Is Apple a Cult?

tater · 04-05-10, 02:55 PM

So you're saying that liking macs is a religion, and it's OK to make fun of them for that reason. Gotcha.

Hater.

I own a PC for games, but our laptops and one desktop machine are macs. Wife has an iPhone—which is cool, but I prefer a good signal everyplace vs bells and whistles, myself.

Best things about the macs? They are completely, totally quiet. if the CD/DVD is spun up they make drive noise, that's it. No fan, nothing. Second best is an uptime literally measured in years, they only ever get rebooted for system updates that require it. They are appliances, and they work (and as a UNIX guy, I like having a unix box <shrug>).

I always have a built-myself gaming rig, too. I feel like a shade tree mechanic though, keeping it running (and even though I tried to build a quiet one (PS, fans, and box specifically picked for low noise), it sounds like a hair dryer sometimes). To be fair, if I were using my PC for the day to day stuff we use the macs for, it would be pretty bulletproof with XP Pro (SP3), too. It's the gaming crap that makes my PC a PITA. One exception is some Java stuff that is work-related (x-ray viewer) that only runs on IE on a PC, and breaks if you mess with Java, or have IE set to be even slightly safe to use. Not the PC's fault, but the idiots who wrote the radiology applet. Still, keeping it working is also a PITA for that.

PS—is caring at all about someone else's choice of technological hardware a cult? I certainly don't care about someone else's choices unless they affect ME.

PPS—on topic, yes, for many it is a cult. I know "religious" mac nuts, and I know PC people who "religiously" attack macs, too. Liking the iPad, for example. I just don't get it, and Apple calling it "magical" is, well, kooky

XabbaRus · 04-05-10, 03:51 PM

I'm not a hater, just being sarcastic.

I just get vague amusement at teh mac lovers who gush over it.

They look cool as does the iPhone but I don't get it.

nikimcbee · 04-05-10, 04:08 PM

I'll say yes.

No software selection and overpriced hardware.

PeriscopeDepth · 04-06-10, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I'll say yes.

No software selection and overpriced hardware.

I have been using one the past couple months for work. The hardware/software integration impresses me. The only software that is missing is games, but computers do have purposes beyond gaming. The machines themselves are more expensive but the overall design, support, and OS/included software quality has won me over. I don't think I'll purchase a PC box again unless it is primarily a gaming/media center. And the media center justification is purely for onboard HDMI.

PD

HunterICX · 04-06-10, 04:15 AM

Apple = Overpriced must-haves junk.

HunterICX

d@rk51d3 · 04-06-10, 04:36 AM

Cult ............ or a scam????

JK.

krashkart · 04-06-10, 02:22 PM

I wish I still had my old MacBook 5300c. That was a handy little machine.

Buddahaid · 04-07-10, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterICX

Apple = Overpriced must-haves junk.

HunterICX

A joke I saw has Steve Jobs explaining that the new i-pad makes it a lot easier to do things you never had to do before.

Mac is great for music recording!

Terrax · 04-07-10, 08:15 AM

I'll say yes. Back in 93 - 95, I did contract work at Union Carbide (now DOW) taking care of their computers. They were 75% PC, 25% Macs. I was shocked at how arrogant they were just because they used Macs. They genuinely thought they were smarter, more productive employees, and NEVER missed an opportunity to tell you how much better a Mac was to a PC. I had to listen to it all day. Comments like "When will you PC people stop working with toys and get a Mac, you'll finally get some real work done?" or "It must be hard to get out of bed every day knowing you have to work with a PC?" And as I said, they weren't joking, they were dead serious.

When Carbide started rolling out Windows 95, the Mac people rolled their eyes, and make a huge deal about how Microsoft released a very poor copy of Mac's operating system. I left the job at that point, but heard later that it was decided to standardize the computers and all the Macs were going to be replaced with PC's. My former co-worker said it was an open revolt. Shouting matches, threats of resignation, and even protests with signs in front of the IT building took place. I lost track of what happened after that.

The experience with those 100 odd, (very odd) people has been close to what I've experienced with most Mac people I've met over the years. They all have a superiority complex and love spewing their pro Mac sermon. Last month a construction contractor was in my building, saw all the Dell boxes, and started in with his Mac speech. I told him pretty much what I've said in this post, and he was literally ready to try to "beat my ass" because I downed his Mac. It was ridiculous. I've been anti Mac for years, not because of the computers, but because of the users. The only other time I've seen people get so defensive about something is religion or NASCAR (driving around in a circle for 4 hours, what fun!) So I definitely think it's a cult.

NeonSamurai · 04-07-10, 08:59 AM

I am anti mac mainly for their fraudulent pc vs mac adverts (from stretching the truth to out and out lies and fabrications), and other general marketing techniques that convince people they need all the rubbish they put out. The smug self obsessed apple users don't help any either.

