that the remark seemed somewhat at odds with Apple’s high-profile reference to its environmental initiatives at the beginning of the event. While the company of course wants people to buy new products, continuing to use older ones is one of the most effective environmental steps individuals can take. 

Very little senior Apple execs say on stage is unscripted. This is one remark that perhaps should have caught the eye of a PR person before it made it into the script.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. viciosodiego - 8 years ago

    The comment was a bit harsh.

    • spiralynth - 8 years ago

      People are too fricken sensitive these days. It’s due to the ridiculous pc culture.

      I’ll be here all week. Try the veal.

      • anil (@anil_motupalli) - 8 years ago

        Well As a PC user, it didn’t offend me. But surely it made apple look like a joke.

  2. Robert Wood - 8 years ago

    Well, it did not offend me as user of 8 years old desktop PC until 9to5 pointed out. Lately, 9to5 has started quietly poking and down playing Apple and it’s products.

    • rahhbriley - 8 years ago

      9to5 does that from time to time.

      Ben usually doesn’t and is one of my favorite authors.

      I still owe him a well thought out email about this very topic you mention. I jumped him (unfairly) in the comments about it once, and it still bothers me.

      None the less, I’ve often tried to find the words to articulate, in a healthy way, what you’re pointing out. Those words just seem to escape me. I take that to mean I’m still emotional about it and that I haven’t discovered the root logic that triggers my emotions about the issue.

      I personally think I saw it start as 9to5 started putting Cook’s head on a chopping block far to early after he took over for Steve.

      I digress.

      • Ben Lovejoy - 8 years ago

        Well, I wouldn’t worry about it, whatever it was. :-) Personally, I think Cook is doing a great job; it’s not coincidence that Steve Jobs personally chose him as his successor.

    • Ben Lovejoy - 8 years ago

      Nothing has changed – you’ll always get our honest opinions, some of which you’ll agree with, some of which you won’t. We strongly encourage reasoned debate in the comments.

    • rgbfoundry - 8 years ago

      Apple deserves some objective criticism. In the last 5 years, they’ve pursued “thinness” at the expense of features and battery life. The OS has gained features designed to make life easier for computer newbs at the expense of non-Linux power users. Gutting or re-inventing their software in a way that paralyzes workflows. Not allowing iOS system roll-backs when it’s clear than an OS makes your device unbearable. Apple needs to hear about these errors, and I don’t think they care much for what their customers think. 9to5 might be risking media access to Apple, but the critical press is probably the only voice that Apple is listening to.

      • dComments (@dComments) - 8 years ago

        I agree with the iOS rollback. iOS 9 on my iPad 2 is just not good and I’d gladly go back to 8 if I could. I could afford to buy a new one, but until iOS 9, it did what I needed it to do. Until then, I just use my phone instead of tablet.

  3. Paul Douglas - 8 years ago

    They were dissing the PCs, not the users. How are we still seeing the same stupid, overly-sensitive nonsense people were spewing about the PC/Mac ads?

    • viciosodiego - 8 years ago

      Hey, I’m a pc.
      And Hey, I’m a mac.
      Did people really get offended by that?
      lol

      • ericisking - 8 years ago

        you might be amazed how easily some people are offended.

    • ytsethunder - 8 years ago

      True but the difference is, there was more pull than push with those adverts. That comment was purely push.

  4. patstar5 - 8 years ago

    Why would anyone buy an iPad when you can get a surface which is more capable? Or a MacBook Air or pro?

    • edopelawi - 8 years ago

      Totally agree.

    • thegamingart - 8 years ago

      Windows……… <—-

    • or just build a windows PC. Motherboard, Chip, RAM… under $500 still cheaper and would last longer then the iPad

      • twelve01 - 8 years ago

        Only a small minority of customers have the interest of technical know how to build a PC. 99% of consumers want a device that can run out of the box; one that requires minimal setup and or maintenance. Most consumers would also prefer something highly portable (tablet or laptop) and many do not need a machine that runs complex software or multiple applications at once. iPad is perfect for this and more, and is so for a fraction of the cost of surface book.

      • c1ce091b - 8 years ago

        its still a piece of hardware that relays on MS and its load of BS to support it… Its the eco-system, not the one piece in it that makes the difference to me.

