What portion of the population is being "ostracized" and why?
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.
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):
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 ****
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.