This is a topic that I have been privy to since my earliest days as a Mac user. It is also a topic I’m getting pretty fucking tired of hearing about.
I get it PC users. I was once a Windows guy myself and it’s easy to dislike that which you don’t use. I mean, it essentially boils down to a “gang-mentality.” This fundamentally ignorant, yet psychologically prevalent and powerful notion that we must invest a great deal of pride into what we have or what we identify with; and that we must detest anything negatively related. It’s odd, because a lot of the time, people conjure up this sentiment based on little more than an association with a certain group or creed, instead of an actual and logical dislike of the opposing element. We’ve all been guilty of it at some point or another. Taking up allegiances then finding ourselves not tolerating whatever it is that that allegiance deems unworthy. In this case, it’s this PC vs. Mac debate.
Before I get into it, I’ll start out by saying that I understand that both sides are guilty of fueling this bipartisan contention. I’ll address my problems with both perspectives. My problem is not that there is a divide here. It’s not that people have opinions or even strong feelings about this. It lies in the fact that too many people are willing to blindly lump Apple and more importantly, Apple users, into a “cultist-elite” hive-mind, incapable of understanding rational computing or marketing trends. It’s like the whole of the technology community assumes that all Mac users eat shit out of Steve Jobs’ asshole and would march right off a fucking cliff if he asked us to do so. Check it out people: WE ARE NOT LEMMINGS. Believe it or not, a lot of us don’t worship the ground that Steve Jobs walks on. I know that’s very tough for some of you to believe, but I’ll give you a second to let that soak in.
Now, I do understand that there are those who are what many of us would refer to us “fanboys.” Yes, they LOVE Apple and everything that Apple does. Blind devotion? Maybe, but not necessarily. I think one of the biggest (and most flawed) arguments that PC users like to tout over Mac users, is that the PC allows for unlimited flexibility and far more options; which translates for a far more robust user experience. Sounds good on paper except for a glaring problem. Many users, including power or advanced users, don’t always want that degree of “flexibility.” Sure, more apps are written for Windows, but if a user wants to keep things simple and streamlined, then what does it matter if there are 100,000 or 10 choices? As long as the list of limited options includes functional and well designed choices, then there isn’t a fundamental problem there. In fact, I believe it makes the whole computing process that much easier. And yes, both Mac’s built-in software and available third-party choices are well constructed, functional and comprehensive. Remember, some people actually like things really, really simple.
There are just some programs that OSX can’t run yet though. I know that. For some professionals, certain esoteric software suites or applications are just not available on the Mac platform and that’s a legitimate gripe. Good news is that Macs come with Boot Camp now, giving users a decent, though not perfect solution. Just create a Windows partition and boot up into that sum’ bitch and you’re ready to rock. Downsides? Have to reboot to use it and you have to pay for the OS license. The functionality is free though, which is a plus. So this whole idea that having a giant range of options in order to have a truly satisfying computing experience is just bullshit, up and down. It is arrogant to assume that everyone has the same needs, desires and motivations in their technological pursuits.
Now, for the other compelling argument. This one states that Apple is just way too expensive and not worth the cost; in other words, the performance does not reflect the entry fee. To me, this is the far more poignant assertion and certainly carries some weight to it. The fact is, Apple’s are more expensive. They just are. PC users can grab a great, lightning fast machine in the neighborhood of well under $1000, and often, for half that number. That’s just not a viable budget for the Mac user.
If only we lived in a society built on capital competition and consumer evaluation. A society that valued corporate success, partly by allowing for value appraisal throughout the business process and encouraging investment priorities based on the personal assessment of cost vs utility. If only…. wait.
