Apple Culture vs. Microsoft Culture

The OS wars of the late 90s are over, companies once out to kill each other are now friends, and nothing is ever beige; we’ve gone through quite a transition, Windows 95 to Vista, System 7 to Mac OS X Leopard. But we still carried a uniqueness that is present today, even in new users for each platform. Every Mac user and every Window user has a little bit of something in them that makes them identifiable as a whole.

Being an Apple user myself, this part is easy. Whichever Apple user you ask, the casual, the fanboy, or the aged, you’ll get different responses depending on how they use a Mac; Apple means something different to everyone. I really became a Mac user in 2005, and it took a while for the initial shock to wear off. Compared to using Macs in 2000, when I didn’t even know that I was using one! Anyway, Steve’s Reality Distortion Field took a hold of me for a few months. I bragged to my dad and friends that the Mac way was the only way. For about 6 months I was the biggest Apple fanboy you’d ever meet. I eagerly awaited every keynote, following various live blogging events, and was quick to submit each new story to Digg only to be shadowed by the previous 20 or so before me. If Apple introduced something new I would’ve thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread and Apple was the first to do it.

Boy was I dead wrong. I even thought Apple was the first to put a Dual Core processor in a laptop. There is no definite answer why we all think Apple is the greatest company ever and Microsoft is Satan reincarnated (if we do), but my guess is it’s due to the hardware and software each company utilizes. Because of our small (but rising) market share we tend not to get some of the cooler things Windows users enjoy, such as games. But one thing we are accustomed to is a lot of things just working. Since we have very few products and options to accomplish something, whether it be designing a billboard or sending an e-mail, we’re used to having things work the way we need them to; the amount (or lack) of software/hardware to aid us in this doesn’t matter, everything just works, no need to have too many options.

With this we get a very limited view of things. Only certain technologies are introduced to us and we all rely on Apple to give us the really mind blowing stuff, which is something we’ve never seen before yet has been available for quite some time. It’s through what’s available that our basis of technology is formed, the Apple way of technology, that whatever Apple introduces must be the best. But as time goes on we eventually expand our views to embrace other realms of technology. The giddyness we get during a keynote eventually subsides, the joy we get in waiting for the Apple store to come back online and the happiness we get when we convert new users eventually wear off. Essentially we come off as snobby, selfish, and arrogant, only because some of our views are limited to what hardware and software is available in the Apple world, which gives us a closed perspective.

The Microsoft culture is different, but also similar, to the culture of Apple users. Most aren’t too savvy on how computers work running Windows, because it’s the only option they ever grew up with, even though simpler and more full-featured options exist. In a way it’s more simple than a Mac, and any other operating system for that matter. It all comes down to a user standpoint; if someone only ever grew up with a Windows-based platform, how hard do you think it’d be for someone who is technologically illiterate to switch. Yeah, it’d be easier to stick with Windows. These people, who know what Microsoft is and what it offers, are quite content with their computer configuration and are less likely to upgrade unless it’s done for them, such as their business doing it.

I’ve also noticed of Microsoft users that the more tech savvy ones tend to be more laid back and use their computer for what they need it to do, while enjoying simplicity and flexibility. They aren’t like some Mac users who herald CEOs as demigods and insist their operating system is superior. They don’t need to, because Windows is used by a vast majority of people, most of whom have no intention of switching. As mentioned earlier, the limited view of some Mac users comes from what hardware/software options are available. I believe the exact opposite is true with Windows users.

Microsoft has created a simpler and more friendly environment than Apple, while both attempt to create some sort of monopoly in the markets they try to enter. It’s easier for us if either of these companies make a monopoly but aggressively defend it. Electronics manufacturers will support the larger corporation or one who has more control over a market. This is evident in Apple’s stronghold on the mobile music/video player market and with Microsoft’s massive command of the operating system market. Since Microsoft is the more influential company in many areas, manufacturers will want to go with Microsoft. Because of this, tons of devices and software will just work and many options will be available.

There will be those who do not match up with this description as it’s incredibly hard to describe every aspect of an audience accurately. Nonetheless, this is only my observation of how users interact.