I know that everyone has an opinion on Apple, and it’s almost impossible to say something new. I am still going to try. 

I have put both my investment money in the stock and my spending money into the products for well over a decade. This company has shown all of us what real product innovation was about. Being that we are now well into the post-Steve Jobs era at Apple, I think it is time to really see what they have come forth with. I expected a lot of success – even after Jobs.  As a shareholder, I certainly wanted it to be this good. I really thought innovation at Apple would start to fall off at some point. I have to say, it has not. 

Let’s discuss the products first. We all have our own personal relationship with Apple products. With my family, we have several iPads (each son and my wife), two recent MacBook Pros, a couple of first generation and current generation Apple TV’s in a box somewhere, and my wife’s iPhone. Personally, I jumped ship from iPhone after iPhone 3. At the time I traveled so much I just had to have a phone that could hold a charge over 15 hours or more without a collection of Mophie Juice Packs. I went Android with HTC originally due to the extra batteries. I am currently using the Samsung S5, with three extra batteries. 

APPLE-WATCH-ALL-THREE-VERSIONS

Three Versions of The Apple Watch

Personally, I don’t think I would ever buy the Apple Watch. Certainly not the first one, as I am certain they will tweak the battery life by the second version. I never thought I would like an iPad, either. While I don’t use them as much as my MacBook Pro, I grab them around the house when my sons are not using them. My wife swears by hers, and she does everything with either her iPad or her iPhone 6. Rarely will you catch her at a traditional keyboard with her desktop (PC). 

There are reasons for people like me that have been using Android to go back to iPhone. I hated the small screen. I should wear glasses, but resist at all costs. That was the second big reason I moved to Android. Bigger screens I could read without glasses. My wife’s battery actually lasts all day. While I still travel, there are better alternatives to the first generation Mophie contraptions. I would likely get the iPhone 7 Plus. I have the skip the current version as I would certainly bend the current one.   With Samsung’s new Galaxy S6, they lost me to not having a removable battery. I know they are likely to keep going in that direction. The only others with a removable battery don’t look that great. All of this combines, and I can say with confidence that I will jump ship later this year for the iPhone. 

I think a lot of others will do the same. 

NEW-MACBOOK

The New MacBook is Really an Update on the MacBook Air

 

More reasons that others will jump ship to iPhone, MacBook, MacBook Pro and even the most amazing Mac Pro: 

 

The integration of the latest and greatest version of Mac OS, and its integration with the iPhone for calls and text. While I use an Android App that can do the text from my S5 (MightyText), nothing can really integrate the phone.  It’s amazing to see. That is another key element pulling me into the Apple eco-system. 

The Apple Watch that everyone says they won’t buy… Well, many will. Many will get them as gifts. Many will want to return to iPhone because there is no hardware manufacturer as good at great looking – truly artistic – consumer tech. I don’t want Samsung doing a watch for me. I want Apple for that – although I still think I won’t ever get one. 

I have a MacBook Air around from 2010. While I rarely use it, I love it. It is absolutely awesome as a lightweight keyboard that you can easily use while seated in a plane. I looked at that new MacBook, and immediately drooled. While I will probably go for another MacBook Pro instead, I am absolutely going to give one a test ride first. I like 13″ – I think. I don’t need anything more than the MacBook has. For those that have not see it, it is not the old white MacBook from years ago. This is slimmer and better looking than the best of the MacBook Airs. Others will buy it on an impulse, too. 

MACBOOK-PRO

 

The MacBook Pro is for those that need more than just one port on their Mac!

Someone at Microsoft must be paid off by Apple, as there was no greater gift to the Mac operating system than Windows 8.  Skipping to Windows 10 and renaming “Internet Explorer” something new is never going to salvage what has been lost. I am always shocked by people I have known for decades suddenly buying Macs left and right. They don’t even require “Mac Lessons” on how to use a Mac anymore. Finally the Mac is truly intuitive. As one friend said, “anything beats Windows.”  Mac smashes Windows. 

MAC-PRO

Still the Most Amazing Mac of All Time… The Mac Pro! 

Power users are sick of any kind of PC. While I don’t really know anyone that has picked up a Mac Pro personally in several years, I know at least two advertising agencies that have them all over their creative departments. They are amazing.  I like grabbing my computer and going place to place. I last had a 2009 Mac Pro, and I get everything I need from my most recent MacBook Pro.  Besides, the 2009 weighed in about about 80 pounds!  

 

Bottom line for Apple: 

The stock is cheap. I have said that for years. I was a bit hesitant after Jobs was gone, but Apple had taken any question of their future success away. 

I am not going to give it a target, but I am just not selling (personally).   I will be selling a Samsung S5 later this year. Funny how that will likely get me no more than a share or two of AAPL!