MA thesis: Steve Jobs and Apple

[eblis]

Hi everyone!

I am a fifth year student in applied linguistics and, as the title suggests, my work concerns Steve Jobs and Apple.

I would be grateful if you could share with me your honest thoughts about the brand and answer my questions in a few words.

1. What do you associate Apple products with and why did you choose them in the first place?
2. Do you think that the users of Apple products form a separate, somewhat "elite" social group?
3. Is Apple the same without Steve Jobs? If not, why?

Thanks in advance for your time. I myself have been loyal to Apple for many years now, yet I need to "hear" opinions from other Apple users, so your help will be invaluable!

Thanks again and take care, guys.
Monika

P.S. If you like, you can send the answers in a private message

 

[satcomer]

You need to talk about Steve Jobs and his years with NeXT (this lead to the development of OS X) and buying Pixar just before it went gold with Toy Story.

IMHO these things molding Steve to be a little softer but more focused on what people should want. This is hardly ever spoken about but again I think this was a big part of his second coming to Apple.

 

[phoenixsan]

My answers....

1-Functionality, ease of use, aesthetics.

2-No "elite" per se. But too many actual Apple users use Apple hardware as "status symbol"

3-No. No keynote guru. No magic sales person. No creativity in the edge. No "there are one more thing....."....

Sorry for the laconic answers. Feel free to ask me to elaborate.....

Sucess in your academic enterprise.

 

[shinji]

1. What do you associate Apple products with and why did you choose them in the first place?

My dad brought home a Mac when I was young. Switched back and forth a few times over the years, but I've stuck with Macs as an adult, largely because of the OS X look and feel. When it came time to upgrade to a smartphone, I picked the iPhone for the same reason- Apple's design, functionality, and attention to detail. The iPad was more of an impulse buy once I was in the iOS ecosystem because I never thought I'd have much use for a tablet, but now I use it all the time.

2. Do you think that the users of Apple products form a separate, somewhat "elite" social group?

No, Apple's success in recent years has meant that it's fairly common to encounter others using their products, so it cannot really be considered separate or exclusive.

3. Is Apple the same without Steve Jobs? If not, why?

It's not the same. Apple no longer has a charismatic founder as its leader, and the keynotes really aren't all that fun to watch now. Tim Cook may in the future present us with some amazing disruptive innovation, but we haven't seen any hint of that.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Hi everyone!

I am a fifth year student in applied linguistics and, as the title suggests, my work concerns Steve Jobs and Apple.

I would be grateful if you could share with me your honest thoughts about the brand and answer my questions in a few words.

1. What do you associate Apple products with and why did you choose them in the first place?
2. Do you think that the users of Apple products form a separate, somewhat "elite" social group?
3. Is Apple the same without Steve Jobs? If not, why?

Thanks in advance for your time. I myself have been loyal to Apple for many years now, yet I need to "hear" opinions from other Apple users, so your help will be invaluable!

Thanks again and take care, guys.
Monika

P.S. If you like, you can send the answers in a private message

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt with respect to your choice of population to query (although perhaps your expectations for responses are optimistic).

1) I associate Apple with high quality, heavily marketed consumer electronics. They (Apple) actively foster a sense of superiority among their user base.

I chose OSX because it offered a unix computing environment without the hassle of administering a Linux laptop. I chose the iPhone because I used an Android phone for a while and once decided to try the other major competitor.

2) No. But I think there is a subculture of Apple users who explicitly and implicitly think so.

3) By definition, no. But in a material way, I am given the impression that the new leadership is less hostile and confrontational to competitors that the old (naturally this is a relative statement).

So what is your thesis? Are you by any chance studying the language of propaganda?

 

[GermanyChris]

An Apple II was my first computer followed by IIe and IIc I used that IIc until college in 1994 when my parent got me a used powerbook 180. I used that until I got a 2300C just before going into the Army. Then a 12" PowerBook G4 in '03...

Anyway

1. What do you associate Apple products with and why did you choose them in the first place? I've always used Apple's and Mac's

2. Do you think that the users of Apple products form a separate, somewhat "elite" social group? No, they used to be a tight knit local groups MUG's now we've been inundated with everyone.

3. Is Apple the same without Steve Jobs? If not, why? Steve Jobs was an a$$, will Apple be better without him I dunno but I am glad he's no longer in charge.

 

[xArtx]

Hi

1. Quality of both hardware and software, and previously, innovation.

2. No, I'm 1337, and happen to be using the platform, but I can't speak for everyone.

3. No, He's just kicked the bucket, and a plastic iPhone is on it's way.