Chances are, if you’re over 20 years old or so you remember Apple’s magic years. Back when the PowerPC days were still happening, we had the clamshell iBook, G3 iMacs, G4 iMacs, all that. No one cared that they weren’t very powerful at all 5 years later, just the magic they had at the time.

Apple was certainly different back then. Amongst their modern designs, they were also creative designs. Everybody can remember what the G3 iMacs look like. Apple’s skeuomorphic design was very well known, and lasted up to late 2013 until iOS 7 released. Since about 2010 we’ve seen Apple go into a different direction, clean lines and aluminium silver has been the main aesthetic for years now. Compared to their colored plastics of yester-year.

G3 iMac — 1998

iMac Pro — 2017

Apple was like the outcast back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. They made strange designs, UIs and had outlandish principles for the time. When every computer felt like something you’d see in a boring office, Apple had the creatives.

The 2012 Macbook Pro (epitome of Apple design)

The tables have now turned though. Apple adapted a cleaner design and UI for all of their products. Now, it’s people like Samsung who are left to make strange devices to stand out in the way that Apple did 20 years ago.

I believe Apple still has *some* magic. Mostly in that they’re trendsetters. Looking 2016–2019 Macbook Pros this becomes clear. A few things happened with these model years. First was that they were so clean, thin and relatively powerful, which has since been a huge thing manufacturers go for, second was USB C charging, and an emphasis on USB C / Thunderbolt.

Their past magic is also gone though. With problems flooding the 2016–2019 Macbooks they don’t have the same “it just works” mentality behind them. From screen cables flexing and breaking, unreliable hardware, throttling on the I9 models, and only having USB C / 3.5mm, they don’t seem to be the same strong laptops they used to be. Of course you still have the same reasons to buy an older MBP that you have had for years — better trackpads, batteries, screens, keyboards, relative upgrade ability etc while remaining useful even 6 years later when it comes to the 2012 models. But this new gen of Macbooks just aren’t as strong. It seems the only Macbook that *doesn’t* have a problem is the 2015 Macbook Air that’s still being sold for $1,000 (their cheapest Macbook). Though that isn’t to say the 2018 Macbook Air is a bad laptop, it’s actually one of my favorite laptops to recommend to people looking for laptops.

My conclusion would be more that their magic has changed to an aesthetic than anything. Apple isn’t a dead brand, I expect them to still be a trendsetter and strong manufacturer for years to come. I stand by most of what I said in my “In Defense of Apple” article and previous articles pertaining to Macs and Apple, they’re a strong, high quality brand with their issues.