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Doesn't anyone think that MacOS is pretty much abandonware at this point? I don't want to stir anything up but I don't believe Apple is putting too much effort

Doesn't anyone think that MacOS is pretty much abandonware at this point? I don't want to stir anything up but I don't believe Apple is putting too much effort into the OS at this time. When I boot my MacBook into MacOS (once a year, if that) I feel like I'm 10 years back in time (yes, I have the absolute latest version). I think they're focusing most of their resources on ARM. Or, I'm probably just crazy.

skrowl 7y ago
Anyone who listens to their quarter earnings calls knows that macOS is pretty far down the priority list. #1 is billed services (iCloud, Apple Music, etc) #2 is iOS devices (mostly iPhone) a very distant #3 is laptops and desktops macOS is nowhere on the list because it doesn't make them any money.
- okcando 7y ago
  I would consider it part of laptops and desktops, for which macOS is essential.
  - skrowl 7y ago
    People who are upgrading to new Macs aren't doing it to get a new version of macOS, they're doing it to get the new hardware bits.
    - okcando 7y ago
      Yes but macOS is a large part of the appeal of getting a Mac in the first place and Macs have really healthy margins for the industry, ergo it's making money and isn't free as such. It plus seven years or so of upgrades are built into the price. They also do not directly sell iOS or its upgrades but we'd hardly say iOS isn't making money.
    - robbrown451 7y ago
      No but when I need a new laptop (soon), it doesn't look like it will be mac this time (as it has been for the last 15 years).
    - p1necone 7y ago
      I doubt most consumers see the hardware in the mac and the software installed on it as two disparate products.
- mwfunk 7y ago
  It makes them tons of money, their problem is that other things make even more money. Sadly their organizational structure is such that walking and gum-chewing is almost impossible for them, so even colossally profitable and beloved products can wither away from neglect.
  - nitrogen 7y ago
    This is why large companies need to be split at some point -- a $x billion market is enough to sustain a great company, but a $100x billion company will try hard to ignore it.
- noir_lord 7y ago
  Unsurprising, the last breakdown I looked had Macs only just ahead of iPads (not ipad/iphone, just ipads) - some of that will be the bump from the new mini (which I have and love, it's fantastic) but even so, you can see why it'd be the red-headed stepchild.
- microcolonel 7y ago
  Of course, nobody can make software for iOS without at lesat interacting with macOS some of the time (even if you can do most things on another workstation OS).
bogwog 7y ago
I'll agree with you when they release Xcode for ARM. Until then, MacOS isn't going anywhere.
DonHopkins 7y ago
Not just the software, but the hardware is horribly crippled and outdated in the relentless pursuit of making a laptop the thickness of aluminum foil (or outrageously overpriced for a desktop cheese grater).
TylerE 7y ago
Apple can't win. Threre are two mobs... one of "They changed it, now it sucks" and on the other "They didn't change it, and now it sucks".
- grokys 7y ago
  Welcome to ~~software~~ humanity.
- microcolonel 7y ago
  I think people are more upset that whether they change it or not, it still sucks.

skrowl 7y ago

Anyone who listens to their quarter earnings calls knows that macOS is pretty far down the priority list. #1 is billed services (iCloud, Apple Music, etc) #2 is iOS devices (mostly iPhone) a very distant #3 is laptops and desktops macOS is nowhere on the list because it doesn't make them any money.

okcando 7y ago
I would consider it part of laptops and desktops, for which macOS is essential.
- skrowl 7y ago
  People who are upgrading to new Macs aren't doing it to get a new version of macOS, they're doing it to get the new hardware bits.
  - okcando 7y ago
    Yes but macOS is a large part of the appeal of getting a Mac in the first place and Macs have really healthy margins for the industry, ergo it's making money and isn't free as such. It plus seven years or so of upgrades are built into the price. They also do not directly sell iOS or its upgrades but we'd hardly say iOS isn't making money.
  - robbrown451 7y ago
    No but when I need a new laptop (soon), it doesn't look like it will be mac this time (as it has been for the last 15 years).
  - p1necone 7y ago
    I doubt most consumers see the hardware in the mac and the software installed on it as two disparate products.
mwfunk 7y ago
It makes them tons of money, their problem is that other things make even more money. Sadly their organizational structure is such that walking and gum-chewing is almost impossible for them, so even colossally profitable and beloved products can wither away from neglect.
- nitrogen 7y ago
  This is why large companies need to be split at some point -- a $x billion market is enough to sustain a great company, but a $100x billion company will try hard to ignore it.
noir_lord 7y ago
Unsurprising, the last breakdown I looked had Macs only just ahead of iPads (not ipad/iphone, just ipads) - some of that will be the bump from the new mini (which I have and love, it's fantastic) but even so, you can see why it'd be the red-headed stepchild.
microcolonel 7y ago
Of course, nobody can make software for iOS without at lesat interacting with macOS some of the time (even if you can do most things on another workstation OS).

bogwog 7y ago

I'll agree with you when they release Xcode for ARM. Until then, MacOS isn't going anywhere.

DonHopkins 7y ago

Not just the software, but the hardware is horribly crippled and outdated in the relentless pursuit of making a laptop the thickness of aluminum foil (or outrageously overpriced for a desktop cheese grater).

TylerE 7y ago

Apple can't win. Threre are two mobs... one of "They changed it, now it sucks" and on the other "They didn't change it, and now it sucks".

grokys 7y ago
Welcome to ~~software~~ humanity.
microcolonel 7y ago
I think people are more upset that whether they change it or not, it still sucks.