CNN Article: Mac vs. PC: The stereotypes may be true

[Relic]

What do you think - are the stereo types true?

Mac vs. PC: The stereotypes may be true - CNN.com

(CNN) -- Remember those Apple ads that cast the Mac as a 20-something, self-satisfied hipster while the PC was portrayed by an older, square-looking guy in a brown suit?

Well, those characterizations, unfair as they may be, appear to have some truth to them.

An unscientific survey by Hunch, a site that makes recommendations based on detailed user preferences, found that Mac users tend to be younger, more liberal, more fashion-conscious and more likely to live in cities than people who prefer PCs.

Of the 388,000 Hunch users who responded to a question about computer loyalty, 52% identified themselves as PC people as opposed to 25% who said they are Mac devotees. Hunch then cross-referenced those responses with answers to other questions to draw cultural distinctions between the rival Mac and PC camps.

The results suggest Mac users can be seen, depending on your perspective, as bolder and more creative -- or elitist and more pretentious.

The report found that 67% of Mac users have a college or advanced degree, as opposed to 54% of PC users. Mac loyalists are 80% more likely than PC users to be vegetarians, and, unlike PC fans, would rather ride a Vespa scooter than a Harley.

PC users' tastes trend towards casual clothes, tunafish sandwiches, white wine, Hollywood movies, USA Today and Pepsi. Mac users prefer designer or vintage duds, hummus, red wine, indie films, The New York Times and (we're not making this up) San Pellegrino Limonata.

Mac users also are more likely to describe themselves as computer-savvy and "early adopters." PC users tend to describe themselves as better at math and less likely to throw frequent parties.

"I fit the typical Mac user on every count. Guess I'm not as unique as I thought. Depressing," wrote one commenter on Hunch's blog.

Since Hunch's first survey of Mac vs. PC users in November 2009, Apple has ridden the success of such high-profile products as the iPad and iPhone 4 to become the world's most highly valued tech company. Despite that hot streak, Hunch found that slightly more people in its new report -- 52%, up from 50% a year and a half ago -- now identify themselves as PC users.

[MatticusMania]

"An unscientific survey by Hunch, a site that makes recommendations based on detailed user preferences, found that Mac users tend to be younger, more liberal, more fashion-conscious and more likely to live in cities than people who prefer PCs."

Clearly, the Apple ads were made to appeal to the market that already would have bought them, and not the other way around. Thats what marketing is.

[tastybasslines]

Mac products all look like diaphragm cases - that's who they market too and who uses them.

EOT.

[jmattbassplaya]

I got character traits of both. What does that mean?

[Relic]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I got character traits of both. What does that mean?

We have a Mac and a PC at home, I'm still trying to figure out that that makes me!??

[nutdog]

Originally Posted by Relic

We have a Mac and a PC at home, I'm still trying to figure out that that makes me!??

Bi-OSual?

[colcifer]

Originally Posted by nutdog

Bi-OSual?

Nice.

[superbassman2000]

Mac users also are more likely to describe themselves as computer-savvy and "early adopters."

the only thing I see apple users being early adopters of is new apple products

also, they are computer savvy if said computer is an apple

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

If you're trying to be a non-conformist like all your friends, you probably use a … ?

[Kwesi]

Originally Posted by superbassman2000

the only thing I see apple users being early adopters of is new apple products

also, they are computer savvy if said computer is an apple

Agreed on the first part for sure but most of the mac users I know have macs because they aren't computer savvy, lol.

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Agreed on the first part for sure but most of the mac users I know have macs because they aren't computer savvy, lol.

thats why i said that--apple people know apple, and typically not much else. I remember back in college, my jazz teacher had a mac--i did all my compositions on my toshiba laptop and while we both used the same notation software, he used to struggle so bad to use it lol he'd get so frustrated and tell me to just buy a mac!

[Kwesi]

Lol, I mean they don't even know how to use their own computers! When I say things like Expose, multi-touch, spotlight, and quicktime, etc. to other mac users I'd be lucky if half understand me .

[iamlowsound]

I have a Mac and a PC, I prefer the Mac for just about everything, except for running design software, the PC excels at that.

lowsound

[Relic]

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

I have a Mac and a PC, I prefer the Mac for just about everything, except for running design software, the PC excels at that.

lowsound

See, I'm just the opposite. I use the PC for just about everything except when I need to do graphic-y stuff. The wife uses the Mac constantly for her art, but for websurfing and such. Using the Mac would drive me nuts.

[GregC]

I probably have more Mac user traits, though I'm definitely not young. But I use a PC.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

If you're trying to be a non-conformist like all your friends, you probably use a … ?

[superbassman2000]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Lol, I mean they don't even know how to use their own computers! When I say things like Expose, multi-touch, spotlight, and quicktime, etc. to other mac users I'd be lucky if half understand me .

lol gotcha! I can follow you on that one--I remember reading an article about why apples are popular with musicians--they said the prime reason was that apples are easier to use!

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Relic

See, I'm just the opposite. I use the PC for just about everything except when I need to do graphic-y stuff. The wife uses the Mac constantly for her art, but for websurfing and such. Using the Mac would drive me nuts.

It was my understanding that the way you do it is considered the 'norm'. Macs are generally used for the artsy stuff, while PCs are used for more traditional programs.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

It was my understanding that the way you do it is considered the 'norm'. Macs are generally used for the artsy stuff, while PCs are used for more traditional programs.

In the early 90's, Apple announced to the public that they were going to focus on "core markets" rather than trying to be all things to all people. Those markets included the arts, entertainment, and education. It probably made good business sense, and nobody can dispute that Apple is the most successful computer maker on the planet. Their product lineup, design, and marcom, continue to reflect that marketing decision.

[Crass!]

I run an instance of OSX Snow Leopard in vmware on my Windows 7 machine. What nice little box do I fit into?