Apple Quietly Raises iPad Pro Prices
Apple has quietly raised the prices of the 256 GB and 512 GB iPad Pro tablets by $50. This applies to both the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+Cellular models, but the 64 GB models are unaffected. Some have speculated that the price hike is due to increased flash storage costs, but without an official statement from Apple, it’s impossible to say for sure.
Apple, flowing in cash, is really getting greedy. I have been an Apple fan for years but am starting to look elsewhere for some things. I even returned this year's MacBook Pro because of the lousy keyboard on such an expensive laptop. Apple TV is another iffy less than bang for the buck. I really don't like the direction Apple has been going in the last few years.
I hate to agree with you, but I do. Apple has always charged a premium, and I've been okay with that, but it's even making me balk lately. However, I do like that MacBook Pro keyboard (I realize I'm in the minority).
I think you both make excellent points.
Apple has never been inexpensive. But they offered excellent products so in the past their loyal customers usually appreciated that despite the high cost, you got good value.
But lately the focus seems to have shifted. It's become about conquering a large part of certain markets. Being cool. Appealing to everybody, but appearing exclusive. When you think about their core expertise and look at what they're doing with for example the Mac, you realize that quality (primarily software) and innovation (primarily hardware) are declining. And now it starts to become questionable if you're still getting good value tools or if it's just expensive fluff.
I'm more and more convinced Apple is a way better company when they're the underdog at 10% fighting for their lives and forced to prove they have a better product. Once they become a bigger player in the market they get lazy and nasty, and start feeling a bit like 90s MS.