Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, deciding between plasma and LCD televisions, Ryan Reynolds’ marriage “downgrade” to Blake Lively, or getting excited for Britney Spears on X-Factor, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Recently, I’ve had a bunch of Apple-related discussions on message boards that have little to do with technology. I was surprised to find myself in an Android vs. iOS discussion on a boxing forum. I was amused to read several “tablets are awesome” and “iPads suck” posts on a travel board. Whether it was talking about Apple, iPad, iPhone, or iOS, there was one thing that was consistent — people with an irrational hatred for Apple.
If you don’t like Mac OS or iOS products, that’s fine, but some of the reasons I’ve heard for people not wanting to buy Apple goods are stupid and ignorant. One of my favorites is “Apple forces you to only buy from them!” I’m not aware of how Apple forces anyone to do anything. Does the company have a secret ninja army forcing people to buy music and movies from iTunes? Certainly if you have an iPhone then it’s easier to buy media through iTunes. If you have a Mac then it’s easier to buy programs on the Mac App Store. So what?!? Apple is proving hardware, software, and services that make for a pleasant experience. Besides, that’s not stopping anyone from buying music on Google Play or books from Amazon and using them on an iPad. Apple and Amazon (with its Kindle Fire tablets) have shown that a certain amount of digital content curation is what the majority of consumers want.
Another anti-Apple sentiment I’ve read several times in the last couple of weeks was, “Their ‘It just works’ motto is a scam!” I strongly disagree with knocking the usability of Apple products. I own Android and iOS products. Although Android is my preferred mobile OS, it’s clear that iOS is easier for more people to use. I own OS X and Windows products. Honestly, this one isn’t even close. OS X is just a smoother and more refined experience than Windows.
The funny part is that many of the people I chatted with that blasted Apple products also admitted that they haven’t used one in a long time. So really, the hatred is based on ignorance. There’s nothing wrong with not being familiar with the latest versions of iOS and OS X, but it’s silly to blast Apple products when you don’t know what they offer. I understand having a preference for or being a fan of a particular platform, but I don’t understand why some people feel the need to automatically hate the competition. That kind of logic only works with professional sports (die Red Sox!!!) and sports entertainment (Cena sucks!!!).
A lot of people on the Internetz complain about Apple fanboys, saying that they’re arrogant loudmouths. There are certainly some vocal Apple users and many smug tech bloggers that are unapologetic about their Apple fandom. At least they’re making noise because they love Apple products. Some people call them iSheep because they love practically everything that Apple releases. In many ways, the anti-Apple crowd is worse. They’re hating on Apple and its fans without knowing what the hell they’re talking about.
If you’re going to hate on Apple products then at least know what they offer. At least then you can back up your hatred with knowledge. Be like Mark Wahlberg’s character from The Other Guys. As a youngster, he learned ballet so that he could make fun of the kids that were studying ballet. Dude knew the score.
This is an issue I’ve never encountered nor discussed at great length on this very site several times in the past. ./end sarcasm.
You’re absolutely right Ray, 99.9% of the time, it’s ignorance that drives this hatred. It’s very similar to racism if you think about it… which is kinda scary now that I’m thinking about it.
It goes the other way too. There are die hard Macheads that just won’t admit the things Windows does indeed do better. Examples: Games, Corporate Networking, Affordability, Customization, etc.
Most of these haters (of both sides) are NOT stupid people which is what’s weird to me. I realize that my scope is limited to how I feel and deal with things, but I just can’t understand why someone with genuine interest in computers and tech as a whole wouldn’t want to at least test the waters. See it all, take it all in, all of that… I can’t imagine being the guy who says “Well, that’s all I’ll ever need to know about that.”
Ha, ha: “iSheep”. Haven’t heard that one before.
I think all types of “fanboyisim” is pretty stupid. Being that I know a thing or two about marketing, defending or insulting a product or company based on nothing more than second-(or third) hand information is borderline brainwashing. It’s actually quite scary the lengths people will be “influenced” by a product or company to the point that they become blind to reality and reason.
My complaints about Apple are or my personal experience… like how I tend to get pissed off when my old 3G iPhone won’t run new apps or got killed by the iOS 4 (with no warning from Apple!), but that’s my own personal problem. I like my 5-year old MacBook Pro and I absolutely love Apple’s personal service. They really do treat their customers well and run the company like a well-oiled, glossy-white machine.
That said, they are not perfect and I think N8 said it best when he stated that Macheads won’t admit when some other product is better at doing something than Apple’s. It goes both ways.
Ultimately, I don’t see the logic of placing such blind loyalty in a company or product to the point of practically working for their sales department without getting paid. It really doesn’t make any sense. Some people just can’t be happy with what they have, that a sense of cognitive dissonance kicks in and compels them to think that if they can’t be happy with what they have, then no one else will be happy with what they have, either. It’s a pretty petty mentality and let’s say even if the irrational human would convince someone not to buy an Apple product, have you really harmed that company in a meaningful way, and will it really make you feel any better?
We should be grateful to live in a world where we can choose between Macs, Windows, and Androids and that the competitive landscape will always lead to bigger and better things tomorrow. People should just be happy with what they have and not worry about what someone else has or doesn’t have.
-M
Personally, I keep my Mac at my home and love it like a member of my family and I use my PC’s like the working whores that they are.
But I think the competitiveness stretches beyond more than what you are referring. There’s a social ranking that happens among tech and gadgets. I (for one… and this might be a whole other Coffee Talk topic) notice anytime someone pulls out a cellphone whether it be in real life or on TV. I notice what device they have, and either scoff, show approval and acceptance, or begrudgingly nod because they like it, but it’s not for me.
When somebody tells me they got/built a new computer, I immediately ask about the stats.It’s a side-effect of my geeky love of tech combined with my insatiable addiction to learning more and knowing more. Therefore, I notice and rank all tech I see. The owner of said tech, has the choice to get butt-hurt over it or not. I’m not ranking or judging them, just the device they roll with.
I think the big difference is that most, but certainly not all, “Macheads” have to use Windows. Like you, they might use OS X at home, but use Windows at work or school. At least they understand what the other side offers. A lot of the people I’ve been chatting that hate OS X have never touched it or haven’t touched it in years.
That settles it. OS X is the equivalent of being a mutant in the Marvel Universe. Sure, they’re “homo superior,” but the world hates and fears them. :P
I personally can’t relate to how anyone could live and survive in America today without basic knowledge of a Windows OS. I know there are people out there like that who aren’t just old people, I’m just saying that I can’t relate. For me, they are just everywhere and have been for most of my life.
I use a Mac because I do graphics, video, and music. For all that stuff, Mac is just quicker, easier, and more stable in my opinion. So for me, Mac works better.
Now, I have a friend who sets up networks and securities for schools, prisons, corporations, and other places where massive networks would be handy. For what he does, Windows is the better option.
The people I know that aren’t familiar with Windows are either graphic designers or video editors. They aren’t completely lost, but they don’t certain shortcuts, functions, etc.
LOL the Apple Live press event just crashed Engadget!!!
It just seemed like this was appropriate to post here for the lulz. http://i.qkme.me/3r1nr4.jpg