Steve Jobs just died

What portion of the population is being "ostracized" and why?

Reg said:

What portion of the population is being "ostracized" and why?

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I can cite a few examples. Let's start with the original ad campaign that started when Apple began its big push (thebestpageintheuniverse.net sums it up very nicely):



Obviously, to anyone who uses a PC this ad campaign is a joke. So I should switch to Mac because there are people who are too dumb to figure out which cord to choose or how to find a file? How about grow a brain?

Then there was this ad campaign:



Oh, PC's are bloated with useless software? Guess what, I built my computer so it only came with the software I ordered. Whereas with Mac, I am forced to pay at least $1,200 for these:

1) The Mac App Store.
2) FaceTime. (Which means I have to pay for the pre-installed camera which I have no use for)
3) iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand. All part of iLife ’11.
4) Built in stereo speakers
5) "The Magic Trackpad"
etc

And on the same page, Apple has the balls to say this:
Apple - iMac - Comes with software you

One thing a Mac doesn’t do: Get PC viruses.
Trojan horses, worms, email viruses. The digital world can be a scary place. Thankfully, a Mac isn’t susceptible to the thousands of viruses plaguing Windows-based computers. Mac OS X comes with built-in defenses that keep you safe, without any work on your part. And when a potential security threat arises, Apple responds quickly by providing software updates and security enhancements you can download automatically and install with a click.

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What a load of garbage. You can get a virus with a Mac, there are just fewer of them because their share of the market is small enough that it makes more sense to write them for a PC. Here is an example of a trojan for a mac:

Okay, Maybe This Mac Security Problem is Real

The attack in question was an instance of Mac Protector, a variant of the Mac Defender attack that’s been in the news this month (my friend Ed Bott has written about it repeatedly). I was browsing in Safari and suddenly got this window, looking a bit like OS X’s Finder and a bit like iTunes (click on it to see it at a larger size):

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And as thebestpageintheuniverse.com so eloquently puts it:

If everything on a Mac just works, then why does a website called "Mac fix it" exist, assholes? Here are a few choice topics on macfixitforums.com:
-Login window stuck!
-lower caSe "S" key not working!!
-Menu bar keeps flashing
-I can't drag and drop!
Waaaah, boo hoo! I can't drag and drop! Dumbass. Looks like your Macs aren't perfect after all, which leads me to my second point:

2. **** you.

I don't know why Mac users get so defensive when you call them idiots. I mean, Apple is a company that has built its entire user base around the fact that its users can't do simple things like turn their computers on. Hell, most Mac users can't even talk without using their hands, which ranks their intelligence somewhere between a simian and hog ****

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So, yes, Apple has alienated a large portion of the population. It may have been on purpose, since they have managed to build this community of brand-loyal customers. Meanwhile, I do not mind all Apple products, and I would have bought an iPhone but right now they are lagging behind Droid (the new iPhone 5 coming out in a few months should be good for a while though). But, because of the community they have built, people continue to buy the iPhone4 or iPhone4s regardless of the fact that they are far superior phones out currently - and simply because it is an Apple product.

This divisiveness that Apple created suits them now, but I sincerely believe it will come back to haunt them. Apple has created a divide akin to republicans vs democrats, and if their base ever starts to slip, it will be next to impossible for them to gain new customers. If I worked for them, my first initiative would be to integrate Apple more seamlessly in the market to allow compatibility with other devices.

*Edit:

After rereading, I guess Apple did not lie. It is true, they do not get PC viruses. They get Mac viruses, and Mac viruses suck just as bad. Unfortunately, the typical Mac user feels secure (and they are fairly secure for the moment), but may often find themselves completely unprepared if any attacks do occur.

Obviously, to anyone who uses a PC this ad campaign is a joke. So I should switch to Mac because there are people who are too dumb to figure out which cord to choose or how to find a file? How about grow a brain?

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And now you just lost most of the population with that attitude. You have absolutely no idea how many regular people do not "know what cord to choose" and so on. I run into it every day, all day. It may not be a great reason to buy a Mac, but that attitude above is not demonstrative of the majority of the population.

Oh, PC's are bloated with useless software? Guess what, I built my computer so it only came with the software I ordered. Whereas with Mac, I am forced to pay at least $1,200 for these:

Click to expand...

