The Cult of Apple
There are two books that have been written about two groups of the Apple community. One of these was called, �Cult of Mac� and the other, �Cult of iPod�. Both of these are very true and the books contain a vast amount of information about the subcultures that Apple has created but now that we have iPhone, iPod, AppleTV and Macintosh, I think we need a new book to add to this series.
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The Cult of Apple is not ready to be published yet. I think we should wait until March of 2010 before this book hits shelves. The iPhone just came out and Apple has just recently completed the Intel transition and the OS wars between Microsoft and Apple are just beginning. Apple is no longer a company but is it�s own subculture. Previously, Apple�s products created cultures all their own; like a special club that only owners of these products could be members of. The Apple sticker said it all but it�s the Apple sticker that makes us all a part of The Cult of Apple
In 1984, thousands of consumers became a member of the Cult of Mac. Millions joined this cult and quite a few of them left and switched to Windows and many of them came back since Steve Jobs has returned. This Cult was best explained and described in the Cult of Mac book that came out in 2005. The book chronicles individuals that make the yearly trip to Macworld or attend Apple Store openings and even people that have Apple tattoos. It�s a fantastic book where I�m pleased to say that I know quite a few of the people featured in that book that are Apple fanatics. Actually, I should say �Macintosh fanatics�
In 2001, Apple released iPod and about 10 thousand people became a part of the cult but in 2005, the iPod started selling millions of unit a quarter and Apple has surpassed almost 110 million iPods just this past quarter. This cult is larger than the Cult of Mac and the book chronicles that. iPod fanatics that have hundreds of accessories and are members of online communities like iLounge where all they do is talk about iPods and it has become another subculture to which Apple has created
We�re in the year 2007 and Apple has released two amazing products. One of these is the AppleTV, which Steve Jobs says is just a hobby for them at the time. There has never been a company that has succeeded at a product that is a link between the computer and television. The AppleTV has a lot of room to grow, Apple has the money and there are millions of us already using iTunes and that�s a lot of customers that need your product and just don�t know it yet. AppleTV will be successful but it might take a while. The next huge product is the Apple iPhone. This device is the best gadget ever made and will be the next revolution for Apple. The iPhone is a phone, iPod and Internet communicator all in one. Apple can update the iPhone as much as they want because updates are pushed down through iTunes.
The iPhone is projected to sell 10 million units the first year, which will be difficult at $499 and $599, a pop but once someone tries the device, they�ll be hooked and save up for this device. The iPod sells millions at a time because Apple sells iPods priced between $79 and $349 and they�re easier to buy at that price. A $599 cell phone for some is just crazy since most consumers are used to getting their phones for one hundred bucks or getting one for free. The iPhone is not a gamble and I�m sure once Apple opens up the iPhone to Europe and Asia over the next 12 months, we�ll see that 10 million phone mark surpassed.
Back to the entry at hand, I own a MacBook Pro, iPod 80gb, iPod nano 2gb, iPod Shuffle 1gb and now an iPhone 8gb. I�ve owned 4 Macintosh computer, almost 10 iPods and used all of Apple�s hardware and software solutions at least once (yes even an Xserve) so here�s to hoping that I�m one of those that are a member of the Cult of APPLE.
This has gone beyond Mac and iPod and become the Cult of Apple, which is what the technological fruit had in mind the entire time. Apple controls the entire experience so why not control the devices as well and when it just works, people will buy it. My MacBook Pro runs Apple�s operating system and applications and syncs with my iPod and iPhone and I hook up my Apple monitor, keyboard and mouse and it all just works. This solution is so great that I�m now a member of this cult. Millions more are joining the ranks every month. If you buy an iPhone, iPod or Mac, you�re now a member of this cult and expect to make new friends, experience technology the easy and fun way and here�s hoping that we�ll be seeing a Cult of Apple book very soon!
