NPD: Mac owners are bigger gadget nerds than PC owners
By Thomas Ricker 
posted October 6th 2009 7:04AM
posted October 6th 2009 7:04AM
posted October 6th 2009 7:04AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
No, I don't have to upgrade every time a game comes out. Nobody does, the very idea is insane. Decent mainstream hardware will play games at high settings for at least 2 years without an upgrade and at lower settings for another 2-3 years. I don't see why you're being such an asshole about upgrading, maintaining a decent computer of a few years is much more cost effective than blowing thousands of dollars on a bleeding edge computer and leave it there until its obsolete to the point you need spend thousands more dollars on a completely new one.
And say I want I blue-ray player, I can buy it and easily replace my DVD drive as opposed to . . . forget it. Upgrading is an option, an OPTIONAL option, as in not necessary but easily done if you want to.
dammit Engadget comments, that is a reply to @Skeezle:
"Don't you have to run out & buy a new one every time a new GAME comes out? Oh, wait a minute, you just have to go out & buy a new processor, ram & graphics card. Computers are more than toys to some people, just so you know."
But it is OK for you to insinuate that Mac users need to upgrade to a new computer once a year? Now you get defensive when I make a comment just like yours. Typical.
Go back to the Twilight blog, you have more to add there than here.
So much immaturity displayed here. They're computers, people! Get a life!
Wow, what a shitstorm. I think that mac owners tend to be bigger computer nerds not because they own a mac, but they own a mac because they happen to be nerds.
you will also find that folks own Mac because of the added value that comes with the higher price tag. things like training and in store tech support. when I owned a PC I never had a place where I could go ask a question about how to do something and get a free answer. with a Mac I do it all the time. either online or pop into the local store. I've had times when something wasn't working right on my computer, did the whole genius bar thing and the guy on the other side of the counter recognized a conflict with some 3rd party software that wasn't 'ready for primetime' and not only helped me get my machine back in working order but was able to recommend a different program for the same use that wasn't having any problems. I've had folks recommend software,hardware. One guy even gave me the number for a friend that worked at a local recording studio who would give me a good price on a studio rental.
you find me any place that sells PCs that does any, much less all of that.
This means that Mac users are generally less tolerant to errors than PC users. Besides, personally Macs provide a far more consistent using experience and excellent interaction compared to PCs.
In the world of PCs, it takes knowledge to go for a Mac. Contradict to the notion that Macs are highly overpriced and that Mac users are the rich stuffed with cash and hunger for a cool look, it is not easy to imagine finding a notebook with the same configuration and build quality as a macbook pro 13' or 15'. Also Mac users are generally more informed on computer usage and have to be able to work both systems Mac OS and Windows since there are always situations requiring one to handle a PC especially in a world where PCs get more than 80% market share.
Technology savvy obviously use a higher number of consumer electronics in their daily life compared to average users.
I would never disagree that a mac is easy to use, thats what they are for, and there is real value in a computer that is easy to use.
But making the device easy to use for the mass market (read, idiots) reduces my ability to use it how I want to, with customized programs and a wider variety of hardware.
There is nothing wrong with being so easy a moron can use, there is something wrong with pretending that its cool
Apple marketing is classic appeal to emotion as well, not the kind of marketing you see when you are marketing to the informed consumer, exactly what you see when you are marketing to the "rich idiot" demographic, or rather, the wants-to-play-pretend-rich idiot.
Also, realize that being technology savvy doesnt = more gadgets, in fact, it can go the opposite way, for example, if asked about how many gadgets are in my home, I would not consider DVD players and the like, where a lower tech person might, therefore inflating their perceived tech ownership.
The question of "who is the bigger gadget nerd" cannot be answered by asking "how many gadgets do you own" but rather "what is the functions of your devices" and "what do you consider a gadget"
being a measure for future consumption is a bad thing, the hot new devices are generally gimmicks designed to take your money, proper gadgetry requires intelligent shopping to get the right device, instead of a dozen of the wrong ones.
did they include toasters and microwaves? .......................that's stupid
maybe now in the pc vs macs commercial, the macs people should look fat and nerdy.
It is true that while most windows users only use their computers for simple task, the average mac user doesn't know a thing about tech, they both only know what the salesmen or friends tell them.. The most arrogant mac user only knows as much as the most ignorant pc user.
What happens if you own both? Do they put you in the Mac category or the PC category? After all, gadget freaks might quite easily buy lots of computers of different varieties. Draw a Venn diagram.
I think I might be a victim of that lol.
I like Apple, so therefor I pretty much buy anything new that comes out from them.
It's just fun, and I think that Apple delivers much better products, even OS wise, than any PC.
And this also might have something to do with.. well I don't wanna sound rude or anything, but most PC users don't really have much money to spend on gadgets, that's one of the reasons they're so defensive about their PCs.
This isn't surprising in the least bit. I'm actually surprised that PC owners rank even as high as they do.
Mac owners are typically people with more money, usually are in-the-know typically compared to the average PC user, and are honestly a little elitist when it comes to their gadgetry.
The average PC user is part of the unwashed masses. They range between grandma's looking to play Freecell all day and power users like myself. Since PC is like 90% of the market, we're bound to have the vast majority of those who barely know how to use a mouse compared to what Mac has. In essence, PC users are the full spectrum and Mac is probably more like a third of it.
So while we PC users open our arms wide in acceptance of all users, have fun in your VW Jetta driving to the upperscale mall to buy your new Mactop for over double what you'd pay in the PC version, you elitist wankers! ;) j/k, j/k
lol so bull shit maybe they should compare only computers not like ipods and other shit, in my house we have 8 pcs and a perfect amount of macs, 0
Mac people are the most defensive group about their Mac purchases. Look you were SOLD, that's it. You didn't just buy a computer, you bought into the club. That club membership was worth something to you. You paid $200 for an $84 hard drive, you paid $200 for a $149 video card, you paid $600 for $200 worth of ram, etc... Would you pay $60,000 for a Ford Focus? Well you did, but you got a Ford Focus with the Ferrari look-a-like kit installed and you feel like a champ. More power to you.
HAHAHA.. this is such a a foolish article really. People would buy more gadgets if they have more money. I would if I had. But I wont buy any apple products to waste my money on.
Guys, guys... do we have to bring out the ruler again?