    • twelve01 - 8 years ago

      A couple of possibilities a) they’re significantly cheaper b) they do 99% of what the avg consumer needs c) they’re well made d) they’re the most portable non-phone computing device in the market

      • patstar5 - 8 years ago

        I got a surface 3 for $450 with type cover. It’s almost replaced my $2000 MacBook pro.
        If you don’t need os x or the horsepower, many of these new intel atom window devices are perfect. Plus you can use iTunes.
        I wish apple would bring iTunes to android, they brought apple music but my free trial expired so I stopped using it. It was also buggy.

    • Elmore Leonard - 8 years ago

      Because maybe they are part of the Apple ecosystem, or maybe they want something that functions a little bit easier, or maybe they hate Microsoft. That is a totally ignorant comment on your part. Everyone has a choice, just because you like the Surface doesn’t mean others do. What’s capable to one may be incapable to another.

    • Matthew Gonzales Landry - 8 years ago

      Not everyone wants more capability if it means using Windows. I actually like iOS more than Mac OS, so I’m glad the iPad Pro uses iOS. I’d appreciate more features, of course, but as a writer, the iPad Pro is perfect and way better than the nearest Surface option. I do, however, hope that the Surface gains in popularity so that I may possibly see better features and hardware options to combat Surface. Until then, I’m happy using what I’ve got.

  5. Johnny Cap - 8 years ago

    You’d really have to be a f moron to interpret it as a personal insult.

  6. rahhbriley - 8 years ago

    Ya, they prolly shouldn’t use that kind of language anymore, but that was classic Schiller and frankly sounded like Steve himself.

  7. my iMac is about 8 years old and very long in the tooth….but new Apple products are expensive so I just wait. what is sad is when a company continues to sell lower-quality-or-older-tech computers for as much as they do and then sell high-priced adaptors.

    and my iPad has sat on a shelf unused for about 1-2 months now. yesterday’s Apple event was very lackluster.

    • nevembr - 8 years ago

      Yeah I agree, what is way more “sad” is that I could go in an apple store and by their “highest end” PROFESSIONAL Mac, and it’s ALREADY 3 years old. The hardware in it is close to 5 years old already, and for professional work we could easily get double the graphics horsepower for half the cost by buying a regular pc. I’m not exactly offended by their comment but it just goes to show they need to get their head out of their asses. They also are selling a $1100 macbook pro that came out 4 years ago, so people who buy a NEW mac in the apple store today would have SAD computers in a year. Totally ridiculous for them to make this comment. Many 5 year old PCs have better performance than still-sold in stores Macs, and of course they are faster than an iPad Pro. Their claim just makes no sense.

      • ericisking - 8 years ago

        and here we have exhibit one – you can almost see the steam coming out of your Microsoft-sponsored ears…..

      • Matthew Gonzales Landry - 8 years ago

        Of course you use the only Mac that hasn’t been updated in three years. But what you didn’t mention is that the highest end Mac Pro is still incredibly powerful. It’s not as if just because it’s three-years-old that it turns to poop. This comment was made in regards to computers that legitimately fun first and second generation Core-i professors; you know, the ones that run hot, have terrible battery life/efficiency, and don’t perform particularly well (this is if we assume these older PCs are using Core-i processors; these CPUs were still premium while some still shipped with Core 2 Duo chips).

        And regarding the GPU power: workstation-class GPU v.s. consumer GPU.

  8. Lawrence Krupp - 8 years ago

    Somebody somewhere will always be offended by something. Victimhood is now engrained in the culture. What? Political correctness has come to tech? Do PC users need a “safe place” like offended minorities do on lunatic fringe university campuses?

  9. thegamingart - 8 years ago

    eh… in an economy where most people are capable of upgrading an iPhone every year/half a year… I don’t think the economy is a problem (lay off the Starbucks).

  10. bytesbobs - 8 years ago

    Yet all of Samsung’s ads that makes obvious fun of iPhone users no one makes any posts about that hmmm?

  11. Andrew Williams - 8 years ago

    I understood it as sad that they were not spending their money on Apple products.

  12. greatwizard1 - 8 years ago

    OMG I’m so triggered! (not)
    Please don’t become the verge. People come to read tech news, not PC analysis of 1 improvised joke sentence.

