Realistically, Apple is no better than any other vendor when it comes to lock-in. The fact that all Apple hardware comes from just one vendor presents challenges to all Mac owners. As a user I have no other choice but to buy a new Apple product to replace the malfunctioning one. A 4-6 week wait for a replacement battery is insane for a product that most people use on a daily basis. At least when the Dell laptops started going towering inferno you knew you could switch to HP or Lenovo. No such luck for Mac users. — Dave Rosenberg. The further effects of vendor lock-in (or, why I am giving up on Apple). Technology Industry