Let me begin by stating that I adore my iMac, macbook and iPod that I use on a daily basis.
Now with that out of the way, I feel that the apple decal sticker you get when you purchase an apple product has become a sort of status symbol. You’ve probably seen them popping up on more and more cars lately. (The worst case I’ve seen was used to cover the logo on a DELL laptop.) But why do I think this? Because the first time I put one on my car I felt a certain puff in my chest that said: “Hey! Everybody look at me. I’m so sophisticated and cool because I use a mac.” That somehow because of this little apple sticker I knew something that the majority of people didn’t. And I was better than them. I even felt sorry for people that didn’t use a mac or worse, had never used a mac. I was holding macintosh up on this pedestal in my mind. (Sadly, I felt like this for a long time.)
But as of late, my opinion has changed about what that apple represents to me. I no longer feel bad/sorry for people who don’t use a mac. Instead I recognize that for me, a mac is the best computer to use, but for others it may not be. (Even though I’ll duel to the death that life on a mac is much more user-friendly than any pc available.) But take my Father for example, he called me late last year talking about getting a new computer. Of course my recommendation was to buy an apple, but he said he didn’t need all the power that came along with it, as well as the price tag. Even though apple has come down in price, it’s still hard to compete when you can buy a brand new laptop at Walmart for under $400. Sadly that’s what he ended up getting, but for him it’s all he needed (minus all the pre-loaded apps that comes fully loaded on his computer).
So what’s the point here? I’m glad you asked. Last night I finally scraped off the apple sticker that adorned my back right window on my car, and this morning I replaced it with the same apple sticker, only I turned it upside down. And why did I do this? It’s just my way of taking a stab at all those who use the apple logo as a status symbol. I guess you could say it’s making fun of my arrogance. And more importantly, I hope it makes people think. Like I said, I love my apple products, but they don’t define me.
I managed to talk my parents into buying a Mac a while ago and they’ve never looked back. They were a bit computer-phobic before as they had seen off a couple of clunky PCs by ‘pressing the wrong thing’ which seemed to happen with alarming regularity.
Now they have a shiny iMac, they’re emailing, web browsing and even video chatting to me to their hearts’ content. It really has made a huge difference to them, and they’ve invested in a digital camera, an iPod and a scanner which has let them use the machine for music, photos, video and all sorts. I even got my Dad onto last.fm and last Christmas they used online shopping for the first time. It feels like the computer has finally stopped being a barrier to them trying out all these things. If they’ve ever got confused I’ve even been able to screen share with them to show them how to put it right.
Many of these things are really down to the internet, but it’s clear to me how much easier having a Mac has made the process of learning and if they still had a PC, I’m sure it would be sitting in the corner striking fear into their hearts to this day.
Oh, and when I was a poor student with a cheap PC, I had an Apple sticker on that too…
The question is, do you now feel superior to the people who place the Apple sticker right-side-up?
I think my next computer will be a Mac, but for now I work on a PC. Saving up for a high-powered Mac does take some time. But, paying a little more for a well-designed product is one of life’s small pleasures.
I really really really want a mac unfortunately living in a 3rd world country and artists don’t earn as much and buying a mac would definitely take time …but still I can’t wait for the day that I could finally purchase one.
I have the white apple sticker on my door, much like a dartboard. Whenever my iMac, iPhone etc dare freeze or horrow, crash… it gets another dart hole.
Apple is not invincible and has the same amount, if not more, of corporate issues, but most people just don’t hear about them or look at Apple through rose tinted spec’s.
Yes, I do love Apple. I have used them since the Mac Classic and they are the tools of my trade. Apple no doubt is a culture thing, but I remember when Apple computers were only available to the few that had to work with them or could afford them. To me, Apple had more of a noble air than it does now…
Almost feel like they have or are on the road to selling out…I mean, what will be next.
