Let's start with something simple. I want you to think of a type of notebook you think is most trendy nowadays. What was your answer? Of course, MacBook. Now think of a most trendy phone. iPhone. Most trendy mp3 player? iPod. Most trendy tablet? iPad. Now guess what all of those products have in common. That's right. They are all manufactured by Apple. We have reached an absurd level of worship towards that company and Steve Jobs. It doesn't matter that MacBooks are manufactured from poor quality components and enjoy one of the highest failure rates in the whole electronics market (even higher than the average failure rate of Xbox 360 which is around 30%!). It doesn't matter that those computers are highly overpriced. It doesn't matter that there are cheaper, faster and better alternatives for every single Apple product (apart from, maybe, iPad). It doesn't matter that Apple uses a lot of monopolistic practices like centralizing the distribution of software on their products (meaning you either use Apple's App Store or you can't sell your creations at all). That is because MacBooks, iPhones and so on are icons. Icons created by superior marketing. Everybody has it! Superstars and celebrities use it! Everyone seems to be telling you that your life is worthless without an Apple product. A brand new iPhone 4, no matter how crappy it is, will show everyone what a cool and trendy person you are! It will make you much better than your neighbour. This movie below quite accurately illustrates a typical iPhone buyer attitude:
Now check your Facebook (if you have an account there, of course). There is a good chance that you will find a person on your friend list that has a photo uploaded of his Apple product. That proves a simple rule that social status icons are worthless if you cannot show them to other people. There's a reason why new iPhones add "sent from my iPhone" by default to each text message sent.
(image source: http://www.pastemagazine.com/)
If you think that nowadays people show off only with their digital dongles then you are mistaken! The second rule of a child of marketing is to eat and drink at trendy places and be sure that other people see it. Think of coffee. You cannot drink a simple coffee at a local bar and expect it to impress your friends. No, no, you need to go to a cool place like … (be continued).
Questions:
- Would you like to have any “quietly brilliant” Apple Product or may already have one? Yes? Tell us which one and why is it better than others?
- Do you like coffee? :)
I have a Sony laptop with Windows (omg bluescreens 24/7!), a HTC phone with Android (omg geek, nerd!) and I think tablets are useless (omg you know nothing about your needs!). In () is what Apple marketing would say.
ReplyDeleteApple is quite smart, just look at their products. You don't use a phone, you use a iPhone. You don't use a laptop, you use a macbook etc. Like you wrote in your post, their products are icons with millions of followers. Very good move marketing-wise.
... and no, I don't like nor drink coffee.
It seems I'm a noob!
and one more thing. "quietly brilliant" is a HTC slogan :-)
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ReplyDeleteI'm a real niggard, so I don't buy overpriced items. Still, I wouldn't refuse to accept any of them for free ;-)
ReplyDeleteI like coffee, especially with nice companion, anywhere :-) I even don't know which places are trendy and which are not.
No… Not… Nope… Never…
ReplyDeleteI don’t a spatially like Apple products. Maybe the reason is that I’ve never have any…but also I’ve never wanted to have them.
Most of my friends have something, the things related with Aple Co.: iPhones, iPo(a)ds, MacBooks, etc. Sometimes I have an opportunity to stay in a close touch with their products.
Big amount of advantages and also disadvantages, like incompatibility with other stuff. It’s depend on somebody’s like.
There is also interesting to read a historical view of that company. They used to be in deep depths and all the time they putted all their money to developed and promoted one product which became bestseller of the year. First was an iPod. Before iPod generation nobody in Poland hear about Apple products. There were few Macintosh’s computers but nothing more… and suddenly iPods appear taking whole ruined and collapsed firm on the top of the lists. The same situation was with iPhone. Just lump everything on a one sector/product line.
Personally I use HP notebook, Palm (now HP) phone… generally though nothing to complain nothing to be happy.
Yes… I do like coffee. Why are you asking ? :-)
To be obvious, I hate Apple products as well as I am not a fun of Facebook. I like the way you think and write about generation of "children of marketing". I have to admit that your sarcastic approach is hit the jackpot and I am very interested in your next blog;)
ReplyDeleteOh, I've almost forgotten to answer your questions:
1. I have never had any of Apple products.
2. I love coffee!!!
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ReplyDelete@Tomasz Frender – I’m asking about coffee because in my third note I’m going to talk about (oh not sex, not this time. I know - it was very funny) complicated correlations between liking coffee and being an apple and/or a facebook fan boy :)
ReplyDelete@kniaz – thanks man, I know I’m gorgeous :) but seriously it is nice to read such things. I mean, it’s really uncommon to hear people talking about hating (or at least not enjoying) apple products.