Frankly I chalk a lot of it up to good old cognitive dissonance in that the mac users spend so much more on their systems, they feel the need to justify the extra money they payed, to lower the dissonant feelings of having realized they payed more for a name and little else. There product isn't better then other quality components (its not like they manufacture much of it anyways, a lot of it is outsourced), and then of course the huge problem that it is all proprietary and you will pay through the nose for parts.

Plus Apple didn't invent the GUI, they swiped the idea from Xerox PARC, then tried sue MS for doing the same thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...user_interface

August · 04-07-10, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrax

and he was literally ready to try to "beat my ass"

A contractor really threatened you like that? I hope you reported him to management.

Terrax · 04-07-10, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

A contractor really threatened you like that? I hope you reported him to management.

Nah, it wasn't worth it. Like most Mac users, he was all talk. Plus, if there was an investigation, my conduct wasn't exactly professional. I'm normally a very laid back guy, but he was able to get me pretty pissed off over something ridiculous like that. It certainly wasn't worth my job.

krashkart · 04-07-10, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrax

I'll say yes. Back in 93 - 95, I did contract work at Union Carbide (now DOW) taking care of their computers. They were 75% PC, 25% Macs. I was shocked at how arrogant they were just because they used Macs. They genuinely thought they were smarter, more productive employees, and NEVER missed an opportunity to tell you how much better a Mac was to a PC. I had to listen to it all day. Comments like "When will you PC people stop working with toys and get a Mac, you'll finally get some real work done?" or "It must be hard to get out of bed every day knowing you have to work with a PC?" And as I said, they weren't joking, they were dead serious.

When Carbide started rolling out Windows 95, the Mac people rolled their eyes, and make a huge deal about how Microsoft released a very poor copy of Mac's operating system. I left the job at that point, but heard later that it was decided to standardize the computers and all the Macs were going to be replaced with PC's. My former co-worker said it was an open revolt. Shouting matches, threats of resignation, and even protests with signs in front of the IT building took place. I lost track of what happened after that.

The experience with those 100 odd, (very odd) people has been close to what I've experienced with most Mac people I've met over the years. They all have a superiority complex and love spewing their pro Mac sermon. Last month a construction contractor was in my building, saw all the Dell boxes, and started in with his Mac speech. I told him pretty much what I've said in this post, and he was literally ready to try to "beat my ass" because I downed his Mac. It was ridiculous. I've been anti Mac for years, not because of the computers, but because of the users. The only other time I've seen people get so defensive about something is religion or NASCAR (driving around in a circle for 4 hours, what fun!) So I definitely think it's a cult.

Odd. '95 was about the time I bought my MacBook. Oh, let me tell ya what an awesome machine that was! j/k

I had a period there where I fawned over my MacBook and abhorred the PC. I later moved on to an early distribution of Linux and fawned over how much better that was than the Winblow$ systems. Nowadays I'm back to a standard Windows PC and have enjoyed building my own rig. I've been running XP since it came out and found it stable enough to do what I need it to do. Mac was a passing fad for me, and Linux was more of a hobby. iPhone, iPod, and now iPad... I don't really need or want any of them - same with Amazon's Kindle (it's... not.... paper! Sorry, it just popped in there.

).

Interesting that contractor wanting to beat you up just to defend a stupid computer. Maybe Apple should include regular therapy and massage sessions with their devices.

August · 04-07-10, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krashkart

Interesting that contractor wanting to beat you up just to defend a stupid computer. Maybe Apple should include regular therapy and massage sessions with their devices.

LoL. "A free anger management class with the purchase of every Mac!"

Wolfehunter · 04-07-10, 05:07 PM

I don't know never cared for apple stuff.

I've worked on some mac's in the past but never like it.

There ipod is bad news. I've seen to many clients trash there ipods because of aggressive copy protections and them breaking..

I only use pc and I hate consoles. So my life with pc's is a love and hate relationship.. similar to my relationship with my wife..

