Hi, my name is MadHound, and I use a (insert electronic device here) made in China.

[LiberalLovinLug]

52. What is this "cult" you speak of?

I am always a little baffled and a little insulted when I hear there is some kind of cult mentality for Apple.
People appreciate quality. They appreciate not only the aesthetically pleasing simple outward design, but the stable Unix based system that runs on it that helps you get more work done, and most importantly the solid reliable hardware components that are standard no matter what Apple store you buy from. There is no quality low end to high end like in the PC world, its just a matter of how much processing power you need.

I find that many critical of Apple products can't get past that they look so refined in their outward design. They are usually ahead of the curve there. I can only guess that for some the old addage of "if it looks to good to be true....." applies here. That if Apple spends so much time on the outward design, it must mean they are overcompensating for the inside.

But I and many other Apple users will tell you that its how stable and well thought out their systems are that draw us to them. I never buy brand name clothing. I don't go out of my way to buy brand name anything. I am cheap that way. Quality though is a big issue. Apple products are a good deal for the price. It may be hard to accept that, but that is the reason I and others choose to save our pennies a little longer in order to buy an Apple computer. They are a lot of bang for the buck. They do not crash or are subject to viruses, or maleware. They last incredibly long and retain their performance levels, through system upgrades.

If Apple has a cult following then its a type of cult following that another apple loving product has...The Beatles. You could say people that love their music are hypnotized by a cult, or you could say that they are just people who appreciate well made music. The Beatles were one of those bands that you could buy an album for one song, and know that you'd get your moneys worth because they put the same creative energy into every song on the album. That's what made the expense of the album worth it. Its the same with Apple. I've been using their products since the mid eighties.