High five to everyone who knows what’s not worth our attention!
In my opinion Iphone is simply the best. It is really easy to use, it has user friendly menu and apps are amazing. There is no such a person among my friends who changes phone for Iphone and wasn't satisfied.
ReplyDeleteWith macbook there is different story, any programmer or IT guy will love to use this computer. "Ordinary" people at the beginning will not like using it because this is something different they used to use in the past.
Finally I think their products are best!
I have a macbook. Two years ago I had a laptop "acer". And when I compare them now I can say I like mac more, why? With old laptop I always had problems with working on it, mac is faster, applications are much more organized.. don't know what else. it's just easier to use as s5244 wrote.
ReplyDeleteAbout phones I have old sony ericsson and I like it, phone should be easy as possible at least for me. I don't want other phone, especially this with touching screens, too complicated..
oh and I don't like coffee, I drink a lot of tea. I guess I'm addicted to it.
ReplyDeleteNowadays it just seems like Apple is the most hated electronic company out there. Their products aren't ideal, their products aren't bad also. It seems that the more you sell, the more haters you get. Don't get me wrong, I don't own any product from Apple, but it seems like many people just hate the fact that Steve Jobs sells something at high price. If someone wants to buy that, it's his/hers choice and I'm not the one to judge.
ReplyDelete1)I have already some apple product like Macbook and Iphone ,I am very happy to use this kind of product because product of Apple are faultlessly,besides the goods of Apple are very nice design .
ReplyDelete2)I like coffe espacially in the morning when I have problem with wake up the coffe is the best solutions on start day in good conditions.
I have the Ipod. I won it in the competition and I'm happy with it. Is it worth the money? I do not know is performing very well and what the competition is expensive. But buying an Apple product we have the "apple":) personally do not like to show up to praise anni brands but a lot of people say Apple is doing very good products. Just like coffee is always the first thing you get is a cup of coffee with milk;)
ReplyDeleteI'm not typical fan of Apple brand, so I do not have that, as the new iPhone comes out, I must have it. Even more, I really despise bling „i" users. The truth is that I do not tolerate an iToys because they have their drawbacks. However, I have a weakness for the company's notebooks. I think that even it is not about the hardware, because hardware is quite primitive compared to concurrent products but, Apple has a cool operating system Mac OS X. Apple has great marketing, so that they can sell tablets more primitive than 6 years old HTC's, and can sell them so that people thing Apple is innovative etc.
ReplyDeleteRegarding coffee I like it, but I need to feel like it. I do not like some people, which have to drink a few coffees per day. The best coffee is made at home and half and half with milk.
I admit to having an apple product. I have a first generation ipod nano. It is old, it is battered, but I use it because the sound quality is pretty good. I don't like flashy gadgets, I only use it for practical reasons. That's why I haven't bought an ipad, it just seems completely impractical.
ReplyDeleteWould you like to have any “quietly brilliant” Apple Product or may already have one? Yes? Tell us which one and why is it better than others?
ReplyDeleteI have "quietly brillant" HTC product and I love it. I use my smartphone to communicate with others by the internet. I don't have to call as much as years ago. Now You only have to possess smartphone and facebook account to keep in touch with the others.
Do you like coffee? :)
I don;t like coffe. Sometimes I drink Ice coffe but only in summer.
Neither did I have any of Apples products. I find them to pricey for the functionalities they provide. To me it's obvious that you pay for the load of money spent on marketing and making the product look good, instead of improving functionalities. I'm not saying that I don't like Apple products. Some of my friends, who (let's say) weren't Apple's fans, have recently got business iPhones. They are very surprised and quite happy how they work. It's a matter of choice and price :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have any Apple products. The reason is simple. They are really expensive. And I would like to pay for the quality not for the trend. And I hate coffee! What a strange question! :)
ReplyDelete1. I don't use Apple products. They are expensive and addicting - when you have one you adjust rest of you electronic stuff to fit it
ReplyDelete2. I love coffee, I drink it everyday - I feel like I can't leave my house without a cup of hot cafe latte...
Buy & sell new and used iPhones.
ReplyDeleteWide selection of new and used iPhones for sale.
More at sell used iphone 3gs