The zealotry of Mac users

The overwhelming response to my post yesterday about the seemingly endless stream of Apple product launches was surprising to say the least. This here blog/site received 10x its daily average traffic. (Most didn’t stick around to check out my other blog posts on the wireless and consumer markets but the traffic was nonetheless appreciated.)

Anyways, many of the comments received were rather, uh, negative. A lot of them I couldn’t or wouldn’t publish on the site.

It leads one to think - what is it about the Mac, check that, Apple product lineup and brand that elicits such visceral responses from people that question his Lordship Steve Jobs or Apple’s approach to product marketing?

Is it that Apple’s products simply work well?

Do Mac, iPod and iPhone users feel like they’ve made a lifestyle choice and need to defend it accordingly?

Are Mac users snobs or elitists as one prominent business news site recently declared?

I, for one, have always loved the Mac and pretty much any Apple product for that matter. What I’ve never understood is the religiosity of Mac users. Can anyone explain it to me?

February 22, 2008 | Filed Under News Items and Commentary

Comments

4 Responses to “The zealotry of Mac users”

Dizzle on February 23rd, 2008 5:28 am

Guilty as charged. Can’t explain it. It just is. The koolaid is delicious. Steve Jobs is magnetic. Vista sucks. There isn’t much more to it.

Proud to be a Mac zealot.
Kevin Restivo on February 25th, 2008 3:35 am

Well said!
You seem to be one of the level-headed users.

Kevin
» Give us this day our daily Kool-Aid i drank the kool-aid: clutching my dixie cup of apple goodness on February 27th, 2008 5:36 pm

[…] The Zealotry of Mac Users: It leads one to think - what is it about the Mac, check that, Apple product lineup and brand that […]
mark on February 28th, 2008 5:11 am

Obviously, there is a small percentage that are just irrational Mac zealots. But there’s an equal percentage that are irrational Windows zealots.

Beyond that, there are many more who want to defend the Mac (and Apple) because it is perceived that many analysts/bloggers/ journalists continue to equate Windows and Mac OS, or PC computers and Mac computers, out of sheer ignorance; they publish statements that indicate their utter lack of knowledge of the Mac/Mac OS/Apple. Most Mac users have at one time or another used Windows on a PC, and have made the unpopular choice to use (or switch to) a Mac. These users know there is a distinct difference.

In addition, there is still a carry-over from the time (1996 to 2002 even) when Apple was always referred to as beleaguered, and accused of being stubborn or inept. When articles trot out the same tired arguments, then many will respond.