  13. gymnastboatman - 8 years ago

    Or maybe we can have a society where everyone doesn’t get offended at every little thing and actually just take into account that they’re just words and have no intrinsical affect on our lives whatsoever.

    Like, so what if he meant you’re sad for not buying a new computer in five years. Don’t like it? Don’t buy the product. Apple won’t cry over your lost business. Because the number of people who buy their products pay the bills and your business is just extra cash. Go cry to yourself. Nobody cares if you got your precious little feelings hurt by the scary man at the Apple announcement.

    This kind of post- it’s type- is unwelcome here, in my opinion. We don’t need a post telling us who Apple *may have* offended. Let them be offended. This changes nothing in the grand scheme of things. Stop being the word police, it’s pathetic.

    • mrobertson21 - 8 years ago

      i guess that’s why the title of the article is “Dissing owners of older PCs, even accidentally, may not be the best way to sell them an iPad”.

      can you spot the key words? “may not be the best way to sell an iPad”.

      this shouldn’t need to be explained, at all.

    • Matthew Gonzales Landry - 8 years ago

      Are you saying that Apple shouldn’t treat potential customers with the utmost respect all of the time? You know, the reason why we’re taught to stray away from fallacies is because our objectives should be to get people to listen to what we have to say. These rules that we created to make sure we can get our messages out have been around for centuries; this is nothing new.

  14. sstba11 - 8 years ago

    meh

  15. Gerco Broekstra (@Gerco) - 8 years ago

    Pfff. farfetched. The group of people you claim to be offended really did not see the event.
    And then write quit e few paragraphs on it is almost an art :-)

  16. Jamison.IO (@Jamison_IO) - 8 years ago

    I think the bigger realization here is that people with these very old PCs are not watching or paying any attention to an Apple Keynote about new products. I know my 75 year old father in law on his 13 year old XP machine certainly isn’t (but he uses it everyday!)

  17. Brandon Stiefel - 8 years ago

    Question to the writer of this article… Has anyone reported being offended by Schiller’s comment? Have any mamby-pamby delicate flowers reported to the hospital with broken hearts? Has anyone had to call a whaaambulance? I hope no one has died from this comment. Because death offends me.

    Welcome to the new America, folks. We’re all made out of brittle glass, easy to shatter.

  18. Trip Mitchell - 8 years ago

    Very few owners of 6 year old PCs are going to be compelled to watch a stream of an Apple event…

  19. Depending on how high-end a PC’s specs were in 2011, it may not necessarily be an unusably slow machine. I think Apple also tends to forget that unlike their products, PCs are a little more user-friendly and allow expansion and upgrades. A PC can be 5 years old and have had a couple components here and there swapped to give it an overall longer lifespan. That’s part of why some people lean toward Hackintoshes. I agree with the article that this is very at odds with their strong focus on the environment earlier on during the presentation. No matter how efficient they get at recycling e-waste, the most effective solution is to not introduce e-waste into the stream to begin with. I’m also still not convinced that the majority of PC owners are going to view an iPad as a full replacement for their desktop experience, and if somebody really has a 5 year old PC, odds are they are keeping it for a reason and perhaps already do have an iPhone or iPad for mobile computing.

  20. Cory © (@Nardes) - 8 years ago

    I just thought it was a stupid, petty comment….. something you’d see from Samsung… not Apple. It’s not that it hurts peoples’ feelings, its just insinuating that people are “stupid” because they are using old technology. Sorry there’s A LOT of people that can’t afford to update their technology, and also a decent amount that don’t need to. Apple’s statement was the equivalent of when Kanye (whom I love) says something dumb and you just kind of roll your eyes and shrug it off, even though it left a slightly bitter taste in your mouth.

    • Elmore Leonard - 8 years ago

      While I personally didn’t think it was that harsh, I do see your point. It was definitely a comment that Schiller could have avoided. Why alienate a whole group when you don’t have too? The Kanye analogy is a great point.

  21. John Allou - 8 years ago

    There is another type of user. The user that upgrades individual components when they want to. If one changes the graphics card, or increases their ram, but still have the same hard drives, motherboard, and CPU, are they still using a five year old PC? One could easily find themselves in a “my grandfather’s ax” situation and, yet, have a machine that may be “five years old” but not feel long in the tooth at all.