I must admit… I’m one of those people who refuses to buy an apple even though I could actually use one with the work I’m doing. I’m surrounded by apple adepts, and though I love the fact that real apple-users can defend their choice with more fire than any pc-user (and God knows I love passionate people, they’re much more interesting), but what I don’t like are people who defend Apple when all they use it for is reading and sending e-mails. It’s still their choice, but don’t defend it by quoting me API speed, user interface design,… or whatever makes apple great.
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haha Kyle nice!
Yes as a mac lover I am ashamed of the arrogant smug approach that is associated with owning/using a mac.
I guess the best we can do is not act the rest of the kids at the genius bar, and realize that it is just a computer.
Good read Kyle
~ Aaron I
Agreed. Don’t get me started on the Mac TV ads…and I’m a mac user.
Hi!,
I actually stumbled on this blog and had to bookmark it.
its so inspiring, i am a Christian, i design and im Nigerian, very tough i tell you.
Anyway,
I also love Macs, in school i was the only person to have a Macbook, i sometimes felt i was walking on air.LOL
but i think God made me learn a lesson when i was robbed of it, i realised that material things will come and go and we shouldnt dwell on them or get so attached.
I will eventully get another Mac but my attitude about it has surely changed, its almost akin to turning the apple sticker upside.
and like you said, “i love them but they don’t define me!!!”
That was a great article. I have a few friends who swear by Macs, but some times they just seem like sheep being led to use what society states is cool.
I want to get a Mac some day, but I am able to do all my development and design on my Windows machine.
I am tired of all those Apple only people who bash Microsoft.
I won’t get fully into it but I will bring up one point. Microsoft spends a lot of time to make sure that with everyone of their new OS’s there’s backwards compatibility. This makes it easier to develop software for. I have heard many developers who are so tired of developing software for Macs. Every time Apple puts out a new OS, the developer has to work to make his/her application work on the new Apple OS. That can be hard on developers.
I am not bashing anyone here, and I too want to buy an Apple (Mac) for fun, but I get irritated when people have a narrowed point of view and without even looking into things take that Microsoft sucks point of view.
None of you have acted that way. I really enjoyed your article too, and think the upside down apple is a hoot.
Thanks for letting me rant. LOL
I’m a ‘mac-man’ going on 24 years, started with my very first 128. I love your blog because it’s really not about computers, it’s about our heart and about judgments. We set ourselves up as the standard and then judge others from that point, and our judgments tend to be critical. To look at others as having unsurpassable worth is living with a sense of humility and wonder, and having the mind of Christ.
@Richard – that’s awesome man. I really wish I could’ve convinced my dad to get a mac. I know he would love it. (As would anyone, right?) You are right about most of what we use on a daily basis on our computers is on “web based” applications instead of traditional desktop apps. But I’m glad we both see how much easier the mac makes getting on the internet, and overall just getting around on your computer. That’s funny about your old laptop, but the question is did you put the sticker over the logo?
@Nick – good question. Yes that thought has entered my mind today, but no I don’t think I feel any more superior than I did yesterday.
Thanks for the comment. And yes it does take a while to save up for a mac. Either that or you get it on credit, and that can be a slippery slope of debt if you’re not careful.
@Graham – I like your dart board idea. I really hate those days when my iMac freezes up on me. You’re right about most people looking at Apples through “rose tinted specs”.
I like the company Apple was 5 years ago, before they blew up in the mainstream, and before they chaned “dot mac” to mobile me. But what really made my stomach churn is when they decided to put intel inside their computers. I really hope they don’t sell out, but sometimes it seems inevitable. *sigh*
@Tom – I hear what you’re saying. thanks for the comment.
@Aaron – I can’t stand going in to certain apple stores where they treat you with smugness and attitude. The brand itself has really become an idolized icon and I think apple knows it, as well as the kids at the genius bar. But it is just a computer, a means to an end, not the end itself. But I guess like any modernized western civilization we are programmed to buy what’s popular.