Apple: "It's Already a Revolution and it's Only Just Begun."
When I hear the word “Apple” I no longer think of Eve’s forbidden fruit, instead the iconic logo and Steve Jobs comes immediately to mind. This surely indicates Apple’s significance in today’s technological market and the influence it has upon its customers. It could be argued that when the word “Windows” is uttered one no longer thinks of glass panes but Microsoft Windows and Bill Gates. The important difference here is culture; Microsoft may be the default computer corporation for most, but Apple has created its own culture beyond computers.
Within around six years I have owned three iPods. 2004 saw the 4GB iPod Mini, a technological breakthrough for portable music. 2005 came and so did the 5th generation 30GB iPod video, this time a breakthrough for portable music and video. Finally, in January 2010 I bought the 32GB iPod Touch, a breakthrough for portable music, video, internet, gaming and so much more. What I find most impressive is that all three still work. The little Mini with the monochrome screen still operates despite its inferiority compared to the daughter-iPods created from the original Mini blue prints. Of course we expect technology of only 6 years of age to still function correctly but function has become less of a concern over the years, Apple is now undoubtedly a trend. Apple has created a culture where self-proclaimed “macaholics” will buy every gadget, upgrade and t-shirt with the half bitten apple logo emblazoned on their chest. LA (I’ts actually Cuppertino in California that is called the Mothership, not that I know these things at all –Ed) headquarters even sell shirts to devoted customers that boast “I visited the mothership.”
So it appears that Apple’s role is to produce the technological eye candy. The sleek designs make their products aesthetically pleasing and new touch screens makes using them very easy, the software being incredibly user friendly. This cannot be said for Microsoft. Very little if any buzz is felt when there is a new release from them; for example, new operating system Windows 7’s release seemingly crept up on me, I had no knowledge that such a product was being created. You will be hard pushed to find a person who hasn’t at least heard of the iPad, Apple’s newest creation that caused miles and miles of queues outside of their stores. Mr Jobs is certainly doing his job in making sure it is known throughout the world that he has created the next miracle gadget.
Unlikely gadget-geek Stephen Fry had a meeting with Mr Jobs himself recently and he has shown to the world his relentless enthusiasm, without shame. By recording himself opening a box containing an iPad as though he is extracting Excalibur from the stone, he inadvertently promotes Apple and the fandom becomes contagious. Of course, where there is fandom, there is a fad. The buzz around Apple has repeatedly been named a fad, going as far as to say they praise style over substance. A company in today’s technological market would in no way maintain a positive reputation if their products were not of merit and my still operational iPods go to show Apple’s technology is reliable and sturdy as well as beautifully designed.
Microsoft may have been the company of choice in the 90s for your personal computer with Windows 95 or 98, but Apple has overtaken them in the race for popularity with their devoted fan base that identifies their strong position in the technological market. An advert for the new iPad goes as far as to claim “it’s already a revolution and it’s only just begun.” It sounds like a promise from Apple and we will be seeing much more from them in the future.
Laura Jones
