Do you use original brands or not?

biscuit5566

When it comes to electronics brands, in how far do you guys use the original accessories (chargers, headphones, etc)? I got an iPad & MacBook, and I only purchase original Apple accessories, but my friends are always telling me off that I pay too much for those. How do you go about it?

DJBenz

I find Apple products hideously overpriced, as well as the accessories. So where purchases of cables, cases etc. are concerned I always use generic, compatible brands rather than Apple.

free4440273

I have multiple machines/ but don't really purchase too many accessories/ I do discriminate though /

esuhl

It depends on the product, and the quality of the original and third-party accessories.

I don't have an iPod, but if I did I certainly wouldn't use the low quality earphones that Apple supply - I'd opt for some noise-isolating in-ear monitors from Shure or Ultimate Ears, etc.

I'd probably get original mains transformers, though - from what I've heard some of the cheap ones are poorly made presenting either a fire hazard or a risk of damage due to poor current/voltage regulation.

So, for me... it really depends!

lucylucky

If it will do the job then I will buy it.

Not interested in "brands" as such.

bluenoseam

i personally wouldn't touch Apple headphones if they paid me, shocking build quality, even more shocking sound quality & well, overpriced is being pleasant about them! When it comes to cables/cases i'm happy enough using generic no mark stuff, so long as it works a transfer cable is non-critical to operation "on the whole" (in so much as it doesn't affect what you hear), similar situation with cases - if it fits, it's fit for purpose!

on games though, i use first party controllers exclusively - we've seen recently with Sony that they can (and will) change the playing field, so it makes more sense to me to pay the extra few quid to get the real deal!

Headphones though i will admit i'm a hideous snob, i studied audio technology (not brilliantly i admit!) at college, so i like to have good quality headphones in order to have a truer representation of the actual sound when it comes to music - admittedly i'm not quite on the Beats by Dre headphones yet, but i do tend to stick to stuff i know is high quality. My sister on the other hand doesn't, she buys headphones based on "oooh they're pink/blue/haz skullz on them loels" logic and has had more than a dozen pairs of headphones (on average £10 a go) while my "expensive" Shure ones have only just died after 4 years of daily use & abuse.

CoolHotCold

Depends on what accessories you use, for headphones I use a set of Shure SE530's and third party cases etc. For important stuff such as additional PSU for macbook pro or additional batteries I buy direct from Apple or Apple Retailers. Anything not important I'll read up which is best price/performance for stuff that can knacker the system/iphone/ipad I buy direct.

Hammyman

Laptop chargers - either genuine or a very good 3rd party. Those £7 things on Ebay kill batteries. Ipod headphones - many third party ones are better. Macbook Pro charger - definitely genuine Apple because even though they're £80, they won't kill the machine like the cheap 3rd party ones.