Why the heck am I doing this?

I decided to write a blog about Apple for two reasons. One, I want to defend Apple against those people who try and shoot it down as a corporate rip-off, and two, I want to discuss specifications, features, and design of Apple products as well as overall user-experience.

I’ve had an Apple computer since 2003. My mac mini is still running today. At the time, the only available OS (if you don’t count Linux) are Windows XP and Mac OSX.4 (Tiger). OSX Tiger’s interface was too superior compared to Windows XP. I have nothing against Windows XP, and I still regard that version as the 2nd greatest Windows release of all time; Windows 98/2000/ME would be the best of all time, obviously.

I am slightly offended by those who take cheap shots at Apple. Well, quite frankly, I think I am more affected than the company itself. It’s crazy, I know. When people say that Apple products are an absolute ripoff, I beg to differ. I know it is expensive. I know it has LOWER specs than your ‘conventional’ Windows PC, but that does not mean it is a ripoff. Refer to my other blogpost called “Apple is not overpriced” for details.

Defending Apple is not my passion, but I know that it is the right thing. (I know, I sound like a corporate attorney or a PR guy.) I am doing this not for the company, the company can cease to exist and Steve Jobs will still have enough money for his cancer treatments for the next 200 years. I am doing this for the consumers. Those who are Apple die-hards. Those who want a piece of every Apple product from the minute they hit the shelves. Guys, Girls, and everyone in between: if you criticize Apple and you never HAD one, please don’t talk crap. Get an Apple, compare it with your traditional product, then we’ll start talking.  

Apple is not overpriced.

Apple Computers are not overpriced. Contrary to the belief of Apple haters, Apple's line of products are just sufficiently priced. While it is admissible that Apple products are substantially more expensive than PC's, the right of the company to set a premium for its products does not mean that Apple Computer, Inc. is    "ripping-off" its consumers. There are four specific reasons why Apple products are more expensive than other products:

1. Product Design: Since from its inception, Apple Computer has revolutionized the market through the unique design of their computers. Compared to the boring, noisy, and extremely hot CPU units that PC uses, its Apple counterpart, the iMac is substantially much more pleasing to the eye. It is extremely quiet. Its CPU is embedded in a slim HD screen that has its own camera, microphone, and high quality speakers. That is only one of the revolutionary product designs that Apple introduced to the market. Ever wonder where the product design came from? It didn't come from the stars, it didn't fall from heaven. It is designed by people. Have you ever seen the label "Designed by Apple Computer in California"? The revolutionary designs of Apple is pure Americana. But the design itself costs money; Apple can't just kill the designer and use his design. The company needs to buy it from the designer and it does not cost cheap either. For a design as revolutionary as that of Apple products, Steve Jobs must have paid a substantial amount of money in order to use those designs. And because we live in a capitalist world driven by profits, this added cost is then passed on to the buyer of the product.

2. Interface: Before the dawn of the visual desktop, computers were monochromatic. They look intimidating, full of codes, and downright boring. That is until the release of Apple II. At the time of its release in 1977, it has been dubbed as the first-ever user friendly computer commercially available. Being the first one on the game, Apple still leads overall interface aesthetics. Even though a person may not be computer literate, using an Apple computer is just as easy as 1-2-3. You will not encounter any form of the usual Windows error dialog boxes (.dll errors, etc), and most importantly you will NEVER encounter the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). The amount of work put into improving the interface of Apple computers cost money. The amount of research done to prevent BSOD and significant slowdown while maintaining a revolutionary user-friendly interface costs money. And because we live in a capitalist world driven by profits, this added cost is then passed on to the buyer of the product.

3. Marketing Campaign: Have you ever seen the ads for the iPhone and the iPad? Don't they entice you to at least to them out? Apple marketing campaigns has been one of the most successful marketing campaigns as of today. From the hilarious "Mac vs. PC" ads, to the marvelous "This is an iPad" ads, Apple has never waned in enticing the market in recent years. Since the rebirth of Apple with the release of the iPod in early 2000's, the company has never missed a sales target. This can only mean one thing: good revenue=good product. Public perception for Apple products is generally positive. We all know that the media augments public perception in any way thinkable. Therefore, Apple ads proved to be as effective marketing tool. But again, this does not come without a price. Ads cost money to produce, and costs more money to air. And because we live in a capitalist world driven by profits, this added cost is then passed on to the buyer of the product.

4. The "I" feel: Admit it, sporting an iTouch is better than sporting a Sony Walkman, Microsoft Zune, or a Chinese-made mp4 player. Why is that? Refer to the above 3 reasons why Apple products costs more than other products. The overall feeling of sporting/owning an Apple product is just better. Yes it became a status symbol. Not that it intended to be one, but revolutionary and costly products tend to become status symbols. Why do people camp out just to get the new iPhone? Why do people camp out to get an iPad? Considering that the iPad hasn't even been released at the time, it is rather surprising how the iPad proved to be a blockbuster hit without even hitting the shelves. The answer to that is simple: people loves Apple products. Are they getting ripped off? NO! Absolutely not. Whether Apple commanded interest or in the lie lows, with the design and features of their products, it will be stupid for the company to underprice their products.

For those who don't appreciate the brilliance of Apple products, you are free to express your opinions. However, if it involves making stuff up and calling the company names; I believe that is just unfair. If you think that the company charges too much for its products you are welcome not to buy it. But for the millions of people who just bought the iPad 2, it will be unfair for them to be called stupid. It is not their fault that they didin't want to deal with BSOD; it is not their fault that they wanted Apple interface. Yes, Apple products are expensive but coming up with the design and features of the products required a lot of investment. It costed a lot of money. And because we live in a capitalist world driven by profits, this added cost is then passed on to the buyer of the product.