Guys, read up on Thorstein Veblen and conspicuous consumption. It's an about 000 year old economic concept asking for the ratio between the actual use value versus prestige value (for social distinction) of a product. Basically, do you need a car to take you to work, or do you need a car to show off infront of your neighbors. Only, it works much more subtle than that. People will want to belong and this is how the entire western society ends up in debt, totally unneccessary which is the worst part. No wonder China owns all our asses these days.  Apple users will continue to use Macs/Iphones etc for social distinction and to balance their feelings of inferiority towards their peers. And once you bought it, even if you're aware of what's really going on, it's only natural (there even is a study for this) to defend one's decision with "reasoning" even if you bought something useless. Now, Iphones aren't useless, but other brands will do the same trick except the prestige part. Also, what's so different to China when everyone in a social group (students e.g.) use the same product. It only shows that this generation grows up totally adapted. What about individualism if everyone uses the same brand?  Fact is, we live in a commercial society where people happily pay for the right amount of prestige i.e. conspicuous consumption. In so far, Apple has understood how marketing (and people) work extremely well. That's exactly why I despite them and feel pity for Iphone users (many who probably can't even afford to pay for the phone other than in 00 monthly installments) while potentially having no money for rent, healthy food, or the education of their children. Cheers!  Wow. Your opening might be true, but the hyperbole you follow it with seriously undermines it. For sure I love the prestige value, but claiming that is the only thing that sets apple products apart from the competition is at best just opinionated. My counter opinion is, that the build quality of mac's trounces the competition. The usability of osx and iOS sets them apart from windows, linux / android wp0. I have used them all.  I can handily afford the cash needed to buy apple products, yeah they are expensive in money terms, but they make my life easier and my job easier. Your opinion on whether that is true doesn't change anything.  Regardless you've handily (attempted to, at least) explained away any of my opinions about quality - according to you I'm simply defending my purchase with invalid reasoning? Sure whatever you think. I'm more interested to know what your take is on people who are compelled to denigrate other's choices, despite apparently not having any clue how others needs may differ from theirs. I know why I'm posting, it could my piss when people talk crap. Why were you posting?  I own AAPL shares too (since ~$000), maybe I bought those to balance my feelings of inferiority towards others...  Guys, read up on Thorstein Veblen and conspicuous consumption. It's an about 000 year old economic concept asking for the ratio between the actual use value versus prestige value (for social distinction) of a product. Basically, do you need a car to take you to work, or do you need a car to show off infront of your neighbors. Only, it works much more subtle than that. People will want to belong and this is how the entire western society ends up in debt, totally unneccessary which is the worst part. No wonder China owns all our asses these days.  Apple users will continue to use Macs/Iphones etc for social distinction and to balance their feelings of inferiority towards their peers. And once you bought it, even if you're aware of what's really going on, it's only natural (there even is a study for this) to defend one's decision with "reasoning" even if you bought something useless. Now, Iphones aren't useless, but other brands will do the same trick except the prestige part. Also, what's so different to China when everyone in a social group (students e.g.) use the same product. It only shows that this generation grows up totally adapted. What about individualism if everyone uses the same brand?  Fact is, we live in a commercial society where people happily pay for the right amount of prestige i.e. conspicuous consumption. In so far, Apple has understood how marketing (and people) work extremely well. That's exactly why I despite them and feel pity for Iphone users (many who probably can't even afford to pay for the phone other than in 00 monthly installments) while potentially having no money for rent, healthy food, or the education of their children. Cheers!  Wow. Your opening might be true, but the hyperbole you follow it with seriously undermines it. For sure I love the prestige value, but claiming that is the only thing that sets apple products apart from the competition is at best just opinionated. My counter opinion is, that the build quality of mac's trounces the competition. The usability of osx and iOS sets them apart from windows, linux / android wp0. I have used them all.  I can handily afford the cash needed to buy apple products, yeah they are expensive in money terms, but they make my life easier and my job easier. Your opinion on whether that is true doesn't change anything.  Regardless you've handily (attempted to, at least) explained away any of my opinions about quality - according to you I'm simply defending my purchase with invalid reasoning? Sure whatever you think. I'm more interested to know what your take is on people who are compelled to denigrate other's choices, despite apparently not having any clue how others needs may differ from theirs. I know why I'm posting, it could my piss when people talk crap. Why were you posting?  I own AAPL shares too (since ~$000), maybe I bought those to balance my feelings of inferiority towards others...  