Apple's stance on ML problems - Reminders and Notes.

Question

Hello, all.
I must confess I am puzzled with Apple's attitude towards its customer base and how neglectful it has become as a company.
I just recently upgraded to Mountain Lion for the sole reason I wished to use Reminders and Notes. These are applications I use for BUSINESS and I use them every single day to manage my professional life.
After I upgraded to Mountain Lion I was shocked to learn that Reminders and Notes can only by synchronized via iCloud. Notes was synchronized via cable through iTunes before. Why change it ? And why offer Reminders with a single sync option ? Many users are in the same situation I am in. As a healthcare provider I am required by law to ensure all my data is maintained private and confidential. Why would Apple choose to offer only one single sync option ?
I have been strugling for the last two weeks trying to find a way to address Apple's design flaw (perhaps not a flaw but an intentional design decision). I can't seem to find a way to sycn these two apps without the use of iCloud and can't also find third party applications that would be good replacements for them.
Aside from switching to a Windows-based phone (and perhaps even to a Windows-based computing platform) I don't know what to do. It has finally sunked in the idea I have heard before from so many long-time Mac users like me. Growth would prove challenging to Apple and perhaps condemn the company to becoming more like other mediocre companies that produce mediocre products. Apple no longer listens to customers like me who have been loyal customers for 30 or so years.
I can't believe that with all the complaints out there Apple chooses to remain silent and do nothing to address the issue. This is indeed very sad. It is sad to see a company who made such great products in the past begin to decline.
To those who have any knowledge of it, please I need help.
IS THERE ANYWAY TO FIX THIS MESS ?
IS THERE ANYWAY TO SYNC REMINDERS AND NOTES BETWEEN THE MAC AND IPHONE (IPAD) WITHOUT THE USE OF ICLOUD ?
Thank you in advance for any help.

Answer 1

Linc Davis wrote:
I think most users including those who don't face the legal requirements that I do will agree that offering more than one choice to sync data would have been the right thing to do.
Yes, I agree with that. And you do have more than one choice to sync data: (1) iCloud, and (2) OS X Server. That's not counting third-party options.
This is not true. OS X Server is not a choice. The average user shouldn't be expected to pay for the client version of OS X and then pay again for the server version only to make two applications sync when they should do so right out of the box. The payment isn't the worst part. The labor involved in implementing OS X Server is the most difficult part. To expect the average user to use OS X Server as an option to sync Reminders and Notes is nothing short of absurd.
It's not clear what you mean. Notes didn't exist before ML. It's an entirely new application. So is Reminders.
This is not true. Notes existed before as part of the Mail application. I used it under Lion and was able to synchornize it via cable with iTunes. Mountain Lion removed Notes from Mail (a good choice in my opinion) and made it an independent application. However, it also removed the ability to sync it via cable.
My intention was to search for help and perhaps input from others who have experienced the same issues. I don't have an agenda and don't wish to criticize Apple for any retaliatory reason. I am truly disappointed that a company this large would have made such an amateurish mistake and shared my perspective hoping it may help others and spark some changes. I have had other problems with Apple in the recent past when it failed to stand behind its products and the customer service I received from the company was the opposite of what I would have received 15 years ago.
I have also contacted the company and provided feedback. The company has yet to respond and I don't think it will, which is quite sad.
In regards to HIPPA I have already done my research and have it covered as long as Apple allows me to manage my data in the way that best fits my work requirements instead of trying to push a single solution because it wants to promote its iCloud service.