  22. I chuckled when I heard the comment but… I indeed cringe as well.

    Not everyone has access to disposable income. And, outside the US, Apple products are definitely selling at a premium…even here in Canada. People that bought a Windows PC 5-6 years ago had likely made a huge sacrifice when they did and now they are being told that they are outdated… it may be true but it’s a tad harsh…

    Anyway, nothing showed yesterday is compelling me to dispose of any income for the moment…. the part that actually caught more of my attention is the update on how ResearchKit does and CareKit release of all things…. and the security tidbit…

  23. Joshua Fulmer - 8 years ago

    I guess my overclocked i5 2500k which is faster than most non pro macs is a real piece of shit now that it is 5 years old…

  24. Jesus, the things that can insult people these days? In 2030 just if someone says Hey without a follow-up smile might get the one it was for offended…

  25. Inaba-kun (@Inaba_kun) - 8 years ago

    PCs have long since moved into the realm of diminishing improvements for typical use. There’s no reason at all why a 5 year old PC can’t perform normal tasks perfectly well. I’d argue that phones are moving into diminishing returns territory as well now. I intend to keep my current PC (3 years old) for another 3 or 4 years at least and my iPhone 6 (1 and a half years old) for another 3 years or more. They both work fine so why on earth would I want to replace them? In the case of my iPhone I’d argue my current iPhone will be superior to the iPhone 7 if rumours of its lack of a headphone jack are confirmed. I have expensive wired headphones, and they’ll last for many, many years. I won’t be replacing them.

    Plus with desktop PCs they’re trivial to upgrade. Throw in an SSD, a quicker graphics card and some more RAM and it will feel like a brand new PC.

    Tough for any tech company though looking to drive sales. I expect we’ll see iPhone sales declining over the next few years, as we will with all smart phones. This would be incredible news for the planet, if not for Apple, Samsung and the rest.

    • PMZanetti - 8 years ago

      Why would you want to replace them? Because life is short and innovation is rampant. I know plenty of people like you that think its somehow endearing or proud to hang on to a product you’ve purchased as long as you can…but its not. Its just a choice you make, that has no inherent positivity.

  26. mrobertson21 - 8 years ago

    I felt the same way. The forced, sycophantic laughter after the joke was even more cringeworthy.

  27. tigerpork - 8 years ago

    Steve Jobs would have said the same thing…or even more harsh

  28. Owners of 5 year old PCs are not watching Apple’s spring “Loop” telecast. Trust me on this.

  29. Milele Ramsay - 8 years ago

    I was not offended and my laptop is from 2007, I actually agreed. I have been watching and researching for years trying to decide what to get. I think I’ll go with the 128gb 9.7″ iPadPro because I felt the 12.9″ was too big. At work everything is Apple so I’m making the switch. I’ve been at my job almost 6 years so I’m used to the OS and iOS, I also have an iPhone 6. I only use my laptop for pictures, iTunes and a few documents. The rest is streaming and surfing the net shopping.

  30. Grayson Mixon - 8 years ago

    Whether is makes sense to be offended or not, it is news now, and I don’t see a problem with Ben covering it. He doesn’t say he’s offended, only that some people are, and it’s true that some people are.

    I’ve said it before, Ben. You’re the best author on the site.

    In 2006, I bought a top of the line $2000 HP laptop to go off to college with, and after 2 and a half years, the screen went out, and I had it replaced for $500, and then two years later, it went out again. Instead of paying another $500 to replace the screen again, I just went to Best Buy and bought another laptop on sale for about $350 I think. That was 2010.

    Then I got out of college, was able to afford a smartphone (iPhone 4s), and started to use my laptop a lot less, and then in 2013, I got an iPad Air. The combination of those two meant that I didn’t use my laptop very much. It’s slowed down considerably in the last 5 and half years, but it’s still usable for the rare circumstances that I use a laptop at home. (Most of my laptop/desktop usage is at work anyway.)

    So, you see, the iPhone and iPad actually extended the life of my Windows laptop because I use it very little thanks to them.

    Why would I buy a new laptop that I still wouldn’t use very much? It’s not like I’m going to switch back from iPad to a laptop just because I got a new one.

