# Steve Jobs is a plague upon humanity! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 10, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245 "2010-09-10T00:33:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/21 "2010-09-10T15:03:05Z")
Is the battery that big of a problem? I’ve replaced all my computers and iPods before the battery conked out. I still have a 1st Generation iPhone, and the battery is fine. Do most users even need to replace the battery? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/22 "2010-09-10T15:04:23Z")
I have to use a MacBook at school. It was issued to me, so I didn’t have to buy it. It’s just different enough from Windows that I bang my head against the wall every time I try to do something. The USB ports are designed in such a way that I can’t use more than one USB device at a time because the flash drive and cable end or whatever won’t fit next to each other. There is, frankly, nothing special about this computer, except that it’s a Mac and not a PC. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/23 "2010-09-10T15:26:34Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > > [@Askance](#): > > > > No, you ridiculous clown. Apple’s entire success with user interfaces is removing from users options and accesses they don’t frikkin’ need. Notice how almost every complaint about MS products circles around the “bloatware” drainhole? No-one ever says that about Apple products. Apple judge - overwhelmingly correctly - what options are useful to present to the users and what it is destructive to usability to present to users. One button. Name one other niche technology provider who made the leap into end-user land like Apple. You can’t because no-one else considers the user experience first, AND THEN constructs the interface and the product accordingly. MS design the product they want to write and sell AND THEN advertise as if they had taken users into consideration from the start - which they haven’t. > > > > You know how Vista came to be? MS were getting slammed because of weak security in their entire Windows product line. Their response was to throw the responsibility onto the user - oh, you said YES to the 50 questions we asked you as to whether you REALLY REALLY wanted to download that file? In that case it’s your own frikkin’ fault you got trojanned. Then they got slammed for a hostile user interface - "[but, but, but we made it as much like Mac OS as we could without being sued](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaIUkwPybtM)!’ - so their response is to either cozen the user away from access to files they themselves wrote - imagine someone playing a computer game which installs automatically into c: **/program files/** (as MS themselves do) wanting to save a game there! - or force you to log in as Admin and so bypass the entire frikkin’ security structure. The desperate desperate fools. > > QuickTime > ITunes > > I rest my case. Case dismissed. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/24 "2010-09-10T15:48:57Z")
> [@Baboonanza](#): > > What I hate is that Apple have used the success of their designs and the power of their brand to push a model of computing that is essentially complete Apple lock-in. Microsoft _wish_ they could get lock-in as good as Apple. Every single decision they have made in the last ten years has been to increase and expand this lock-in. Apple are pushing the computer and entertainment industry in a direction that restricts user freedom and the more success they have, the more iPhones and iMacs they sell the closer this future of complete user restriction gets. By the time everybody notices it will be too late. I am no Apple fanboy (the only thing I own of theirs is an iPod) but Apple hardly has locked-in the computing model. PC still rules by a large margin the business computing world. MS Office Word, Excel, and Powerpoint are still the de facto standards for data and word processing. The thing is, it has been ubiquitous for so long now that folks almost don’t even notice it. While there are millions of iPhones, they are still a fraction of the cell phone market. iPads are cool, but 95% of the population won’t buy one. The onloy real thing that Apple is the de facto standard in is the iPod, and even that is becoming more and more obsolete as folks use their cell phones for that purpose. I am not saying that aren’t big and important, and the way they have revived themselves almost from the dead is remarkable. They are a truly innovative company and Steve Jobs is the reason, what they have managed to do is wow the tech press, for good reason, but in the everyday business world they are actually pretty minor players. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/25 "2010-09-10T16:19:27Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > The fact of the matter is that Jobs doesn’t want people adding crapware to the products that Apple makes. Doing so results in products that run sluggishly or not at all; that are susceptible to all sorts of software problems not of his making but which he has to hire customer support people to deal with; and which inhibit sales because people who’ve added that crapware to their formerly pristine Apple products start complaining to their friends and co-workers about what a shit product their Apple computer/iPod/iPad is, how it doesn’t work right, and how Apple’s customer support sucks. And yet, the restrictions they place on what users can do go far beyond just preventing “crapware.” Change your batteries? Hell, you can’t even change the iPhone background image without jailbreaking the phone first. ---
**Author:** ![Page\_Fault](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@Page\_Fault](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Page_Fault)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/26 "2010-09-10T16:32:50Z")
> [@cckerberos](#): > > And yet, the restrictions they place on what users can do go far beyond just preventing “crapware.” Change your batteries? Hell, you can’t even change the iPhone background image without jailbreaking the phone first. The reason you can’t change batteries is because Apple sells a lot of their products on the ‘slim and light’ platform. Making a user-serviceable battery involves adding all the connectors for that battery, a casing for the battery so that it can be safely carried ‘naked,’ and a slew of other engineering concerns that would add bulk to the device. Do you also bitch about your wristwatch not having a user-serviceable battery? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/27 "2010-09-10T16:34:35Z")
> [@cckerberos](#): > > > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > > > The fact of the matter is that Jobs doesn’t want people adding crapware to the products that Apple makes. Doing so results in products that run sluggishly or not at all; that are susceptible to all sorts of software problems not of his making but which he has to hire customer support people to deal with; and which inhibit sales because people who’ve added that crapware to their formerly pristine Apple products start complaining to their friends and co-workers about what a shit product their Apple computer/iPod/iPad is, how it doesn’t work right, and how Apple’s customer support sucks. > > And yet, the restrictions they place on what users can do go far beyond just preventing “crapware.” Change your batteries? Hell, you can’t even change the iPhone background image without jailbreaking the phone first. Bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/28 "2010-09-10T16:52:05Z")
