When I announced to my friends last year that I was planning on selling my Droid Incredible 2 for the then-upcoming iPhone 4S, my tech-savvy friends immediately gave me grief.
One told me, “So what you’re saying is you made the right decision first and now you are screwing it all up?”
It was good-natured fun but perhaps it speaks to a larger part of our psychology. In this modern age of greater intellect, achievement, and progress, we’re all-too-often reduced to picking sides on the most trivial of subjects and making enemies where enemies aren’t needed.
Let’s start with Apple, since we’re on the subject.
As contentious—some might say pretentious—as the consumer electronics giant is, it can’t be argued that it puts on a good show and knows how to sell its products. Whether you like Apple or not, its attention to detail and design can’t be ignored. Its products generally work well, look nice, and feel good. While Macs currently only have 7 percent of the computer market share, that number is growing rapidly.
On top of that, the iPhone and iPad operating system currently sits at 66 percent of the combined mobile and tablet market share.
If, while reading that, you felt a surge of annoyance or pride then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate some things. Since when do we feel the need to leap on the attack or defense of giant companies? Companies that, unless you’re a shareholder, don’t really affect you with their market share numbers.
The same thing happens every new console cycle for video games. Every time a new console is announced it’s time for everyone to jump on their favorite message board and explain why it’s the worst/best thing ever and will be the biggest failure/success you’ve ever seen.
Do we actually believe that Sony or Nintendo care that we’re defending them from—gasp—mean people on the Internet? They don’t.
This comes down to the psychology of the current age. We’re constantly defined by what we own, who we vote for, where we live. Rather than by our actions or ideals, we’ve declared the things around us to be the GPS for our place in the world.
Some of it has to do with validating ourselves. Those that spend $200-$400 on a phone or game console want to justify their purchase. Spending potentially thousands on a computer creates a bigger justification. Only being able to afford one game console means you have make sure you got the best, even if “best” is not easily defined. Anyone who says otherwise is out to make us feel bad about our purchase.
It seems we have ownership insecurity.
Why should it matter what someone thinks about my iPhone? It doesn’t, honestly. I’m glad people enjoy Android, Google has done some cool stuff with that platform. I’ve personally gotten more satisfaction out of the iPhone, but to each their own.
As for computers, each is good in their own ways. If you’re looking for a beautifully designed, well-made machine with strong technical support, a Mac could work for you, if you don’t mind the cost.
And if you’re looking for more technical power for your buck with more freedom in the operating system and hardware, Windows is the way to go.
For the record: I have both, and enjoy them immensely.
My desktop PC has the highest tech I could stuff in it at the time and is used mainly for gaming and video, while I have a Mac laptop I use at school or when I just want to browse the web.
In the end why should it matter what anyone else bought, what matters is what you think is going to be the best fit to you. Maybe we can continue this line of thinking into other areas of life, like politics and religion, and move forward as a more accepting people who don’t equate their value to who agrees with them
Or I can just say you’re dumb for wanting the iPhone 5.
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