</cynicism>
Seriously though. Yeah, Macs cost more but there is clearly a value vs. price consideration here. For those of us who choose to buy an Apple product, we choose to do so because we believe that the product or service tendered is deserving of the cost associated with it. The Nissan GT-R competes pretty much pound-for-pound with a Porsche 911 Turbo, which is just stupid to think about considering it costs about $40,000 less. Yet people still purchase the Porsche. Are they stupid or misinformed for doing so? Of course not. It might have a few more amenities, sure, but that might not fully justify the seemingly vast price difference. There’s a degree of elegance and pride in purchasing the Porsche. There’s so much more to value than price. The owning experience and the satisfaction of having a well-crafted, beautifully designed product is often more than enough to warrant not only the purchase, but brand loyalty as well. What Apple offers is a full community, not just the withdrawal from your bank account then the subsequent product usage. There is an ecosystem that comes with the Apple product. Yeah, that ecosystem can be a little overwhelming and ethereal at first, but it’s nothing to go crazy over. It’s a smaller, tighter knit user-base and one can elect to participate or not. One of the huge advantages that Apple has is that they design both the hardware and the software, allowing them to systemically manage the relationship between the user, the interface and the device. And to that end, they are incredibly innovative. I will agree though, at times, they can be overbearing and controlling. It’s a hassle at times, admittedly. I believe this behavior will be leveraged off as they continue to grow and understand what the market wants from them, just my opinion. On top of that, their marketing is imaginative and alluring; utilizing incredible typography and topical (as well as applicable) contexts.
So I started by stating that a lot of us aren’t “fanboys” then went on a tirade about how great Apple is. Hmmm, fair enough. Time to move onto the other side. I mentioned that Apple is expensive but that there is a value associated with that price. Though true, some of Apple’s products are honestly just too damn expensive. No ifs, ands or buts. Just too much fucking money. If Apple wants to maintain their status as a higher end computing company, that’s fine. But their products get steep really quickly, and quite frankly, the lower priced ones just aren’t equipped competitively enough. Again, I’m not saying that it’s not worth it, per se, but I see why so many people would be turned off by Apple’s offerings. Personally, I’d like to see a few more sub-$1000 machines and a more relaxed pricing hierarchy. $2500 is way too high of a starting point for a 17″ laptop, plain and simple.
With the relative success, Apple has been enjoying lately, I’ve also witnessed something I honestly have to admit I do not like one bit. Recently, Apple has gotten a bit stubborn and bullish. Combating companies and consumers alike on mere principle and getting themselves into some needless debacles simply because they have achieved a considerable market-share or product IP. As a Mac user, Apple’s success makes me happy, but certainly not at the cost of an inflated business ego. I’m not going to provide a list of examples because I really don’t want to. Either you know what I’m talking about or you don’t. I imagine those of you still reading this probably do. Lastly, and this relates a bit to my prior point, is that Apple has begun to display some pretty clear signs of vulnerability in the form of defensive advertising. I wish they would stop. For me, it just comes across as petty, threatened and condescending. The latter quality is something that Apple most certainly does not need to be associated with their brand. I’m a fan of their print media and iPod commercials in general, but their extremely popular Mac v PC TV ads with Justin Long simply don’t do it for me. Though clever and sometimes accurate, they just seem like a dick move, for lack of better term. I can’t help but understand why some Windows users would see that and think “uhhh, OK, go fuck yourselves Apple.”
At the end of the day, it’s all about choice. For some users, Windows and a PC make more sense, for others, Apple’s OSX and Macs might do it. And for some, it comes down to just one aspect. Could be price, design or even the sense of community. None of those constitutes a bad or invalid reason for a purchase, and certainly, none are cause for accusations of religious devotion. Both are great options IMO. I’m not naive though. I do know that there are those out there who might consider Apple to be the best thing on Earth, ever, for all time. Yes, they are crazy. Fine. But the same could be said for many brands or services. It’s easy to label people who have a passion as “crazy” or “nuts” but god forbid that someone really enjoys the product they just purchased with their hard earned money. I think the point where someone is completely oblivious to the flaws in something, to the point of denial, is where there is a problem. For instance, I love my iPhone, but holy shit, it annoys the hell out of me sometimes. Best phone I’ve ever had but it’s far from perfect and I know that. I too, would have a problem with a loyalty based on nothing more than hearsay or obligation. Recognizing the flaws with something you love is part of maturity (like in any relationship you have) and that applies to something as superficial as a computer company. So get over yourselves, buy what you want and love it (hopefully). Otherwise, shut the fuck up. No one cares that you think that Apple is a cult. Asshole.
Recent Comments