I’m Courtney, and I’m a Mac.
Whether you consider yourself to be computer savvy or not, you’re probably aware of the ongoing battle over which is better to own, a Mac or PC. I myself, own a Mac. In the graphic design world, you’re almost expected to. But I often catch myself wondering, “Why?” Is it really a better computer, or do they do such a successful job at advertising and marketing their product that I take more pride in owning one?
Like many advertisements, the goal is to identify with the consumer and make them want and/or need to purchase your product. I think Apple, in particular, does this in a very creative and successful way. Throughout their advertisements and marketing they give a personality to the product so that once you’ve made that purchase you take on that persona as well. In case you haven’t seen their popular ad campaign - basically, they characterize “Mac” as hip and “PC” as stuffy. Whether you feel these representations are accurate or not, they’ve successfully created a brand for themselves that the consumer wants to identify with.
What’s more, is that many Apple consumers don’t just find themselves buying computer-related equipment but also buying t-shirts, stickers, mugs, watches, posters and pens. I’ve even seen people shave the Apple logo into the back of their head. Mac-users tend to be so proud of their product that they’re willing to do the advertising for them.
Sometimes better marketing can outshine a better product, so like Apple discovered, the best solution is to try and do both. And although, I have my preference when making computer purchases, what may work for you may not work for someone else. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, or is there?
