Don't fault justified enthusiasm.
I don't fault Apple "fanboys" for their enthusiasm - it's as well-placed as it can be. Apple really is the only tech company that can command this kind of following. MS can't do it (outside of consoles.) HP can't do it. Not even Stallman-esque Linux advocates can be so loyal. That's really saying something. They don't provide anything, whether separately or together, that comes close to the end-to-end experience Apple provides. This experience is vitally important to a lot of people, and unfortunately, outside of the Apple ecosystem, it's either rare or non-existent. I happen to be extremely sensitive to the environment I work in every day, and I'm not alone. The notion that a piece of tech can please and inspire so thoroughly? There's nothing wrong with this. It's what we need a lot more of outside of Apple. It's just not happening.
How many people do you know that actually give a damn about what they do? About what they put their name to? I know a few like that, but not many. It's something I can relate to and appreciate. Steve Jobs is after a lot of things in the industry, but one thing is for certain (and which sets him and Apple apart from the rest): Apple actually gives a damn. No matter how devious they can be, how controlling, how ideological, at the end of the day we've got the iPhone, Macs, OS X, etc. These products don't just happen out of thin air. There's a philosophy behind them and a clear set of standards. This comes through in their mission statement, in their products, in their consistency year after year. And as a result the consumer benefits like never before, and what happens? Apple develops a following like no one else. It's that simple. It's a situation that is out of the ordinary, and luckily, something positive for a change. Of course you'll get people that desperately want this to continue. I know I do.