    Well, actually, last Friday I did buy a new top of the line MacBook Air (it was on sale at Best Buy). For the rare instances I use a laptop, I would still like for it to seamlessly integrate with my iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

    But, I’ve still got my 5 and a half year old laptop for those instances where you have to have Windows, and with the free Windows 10 update, it actually runs a little faster than on Windows 7, so it may very well have a few more years in it. And now that I have a MacBook Air, I can wipe the hard drive and reload everything on the Windows machine, and that usually speeds things up, so it may get even better.

    What’s the point of that? I’m super techy, and even I have a Windows machine over 5 years old, and it was bargain basement when I bought it. But there are a few forces in play:
    1. When I need a laptop/desktop, it’s usually at work, so I don’t need a powerful laptop at home.
    2. Far from trying to sell me an iPad as a replacement for my Windows machine, my iPad has actually extended the life of my Windows machine.

  31. Saeed S. Loloi - 8 years ago

    Don’t disagree with anything written, but let’s be honest, these press events are ‘preaching to the choir’. I doubt the 5 year PC owning chap is watching these pressers to be offended or not.

    • ytsethunder - 8 years ago

      Seems as though the whole thing was aimed at shareholders and more-than-just-your-casual Apple followers.

  32. Tytan McBride - 8 years ago

    I like the fact that they are dissing owners of PC’s 5 years old, yet they supported iMac’s from 2007 with El Capitan…someone at Apple should do research before saying things like that

    • Elmore Leonard - 8 years ago

      I don’t think what Schiller said was planned. It was a tongue and cheek moment and I’m sure after a while you’ll see a retraction from him, especially since it seems to be getting a lot of play.

  33. Chris Ko Hoffman - 8 years ago

    I think that anyone offended by that remark is probably a bit over sensitive, or is that harsh for me to say? Anyways, I completely understood it that their PCs are 5 years old because upgrading to a replacement that fits their lifestyle doesn’t make sense — things are either over-priced or over-complicated. I think that’s where the iPad Pro comes in; and, if it’s a “PC replacement” as he claims (which I think is a bigger argument than his remark about old PCs), then $599 introduction price isn’t that bad… Especially for the super portable form-factor. To me, it sounded like he was trying to incentivize why people with a 5-year-old PC now have a great incentive to switch — a cheaper, smaller version of the premium large iPad Pro.

    People will find anything to get their feelings in a knot nowadays.

  34. Bryan Buitron - 8 years ago

    What’s funny is that I’m typing this comment up from a 2011 MBP. I have a newer 2015 iMac at home and have an iPad Pro sitting right beside me. My 2011 MBP is great, and still runs great, unfortunately, it can only do so connected to a power source. A sensor on the logic board failed, which is why I bought an iPad Pro to replace my 2011 MBP. Like I said, it works great, but only when connected to a power source.

  35. commenter797 - 8 years ago

    Ben (@benlovejoy) and several of the other people who posted comments made some good points. Here are a few thoughts:
    * The comment (“There are over 600 million PCs in use today that are over five years old. This is really sad, it really is.”) was derisive. Some people use PCs more than 5 years old by choice, and others do so because they can’t afford a new PC. In either case, the comment calls those people’s situation “sad” in a mocking way. The comment was not made in the context of sympathy. It conveyed the sense that the people who use old PCs are doing so because they are ignorant of the bliss to be enjoyed by using the latest and greatest Apple iPads.

    * I think one of Apple’s biggest selling points is that they have provided iOS updates for much longer than Android (and BlackBerry) devices. That increases the value proposition of buying Apple devices because those who want to do so can continue using their Apple devices securely for longer than they could with their Android devices that no longer receive security updates. So even though Apple insulted people who use old technology, Apple deserves credit for enabling Apple customers who choose to use old Apple devices to do so securely by providing updates for 4+ years.

    * Most people who use older technology don’t closely follow the developments of new technology (e.g., by watching Apple’s PR event)–particularly people who can’t afford new technology, so most of those people weren’t actually aware that they were mocked. I follow innovations and technology developments because I enjoy doing so (and for professional reasons), and I like knowing what the state of the art is. Nevertheless, I choose to continue using older devices. My personal PC is about 4 years old, and I’m still using my iPhone 4S. I just replaced the battery in my iPhone 4S (via ifixit.com) to give the device new life, and I will soon be updating to iOS 9.3–thanks to Apple for continuing to provide updates for my older (sad?) iPhone!

