“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
Perhaps the conclusion would have been different had political sites not been used as the source of the info. Wealthy “Liberals” (in the American sense) tend to be more focussed on politics and government, since in their view the status quo needs to be challenged. Wealthy “Conservatives” in contrast are happier with the status quo, so will have a broader range of subjects they browse for on the Web rather than concentrating on political sites. So even though it’s wealth that probably defines whether someone has a Mac or not, “Liberal” Mac users get over-represented in the results.
The Political Compass tells me that I am very libertarian. Yes, but…
And that but is all important. The reason I think corporations ought to be closely watched and regulated, for instance, is to keep the free market really free and open, not because I have a “socialist” ideology about government organizing and controlling production or consumption. So these stupid political labels tell us nothing at all about what people think, or whether they think, about any particular issue. Labels are as annoying to me as the idiotic questionnaires I sometimes get from political parties, pollsters, etc. that offer no opportunity to qualify one’s responses. They offer packaged and polarized opinions and as such are useless.
I think it’s really just religious fanatics who are generally less technically adept using the PCs. Little to do with classical conservatism or liberalism.
I seems that if rates of political rants are decreasing that it is time to play the religious card to foment another round of diatribes. I wonder, when the race card, gender card, and nationalistic cards will be played to stimulate responses.
Why should anyone with your lack of intelligence and ardent bigotry be taken seriously?
If you like Bush. get your brain checked.
Conservative Ditto Hates:
The Beatles
John Lennon
Apple
Clinton
Global warming
Liberals
These are tell tale signs.
Conservatives tend to be status quo herd type sheeple so it’s no surprised they go with Windows.
I think Billy Gates funded this story to create division among the Mac ranks.
Thanks for confirming your candidacy for town idiot. You may pick up your dunce cap and Pampers from the Democratic committee headquarters.
I’m the guy in a suit in the Apple store. Yes I’m a conservative. Been a Apple fan for a long time, wrote programs for my Newton.. etc. As an independent consultant, my MacBook Pro is the focal point of my business. Keynote, Pages, podcasts and books on my ipod etc it all is so much more efficient than anything in the Win world. I’m sure more small businesses will migrate to Mac.
ITs funny to see liberals who think they are so smart and that they use Macs because they are so smart. Its not surprising to see conservatives who use macs.
But what’s really sad is the namecalling going on. I can’t stand conservatives, but liberals give them a run for their money in anti-intellectualism.
And the reality is both Democrats and Republicans are socialists, and thus evil.
Libertarians want the government out of your bedroom and out of your gun safe and off of your back. Liberals and conservatives are just arguing over who gets the spoils.
The only thing that can be said is genearlly the ones who are willign to think for themselves use Macs and the sheeple use PCs. Ideally everyone who uses a Mac would think for themselves and reject conservatism and liberalism and embrace liberty.
Eventually, you silly “conservative” MACHEADS will come around to the right way of thinking.
Sure, after I lobotomize myself with a 2-inch Forsner bit.
Those freakin’ Jersey broads use Macs to e-mail Osama bin Laden. ‘Nuff said.
“Conservatives tend to be status quo herd type sheeple so it’s no surprised [sic] they go with Windows.”
And Liberals tend to be status quo herd type sheeple who go with Macs?
You are an idiot. Please go away.
I am a university professor with undeniable proof that the majority of conservatives don’t use macs because they use malaysian childeren to do the computations.
I have no political affiliation (or inclination). And I do favor Mac OS X over all other operating systems, as well as Apple over the Dells, HPs and Microsofts of the world.
Do we count? I wonder how many of us are out here…
Notice how many liberal threads become increasingly childish, illogical, and ridiculous once they begin to lose their arguments. Running from the hard facts of reality, many liberals quickly retreat into their individual fantasy world where everything is safe and happy and monochrome. You liberals have no idea how much satisfaction I receive reading your threads submitted from planet Delusion.
Laughing at Liberals.
You must be hung over.
Look at any of these threads, where I post a quesion, or statement.
Response?
“Creepy” “very disgusting person’ “scary, very scary”.
You actually sound a lit too petulant, to me.
That’s the thing about whiney republicans.
Thin skinned. No balls, can dish it it out, not to good at taking it.
Now, here’s a question Try to answer.
IS The President, (besides being a chicken-shit liar) and IDIOT?
Here, review the following exchange.
I report. You decide. Fair and balanced.
REPORTER: What do you think tribal sovereignty means in the 21st century, and how do we resolve conflicts between tribes and the federal and state governments?
DUBYA: Yeah — tribal sovereignty means that, it’s sovereign. It’s — you’re a — you’re a — you’ve been given sovereignty, and you’re — viewed as a sovereign entity. [Laughter emanates from the audience]
REPORTER: Okay.
DUBYA: And, therefore, the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between — sovereign entities.
— Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2004
However, for the full effect, and a spendid demonstration of how truly stupid George the Chimp is, I recommend accessing the page itself, and listening to the audio clip (halfway down the page).
http://www.dubyaspeak.com/audio.phtml?year=2004
(This must drive you ditto heads up the wall, eh?).
You display your complete ignorance assuming that I am a supporter of GW, possibly because you reside in that sad world of left-wing self-delusion where people such as yourself are rapidly assimilated into the liberal collective of weak-minded drones programmed to think and act alike.
If twice-serving George Bush is such an idiot how pathetically stupid must Democratic presidential candidates be not to get elected as chief executive?
You are a nut.
Do you hear voices?
My family makes an upper bracket income. We believe in what the constitution says. All men are created EQUAL, Not “All white males and some rich colored guys are created equal. Women are okay because we like to let them think they are important, just as long as they don’t get out of line. Gays are untouchables who don’t even deserve to work, say, marry, love, unless they sell their souls to religon, and drunkenly molest / pander the attentions of young boys/men all the while recitering chapter and verse the party line that has led to their own intolerance for themselves.
No, but I do read quite a lot of mind-warped nonsense from you and your political kin. Thanks again for proving my point. You left-wingers are so predictable, it’s absolutely uncanny.
Yes, folks, there’s no need to throw objectivity out the window. Thankfully, Canadians have a passionate and dedicated free press that is not beholden to the pseudo-science special interest groups. Dare you page through and read [url=”http://www.canadafreepress.com/global-warming.htm
“]reasons to doubt Al Gore’s mythology?[/url]
Ah, the beauty of freedom of speech. Kinda makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Ann Coulter’s Camel Toe?