“Conservatives are so PC. Not PC as in ‘politically correct,’ though they certainly have more than their share of those who patrol the language for any nuance that gives off hints of liberalism. PC as in PC,” Devilstower writes for Daily Kos.
“No one has any doubt that PCs running some flavor of Microsoft Windows dominate the computer landscape as much as dinosaurs did the Jurassic plains. Little Unix systems pop up here and there, as do many less well known systems, holding down small niches in the computer ecosystem,” Devilstower writes.
Devilstower writes, “And then there is Apple.”
“The scampering mammals of the IT landscape, Macs have sometimes come close to extinction and even now hold down just less than 5% of computer sales. Hardware wise, that 5% is not so bad, considering that the PC world is divided up amongst Dell, HP, Gateway, Sony, whoever owns IBM’s name this week, and a thousand others. Apple is solidly among the top brands,” Devilstower writes.
Devilstower writes, “But on the software side, the share of the market held by Apple’s OS X operating system looks tiny beside Microsoft’s behemoth. It’s even smaller on conservative web sites. When it comes to visitors to Instapundit, OS X visitors make up only 2-3%, suggesting that conservatives are less likely to go for the Apple brand than the general public. On the other hand, Daily Kos statistics show that between 15% and 25% of visitors to this site are using Macs — an astounding 5x times the general population of these computers. If you were at YearlyKos last time around, you could spot more Macs at breakfast than you’d find in an Apple store.”
Devilstower asks, “So here’s a question: why? Why do liberals like Macs, while conservatives shun them?”
In the full article, Devilstower explores four theories:
• The Fiscal Conservative Theory
• Conformists vs Individuals Theory
• The Hip vs Tragically Unhip Theory
• The Artists vs. Sausage Makers Theory
Full article, with, oh, about 700 reader comments, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Gandalf” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Devilstower might be surprised at just how many “conservative” Mac users actually exist. Especially “fiscally conservative” Mac users. It really depends to the definitions you’re using for “liberal” and “conservative.” But, certainly in the opinion of most, Mac users are generally considered to be at least a tad more left of center than Windows PC sufferers. Forget about Apple’s usual quarterly guidance, the last time we looked, Al Gore was sitting in Apple’s boardroom, but we couldn’t find hide nor hair of Newt Gingrich. What do you think? How do you label yourself, if you do?
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Red vs. Blue: Companies ranked by political donations: Apple among bluest, Dell among reddest – October 26, 2006
RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser out $9.8 million as ‘Air America’ goes bankrupt – October 14, 2006
What’s on Hilary Clinton’s Apple iPod? – May 22, 2006
Rush Limbaugh and Apple Computer to intro new podcast service via iTunes – March 08, 2006
President Bush shows off his Apple iPod (link to video) – December 16, 2005
Rush Limbaugh announces video podcasts for Apple iPod starting December 12th – November 30, 2005
President Bush’s weekly radio address podcasts available via Apple’s iTunes Music Store – August 11, 2005
Rush Limbaugh: ‘I am the hottest thing in podcasting’ – June 09, 2005
Rush Limbaugh and Apple Computer working to bring podcasts of radio show to iTunes Music Store – May 17, 2005
Rush Limbaugh says ‘Mac OS X Tiger Rocks,’ posts link to free Rush advertisement for Mac – April 30, 2005
President Bush’s use of iPod a lucky or bad break for Apple Computer? – April 18, 2005
President Bush’s Apple iPod features eclectic list of downloaded tunes – April 11, 2005
Die Welt: U.S President George Bush is ‘the Steve Jobs of World Politics’ – February 25, 2005
What’s on U.S. President Bush’s Apple iPod? – February 23, 2005
The Hill: Put Rush Limbaugh on Apple’s board of directors; he could sell tons of Macs – January 26, 2005
U.S. President George Bush a confirmed Apple iPod user (images included) – December 22, 2004
Rush Limbaugh calls for Apple iCal to Sidekick solution – November 12, 2004
Apple CEO Steve Jobs: ‘I’m going to just stay away from all that political stuff’ – August 25, 2004
President Bush, candidate Kerry both use Apple PowerBooks – July 14, 2004
Baltimore Sun: Vice President Dick Cheney a confirmed Apple iPod user – April 01, 2004
Rush Limbaugh: Why does Apple put politics first? – June 27, 2003
Rush Limbaugh comments on Gored Apple – March 21, 2003
The Mac is Bush to Windows’ Clinton (opinion) – October 25, 2002
Conservative Mac users miffed at Apple’s Jimmy Carter page – October 14, 2002
Given that both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are big Democrat Party supporters, I think this is a case where Macs & PCs are on the same side.
