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Ask HN: Isn't it time for an Apple alternative?

by nurik on 1/24/12, 8:38 PM with 15 comments

• by phaus on 1/24/12, 9:43 PM

  If you think that Apple designs the best products I don't understand why you would need an alternative. Beauty is highly subjective, so it really only matters what you think. I Don't dislike Apple, but I do prefer using a PC. While my primary computer is kind of tacky looking, I also have an Asus eee slate that I believe is designed and built just as well as anything I've used from Apple.

  The easiest way to answer your question would be to try out a bunch of computers. If you like using the Mac the best, the answer to your question is "no."

• by glimcat on 1/25/12, 3:37 AM

  Speaking as an engineer-designer: Apple's devices are better designed than a lot of the stuff out there, but they're still not that great. You can kick their asses on design if you actually find a case where there's a sufficient financial incentive to do so.

  It's just, it's really hard to make money at scale on physical products. There's not much incentive to complete on this. Plus, many people have been trained to evaluate design quality as "looks like Apple products" ... which some days gets to the point where I just fire-bomb the place and take a vacation in Nepal, Tibet, one of those places with mountains.

  Interface design specifically is a case where it often comes down to "stop breaking it" vs. "how do I add more awesome" - people make this horrible unusable goop and think it's good design. The Google refresh? Lord knows how much money they threw at that ... and while the old version wasn't all pretty with colors and gradients everywhere, it had fairly decent usability. The new version is riddled with issues, after putting substantially more effort into making it. WTF?

• by mhd on 1/25/12, 2:41 AM

  Isn't that the whole reason behind the Ultrabook initiative? This way you get a pretty decently designed laptop. For desktops you can get a few cases that can compete with the looks of the Mac Pro, although few of them are as organized on the inside, at least without a bit of work from those assembling them. Not that it matters all that much (and never mind that I still think the G3/G4 plastic cases were nicer).

  Regarding OS software, it doesn't look like Apple is even trying very hard anymore, so let's see if things like Ubuntu can catch up. (Personally, the bits of software I like most on my Macbook aren't even from Apple.)

• by nurik on 1/25/12, 9:24 AM

  Thanks guys for the comments. Really appreciate it. And please excuse the lack of asking more precisely, what I meant to ask was if you guys see any chance and need in a new company that produces hardware and software? Of course thats not all Apple is about...after all you might not need a similar company whatsoever. However, currently I don't see any company out there with the potential to come up with a similar set up (hence I totally agree with chris_dcosta and in part with dholowiski).

• by dholowiski on 1/25/12, 3:21 AM

  No, Apple is still super cool. Awesome usability, GUI, on top of super-powerful Unix. Maybe we need an alternative from the Apple of 2-3 years from now, but the Apple of today kicks absolute butt.