Exploring the Mac demographics myth

[Amasashi]

One of the biggest myths that has been continuously spread regarding Macs and PCs is that Mac users are young, affluent, artistic types who enjoy dicking around, whereas PC users are old, geeky, spreadsheet-loving business types who take matters more seriously.

So let's run a quick informal survey to gain further insight into the matter. Just a few questions to answer.

1. Age
2. Line of work
3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
4. Why you use Mac
5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype


I'll go first.

1. 27
2. Biomedical engineer
3. Web surfing, personal multimedia management, iWork/Office documents
4. As fun as tinkering is, I leave it at work, because at home I want to spend my time on more important things.
5. Half and half. I have a geek job, but I enjoy organizing music, pictures, and videos.

 

[ApplePie427]

1. 24
2. Waitress
3. Music, pictures, internet
4. Because I'm tired of being baffled by all these tech terms everyone likes to get into pissing matches over whenever I visit a computer store.
5. Ha ha, yes, because I only use the computer for fun.

 

[millertime021]

1. Age
2. Line of work
3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
4. Why you use Mac
5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype

1. 19
2. Full time student and BlackBerry Support. (but I love my iPhone).
3. School, movies, internet
4. OS X, I love the multi-touch trackpads on the MBP's, I love the style of the computer, it's says look at me with out being too over the top.
5. I'm young so I guess I fit in the stereotype in that regards, but I wouldn't consider myself a fanboy. And I'm more republican. I feel like Mac owners are stereotypically democratic. I wonder if this is true all over, or just in my circles.

 

[Nermal]

1. 27
2. Software and Web development
3. Music, movies, Internet (including online gaming)
4. I've always had an interest in alternative OSes (since using OS/2 at school in 1996) and after trying OS X it quickly became my primary OS
5. I don't fit the stereotype because I think the current hardware is terrible. Flaming not allowed

 

[danielcox]

1. 20
2. Student
3. Web browsing, entertainment, work
4. I like the number of advantages it comes with - nice to look at, unix, etc.
5. I'm not a hipster and I don't like organising family videos but I am a student.

 

[elmancho]

1. 21
2. Full time student
3. Browsing, chatting, games.
4. Because it's stable, and I ditched my PC after 6 months of vista. (Considering to build a windows desktop now... I'm slowly getting tired of how "closed" OS X is)
5. Because everyone is unique blah, blah, blah. I'm just a geek who enjoys shiny new hardware

 

[Kristenn]

1. Age - 14

2. Line of work - Student?

3. Top 3 things you use your computer for - Documents, presentations, internet, music, movies, games

4. Why you use Mac - I grew up with them and know them like the back of my hand. By that I mean like keyboard combos and other stuff. I find OS X to be better for laptops than Vista or 7... maybe even XP.

5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype - I just don't. I'm not rich. My parents aren't rich. I'm not a snob and I don't think I'm better than anyone else because I don't use a Windows based PC. I like all operating systems and think they have their place in the world. Stereotypes are just that... stereotypes.

I'm not a Mac, I'm a person who likes Macintosh computers. Or Mactels. Whatever they are called these days.

(Note: Mactel is one of my jokes)

 

[*LTD*]

One of the biggest myths that has been continuously spread regarding Macs and PCs is that Mac users are young, affluent, artistic types who enjoy dicking around, whereas PC users are old, geeky, spreadsheet-loving business types who take matters more seriously.

Here's the research:

http://www.zdnet.com.au/are-mac-users-smarter-120266677.htm

http://www.pcworld.com/article/141473/mac_people_more_open_liberal_than_pc_users.html

http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-943519.html

http://mashable.com/2009/10/05/mac-ownership-study/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/05/mac-users-are-richer-cool_n_310332.html

 

[maflynn]

1. 45
2. System Administrator (windows servers)
3. Photography, office apps, work (administering servers)
4. Lack of viruses, stability of the OS, its based on Unix so using unix commands in the terminal is a no brainer
5. I don't fit the stereotype, partly because I'm not a designer. I'm not a fanboy. I use tools that best fit my needs. The moment Macs stop fitting that needs, I'll find a computer that does. I'm also fairly technical who likes to get into the guts of things in a geeky sort of way. You generally cannot do that with Macs so that also breaks the mold on why I'm not a typical user.