    * As others have pointed out, PCs and smartphones have reached a point where new innovations bring diminishing returns. Sure, they get more powerful, faster, get cool new features, etc. But if you want a device to type documents, read/send e-mails, surf the web, view and share photos, file your taxes, watch movie trailers, shop online, get GPS directions, call people, and do the other routine things people do with their devices, most of the time older devices work just fine for those tasks.

    * And why exactly is using older things “really sad”? Is it sad to wear clothes that are old? To drive an old car? To live in an old house? Is treating perfectly usable devices as disposable, constantly discarding the “old” for the latest and greatest, the best choice for most people? (It’s certainly not environmentally friendly.)

    * For myself, I choose to use older things (clothes, car, PC, smartphone, tablet, camera, etc.) until they have served their useful life. Rather than enjoying the cool features of the latest iPhone (or car), I choose to save money for things like retirement, my kids’ college tuition, unexpected expenses, and giving to worthwhile causes.

    * Everyone who has enough disposable income to buy new devices more frequently than every five years is free to make their own decisions about how to use their money. In a civil society, we ought not to mock people who make other choices. We can politely disagree, and we can even advocate for choices we think are better. But mockery, derision, and name calling is unbecoming.

    * In my opinion, what is truly “really sad” is (1) that there are people who are sad if they don’t have the latest and greatest technology, and (2) that so many of us are more obsessed with upgrading and replacing our “old” stuff with new stuff than with helping people who are struggling to provide the basic necessities for their families–and in that regard, putting an extra $499 towards retirement (or otherwise saving money) instead of upgrading to a new Apple device is equally self-centered. (I must admit that I am guilty of more often saving money for myself than give it away to those in need.)

  36. Mark - 8 years ago

    The comment was actually pretty hypocritical. The fact is that a 5-year old Windows machine can probably run Windows 10 with no issues at all. In fact my 10 year old MacBook can run Windows 7, and thus practically any Windows application and is compatible with any website, all the latest standards, runs iTunes fine, syncs to iCloud (all of it) etc. If I switch to OS X, It can just about manage Snow Leopard which isn’t compatible with anything Apple has done in the last five years, and many of the web features also don’t work. Try syncing to iCloud or updating an iPhone 6 with iTunes in Snow Leopard…

    Same is true of the 2011 iPad 2. My wife stayed on iOS7 for a long time, then after being pestered daily for about 6 months, finally went to iOS 9 which has practically bricked it. Everything that worked great before (News Stand for Magazine, Safari, Mail, TuneIn Radio) all now judder and jerk to life (eventually) and the whole thing freezes for 30 seconds to a minute whenever you switch apps or search for a website. And yes she’s disabled almost everything you can, but it’s still useless. She never uses it now and has no interest in paying another $500 or so just to keep doing the things she was able to do before ‘upgrading’.

    Microsoft might be a bit of a joke right now, but I suspect that the Surface Pro 4 in 5 years will still be running the latest and greatest software, with considerable ease, whereas the iPad Pro just release this week, will feel as bad as the iPad 2 does right now.

    • While Microsoft has a business incentive to sell you a version of Windows that runs on your old PC, Apple has a business incentive to sell you a new Mac, iPad, or iPhone.

      iOS devices may not be aging well, but my 2008 MacBook Pro still works fine with the latest OS X.

      • Mark - 8 years ago

        I know, I understand the business model. There are some decisions that Apple make which are frustrating (and some Apple fans make silly excuses for it) such as being so restrictive with RAM. My iPhone 6 is already showing signs of slowness due to RAM and the original iPad had a very short life due to the 256MB of RAM it had. This kind of penny-pinching (we’re talking about $3 or $4 to Apple per device when they’re making 250% profits on devices, including R&D) does make one wonder what kind of company I am giving my money to.

  37. Doug Bixler - 8 years ago

    Not that big of a deal except yesterday felt very disconnected from the public. All of the Big Boys at Apple are really starting to feel more and more like the 1% that they are. When Jobs delivered on products you really felt like you NEEDED to have those products. When Tim and Phil delivery products, they feel like they are status symbols that don’t have that “needed” feel like they are pushing the tech world forward anymore…

  38. hayesunt - 8 years ago

    #whocares #nbd #notagoodreasonforsuchalengthyarticle

  39. ateterine - 8 years ago

    Why people are so sensitive these days? If that comment offended anybody, it is sad.

