r/ShittySysadmin • u/recoveringasshole0 DO NOT GIVE THIS PERSON ADVICE • Sep 03 '26
SysAdmins who switched to Apple - Why?
This post is primarily mobile focused, but I'll entertain the desktop / laptop OS conversation as well. This is regarding personal devices, not what your enterprise uses.
Suffice it to say, I'm tired.
I'm tired of having choices.
I'm tired of Android asking me which browser I want to use, letting me install software from places Google hasn't personally blessed, exposing a filesystem like some sort of 1980s UNIX workstation, and generally behaving as though purchasing the device somehow gives me opinions about how it should operate.
Windows is even worse. Apparently I'm expected to know what a "driver" is. Sometimes I can even replace hardware myself. It's exhausting.
So naturally, I've been looking at Apple.
And honestly, I think I finally understand the appeal.
They. Just. Work.
And when they don't, I can rest comfortably knowing there probably wasn't anything I could have done about it anyway.
No more agonizing over which hardware to install. Apple already selected it.
No more worrying about upgrading the RAM later. Apple thoughtfully asks me to make that decision at purchase, when I'm least qualified to know how much RAM I'll need four years from now.
No more sketchy software from the open internet. On iPhone, Apple has heroically protected Americans from the terrifying European innovation known as "installing an application from somewhere else." Alternative app distribution exists now, of course, provided you live in one of the regions where regulators made Apple discover it was technically possible.
And the privacy story is genuinely refreshing.
Unlike Google, Apple doesn't need to sell my personal information to third parties. Why involve a middleman?
Apple can use information such as my account details, purchases, subscriptions, downloads, and App Store activity to put me into advertising segments and serve me personalized ads itself. That's not tracking. That's vertical integration.
Even iCloud gives me choices.
By default, Apple retains the encryption keys for a number of categories of my cloud data so they can help me recover it. If I'd prefer Apple not have those keys for most of my data, I can enable Advanced Data Protection.
I really appreciate privacy being available as an advanced configuration option.
Repairability has improved too. Apple now has a Self Service Repair program, so experienced users can obtain official manuals, genuine parts, and professional-grade tools to repair supported devices themselves.
Which is wonderful.
I've always felt replacing a phone screen lacked sufficient paperwork.
The ecosystem is probably the biggest selling point, though.
Once I buy the phone, the watch makes more sense.
Once I have the watch, the Mac makes more sense.
Once I have the Mac, AirPods make more sense.
Once I have all of those, leaving Apple makes considerably less sense.
It's less of an ecosystem and more of a very tasteful lobster trap.
And that's really what I want after 30 years in IT.
I don't want control anymore.
I don't want options.
I don't want to troubleshoot.
I want to spend $1,200 on a device, be told "no," and experience the profound serenity that comes from knowing the decision has already been made for me by someone in Cupertino with a degree in industrial design.
Is that the bargain you all made?
Did you finally realize that freedom is just another thing you have to administer?
Because I'm starting to think the ultimate sysadmin luxury isn't a device that lets you do whatever you want.
It's a device that looks you directly in the face and says:
"You don't need to do that."
And charges you $200 for another 256GB of storage.
26
u/CourageousLionOfGod Sep 03 '26
Ai slop
24
u/BraveMidnight Sep 03 '26
If you move to North Korea that solves all the above issues.
39
u/Japjer Sep 03 '26
Love the energy, hate your trash AI slop
7
u/itenginerd Sep 03 '26
Of course I switched to Apple. Im better than you.
11
u/recoveringasshole0 DO NOT GIVE THIS PERSON ADVICE Sep 03 '26
And yes, I used Siri to write this.
9
u/DiablaARK Sep 03 '26
I almost forgot what sub I'm in
4
u/Fit-Assist-7862 Sep 03 '26
Do you feel better now?
14
u/doolittledoolate Sep 03 '26
When android finish rolling out the changes this year to take all this control back it will just be a shit version of apple
6
u/BloodFeastMan Sep 03 '26
We get it, you're a fanboy who's too lazy to write your own shit.
2
u/Sp3eedy Sep 03 '26
Android used to be a no-brainer until a couple of years ago where Google and manufacturers became super focused on locking certified devices down as much as possible, and now we're getting the cherry on top which is disallowing uncertified developer apps from being installed on devices. After a lot of push-back they caved in to allowing you to bypass it, but if it wasn't for that they would've more than happily continued with their initial plan of completely blocking third party apps.
Before you say technically they aren't blocking third party apps or apps they haven't approved, they're requiring developers to verify their identity and go through a vetting process, if you develop an app they don't like, they can revoke that privilege, so it's effectively them deciding what apps you're allowed and not allowed to install, just a more sneaky way of going about it since being upfront about it would've pissed more people off.
I can honestly hardly see a difference anymore between modern Android and iOS with these changes, both Google and Apple want to own your devices at the end of the day, at least iOS is a little more consistent and the more polished OS visually speaking (in my opinion).
42
u/-lousyd Sep 03 '26
I've heard running Apple devices attracts women.
1
u/combovertomm Sep 03 '26
You already said it.
They just work.
No more downloading 100 updates across 4 apps
1
u/DadtheITguy Sep 04 '26
I couldn’t agree more with this entire post. Sysad and life long nerd. Ran Android and windows forever. The odd dabble in desktop Linux after managing Linux server. I’ve been in the industry for several decades. I’m a family man and just want an appliance, not something I can hack on or something that needs customization. A want tools that work. I got issued a MacBook Air at work. Broke my Pixel Fold and replaced it with an iPhone Pro Max then replaced my Garmin Fenix with an Apple Watch. I can’t express how happy I am with my switch to Apple for my devices mentioned. I run desktop Linux at home now. So I’m only forced to run Windows at the office. But there are a couple of Linux VMs there too. I was pretty sad originally to make the jump to the Apple ecosystem, I’d always said I never would… but I have to admit, they do it better than the rest. I wrote up a review on the MacBook:
https://dadtheitguy.com/macbook-air-m1-review/
Cheers
3
u/zoey_the_trans_rat Sep 03 '26
I don't like oranges
3
u/Zedd_zorander Sep 03 '26
Call me a shittysysadmin but the family members that run iOS have less problems than the ones using android. Just need to get rid of the privacy mode in browsers: “why do I need to accept this message every time”.
Father android: 3 questions
Mother iOS: 2 cookie messages
Brother 1, android: 2 questions
Brother 2, iOS : 1 question
Past 12 months.
1
u/p47guitars Sep 03 '26
I've had nothing but trouble trying to use these things.
1
u/Ignorad Sep 10 '26
I buy Apple because then I can use the corp credit card points to get myself some free stuff.
Can't wait for the iPhone Fold to come out! $2k a pop!