![\"Macstudio\"](\"https:\/\/bone-in-the-throat.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/macstudio.jpeg\" "\\"macstudio.jpeg\\"")
<\/p>\nAs most readers know, long ago I switched over to Apple for most everything in my personal computing environment. Wherever you look in my home office, you\u2019ll see an Apple logo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exceptions are of course in monitors, printers, and these days my router. Apple no longer makes their Airports or Time Capsules. So I ended up changing components as the Apple devices wore out.<\/p>\n
Apple Monitors are spectacular but far too expensive for my needs. There was a time I even had an Apple LaserWriter.<\/p>\n
This is not to say Apple makes the best products. I do find however that Apple products tend to remain useful far beyond their non Apple competitors. It\u2019s nice having a unified ecosystem too. Being able to update everything from a central source is on the one hand a little spooky but on the other hand it\u2019s super convenient. I like knowing that my devices have updated themselves and typically don\u2019t require a lot of intervention on my part. (HomePods, I\u2019m looking at you when I say \u201cTypically\u201d)<\/p>\n
All that being said, I\u2019ve been noticing that lately the configurations of Apple equipment that I\u2019d be most likely to purchase haven’t been available off the shelf.<\/p>\n
The latest example has been the Apple Watch Ultra. The 13\u201d MacBook Pro with the M2 processor 24GB of RAM and 2 TB of disk storage. One can argue that the Apple Watch is brand new, okay I\u2019ll give you that one. The MacBook Pro 13\u201d on the other hand has been out for a long while. Why then is the maximum configuration still not readily available? Oh right\u2026 COVID.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another item just showed up on this list. The Mac Studio. It\u2019s been out for almost a year. You\u2019d think I could pull up at an Apple Store, and plunk down 3K then walk out with one containing the M1 Ultra Chip, max memory, and 2 TB of disk. Well you\u2019d be wrong.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This configuration is apparently order only and has a mid October delivery date. Why? Surely I can\u2019t be the only person to realize that with Apple Products these days you have to buy what you\u2019re willing to live with from the get go. Modern Macs don\u2019t allow for upgrades, they don\u2019t allow you to buy a mid grade unit then max it out later. You have to buy it knowing that if you outstrip it\u2019s capabilities you\u2019re going to have to buy a new machine.<\/p>\n
So what the hell? After the recent debacle with me purchasing a maxed out M1 MacBook Pro and then having it stolen when I needed to ship it back to Apple because it was defective. I don\u2019t want to buy anything new unless I can exchange it in a store.<\/p>\n
(I\u2019m still having to pay for the computer even though it was stolen. Fed Ex denies responsibility and so does their agent Dollar General. Word to the wise, if you have to return something to Apple, drive 100 miles to the nearest Apple store to return it. Make sure Apple gives you a receipt on paper. For that matter if you\u2019re shipping something back to a manufacturer for refund or exchange don\u2019t accept \u201cWe\u2019ll send you a text message or an email,\u201d demand a paper receipt because that\u2019s your only proof that you handed the product to FedEx or UPS or whoever. Text messages are complete bullshit as receipts.<\/em>)<\/p>\n In my case, I don\u2019t want to order anything from anyone online. Sure there\u2019s convenience in having something delivered to your door, but if whatever it is, is broken, or dies, the hassle of returning it and waiting for a replacement greatly destroys the convenience.\u00a0<\/p>\n I prefer to be able to take something back to the store and get an exchange on the spot.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the case of Apple, I prefer to unbox the machine in the damn store and power it up. I want to\u00a0Know\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>it works before I leave. Setting something up in the store allows me to know that and do a trade in, if desired, at the same damn time.<\/p>\n Apple products are generally reliable right from the get go but given the sloppy Chinese manufacturing I\u2019ve seen lately, and the fact that most all of Apple\u2019s products are made in China\u2026 Well, I really want to verify things are working while it\u2019s still easy to exchange.<\/p>\n Therein lies the problem. Since the Apple stores don\u2019t have representative examples of the top of the line configurations in stock and I\u2019m gun-shy about ordering something custom for which there is no backup I\u2019m not likely to buy the item in the first place.<\/p>\n That\u2019s how I came to be screwed with my M1 MacBook. I had to return it and have another one built, it\u2019s not like I could get another one off the shelf at an Apple Store.<\/p>\n Yes this is a first world problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nonetheless, it begs the question why isn\u2019t Apple stocking the high end configurations at their stores? I mean at least ONE in stock at each store?<\/p>\n When I bought my Intel MacBook (Max configuration) it was literally as simple as walking in to the Apple Store and stating what I wanted. They had 4 in stock. I powered the machine up, checked it for functionality, and walked out with my purchase.<\/p>\n Granted that was in 2019. I\u2019m sick and tired of hearing about COVID. I\u2019m sick of hearing about supply chain issues. I\u2019m sick of excuses!\u00a0<\/p>\n If Apple knows it\u2019s got a problem, they should fix it. If we know we\u2019ve got supply chain issues then the people in charge of supply chains should get off their asses and fix the problem.<\/p>\n If Apple can\u2019t get products from China, then they should move the damn factories to places where they can get products built and reliably delivered.<\/p>\n That goes for every stinking manufacturer of anything.<\/p>\n I, like many Americans, never really paid much attention to government, or governments, or the supply chain. Stuff just freaking worked. \u00a0<\/p>\n But now\u2026 Oh this shit has my full and undivided attention.<\/p>\n Perhaps in November we\u2019ll see just how many other Americans are suddenly paying attention. If the Democrats in America get beaten into the ground and Tech companies suffer major losses in sales because a) they can\u2019t get products into consumers hands in a reasonable time, or b) people can\u2019t afford those products, then I\u2019m pretty darn sure they\u2019ll get the message. When their stock prices take a dump and the economy sinks further because products aren\u2019t available and people won\u2019t or can\u2019t pay the prices, the message should be very clear.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll be signed, \u201cThe American People”<\/p>\n Really? Mid November for an new iPhone or Apple Watch?\u00a0<\/p>\n There\u2019s no point in companies spending on marketing. By the time the product is actually available, people will be anticipating next years\u2019 model and will hold off on their purchases. That by the way is called \u201cMarketing Window”<\/p>\n That\u2019s probably where I\u2019m going to come down on this.<\/p>\n See ya next year Apple, maybe…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As most readers know, long ago I switched over to Apple for most everything in my personal computing environment. Wherever you look in my home office, you\u2019ll see an Apple logo.\u00a0 Exceptions are of course in monitors, printers, and these days my router. Apple no longer makes their Airports or Time Capsules. So I ended … <\/p>\n
\n