Any brands you don't buy on principle?

Duggy747 wrote: »

Apple are over-priced products that are more style than substance which are limited in features and they dictate what's "cool". €60 for a keyboard for an iPad?..........doesn't that just turn it into a stripped-down, under-powered & over-priced desktop?

Then there's the fact that they spend so much time and money advertising a product only to announce an "updated" version of said product within a few months which is basically just a slimmer version of what you have with minor bells and whistles.

i was just going to reply with basically the same response. am...no flash? no usb port? am, no thanks

but here's a funny comic on the issue

but yeah never realised so many people had so many issues. maybe i should inform myself better.

Duggy747 wrote: »

Apple are over-priced products that are more style than substance which are limited in features and they dictate what's "cool". €60 for a keyboard for an iPad?..........doesn't that just turn it into a stripped-down, under-powered & over-priced laptop?

Then there's the fact that they spend so much time and money advertising a product only to announce an "updated" version of said product within a few months which is basically just a slimmer version of what you have with minor bells and whistles.

You mean in a similar way to the XBOX 360 being announced shortly after the XBOX launch? or the PS3 being announced just after the PS2 launch and likewise the PS4 being announced just aster the PS3 was released? All companies do it. Its more noticeable in Apple's case due to the limited product range. Sony release on average 5 new phones each year. Nokia similar figures each one a slightly more powerful, slimmer, lighter version than before. But it looks different so you don't pay attention to it but ultimately its the same thing.

As for over priced please. Look around without the hating apple goggles on. My iriver mp3 player 5 years ago cost €230. The equivalent ipod cost in and around the same with the cowan i audio a cool 50 dearer and the creative 10 cheaper. How is apple over priced there?

The keyboard issue why not buy a 3rd party one? I use a keyboard in work from microsoft that cost €80! I could easily go out and buy one that costs €10 but I didn't because I prefer this one. It's about choice!

I always find the undpowered limited argument of apple products hilarious. Don't get me wrong, I'm no apple fan. The only product I've ever owned form them is an iphone and at that I got it for free so in no way over priced! People bash them because it makes them think they are cool going against the grain. In what way is an iphone limited to say a sony or samsun equivalent? how is an ipad limited to say the HP tab? Apple products serve a specific purpose and they do it extremely well and better than most.

iregk wrote: »

You mean in a similar way to the XBOX 360 being announced shortly after the XBOX launch? or the PS3 being announced just after the PS2 launch and likewise the PS4 being announced just aster the PS3 was released? All companies do it. Its more noticeable in Apple's case due to the limited product range. Sony release on average 5 new phones each year. Nokia similar figures each one a slightly more powerful, slimmer, lighter version than before. But it looks different so you don't pay attention to it but ultimately its the same thing.

As for over priced please. Look around without the hating apple goggles on. My iriver mp3 player 5 years ago cost €230. The equivalent ipod cost in and around the same with the cowan i audio a cool 50 dearer and the creative 10 cheaper. How is apple over priced there?

The keyboard issue why not buy a 3rd party one? I use a keyboard in work from microsoft that cost €80! I could easily go out and buy one that costs €10 but I didn't because I prefer this one. It's about choice!

I always find the undpowered limited argument of apple products hilarious. Don't get me wrong, I'm no apple fan. The only product I've ever owned form them is an iphone and at that I got it for free so in no way over priced! People bash them because it makes them think they are cool going against the grain. In what way is an iphone limited to say a sony or samsun equivalent? how is an ipad limited to say the HP tab? Apple products serve a specific purpose and they do it extremely well and better than most.

It's been nearly 5 years since the PS3 was released. Same with the Xbox.

Sounds like you are an Apple fan btw

optogirl wrote: »

They advertised in such a way as to suggest that if you didn't use their products you were causing your children harm - they made women who were undeducated feel as though breast milk was inferior to their product. It is without doubt cynical and morally wrong

can i get a link to something about this, like advertising campaigns?

Deleted User wrote: »

Sony- crap returns process and DRM tech
Apple- DRM and other dodgy biz practices
Starbucks- way they swarm an area and make locals close
Indo or Sunday Indo- for obvious right wing trash
Any of the red top papers- full of lies
Anything from Israel- for obvious reasons
Dental items with fluoride- too much in our water already
Anything owned by Rupert Murdoch- he has too much media power
Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie, Nike, Ben Sherman, Kickers- so I dont look like a twat or knack
Any fizzy drinks- dont want diabetes!

i can understand you on all except Israel, they are not Taiwan they make some great stuff top quality i always found

You're a technician? Well I can't argue with your superior level of knowledge which you have clearly demonstrated. I will though for the sake of keeping discussion alive throw in this little bit.

Duggy747 wrote: »

Those consoles came out years apart from each other, doesn't apply here.

Of course it applies here. The principal of the argument remains regardless of time passed.

Duggy747 wrote:

With the price flash HDDs and MP3 players from other companies have dropped throughout the years how come iPods are still so expensive? (granted, they're not the only culprits over-charging in the MP3 market)

Well its called technological progress. Ipods are still expensive but then again they aren't made out of a small screen with a jog wheel anymore are they? No they are now a big touch screen and such. The price stays high as the product evolves. For example a 32gb Creative Zen touch screen is only €10 cheaper than the ipod version.

Also being a technician I'm sure you're well aware that the price of flash memory has risen 250% in the past 18 months.

Duggy747 wrote:

I'm a technician and I deal with Microsoft and Apple products everyday so I assure you I know what I'm talking about and I can tell you when a company is ripping it's consumers off with it's ludricious prices, hardware and software. Their business practises are also very questionable.

Of course Microsoft could never be accused of questionable business practices could they?

Duggy747 wrote:

Just because an iPad or an iPhone has shiny features and is advertised like God's gift does not make them the better piece of hardware. Plus the iPad is aimed at your average consumer whereas the HP tab is aimed at businesses, touchscreen/laptop hybrid products existed well before Apple made it pedestrian-friendly.

If anyone sounds like they have an ill-informed argument, it's you.

Nobody ever claimed any apple product was better hardware than its competitors. It was simply stated that they are designed for a purpose and at that they do it extremely well, better than most. You don't just pay for hardware for example you also pay for presentation, look and feel as with everything in this world. Yes that lovely aluminum backing on a iphone costs more than the plastic on the back of a nokia. With an apple product you're buying that whole package not just the internal hardware but again being a technician I'm sure you take and indeed took all of that into account.

But what do I know I just an ill informed fan boi who. You on the other hand have beaten me down with figures that backup all your arguments. Oh wait that was me!

El Horseboxo wrote: »

I've always bought fruit and veg from local producers rather than supermarkets and such which may have items mis-labeled. And i've always asked if any israeli products were used in producing them. Of course in my life i may have contributed towards something they had a hand in making. But in this day and age there are so many monopolies on certain products that it's difficult to maintain a 100% true boycott of something. People might say why bother when you are still giving to them. But i'd rather give them the least amount due to circumstances that i can't help than a larger amount in circumstances that i could have prevented.

Well most of the local producers were I live, supply the supermarkets too and if you asked them that question they would just look at you. They also supply green grocer shops around the city and country either direct or through the corperation market and quiet frankly the only thing the farmers customers care about is price so they can make a decent markup when you the consumer buy it. So i don't really know were they are getting the information from as they don't visit the local producers either. Could it be the old irish Bull****e answer just to sell something?

At least the large retailers can be lobbied to impose restrictions on its suppliers such as how some of the large clothes retailers boycott Uzbeck cotton after NGOs campaigned.