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?
5 Comments on “The zealotry of Mac users”
You can track this conversation through its atom feed.
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.
Posted on February 23, 2008 at 5:28 am.
Well said!
You seem to be one of the level-headed users.
Kevin
Posted on February 25, 2008 at 3:35 am.
» Give us this day our daily Kool-Aid i drank the kool-aid: clutching my dixie cup of apple goodness says:
[...] The Zealotry of Mac Users: It leads one to think – what is it about the Mac, check that, Apple product lineup and brand that [...]
Posted on February 27, 2008 at 5:36 pm.
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.
Posted on February 28, 2008 at 5:11 am.
I love and dislike some products. However, I find the passionate, emotional posts many make as both a compliment to the marketing departments of companies and a bit disconcerting. Companies are being rooted for like their sports teams and users are willing to overlook their faults and practices because they want their team to win. Common wisdom says you shouldn’t discuss religion and politics at the dinner table… perhaps in this century we’ll need to add tech companies to that list also. I have two brothers who frequently make the rounds about Mac vs. Windows and I have to tell you that they’re arguments are every much as bitter as a Republican vs. a Democrat. They debate (debate is kind, mindlessly argue is more like it) far behind the point of utility, as is true with most message board postings on the same topic.
Posted on December 18, 2008 at 4:50 pm.