The only tech executive who seems to be reliably conservative is John Chambers.
Liberals buy PCs, Conservatives buy Routers?
“The truth is pretty obvious. Conservatives tend to have jobs.”
I think you have nailed it on the head why so many liberal dislike conservatives. They make idiotic comments like yours.
If you want to continue to think this go ahead, but you’re really not doing yourself any justice by saying that.
Liberals aren’t all hippies living in the woods.
> every liberal I know has a job, and a very well paying one.
Duh! Whoever the fsck wrote this article (Devilstower) is just now realizing this and figuring this out? — it was apparent 20 years ago. What a dumbshit and for you to pass this along as real news, wrong again. This “story” is most like other crap on the MacNews train, it’s commentary instead of news.
Well Rush Limbaugh is an all Mac shop. Does he count as a conservative?
Another conservative Mac user here. Macs transcend political lines. We may have differing political views but we’re all Mac users here.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” /> As for conservatives shunning Macs, all you need is one name…. Rush. ’nuff said.
MDN. Please don’t go confusing me, i’ve only just been told that i use a Mac because I’m a … Piscean, but between you and i, i think i have leanings toward Virgo’s.
Hello all,
I think it comes down to how savvy the person is. Not Dem or Rep, Lib or Cons. There are free thinkers on both sides of the aisle and therefore we will continue to see the market share grow.
I have voted Rep for as long as I can remember but tend to take a more liberal stance in general and I am a Mac user….and I love it!
Rush Limberger is no conservative, and neither is anyone in the Bush administration. They are all for big spending and big government. Bush has spent craploads of money on this tragic war, he’s created a new bullcrap wing of the government called “Homeland Security” which has only served to bloat the government more, he’s compromised habeas corpus, he’s tried to amend the constitution with anti-gay laws, he’s performed wireless wiretapping on us.
If these people are conservative, what are they conserving – besides the status quo for the extreme rich?
The “liberal” people I know interested in conserving the environment, conserving the long-term economic health of our country, conserving our educational system, conserving our alliances with other countries, conserving the health of Americans, conserving our jobs, conserving the spirit of the constitution by not discriminating against people based on sexual orientation.
The “conservative” people I know are only interested in conserving their own personal “wealth”.
Either kind of person can obviously use a Mac, but it’s a fact that the majority of the “conservative” business world uses Windows.
“Conservative” or “liberal” or something else. That’s irrelevant. The people who say they don’t like Macs are generally the ones who (1) have never tried it, (2) have not tried it in the last five years, or (3) have some personal motive for maintaining the Windows “monopoly.”
Can’t do too much about (3), but Apple has been working hard (and succeeding) at reducing (1) and (2). As described in so many articles and blogs recently, all Apple has to do is make someone AT LEAST consider getting a Mac when they shop for their next PC. If that potential customer does not mindlessly buy this month’s cheapest Windows PC from Dell or HP, and considers getting a Mac, Apple has succeeded tremendously. Before iPod and Intel, most Windows users would not even consider a Mac as an option. Now, if they still get that Dell or HP Cheapstation 2100, that’s fine. But at least Apple was on their radar this time.
What more can a conservative or liberal Mac user as for?
It really depends to the definitions you’re using for “liberal” and “conservative.”
True, and American definitions only work in USA too. Besides …
American politics, can anything be more boring?