> [@Page\_Fault](#): > > Do you also bitch about your wristwatch not having a user-serviceable battery? Every wristwatch I’ve ever owned has had a user-replaceable battery. For that matter, my current watch allows me to program new functions into it. (Right now, I have it programmed to function as a wireless mouse.) I didn’t even have to jailbreak it. That’s right. My wristwatch is a more open platform than an Apple product. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/29 "2010-09-10T16:53:04Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > Is the battery that big of a problem? I’ve replaced all my computers and iPods before the battery conked out. I still have a 1st Generation iPhone, and the battery is fine. Do most users even need to replace the battery? Might depend on your usage patterns–I know a few people who have had to replace the batteries in their 1st-through-4th generation iPods, while ironically my Creative Zen Touch (which has an easily replaceable battery) hasn’t ever needed it. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/30 "2010-09-10T16:54:13Z")
> [@Page\_Fault](#): > > Do you also bitch about your wristwatch not having a user-serviceable battery? Yours doesn’t? Every single watch I’ve ever owned takes those button batteries and either had a screw-down cover or an unobtrusive notch for opening the back cover without scratching it. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/31 "2010-09-10T17:36:06Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > > [@crazyjoe](#): > > > > QuickTime > > ITunes > > > > I rest my case. > > Case dismissed. Sorry, I offereed evidence of Bloated Crapware produced by Apple, as requested. If you are of the opinion these are not bloated crapware, please provide evidence to support it. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/32 "2010-09-10T17:46:53Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > > [@cckerberos](#): > > > > And yet, the restrictions they place on what users can do go far beyond just preventing “crapware.” Change your batteries? Hell, you can’t even change the iPhone background image without jailbreaking the phone first. > > Bullshit. Please provide step-by-step instructions for changing the home screen background image on an iPhone 3G without jailbreaking it. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/33 "2010-09-10T17:49:23Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > > [@beowulff](#): > > > > Case dismissed. > > Sorry, I offereed evidence of Bloated Crapware produced by Apple, as requested. If you are of the opinion these are not bloated crapware, please provide evidence to support it. It’s my expert opinion that both Quicktime and iTunes do exactly what they were designed to do. I use them both regularly, and they perform admirably. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/34 "2010-09-10T18:06:17Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > > [@beowulff](#): > > > > Bullshit. > > Please provide step-by-step instructions for changing the home screen background image on an iPhone 3G without jailbreaking it. Thanks in advance. Settings -\> Wallpaper (I think this was in a software update a while back.) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/35 "2010-09-10T18:07:42Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Every wristwatch I’ve ever owned has had a user-replaceable battery. If that’s true, then every Apple product _also_ has a user-replaceable battery, and you’re just whining about how you haven’t yet seen the proper youTube or website that _tells_ you how to replace the battery in your Apple hardware. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/36 "2010-09-10T18:14:16Z")
Just a question for the OP: did you know about these battery-changing limitations before buying the product? It’s certainly public enough info on the CNET-style boards out there. If not, then maybe some research was in order? If so, then you made your bed, sort of. And **Second Stone** , when you say > [@](#): > > So I wait for the more open competition and thank Jobs for lighting a fire under their worthless asses. You are exactly right. Without the iPhone, would we have a Droid or the Sprint [HTC](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg)? (I love that funny video, great to make fun of the Applebots). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/37 "2010-09-10T18:15:27Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > > [@Balance](#): > > > > Every wristwatch I’ve ever owned has had a user-replaceable battery. > > If that’s true, then every Apple product _also_ has a user-replaceable battery, and you’re just whining about how you haven’t yet seen the proper youTube or website that _tells_ you how to replace the battery in your Apple hardware. Sorry. I think that’s disingenuous. A wristwatch battery is _meant_ to be replaced by the user. I’ve never heard of anyone specially taking it to a–where the hell would you take a wristwatch–to replace the battery. It takes no special tools or any particular technical know-how. Changing the battery in an iPhone or unibody MacBook Pro all requires a modicum of mechanical and technical savvy. They’re not _meant_ to be replaced by the user, although it certainly is possible with the right tools and videos. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/38 "2010-09-10T18:20:41Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > > > Please provide step-by-step instructions for changing the home screen background image on an iPhone 3G without jailbreaking it. Thanks in advance. > > Settings -\> Wallpaper > > (I think this was in a software update a while back.) For 3GS and up, yes. Not supported for 3G. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/39 "2010-09-10T18:28:47Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@Squink](#): > > > > If that’s true, then every Apple product _also_ has a user-replaceable battery, and you’re just whining about how you haven’t yet seen the proper youTube or website that _tells_ you how to replace the battery in your Apple hardware. > > Sorry. I think that’s disingenuous. A wristwatch battery is _meant_ to be replaced by the user. I’ve never heard of anyone specially taking it to a–where the hell would you take a wristwatch–to replace the battery. It takes no special tools or any particular technical know-how. Changing the battery in an iPhone or unibody MacBook Pro all requires a modicum of mechanical and technical savvy. They’re not _meant_ to be replaced by the user, although it certainly is possible with the right tools and videos. Not on all wristwatches. For example, the Seiko that’s currently on my wrist doesn’t have any visible screws/notches. When the time comes to get its battery replaced, I will likely be taking it to a jeweler, rather than futzing with trying to pop the back off and then snap it back on without damaging anything. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245/40 "2010-09-10T18:35:25Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > …I love Apple’s products and the thought and discipline and courage that goes into making them… “Courage”? “COURAGE”? Oh my fucking og that is hilarious. “Courage.” Yeah, uh huh. The whole world is out to stop Apple but _only they_ have the COURAGE to keep making overpriced baubles that no one really needs but desperately want nonetheless! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steve-jobs-is-a-plague-upon-humanity/553245.md?page=3)