The Mac Platform Decline
This recent round of updates made me consider what I need from a "work" machine. For me, it comes down to three items:<p>* Can I code on this machine? This means at minimum three tasks: write, deploy and test code. This also connotes a lot of things, including but not limited to access to a non-unobfucated file system.<p>* Can I view all file formats easily and successfully? This includes formats like XML and json which are not typically meant to be viewed by a human.<p>* Can I use and move freely between several web browsers? This also connotes a lot of things, including but not limited to access to browser extensions, console, etc.<p>The answer to all these questions is "Yes" for Mac/Win/Linux and solidly "No" for iOS. Which, is too bad, because I'd love to use something like an iPad Pro for work. But Apple has placed several <i>software</i> based restrictions on iOS which, above and beyond other hardware restrictions (lack of multiple monitors, poor selection of input devices) add up to there being no reasonable way to get "work" done on the platform.<p>I don't see myself as a power user, either: Apple seems completely stuck in a time where all users needed was access to a decent office suite and the ability to email and print in order to "do work".<p>That's not an adequate description of "work" any more, but apparently no one has told Apple.