04-05-10, 02:55 PM	#1
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	So you're saying that liking macs is a religion, and it's OK to make fun of them for that reason. Gotcha. Hater. I own a PC for games, but our laptops and one desktop machine are macs. Wife has an iPhone—which is cool, but I prefer a good signal everyplace vs bells and whistles, myself. Best things about the macs? They are completely, totally quiet. if the CD/DVD is spun up they make drive noise, that's it. No fan, nothing. Second best is an uptime literally measured in years, they only ever get rebooted for system updates that require it. They are appliances, and they work (and as a UNIX guy, I like having a unix box <shrug>). I always have a built-myself gaming rig, too. I feel like a shade tree mechanic though, keeping it running (and even though I tried to build a quiet one (PS, fans, and box specifically picked for low noise), it sounds like a hair dryer sometimes). To be fair, if I were using my PC for the day to day stuff we use the macs for, it would be pretty bulletproof with XP Pro (SP3), too. It's the gaming crap that makes my PC a PITA. One exception is some Java stuff that is work-related (x-ray viewer) that only runs on IE on a PC, and breaks if you mess with Java, or have IE set to be even slightly safe to use. Not the PC's fault, but the idiots who wrote the radiology applet. Still, keeping it working is also a PITA for that. PS—is caring at all about someone else's choice of technological hardware a cult? I certainly don't care about someone else's choices unless they affect ME. PPS—on topic, yes, for many it is a cult. I know "religious" mac nuts, and I know PC people who "religiously" attack macs, too. Liking the iPad, for example. I just don't get it, and Apple calling it "magical" is, well, kooky Last edited by tater; 04-05-10 at 03:12 PM.

04-05-10, 03:51 PM	#2
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	I'm not a hater, just being sarcastic. I just get vague amusement at teh mac lovers who gush over it. They look cool as does the iPhone but I don't get it. __________________

04-05-10, 04:08 PM	#3
nikimcbee Fleet Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Patroling the Slot. Posts: 17,952 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I'll say yes. No software selection and overpriced hardware. __________________

04-06-10, 04:15 AM	#5
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Apple = Overpriced must-haves junk. HunterICX __________________

04-06-10, 02:22 PM	#7
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	I wish I still had my old MacBook 5300c. That was a handy little machine. __________________ sent from my fingertips using a cheap keyboard

04-06-10, 04:36 AM	#6
d@rk51d3 Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,952 Downloads: 207 Uploads: 0	Cult ............ or a scam???? JK.

04-07-10, 08:15 AM	#9
Terrax Warmonger Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: WV USA Posts: 101 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'll say yes. Back in 93 - 95, I did contract work at Union Carbide (now DOW) taking care of their computers. They were 75% PC, 25% Macs. I was shocked at how arrogant they were just because they used Macs. They genuinely thought they were smarter, more productive employees, and NEVER missed an opportunity to tell you how much better a Mac was to a PC. I had to listen to it all day. Comments like "When will you PC people stop working with toys and get a Mac, you'll finally get some real work done?" or "It must be hard to get out of bed every day knowing you have to work with a PC?" And as I said, they weren't joking, they were dead serious. When Carbide started rolling out Windows 95, the Mac people rolled their eyes, and make a huge deal about how Microsoft released a very poor copy of Mac's operating system. I left the job at that point, but heard later that it was decided to standardize the computers and all the Macs were going to be replaced with PC's. My former co-worker said it was an open revolt. Shouting matches, threats of resignation, and even protests with signs in front of the IT building took place. I lost track of what happened after that. The experience with those 100 odd, (very odd) people has been close to what I've experienced with most Mac people I've met over the years. They all have a superiority complex and love spewing their pro Mac sermon. Last month a construction contractor was in my building, saw all the Dell boxes, and started in with his Mac speech. I told him pretty much what I've said in this post, and he was literally ready to try to "beat my ass" because I downed his Mac. It was ridiculous. I've been anti Mac for years, not because of the computers, but because of the users. The only other time I've seen people get so defensive about something is religion or NASCAR (driving around in a circle for 4 hours, what fun!) So I definitely think it's a cult. __________________

04-07-10, 08:59 AM	#10
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	I am anti mac mainly for their fraudulent pc vs mac adverts (from stretching the truth to out and out lies and fabrications), and other general marketing techniques that convince people they need all the rubbish they put out. The smug self obsessed apple users don't help any either. Frankly I chalk a lot of it up to good old cognitive dissonance in that the mac users spend so much more on their systems, they feel the need to justify the extra money they payed, to lower the dissonant feelings of having realized they payed more for a name and little else. There product isn't better then other quality components (its not like they manufacture much of it anyways, a lot of it is outsourced), and then of course the huge problem that it is all proprietary and you will pay through the nose for parts. Plus Apple didn't invent the GUI, they swiped the idea from Xerox PARC, then tried sue MS for doing the same thing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...user_interface __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff Last edited by NeonSamurai; 04-07-10 at 09:40 AM.

04-07-10, 05:07 PM	#15
Wolfehunter Crusty Capt. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,752 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 25	I don't know never cared for apple stuff. I've worked on some mac's in the past but never like it. There ipod is bad news. I've seen to many clients trash there ipods because of aggressive copy protections and them breaking.. I only use pc and I hate consoles. So my life with pc's is a love and hate relationship.. similar to my relationship with my wife.. __________________