Jiaaro

…on life, the universe, and everything

Why do we still hate Microsoft but love Apple?

Apple has grown larger than Microsoft. This is old news. Steve Jobs (RIP) never became a philanthropist like Bill Gates. So why do the technorati hold Jobs in such high regard will still harboring resentment for Gates?

I think the differentiation is in the context under which we use their products.

I find myself with other options in every arena in which I use Apple's products. I choose to use them because I want to.

Let's compare this with Microsoft. I often find myself using Microsoft products because I have no other choices.

I use Excel because Google docs wasn't able to open a complex spreadsheet created with Excel.

I use Word because Open Office couldn't display the track changes recorded in Word.

I use Windows to test my websites in Internet Explorer because IE isn't available anywhere else.

The one notable exception is Xbox; I love my Xbox. I chose it over playstation.

I wasn't strong-armed into using Xbox through anti-competitive practices, it's a good product that I wanted to use.

I don't think profit, or good vs. evil has anything to do with it. We simply like companies when we choose to use their products -- over and over -- because they're better.