You didnt say you prefered the apple ecosystem, you specifically said you got gains from using it, inferring that other platforms dont give the same advantages.
If you agree that the gains you get are also available elsewhere to people who prefer other platforms, then I objectively apologise and retract my statement.
> What if the gains are not on the other platforms?
All platforms can do everything. They are all just computers, you just have to learn how to do it.
Everything else here is subjective, which I think we agree on.
> but you’re ignoring subjective needs and opinions.
No I'm not quite the opposite. All platforms are equal if you put the time and efffort into finding the ways to do things you want to. After that, the preference on which you would like to use is subjective.
To clarify definition, needs are not subjective but opinions are.
Opinions are subjective by definition. Do not confuse opinions and facts.
And the idea that “all platforms meet your needs if you put in enough effort and time ” is flawed because that time and effort is part of the needs.
Again, to take their grocery store analogy: the layout doesn’t change the capability of the store. But it does provide them with the ability to get things done sooner, faster and with less cognitive load.
User experience matters more than I think you acknowledge.
I see your point, but I have been shown time and time again that User experience is basically just practice.
People can and do change all the time. Humans instinctively stick with what they know, but in reality most people could be more efficient by learning things outside of their comfort zone. The few people that do this are rewrded greatly by having multiple strings to their bow, and being adaptive to many environments.
Those that stick with they know are super efficient in their own environment, but take them out of that and they invariably complain that they could be better if they had the tools they know.
Are their alternatives? Maybe. I have no idea how they measure up because I don’t use them and wouldn’t comment about alternatives because it was not germane to my point.
Time. Small things that add up to big savings of time every day. My watch unlocks my MBP when I walk up to it. Maybe I am typing a note with the mbp, drawing a diagram with my iPad, taking a snapshot of a whiteboard with my iPhone, all of that simultaneously into the same note file—zero consolidation needed later on. I have set up productivity shortcuts that work on all my devices doing the same thing but in an appropriate manner/UX for the specific device. I can manage text messages from whichever device is in my hands at any given moment. My AirPods Pro2s magically shift to whichever device has my focus at the moment. My iPad can act as a second monitor to my MBP, or simply share the keyboard/mouse. I connect to a WiFi on one device, all of them know that password and can connect as well with merely a click. I can upgrade a device, login with the same ID, and lay it down and within moments it’s configured with all my preferences and is ready to go. There are probably another half dozen to a dozen things that I do daily that are seamlessly integrated just because of the ecosystem itself. They are basically working together so well that I don’t even notice the integration anymore. I have 5 different devices that feel like one.
Could I do all these things with other manufacturers…probably. However, all these things I can do with Apple by just logging in to my devices with an Apple ID. I don’t know of any other solution or combination of hardware/software that provides that level of out of the box ecosystem just off a single login.
If you agree that the gains you get are also available elsewhere to people who prefer other platforms, then I objectively apologise and retract my statement.