 

[ChazUK]

1. 30
2. Docker.
3. Internet, media and to educate myself computer wise..
4. I love tinkering with software and hardware so running a Mac alongside Linux and Windows is the best way to experience different software on 3 major platforms.
5. I've been into computers since the ZX Spectrum and haven't looked back. I'm far more of a nerd compared to the Mac owning stereotype you mentioned above!

Great post. I hope more people respond!

 

[belvdr]

1. 35
2. Lead Network Admin using Cisco, Check Point, F5, and Websense
3. Music, watch TV, work
4. It's simpler for my family to use
5. I don't drink the Kool-Aid. I use what fits the bill and Ubuntu may fit this when the MBP stops working.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Here's the research:

http://www.zdnet.com.au/are-mac-users-smarter-120266677.htm

http://www.pcworld.com/article/141473/mac_people_more_open_liberal_than_pc_users.html

http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-943519.html

http://mashable.com/2009/10/05/mac-ownership-study/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/05/mac-users-are-richer-cool_n_310332.html

Problem with those little facts and studies is they all have one key flaw in them and complete screw over the results.

Apple computers cost a heck of a lot more than the PC counter parts and by that I mean the entry level cost for a mac is around $1000 but general they cost a lot more than that (monitor keyboard included in cost)

compare that to a PC where you can get one that covers your needs with monitor keyboard ect for around 500 for an entry level.

Now the key part to this is people who make more money generally are better educated, and more intelligent. This means that Apple user numbers are screwed heavily because they do not include the people who can not afford that price point. This means PC user numbers are force to include people who can only afford the cheaper computer.

None of those research or articles do anything to address that fact at all so for the most part they are only ways for fanboys to fan them selves with but over all completely worthless.

 

[telecomm]

Now the key part to this is people who make more money generally are better educated, and more intelligent. This means that Apple user numbers are screwed heavily because they do not include the people who can not afford that price point. This means PC user numbers are force to include people who can only afford the cheaper computer.

Whether or not this is an error depends on the intent of the study. If the purpose of the study is to describe the Mac-using demographic (which, I think, is what the OP is after), then what you've described is merely a (possible) explanation for the data, and not an error in the study. One question is what are Mac users like? (and it may be the case that they tend to be affluent, educated, etc.), and a separate question is why are Mac users like that?. If indeed the Mac-using demographic is affluent and educated, then the high cost of the products might be an answer to this second question.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Whether or not this is an error depends on the intent of the study. If the purpose of the study is to describe the Mac-using demographic (which, I think, is what the OP is after), then what you've described is merely a (possible) explanation for the data, and not an error in the study. One question is what are Mac users like? (and it may be the case that they tend to be affluent, educated, etc.), and a separate question is why are Mac users like that?. If indeed the Mac-using demographic is affluent and educated, then the high cost of the products might be an answer to this second question.

No what I pointed out was a huge error in the study or at the very least the people writing the articles. It was used to fan the flame of fanboys and say how much better they are. The post articles have a lot of issues and prove nothing.

They do not go into the economics of it so the study saying Mac users are smarter or more educated is worthless. It has way to many variables to be even remotely close.

 

[andalusia]

1. Age
2. Line of work
3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
4. Why you use Mac
5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype

1. 17.
2. Student.
3. Web, Music, Graphics/Photography (Adobe).
4. I'm comfortable with the operating system. I understand it, and whilst I like Windows, and use it from time to time, I have no reason or desire to change.
5. I guess I fit in regards to my age and that I'm quite artistic, but I'm no fanatic of Apple; as I have already mentioned I like Windows 7 and am going to be building my own PC soon, so I guess overall I'm not part of the stereotype.

 

[MattSepeta]

So

1. Age
2. Line of work
3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
4. Why you use Mac
5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype

1. 22

2. Full time graphic design/web video marketing, part time free lance photography / design

3. Design work, photo editing, watching moves ever since my dvd player in my room went kaput

4. Apple Software (FCP mainly, Also Aperture), reliability, lack of bloatware/virus threats. I don't have the time or the desire to mess around with my hardware. Not to mention they look sweeeeeet (most stuff).

5. I hate turtlenecks, as well as people that wear turtle necks (sorry!), I also am pretty interested in different code languages, so I am not the typical mac user that does not have a clue about how their computer or software or internetz work. And I am about as conservative/libertarian as they come. And last I checked Apple had a reputation for being somewhat of a "hippy" brand...

