Compare Apple fans to that of the XBox or PS3. For some horrible reason, people will defend to the bitter end their console of choice. Nothing is gained or lost in these arguments, the same arguments are constantly thrown out, and quite frankly all the facts are widely available (system specs, regular issues like the RROD or hour-long installs) but no one cares. Everyone argues an opinion, and because this is the internet, quickly devolve a discussion to a flame war... I mean, really, how many Mac users have had serious issues with a one button mouse in the past decade?
The problem is that there are now tons of anti-Apple trolls hanging out on the Internet, a lot of whom are Android users who apparently feel the need to attack iPhone users with every spare moment. (Naturally, we defend ourselves.) What guts me is seeing this juvenile behavior on Hacker freaking News. This is by far one of the best online communities I've ever seen, but the anti-Apple trolling has definitely taken it down a notch.
> We're generally happy enough with our choices
I realize this is anecdote vs anecdote, but I see plenty of it. Where do you usually hang out on the internet?
I definitely don't think 100% of Apple fans are immune to the above-decribed behavior: there are always some who aren't, especially if they're teenagers. You'll see more of that stuff now, because the space is polarized, and Apple fans have been put on the defensive. And yet I hardly ever see Apple fans producing hate-fueled criticism of other products and their fans. We receive way more of that stuff than we dish out.
Every time an Apple fan mentions Windows crashing, every time someone says he's glad he uses a Mac after a Windows virus invariably activated by user stupidity pops up, every time a cringeworthy Mac vs PC ad (that's almost all of them, BTW) airs/aired, an anti-Apple troll is created.
It's not cool, but you can't be surprised it happens.
By the way, before yesterday, the last time I pulled the battery out of my ancient Blackberry 8100 (used daily) was on June 9... to swap a SIM card.
Those would have to be really sad folks. Why should anyone hate somebody for standing in-line for days to purchase an, in my opinion, overpriced gadget.
I think more to the point is that Apple fanatics defend anything that Apple pulls off. I could come up with a multitude of examples, but my favorite is the finder bug, that when you moved a file to a different volume this may have resulted in complete loss of the file (something Unix figured out, like, 30 years ago). (http://www.macintouch.com/leopard/movebug.html)
This is a bug, bugs happen and they can (and usually are fixed). But you had a bunch of rabid Apple fanatics who poisoned just about every discussion by trying to defend something undefensible.
It's the same reason why you can't have reasonable discussions with members of a cult. What the dear leader says is THE TRUTH and everybody else is out there to get us, infiltrate us and destroy us.
I may be modded to hell and then some for this comment, but that's really how I see it and it's annoying behaviour.
Because Apple's products impact so much of industry, that even if you don't use their products, their products impact your life.
For example, just because you might not use a Microsoft product doesn't mean you aren't affected by Microsoft's choices.
That's at least one of the reasons.
I think Apple's stance, that anyone who isn't satisfied with the iPhone 4 can return it within 30 days, is the right way to go. They said it before ANYONE had their phone for more than 30 days. Instead the people who weren't satisfied filed a class action lawsuit against Apple for making a "flawed" product.
Can you tell me again why Apple OWES you a product that is perfectly free of defects? To the point of you being able to purchase that product and suing them over it instead of just getting a simple refund?
This is as if they walked into the store, purchased the phone and yelled (across the internet) "this is a crappy phone, don't give me my money back, get me my lawyer". They then walked out of the store, and proceeded to use that phone for months while the trial went through its paces. Likely those months of horrible reception will only add to the charges they will put against the iPhone.
Also, could people direct this feeling elsewhere, where it is more meaningful and productive?
I will add this, however. When you purchase Apple products, you are beholden to them. They have a certain standard they need to live up to. If I am dissatisfied with a Dell, I have options with HP, or Lenovo, etc. If I'm not happy with Apple, I'm stuck. I have no other option for a Mac.