Waiting for a New Mac Pro

Apple has been selling the same Mac Pro since 2010. That has resulted in the device looking rather dated, compared with other high-end computers from competing vendors. Petitions have cropped up on Facebook asking Apple for an update on when it’ll launch the next Mac Pro. So far, it’s stayed tight-lipped. And that’s just wrong.

After Apple launched the new iPad with 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE), the rumor mill buzzed with reports claiming the company would do the same in the iPhone 5. Although that device is scheduled to launch next month, what’s stopping Apple from offering 4G LTE in the iPhone 4S? The company says “design compromises” are holding it back. But with the kind of cash Apple has on-hand and a design team that’s widely renowned as the best in the world, can’t it figure out a solution? Every iPhone needs 4G LTE.

Since the launch of the first iPhone, which lacked 3G, Apple has been playing games with customers over what they can get in its devices and what they can’t. Apple could have bundled 3G in that device, but made customers wait. The same might be said for the lack of 4G LTE in the iPhone 4S. Apple likes to keep certain features out of its products, so it can make customers buy the next one. Unfortunately, there isn’t a compelling reason to do so.

Have you ever tried to buy an accessory from Apple? Don’t. The company prices many of its accessories at $29. Even the remote that comes with the Apple TV, which has just a few buttons, costs $19. It’s ridiculous.

One of the simplest ways Apple is disappointing its customers is with the Retina display. The option is available in the iPhone 4 and 4S, the new iPad and a MacBook Pro. But what about the rest of Apple’s products? There is no reason Apple shouldn’t bundle the Retina display in its iMacs and smaller MacBooks. And it’s about time the company is called out on that.

One of the reasons Apple’s iPhone and iPad are successful today is the company’s willingness to offer up major upgrades to those devices. However, in the last couple of years, Apples has offered only relatively minor updates to those devices, prompting some customers to complain that Apple is becoming rather boring. That might be true. It would be nice if Apple went back to its old ways.

When Steve Jobs announced the Apple TV, the set-top box that connects to televisions and lets users stream music and movies, he called it a “hobby.” In the next iteration, he tried to say that it wasn’t a hobby. But in reality, it’s still a hobby: Its functionality is too simplistic, and Apple is ignoring it. Apple should either discontinue the device or finally show it some love.

Apple has made great strides in becoming more enterprise-friendly. And companies are increasingly adopting its products because of that. But it’s still not as enterprise-friendly as it could be. The company’s Joint Venture service for small businesses doesn’t provide high-end support that companies need. And in many cases, Apple gives IT staff too little control over its products. Until Apple changes that, it can’t be considered a true enterprise-friendly company.

It’s no secret that Apple sells its products at prices that are much higher than those from competing companies. But in some cases, those prices just aren’t justified. For example, why should customers pay more than $1,000, including tax, for an iMac? An all-in-one PC from Hewlett-Packard is hundreds of dollars cheaper and includes better components. Even the MacBook Air looks awfully pricey, compared with a nicely equipped Ultrabook. Hopefully, Apple will eventually cut its product pricing. I wouldn’t hold my breath, though.

Since the launch of the iPod, Apple has done everything it could to lock its customers into its products. Back then, it was iTunes. Now, the company forces consumers to only download apps from its App Store. Apple simply won’t license its operating systems to run on other manufacturers’ hardware. Apple is the king of vendor lock-in.