Ok… technology professionals then. IT and the various computer science type fields.
Mostly it’s the whole walled garden concept that turns most of us off, along with all the cutesy Apple stuff that seems to put a very high priority on “pretty” and “cool.”
This isn’t anything new; a lot of the same stuff was said back in the early 90s when Macs weren’t even particularly popular, and it was repeated with the advent of the iMac in 1998, and again with the whole touchscreen Apple range (iPhone/iPad).
I totally believe that. They are more likely to want to tinker and Android devices are made just for that. Us gear heads think of smartphones more as tools and use them as they are.
Know what’s worse that Apple fanboyism? Anytime I pull out my iPhone to use it at family gatherings or whatever, and some douche pulls out their Samsung Galaxy Android whatever and tries to prove why his phone is better than my iPhone, and how Apple is evil because they try and control every aspect of the blah blah blah…
I. Don’t. Give. A. Flying. Shit.
I’m glad you love and obsess over your phone, and feel like the smartest person alive because you went Android, but shut the fuck up about it. I just wanted to check my email and respond to a text.
FWIW, the last three companies I’ve worked for (all technology startups) have used Apple hardware exclusively for all engineers and the rest of the staff. (And no, we were not working on iPhone apps.)
Hey I get that. Back in my day I was really into the hardware. I wrote my own modem driver, would hack OS/2 and re-write parts of the operating system to optimize it using the IBM developer pack, made a programmable thermostat and programmed the assembly language of the Basic Stamp…
But I’m too old and too rich to do that any more. My hobbies and career evolved, and I need a phone which simply works and works right now. And my iPhone does that. Innumerable times on trips, out at power plants, in the rental cars, in the airports, it just works.
A young man once tried to impress me that he had got a Unix terminal interface on his Samsung phone, complete with command prompt, and the only thing I could think of was “how would that improve my work or life?” There was no possible positive outcome I could find by being able to directly use Unix on my phone. I respect that he could do that, and thought it was sort of neat. I guess kind of like a tongue piercing - it’s kinda cool, but not for me, thanks.
I ended up reserving one online last night and picked it up this afternoon. I’m glad I went with the 6, even though I had neither seen nor handled either phone when I impulsively decided to reserve one. My only regret is not getting the gold. For some reason, I thought it’d be a garish, brassy colour instead of the understated, almost champagne colour that it is. I bought silver and am not unhappy with it but would get he gold if I had my druthers.
The correct answer is “brilliant marketing”. Jobs was very good at creating an almost cultlike level of brand loyalty. Literally. The whole presentation of iPhones and Macs and whatnot as a “special” device for “enlightened” and “tech savvy” people (that’s obviously superior to the “clunky devices for the unenlightened masses”) that can’t be modified and is purchased in special stores where this elaborate experience is created for you is right out of “Creating Corporate Cults 101”.
That doesn’t match my perceptions, but I’d bet that this is very region and field specific.
There are 10 people (all software developers) in my group at work, and at least 5 of us use iPhones. The other 5, I don’t know what phone they use. That’s considerably higher than the average iPhone marketshare.
This is a frustrating thing to still see over and over. Sure, Apple has great marketing, and I’m sure it’s responsible for some of their success. But the idea that it’s the primary reason for their success is silly.
I spend 8-10 hours a day using my computer and smartphone, and have for the last 14 and 5 years (respectively). I’ve used Windows and Linux and Mac OS, and Android and Windows and Apple phones. And I choose the Mac and the iPhone as the best ones. Because they do what I want and are a delight to use (for the most part. Obviously there are some things I would change)
That doesn’t mean that they’re the best for everybody. Some people want different things from their computers/phones than I do. But it doesn’t surprise me at all that they’re as popular as they are. And the 100 million people who are going to buy iPhones this year weren’t snowed by Apple’s marketing.
I really don’t get the contempt people have because of their choice of operating system. I have a PC laptop because they’re much cheaper and I don’t need the extra stuff that an Apple will give me. It’s not worth the extra money.
Why do I have an iPhone? I need to get work email on my device. Our IT department, rightly or wrongly, will only allow Blackberry or iOS to access the servers. If you were me, what would you get?
I have had my iPhone 6 since Friday when it was FedExed to my door step. I absolutely love it. It is an undeniably amazing device. Is the Galaxy or whatever better? I have no idea. I’ll consider it when their OS is secure enough.