It has been less than a week and already
has the latest reveals from Apple's announce on September 9th sprung up the web
on controversy, mixed feelings, and overwhelming feeling of "Well, here we
go again". So is the norm at most Apple releases; They introduce something
that's either: a) A copycat b) Deemed unnecessary and overtly idiotic c)
Contradictory to something Apple had said against the idea at a former time.
The iPad Pro being a response to the Microsoft Surface, with much of the same
functionality of the Surface that is very un-iOS like. Well, now we finally
have all of those attributes combined into one. I give you, the Apple Pencil.
So what is the Apple Pencil, well, it
just so happens to be a stylus that was specially formulated for the newly
announced iPad Pro. And the price tag, ONLY a meager $99 for the stylus. For
$99, all you get is the stylus, and that’s about it. Well, I'll leave that one
alone, Apple products have been notoriously overpriced compared to competitors
similar products. The title says hypocritical, well Shawn, mind explaining that
one? Of course. In 2007, Apple marketed that stylus’ were always unneeded and
took away from the overall experience of using a tablet. And now, here we are,
8 years later, and guess what! They’ve created a product that essentially
contradicts their longstanding belief that they are unwarranted. Then again, I
can’t blame them, what they’ve created, at least from early product reviews, is
one of the best stylus’s of all time.
What makes me
state something so ridiculous? Well, all reviews, beyond stating the obvious
that I’ve stated before, have stated the same thing amongst themselves, and in
Apple fashion, I believe it. The quality. All Apple products, beyond my own
bias, are created with absolutely astounding build quality. It is something
Apple has done with their devices for decades. I may not like or understand the
reasons behind Apples other decisions, but when it comes to a functionally and
well-designed product, Apple takes the cake. When that stylus is in your hand,
much like an iPhone, iPad, etc. they all feel….right. they feel like they were
designed specifically for you. And for that, I give Apple props.
So, once again,
Apple has gotten away with contradicting themselves and dragging us consumers
along with it. No matter what my previous prejudices might be, one thing is
definitely a standing trend, Apple products sell, even those oddballs they send
out to us every now and again. Consumers will eat it up, considering how far
they focused on the release of how great using it with the iPad Pro is. My
question is, what does that say about the consumer? Do we just gobble up
anything that looks shiny and new from our favorite brands? I mean, they do the
same thing with new styles from all the major clothing brands, electronic
brands, foods, etc. That teenage girl just has to get out and get that new
bracelet that she sees her best friends wearing. And I’m sure the same will
apply here. People will feel pressured to buy this not because it is necessary
as Apple markets it to be, but because they see other people close to them with
it and feel pressured to get it themselves. Not because they like the
functionality, or the purpose, but purely because Ashley needs to outdo Kathy. I
find that sad on so many levels, because such a well designed product does not
deserve to be put away after a few weeks because Kathy no longer uses hers and
Ashley forgot about it all together because the competition is no longer there.
To me, functionality is everything, and a society where this is the norm just
shouldn’t be any more.
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