Ever since I went through training to be fully versed in Economic Gardening, I’ve thought a lot about temperament. In this particular blog post, I’ll discuss how my temperament (personality type) makes me anything but a fan of Apple products.
Apple products, whether they be smartphones, mp3 players, tablets, streaming boxes or computers, are meant to be simple: simple to use, simple to maintain, simple to operate. (A prime example is that the smartphones, tablets and mp3 players only have one button besides on/off and volume.)
I have friends and family members who use Apple products. The point of this blog post is not to bash them or anyone else–it’s to explain my personality.
1. I don’t believe in limits: The aforementioned simplicity of Apple devices means everything is handed to you in one particular way, with as few ways as possible to execute anything. Of course, simplicity lowers the ceiling of the capabilities of the devices. Compare that to Windows (yes, I said Windows) and Android products, both of which have higher ceilings–you can do a lot more with them, if you’re willing to take the time to learn (e.g. root your Android device).
2. I’m a leader, not a follower: I use the “herd mentality” in marketing. Many times, consumers can save the step of making an informed decision by picking whatever everyone else already picked (known as the “early majority” and “late majority”). If you’re a first time smartphone shopper, and you didn’t research the various choices, it’s of course easier to pick what everyone else has. It’s human nature to want to be part of the group (that’s how fads arise). I tend to make logical decisions, not emotional decisions, about products, and I don’t feel the pressure to be a “me-too.”
3. I strive for inclusiveness: Apple, especially under the late Steve Jobs, was notorious for creating closed systems. That’s why you can only add music and videos through iTunes to your devices. On any other non-Apple device (e.g. Samsung Galaxy), you can simple transfer music directly from your computer (even onto an SD card, which is not available to Apple devices). I’m a big fan of a diversity, but Apple isn’t.
Lastly, it amuses me that Apple’s slogan is “think different.” At one point, yes, that was the case. But for consumers, you’re not thinking differently if you buy Apple products for the reasons I listed above (according to my temperament).
Forget magazine subscriptions—the market has something better. Monthly socks? There’s a subscription for that. Gluten-free snacks, bacon-every-month and paleo treats? You bet. You can even subscribe to “Time of the Month” feminine hygiene boxes, moss-of-the-month packages and monthly apocalypse preparation supplies.