Thanks for those who spent a few minutes reading my OP and my first few posts to realize that my new found loyalty towards Apple is based primarily on their customer service. I'll roughly summarize (note summarize, because everything has already been said, but mostly disregarded since them haters don't have anything as rebuttals) this thread. I may miss some key points, but forgive me if I do.
I've addressed those criticizing the fact that I had to make an appointment and wait if I was late for the iPad to be inspected before replacing multiple times throughout the thread. To those who read it and ignored it, my point has been made. To those who read it and denied it as a legitimate reason, well, I can't change ignorance can I?
I've also addressed the common complaint that Apple demands an industry-high premium for its iPad when many competing products offer "similar" quality screens and better hardware. At the end of the day, iOS is extremely optimized for the hardware it runs on, so the user experience does not come up short to any Android offering despite the X amount of CPU cores and XX amount of GPU cores that said Android tablets have. I'm rather speaking specifically of my dad's new Nexus 7. It boasts a quad core processor and a 12 core GPU, but it's not smoother than my iPad is.
Apple's laptops are also the epitome of perfection, with a dead-accurate trackpad and a surprisingly well designed keyboard for the form factor that comparable brands like Asus and Lenovo can only hope to get close to. Well, maybe Lenovo has already gotten there since their ThinkPad keyboards are amazing. There's a reason so many ultrabooks resemble the Macbook Air, but I'll leave that to your own interpretation since I know what I say will be ignored and responded to with a simple, "APPLE SUCKS!!!" remark.
Why do people pay premium for mechanical keyboards and ergonomic gaming mice anyway? Because those devices are such an integral part of computing that they are imperative to a positive user experience. Apple understands that concept and delivered exactly that in their products. Did I debate between the Asus Zenbook Prime and the Apple Macbook Air for weeks? Of course! The Zenbook's 13.3", LED-backlit, 1080P IPS screen made me drool, but what's a good screen going to do when it's being paired with an operating system that fails to properly resize text? And for one reason or another, the trackpad on the Zenbook also leaves much to be desired, with many multi-finger gestures being more a marketing gimmick than anything actually functional. I guess that's one of the benefits of being able to control both hardware and software aspects of a product or products. People who value user experience over a spec sheet will agree with me.
Apple's Geniuses may or may not be actual geniuses like TheMailMan78
, but that is what they're called and that is what I will call them, just as I refer to GeekSquad employees as Geeks, and Staples EasyTech employees as EasyTechs. Many are hellbent over the fact that I refer to the Geniuses as Geniuses, but what else am I to call them? I guess the bitchers are just too engulfed in their hatred of Apple to see through what is standard language norm.
Criticize the company all you want, but there's no refuting the fact that Apple employs thousands of Americans, Americans that actually look like they don't want to slit their own throats and jump off a bridge at work, versus these other brands that many tout to be morally and ethically superior, but find it more appropriate routing their support calls to India. It may or may not be standard practice to put employees through customer service training programs, but at least Apple tries to maintain happy customers. They don't tolerate employees with attitudes, and that was evident in my experiences. Cry about them being a monopoly if it eases your mind, but know that the same people who cry about Apple being a monopoly are also supporting Microsoft and Intel.
At the end of the day, I'm happy with my iPad, I'll be happy with my Macbook Air when I get it in a few days, and if I'm patient enough to wait to pick up my first smartphone, I'll be happy with the iPhone 5. I probably won't wait though since my contract expired 2 days ago, so I'll likely pick up a Samsung Galaxy S3. Either way, I'm a proud fan of Apple.
Whatever happens in this thread will happen. I'm far too tired to debate with people who are adamant on ignoring my posts so they can continue with their hate entourage. This post marks my exit from this thread, one I started with the intention of debate, but unfortunately concluded with pages upon pages of manure.
To those who participated and actually submitted posts with content, I thank you.