Human – 1st
American -2nd
Conservative – 3rd
Republican – 4th
Mac User since the Mac Plus days. Creative Ad agency owner. Rotarian and charity supporter. For small Federal Government and bigger local determination.
As for the article: while it’s fair to say that Windows currently owns the desktop, it’s a little far fetched to state that “Little Unix systems pop up here and there.” The author obviously has an agenda and is pretty loose with the “facts” to move his hypothesis forward. Must be taking lessons from Al Gore. …Okay, I couldn’t help getting one dig in.
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Conservative. No Lib Here.
Rush Limbaugh is shrewd, self-serving bore. Does that count as a conservative?
lolol, that’s “your” consciousness. And not all conservatives are Bible bashers. I’m a right-of-center agnostic.
I’m a conservative and have been using Macs since they came out in ’84, and Apple II’s before that. So what.
If you look back at these kind of politico discussions, you will always find that first mud slinging always comes from a liberal, every time. That, and the attempts to shut down any sensible discussion.
And so it is here again:
“gwm Feb 01, 07 – 12:49 am Last time you posted something like this, the place filled up with Nazis claiming to be Mac users. Keepin’ my fingers crossed this time, eh?”
Well done gwm, for immediately jumping at the chance of using emotive stupid language to insult everyone not of your view.
The looney left is for many, quite apt. MagicWord is ‘true’, how apt.
Voted for Reagan twice, Bush the elder twice, then for Dole, then for “W” Bush twice and would do so again if I could. I have used Macs since 1984. Do I win a prize?
Well, it depends on how you’d view a season-ticket to a psychiatrist.
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Another conservative mac user here. The only validity to the conservative shying away from Apple bit is that some are offended by the pro-homosexual stance of the company, giving equal benefits to gays as they do to married couples. I don’t like it, but I realize the company’s headquarters is in California where such policies are common. If I could change their policy I would. I can’t so I just enjoy their products without considering the company a wonderful God-fearing entity.
Some Christians I know will boycott a company for less. I just can’t imagine my life or my work without the Mac.
Conservative. Not a “troll block head.” Wife is liberal and finally converted her to get a Mac for her new job – though it did help that her new company is entirely and Mac shop. But I would agree in principle with the article.
I work at UVa, yes that famous comuter survey released last week was interesting, but Charlottesville is a thriving liberal hub in a very conservative commonwealth. No matter where I go in C-ville, I see Macs all over the place, it is a nice site.
But I also sense a turning in the tide. Consumers are not as blind anymore and computer users are not as gullible. Even among my PC using colleagues, family and friends, many of them will be switching to a Mac for their next computer. Why? They are tired of the Windows morass. They actually just want a computer that works – no hassles. Wow! That tagline sounds soooo familiar.
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Pretty soon, it will be irrelevent wheather you are a liberal or conservative. Computers are slowly becoming a commodity, and when that happens, it will not matter anymore – there will be an expectation that computers work without tinkering around, and the Mac platform is the best positioned to address that going forward. Regardless of Microsoft’s surveyed reputation (previous article today).
I AM A RIGHT WINGER AND LOVE APPLE!!!!! +++
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Conservative with a some libertarianism thrown in. BTW, the Instapudit Blog mentioned is libertarian with some conservative leanings, but regularly bashes hypocritical Republicans in addition to bashing liberals.
One of my pet peeves is the attempt by the left to poison all dialogs, even those about non political subjects, with their political agenda. It is a fascistic attempt to monopolize all discussions on all subjects.
I am a Republican here, and an African-American. I am just sick to see how liberals think ALL blacks need to be a democrat. Why?
what an asinine assertion. ugh.
besides, labels like ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ don’t necessarily fit anymore. i’m very conservative on fiscal and foreign policy matters, but i’m socially quite liberal. i’ve voted for both dems and republicans. it depends on the candidate’s stances on the issues. granted, the gop of the last ten years has been anything but fiscally conservative and has been to the right of hitler on social issues, so i haven’t been too enamored of them. but articles like these are just lazy and designed to court controversy.
Totally conservative and I love Apple.