  40. Daniel Beehn - 8 years ago

    Well, I can see the Apple Fanbois are out in full force again…Apple never can do any wrong, can they?

    The simple fact of the matter is this–the comment is wrong and it reeks of elitism. I’m sure that if the people mentioned used 5-year-old Macs instead of PCs, Apple wouldn’t have a problem, because they would be in the Apple ecosystem and Apple would still be making their sweet, sweet profits. But because they aren’t using a new, shiny Apple product? It’s sad. Very sad.

    Here’s the thing, though–while I agree that 5 years is a long time in the tech world, a lot of devices anymore are capable of running just as well in such a time span. Not to mention the cost. Some people don’t want to spend an outrageous amount of money every few years to buy the latest tech, and would rather stash back some money. What they have works, so they’re going to stick with it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, even though Apple thinks there is–again, because they are missing out on those precious profits!

    All of this elitism is one of the reasons why I’ve worked the past several years to remove myself from the Apple ecosystem. I don’t necessarily want to be associated with a company that thinks you’re lame if you haven’t bought their newest toy.

  41. Everything is good and fine but you know i can’t afford macs in India cause they are too expensive here . best we can do is iPhone 5s or 6 . But then it does not make me sad but yeah its not good to make fun of poor people when they lack facilities such as basic health care and are using older second hand PCS

  42. plooms - 8 years ago

    I also didn’t like how he compared it to the Xbox 360, a console that was released over a decade ago…

  43. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

    Just to add some clarification, there are large corporate customers that are in the process of replacing Aging desktop Windows computers for iPads. They may not need or use the Pencil, but for some customers iPads are taking over for aging Windows desktops.

    There are a lot of hospitals, hotel chains, teachers, outbound sales, and other markets where the iPad is really all they need.

  44. Nick 'Krang' Fasso - 8 years ago

    Though this isn’t targeted at people like me, whose powerful home PCs are compositions of parts ranging from 5+ years old (the i7 CPU) to a year old (the monitor, the RAM) which are capable of more than my MacBook, I don’t like the ecological implication of upgrading for the sake of it. They opened the conference with discussion around their environmental awareness, and concluded it by saying that seeing a moderately old device still in use upsets them. Recycling isn’t an elimination of waste by any stretch of the imagination, and urging consumers to consume more rapidly if for no other reason than to be zeitgeisty flies in the face of their environmental stance.

    I like Apple, and I’m glad they are doing more to remain environmentally conscious, and I get that they are a business trying to sell products, but there is significant dissonance in their messaging here.

  45. Kira Kinski - 8 years ago

    I personally feel that Apple is rather disingenuous with its green environmental campaign. Apple makes great products, but they are clearly designed to be replaced on a regular basis. The lack of expandability and limited (but overpriced) options make this so. Personally, I’ve decided to buy no more Macs until Apple offers expandability again, if ever. Yet, I’m currently in the market for a MacBook Pro and Mac Pro; so there’s two lost sales. And I am certainly not alone.

    Another thing I want to mention as an aside, I was thinking about the privacy/security issue with the iPhone and how Apple champions the rights of its users. I guess Apple does not care that the government can readily track (and more) any iPhone at any time since the battery cannot be removed. Oops.

    • eswinson - 8 years ago

      This is true of all consumer devices. No matter how expandable Samsung makes their phones, they expect you to replace them in the future. Limitations on software upgrade support cut the life a product far shorter than lack of hardware compatibility.

  46. eswinson - 8 years ago

    The whole “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ad campaign did this very thing and it was considered to be very successful in creating “switchers”

  47. ankushnarula - 8 years ago

    The comment immediately struck me as insensitive but I expect most people know that the intent was to highlight a tragedy rather than to ridicule people’s choices or lack thereof. Ultimately it doesn’t matter since people replacing PCs and Macs with iPads is anecdotal these days. Now Chromebooks on the other hand…

  48. ytsethunder - 8 years ago

    It struck me as a sad comment on consumer culture nowadays. The age isn’t the problem, it’s the capability, and if the capability remains all people need then why the hell should they buy something new? Again, Apple is trying to create excuses for more people to buy iPads. I’m sold on it because it fills the gap that Steve Jobs pointed out in 2010, but I’m not convinced by Schiller’s argument.