Alright. How many people do you know that build their own computers? The rest of the points can be conceded, except those aren't trialware that does not interact well with the other pre-packaged software.

1) The Mac App Store.
2) FaceTime. (Which means I have to pay for the pre-installed camera which I have no use for)
3) iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand. All part of iLife ’11.
4) Built in stereo speakers
5) "The Magic Trackpad"
etc[/QUOTE]

And on the same page, Apple has the balls to say this:
Apple - iMac - Comes with software you


What a load of garbage. You can get a virus with a Mac, there are just fewer of them because their share of the market is small enough that it makes more sense to write them for a PC. Here is an example of a trojan for a mac:

Okay, Maybe This Mac Security Problem is Real

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Very true. It was a great marketing strategy, but eventually with success comes more issues. They will have to address it more appropriately in the near future.

And as thebestpageintheuniverse.com so eloquently puts it:

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That's like me quoting Lewis Black right now, except Black can be funny. Who gives a ****? Maddox was never interesting, nor funny.

It may have been on purpose, since they have managed to build this community of brand-loyal customers. Meanwhile, I do not mind all Apple products, and I would have bought an iPhone but right now they are lagging behind Droid (the new iPhone 5 coming out in a few months should be good for a while though). But, because of the community they have built, people continue to buy the iPhone4 or iPhone4s regardless of the fact that they are far superior phones out currently - and simply because it is an Apple product.

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To a large degree, I agree. It is like the Bose effect.

This divisiveness that Apple created suits them now, but I sincerely believe it will come back to haunt them. Apple has created a divide akin to republicans vs democrats, and if their base ever starts to slip, it will be next to impossible for them to gain new customers.

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Fanboys of Microsoft, Apple, and Linux did that. The companies had to expend little effort. At large, the debate is largely a non-issue with the public. At least with Democrats and Republicans the issues seem tangible.

Fiddytree said:

And now you just lost most of the population with that attitude. You have absolutely no idea how many regular people do not "know what cord to choose" and so on. I run into it every day, all day. It may not be a great reason to buy a Mac, but that attitude above is not demonstrative of the majority of the population.

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If I was trying to sell something, I would agree with you. I do not think there is any company that runs on the idea of "if you are too stupid to do it then screw you", but Apple seems to enjoy the flip side.

Fiddytree said:

Alright. How many people do you know that build their own computers? The rest of the points can be conceded, except those aren't trialware that does not interact well with the other pre-packaged software.

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I agree again, but even if it's only 10% of the population, that's 10% of the population that Apple will never get because their own marketing effort does not allow it.

Fiddytree said:

That's like me quoting Lewis Black right now, except Black can be funny. Who gives a ****? Maddox was never interesting, nor funny.

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True, he is a douche.

whysoserious said:

Microsoft cannot even tie software with their software, so I can only imagine if they tried forcing an inclusive market like Apple has done. Hell, I do not know if you remember the giant anti-trust lawsuit against Microsoft because of IE's large market share? How Apple has avoided these issues is beyond me, since you cannot really use any of their products without using their software and, often, more of their hardware. It's quite the racket Apple has running.

Yes, their job marketing tablets and phones has done them wonders, but they'll always have a few glaring issues:

1) Because of their marketing campaigns, they have ostracized themselves to a large portion of the population
2) Their determination to make users buy and use their hardware and software also limits themselves to a certain portion of the population
3) The pricing schemes set up by Apple are outrageous. Their cheapest desktop computer is $1,200! Are you kidding me?

Of course, they do have brand loyal customers, which is a positive attribute for them. For instance, you can never tell any person with an iPhone that there is a better option out there.

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I think you mean software with hardware..and Microsoft does do that with several of their projects, mainly the very popular Xbox..

As for the rest, how they have "ostracized" themselves is beyond me. Once again, let me reiterate that by dollar amount they are the most valuable company in the world, and have enough cash reserves to buy say, HP (by capital worth) if they wanted to. So are you saying somehow they can do better than best? $1200 isn't the lowest for one of their computers, $600 is. As for iPhone. Ask Siri what the best phone is in the world it won't lie.