As many of you will know I don't own a smartphone and I don't really get the whole smartphone thing. What does interest me however, is why people making various purchasing decisions. Let me elaborate - quite a number of my work colleagues have smartphones and an even greater number have either an iPad Macbook or iMac. However, only a smallish number have an iPhone compared to an Android phone and I can't understand why. After all Mac products are designed to work with each other offering total integration, I know I own a few.

Surely then the obvious choice for Mac owners is to buy the iPhone. I mean why wouldn't you? Yet quite a few don't and when I ask them why I never seem to get a coherent answer. So the question is, have you got an iPhone to go with your other Mac products if so why, but if you have an Android phone yet have other Mac products why have you made this choice?

I loved iOS 2 years ago when i got my iphone. But it hasn't changed in 2 years!

Maybe its because iOS is a stagnant OS? Its a very long time in tech to not improve anything.

Why even if you have a mac is the iphone the obvious choice? My galaxy is fully compatible with my pc but I can count on one hand the number of times I connect it to my pc in say a month.

Why do you feel they all have to work together my phone is pretty much stand alone just like my laptop is to my pc. In any event I'm sure android works fine with a mac if required.

Android phones are better. And most people don't actually have Macs like you seem to think.

/thread

I never said most people have Macs. If You think Android is better then please say why as this is what interests me, though please don't simply quote hardware specs as they have little real world relevance.

Well total data integration is key surely, which is why Windows Phone7 is gaining traction.

I have an iPhone and i intergrate it with my work and home microsoft PC. I have a complex life with loads of appointments for work, myself and my wifes medical appointments, I run 3 seperate calenders and they all sinc together. It easily manages our 4 email accounts.
I have since bought an iPad because the thing works.
To me its not about new stuff, whether the screen is the latest, siri, etc etc
Its about being an effective tool, a good camera to aid my memory, organising my life, not missing medicines, appointments, no major system failures, easy to restore if the phone is lost stolen, backed up data. I realy appreciate being able to search the whole phone ie searching for "Nurse" brings up nurse contacts, appointments and emails, notes.

I am a dyslexic and it enables me to keep this chaotic life together.

Is it why is that? Nice phrase though and WP has a long way to go yet so not sure what your basing that on

Integration is more and more cloud based with heterogeneous support. My guess is within 5 years it won't matter which device you have. In todays world iOS, android and windows phone already all work fine on windows and mac.

Personally I don't own a single Apple product. No Mac, no Ipod, no Ipad, no iphone. I'm and Android user and prefer Windows 7 OS.

I had an iPod first, then a Mac, then an iPhone. I also own an Android phone which I don't sync with the Mac because I use Google services to back up contacts, diary, apps etc.

I have an iPhone and a Macbook Air and iPad. They all work well together and iOS 6 and iPhone 5 will really refresh and revitalise the iPhone experience I think

oh dear me they really have you don't they

I'm happy with everything. I only had my Macbook last week and have been really impressed and although the iPhone is in need of a refresh I have confidence iPhone 5 and ios6 will be great. If I didn't enjoy the products I wouldn't have them

Just for info all of this is available on Android too you know .... and it also 'just works'

Im still amazed that some people believe that these features are unique to Apple ?!

Level 5 of the 'cult of Apple' .... quick, call the medics

^^This

I dont believe in the Apple way of working.

Im struggling at the moment though as my wife wants an iPad. Why you may ask ? The screen ? the apps ? the integration with her non-existent iPhone or Macbook ?

No ... "because its pretty !"

she will be queuing outside the local Apple store soon and chanting the Apple mantra whilst wearing a turtleneck

LOL, I'm due and upgrade on my phone so will get iPhone5 but I'm not bad enough to queue up outside the stores and get the latest products. I intend to keep my current iPad and Mac until they break or become too ancient. Does that lower me to level 4?

I enjoy the products and have enough money to get them so I'm happy with my lot

Surely you will be tempted to queue a little though just for that iphone experience

You need to nip that in the bud all the classic early signs of jobism there. I recommend confinement in a windowless room for 48 hours with an s3 although it may already be too late for her.. may just have to save yourself.

If it comes out on the 12th then I'm on holiday anyway and will probably get it in October after payday, i'm not a rabid Apple fan but I am a fan none the less. I really enjoy the products and haven't had any problems with them at all. The iPhone range desperately needs a refresh but I'm confident iPhone5 will be a fantastic piece of kit

You can quite easily run and Android Phone/Tablet with a Mac. But naturally Apple have designed their products to integrate easier with each other. But there are ways around it. I've not faced any major difficulties using a Nexus 7 with an iMac. But with an Apple device it is more convenient as everything happens automatically.

There are Android apps that facilitate Mac users such as DoubleTwist to interface with iTunes wirelessly and SmoothSync to sync contacts/calendars with iCloud. As for other documents and files all the major cloud services support Mac and Android. I use DropBox and Gdrive. iCloud email is standard imap and works fine on Android.

Oh dear. "Taxi for Mrs Stuart"!

I have warned her that she should not consider hubby to be 'technical support' for her new acquisition ......

if she had a genuine reason then i might be more sympathetic .... but "because its pretty" just doesnt cut it !

It's not even that pretty. It looks like a Samsung Galaxy Tab!