Diffusion Group did a study of iPod users that says:
Consumers who site improved social status as the primary reason for purchasing an iPod are likely to switch brands.
No frickin' way! That's probably true in general. And would be true when applied to iPod owners except for one thing. Apple has demonstrated time and time again that they are far better at creating cool and cutting edge devices than anyone else in the computer/consumer electronics space. Sure, Sony has had success and sometimes other firms do cool things. But, Apple has the baton and they are putting the full might of their extraordinary design team behind the iPod to innovate in form and function.
Steve Jobs coined the term insanely great. That's his standard. Some firms in the Macintosh space have aspired to that standard and done well. But, no one does it like Apple with Steve at the helm. He is more ruthlessly devoted to excellence and innovation and getting it right than anyone else on the playing field. And he has a VERY strong design sense that is part of the DNA of Apple Computer.
I'm not saying that posers are people to be admired. I'm saying that if posers are buying cool, they come to the right place when they come to Apple and buy iPods.
Apple has been moving into the consumer space of late and by now has firmly established iself as a force to be reckoned with. They've got great technologists, fantastic designers, a clear and unrelenting inclination to innovate, and passionate, full-tilt leadership. Expect early adopters and posers to remain brand-loyal.
And about that Eminem ad people are talking about. The colors match strikingly. I'm not going to argue whether there was some plagiarism involved if that's even possible with an advertisement. I'm just not at all worried about it. This was Apple's ad agency that did this. And Apple will simply replace the ad with something equally cool or stand by their ad agency. If this was the one cool ad Apple ever had, maybe people would think Apple was slipping. There's no shortage of creativity at Apple. This is just a tiny bump in the road if that.
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