  49. b9bot - 8 years ago

    I think maybe the truth hurts a bit. But people using that old hardware are spreading the viruses and malware because they can’t update there operating system. Running XP was fine 5 years ago but now you are just a key for hackers, spyware, and viruses.

  50. Nick Flor (@Fireenze) - 8 years ago

    It didnt offend me. Stop being so damn sensitive about everything. From Apples perspective, it is sad if someone is using an 5 year old computer with what they want to accomplish.

  51. adsg48 - 8 years ago

    iPad runs on a mobile OS …Cook, Schiller,…etc etc may be little worried over shrinking iPad selling numbers…but the fact is iPad in its present form can’t replace a PC or Mac. A 5 year old PC can do amazing things that an iPad can’t even thik to do.

  52. mytawalbeh - 8 years ago

    As I’ve read a great comment here mentioning it wasn’t meant to the users but to PCs devices.
    It is SAD in two ways: – PCs running windows software – and they’re old devices, hardware
    I completely disagree with the author.

    • Ben Lovejoy - 8 years ago

      “I don’t for one moment think Schiller meant it that way. I don’t think he meant to apply the term ‘sad’ to the owners of those older PCs, but I do think there’s a considerable risk that it may be interpreted in that way.”

  53. pdixon1986 - 8 years ago

    It was right in saying how there are many people still using outdated and slow PC — i have many friends who upgraded to windows 10 but then downgraded again because they hated the experience… i know a lot of people, including my parents, who mostly use a computer for email and web browsing – something you dont need a PC for… in fact, i gave my original ipad to my mum about 4-5years ago — she is still using it… i suggested her to upgrade it — she said “but all i do is check emails, play scrabble, and sometimes read…it still works fine for that” — my dad bought her a cheap £350 windows laptop a few years back… my mum said it takes too long to load up – so she only uses it to skype me…
    My dad has made similar comments about his desktop PC — he said when that gets too slow he will consider getting a mac mini.

    Even at my school where i teach — they have these old computers on their desk – but they use ipads in the classrooms… the school said that if it wasnt for the server set up and the cost of replacing the PCs they would switch to using ipads only.

    i do think a lot of people are switching from desktops — there are a fair few people using laptops… but i think tablets in general (not just ipads) are becoming the main device in the house…

    In short — there was some truth in what he said, but i’m not sure it was necessary – especially considering the sales of ipads has been dropping and most people still keep their old PCs, and the ipad pro is certainly not a laptop replacement for most people – especially it you need to do office work.

  54. jaydee917 - 8 years ago

    I have multiple PC’s that over 5 years old that run great. It’s not sad at all. The Windows 10 update actually sped things up quite a bit.

  55. confluxnz - 8 years ago

    iPads are not, and likely never will be, a replacement for a good laptop – irrespective of whether it’s a MacBook or a Windows device.

    Maybe I’ll start taking Apple’s assertions of “iPads are the ultimate personal computer replacement” seriously when they put their money where their mouth is and completely nuke their MacBook lineup.

  56. vxxxcv - 8 years ago

    My 5 years old PC can do things that iPad wont be able to for long time yet,sorry Apple but next time thonk what u can say about your toys..

  57. BLURLABS (@blurlabs) - 8 years ago

    boo hoo hoo
    just a crapy take on his comment.

  58. Paul Yoshihara - 8 years ago

    Why is this comment harsh? We all know that the older a computer gets, the harder it is to get it up-to-date with the latest security features.
    You’ve probably heard of the government still using Windows XPs, which is not surprising given that they get hacked regularly. Who pays for that? All of us. The government, the employees and citizens who gets their information leaked. So Phil Schiller is right to say that it is a shame, because of if products were newer (or at least be compatible with the latest updates, like Apple products seem to do well) then we would not be having these problem, or certainly, there would be less attempts.

    So yeah, it is a shame that 600 millions users are being left behind and may be at risk of being compromised.

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


Ben Lovejoy's favorite gear