* Posts by Tim Reichelt

1 publicly visible post • joined 19 Aug 2008

Apple tops customer satisfaction poll as rivals' ratings slide

Tim Reichelt

Why?

The number of Mac users is steadily growing and it continues to be the case that the majority of them become keen promoters of the brand. After so many years watching the frustration of those who don't understand this I have finally tipped over into not caring - much.

First, if the first thing you think of when you consider your next purchase is the price or the spec then you will not understand what is going on here. It is all about the user interface and the experience of using the machine. Next, if you once tried Macs and had issues, don't forget that you represent a single data point and that, although your experience was real and possibly painful, it is not necessarily the experience of all Mac users.

Many folks above make a point along these lines "Mac users seem to lap up horrible Mac experiences and keep coming back for more". If we accept that to be true; why? There must be a compensating factor. Once you start talking in millions of people they tend to be much of a muchness. I am not a great believer in mass hallucinations. PCs are in the majority so most folks have had a go of one. Why would these Mac people stick with something worse? It must be offering them something. If you simply ascribe to to stupidity or vanity then why would they not buy the alternatives you would chose? I mean the alternatives are better right? Which came first, the cult or the reputation?

With regard to the price thing, I could make the usual total cost of ownership argument but I am sure that if you haven't been convinced by now then that's a waste of time. Perhaps I can just throw in this one. Some folks don't much care about price. It is the natural condition on so many of us to be short of money that if seems safe to assume that everyone makes decisions with price as a factor. Well, not everyone does. I have met them. The rich are different. Macs are cheaper in the long run but sometimes it involves a slightly higher expenditure up front. Well, some people aren't the least bit affected by those extra dollars. Sucks to be us hey?