I forgot to mention... LOL @ "5. I'm not a hipster and I don't like organising family videos but I am a student. "

I dont like organizing family videos either... ha

 

[Lola M]

1. 34
2. Office administrator
3. Web, photos, music, videos.
4. Simple, fast, different (Im surrounded by hard core PC users), fashionable. I like everything to be top of the line and Macs are up there in my opinion. My Mac is my favorite accessory.
5. Dont know. Will find out soon.

 

[nickali]

1. Age
2. Line of work
3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
4. Why you use Mac
5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype

1. 44
2. Accountant
3. Internet, photo, movie editing.
4. Used PC's up until a few months ago, friend suggested Macs after my last go around with hardware problems. Tried it and I love the reliability, ease of use, look, OSx, no virus etc., the list is long.
5. I don't fit at all. I'm not old but older, geeky, an accountant so I live by my business spreadsheets. I do take a lot seriously so having a computer that doesn't make me wait for everything and is reliable without crashing all the time is me being serious about how I spend my time and money.

 

[theLimit]

1. Age
34

2. Line of work
Accounting student

3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
Spreadsheets, research, gaming

4. Why you use Mac
Annoyance at all the required maintenance of Windows PCs. I'm the go-to guy for free tech support for friends and family, so I like my own personal computing experience to be a pleasant one.

5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype
I'm a suit-and-tie business man. I'm a tech geek, I've built and repaired computers for myself and friends for as long as I can remember. I'm not a pretentious graphic designer, a spec-whore gamer, or an elitist command-line loving programmer.

 

[*LTD*]

I love all the posters who in their answers to the questions are going out of their way to say they aren't fanboys or "hipsters."

You guys are great.

 

[bobr1952]

1. 57

2. Retired

3. Used for:
Internet Browsing, email, music streaming
Web Development (small home business)
Games (mostly WoW)

4. Switched from PC

5. Well the age thing certainly takes me out of the running--lol

 

[-Ryan-]

1. Age
2. Line of work
3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
4. Why you use Mac
5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype

1. 20
2. Full time student and part time stock trader
3. Internet, Word Processing, Financial Management
4. I love things that work in an intuitive manner, and so for me, Apple has always been the only choice. I have never had a reason to question my faith in OS X, and so continue to use it exclusively.
5. I fit the first two parts of your stereotype, but not the third. I'd probably be more likely to be classed as a yuppie or something than artistic.

 

[CaptMurdock]

1. Age
2. Line of work
3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
4. Why you use Mac
5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype

1. 45
2. Administrative and technical support for small law office
3. Web surfing, writing, communicating with friends
4. I've used Mac practically since it came out, Windows has always been at best a faint copy, and I'm not nerdy enough to use some third-party OS like Ubuntu.
5. I'm old enough to be some of these guys' father. OTOH, whatever artistic pretensions I may have, I'm a nut for organization.

 

[0098386]

1. Age
2. Line of work
3. Top 3 things you use your computer for
4. Why you use Mac
5. Why you fit or do not fit into the stereotype

1. 24
2. Game design/art

3.1. Work
3.2. Play
3.3. Media organisation

4. I like the OS and working in it feels better than Windows... as illogical as that is. Also can't go back from multitouch when it comes to laptops. My Macbook ruined me.
5. I buy and use both Mac and PC. They both do things the other doesn't.

 

[goldstmarc2]

No what I pointed out was a huge error in the study or at the very least the people writing the articles. It was used to fan the flame of fanboys and say how much better they are. The post articles have a lot of issues and prove nothing.

They do not go into the economics of it so the study saying Mac users are smarter or more educated is worthless. It has way to many variables to be even remotely close.

Problem with those little facts and studies is they all have one key flaw in them and complete screw over the results.

Apple computers cost a heck of a lot more than the PC counter parts and by that I mean the entry level cost for a mac is around $1000 but general they cost a lot more than that (monitor keyboard included in cost)

compare that to a PC where you can get one that covers your needs with monitor keyboard ect for around 500 for an entry level.

Now the key part to this is people who make more money generally are better educated, and more intelligent. This means that Apple user numbers are screwed heavily because they do not include the people who can not afford that price point. This means PC user numbers are force to include people who can only afford the cheaper computer.

None of those research or articles do anything to address that fact at all so for the most part they are only ways for fanboys to fan them selves with but over all completely worthless.

You are absolutely, 100% correct. Apple gear costs more, which explains the rest of the statistics.

But nevermind the fact that LTD posts 8 year old information then doesn't come back when his post is picked apart and destroyed. That's a fanboy for you.