I had a Macbook Air, iPad, iPhone, and was about to buy an Apple watch to complete the set. But last year, I did an about-turn. I ditched my Macbook for a Thinkpad, got a Huawei phone (a hand-me-down), and a smartwatch.
Was it because I wasn’t happy with the quality of Apple products? No, in fact, I admit the build and design of Apple products are superior. I always felt as if I was working on a piece of art each time I used an iPad or Macbook. And I still happily prefer my iPad over my Samsung tablet.
So, why did I leave the Apple ecosystem? Let me roll out the reasons for you.
Reason #1 Apple’s walled garden
Apple products are designed in such a way that you have to stay in their ecosystem. In a way, it’s cool that their products work seamlessly together. However, you’d end up dealing with lots of limitations. For one, I find it difficult to find Apple-compatible gaming software and I grew frustrated having to only use Apple-only products. For example, I couldn’t buy third-party iPhone chargers because they stopped working after a few charges. And what’s with removing ports so that you have to buy their latest thingamajic to get the same functionality? That annoys me the most.
Reason #2 I’m denied right to repair and upgrade however I want to
In Malaysia, where I live, we have computer shops that cobble together a PC for you according to the specs you want. If I wanted to upgrade the desktop to a better version, all I had to do was go to the shop and ask for a part or two to be upgraded.
Apple doesn’t give you that kind of freedom. You need to repair your items in shops approved by them. You need to buy stuff from shops approved by them. Fortunately, in good old Malaysia, we have cowboy outfits that openly repair iPhones, and most of us go to them for that.
In a way, I get that it helps Apple control quality, and it’s part of the reason why Apple products “just works” is because it is a closed ecosystem.
But I disliked having to upgrade just because they deemed my device “too old”. I hate having to buy a new thingamajig when my old dongle worked just fine – just because Apple removed a port. I hate that I can’t repair my MacBook or upgrade them independently.
Reason #3 When you are locked into their ecosystem you gotta do things their way
Closely tied to Reason #1. When you are reliant on one company to provide you the products you need to use to earn a living, you have to just accept whatever changes they roll out.
I discovered it the hard way when I wanted to use an app, but my current OS was not compatible. But when I tried to install the new OS, they said I didn’t have enough cloud space, so please buy some so that you can install the new OS. It was ridiculous. I knew that the tiny amount of hard disc space was going to bite me in the ass one day, but I’ve only used the Macbook for three years and I barely installed anything!
Fortunately, after much cleaning up, I managed to install the new OS, but just barely. But I found myself looking hungrily at the generous amount of HD space that the Thinkpad was offering … at the same price.
I never forgot the feeling of helplessness when a pop up appears that I need to do this or that to do a basic function. And that task usually involves money.
So that’s how they profit from us, byte by byte, install by install.
I grew really tired of being locked behind any ecosystem of products, services and forced upgrades. Apple lost me because of that – I hate being told to upgrade just because Apple has deemed my version of iPad obsolete. Or having to buy cloud space because they gave me a barely functional amount on my laptop. PCs not only give me a better deal for the same amount of money spent, I enjoy the freedom it offers, and in the long run, it is just more cost-effective.
Reason #5 It is f**king expensive
What most folks in the West do not realize is that Apple products are EXORBITANT in Asia. People get in debt to “afford” them, just to flash an iPhone to look cool.
But then there’s the whole Foxconn Apple scandal where workers were made to work in horrible ways just to meet their exacting demands.
I read about the whole thing in the book, Haunted Empire: Apple After Steve Jobs. In fact, after reading the book, I had such distaste over their corporate practices that it made me feel like a saint for leaving their ecosystem.
Now, I’m not the sort to announce on social media that I’ve stopped using a product because the CEO is a Nazi or something. (Though it will probably hasten my search for an alternative.) Mainly because having a purity stance is problematic. Every company in the world is tainted in some way. The best we can do is to choose a company that can fulfill my needs ethically. It’s often a losing battle as there are far too many skeletons in corporate closets to keep up with.
But what really gets my goat about the whole Foxconn thing is how Apple, despite charging exorbitant prices, are treating the workers that are actually making the products that make them their profits like sh*t. Wait, you say. Apple doesn’t control Foxconn, other people are doing this to the workers. But as I read the book, Haunted Empire, it is Apple’s demanding ways that caused Foxconn to turn the screws on their workers, and Apple is conveniently closing one eye.
Reason #4 The zealotry of Apple fans
I never understood the zealotry around Apple. It’s like a religion or something. And I shy away from all cult-like thinking. I am wary of brands that foster such slavish fan worship. It disturbs me and I don’t want to be a part of that.
Reason #5 I miss my freedom and options
It’s the same reason why I left Twitter and Facebook for Mastodon. Why I embraced IndieWeb and now blog the POSSE/PESOS way. I realised that Apple products, shiny and high quality as they are, were trapping me in one way of doing things. I could see a time when I became so dependent on Apple products that I couldn’t break away, so I broke away the first moment I could. I do miss the sleekness and “it just works” feel of my Apple, but I wasn’t willing to pay insane prices just to do my work when PC-related products could do it for me just fine.
So yeah, in a nutshell, I left the Apple ecosystem because I like my freedom too much, and I was just getting way too nervous being so dependent on one company!
Elizabeth Tai 
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