“The consultants’ likening of iPhone buyers to kidnapped hostages may raise more than the eyebrows of many an Apple fanboy (fanperson?),” Matyszczyk reports. “‘When we examine the iPhone users’ arguments defending the iPhone, it reminds us of the famous Stockholm Syndrome–a term invented by psychologists after a hostage drama in Stockholm. Here, hostages reacted to the psychological pressure they were experiencing by defending the people that had held them hostage for six days,’ Strand declared.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: John Strand is batshit insane and/or on the take, but at least he reads MacDailyNews.
OMG so then my 16 Cilincers Bugatti Veyron is not as fast as i think? is a delusion?
And my iMac 27 inches dos not have really 27 inches of screen? it is just a delusion?
Please please please, don’t tell me that Scarlet Johanson does not have that hot body, please….
OMG I have to run to a psychiatric clinic, but where is a good one? everything seems so “delusional” now…
Criticisms of the iPhone usually revolve around “way too many people own the iPhone, which is why I can’t get 3G, especially in San Francisco, a tiny ciy on the side of a steep hill…”
In other words, gibberish..
I saw a link on Digg the other day saying iPhone vs. Droid was like form vs. function.
What part of 100,000+ Apps is… form?
At this point ATT is making money hand over fist, there’s not alot of pressure for them to upgrade their network in the Bay Area (ahem!) but I’m sure they’ve got plans to do so to shut up the Technorati.
Typical case of iPhone-envy.
Just walk on…
@Troy
Precisely.
then i am guessing by that logic windows users are suffering from the stockholm syndrome too?
this one man consulting firm spews the biggest steamy load of drivel
the euro version of enderle/dvorak combined
THESE ARE NOT THE DROIDS YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR….
MOVE ALONG
My iPhone knows who I call, txt and email. It also knows the websites I go to. My iPhone became selfaware last week and controls me!! HELP!!!!
Chiropteran excrement psychotic, indeed.
Or C|Net has draconian web hit quotas. Or both.
“the finely calibrated minds at Strand Consult”
Minds, plural? Isn’t it just John Strand? Well, unless he’s counting the voices in his head, of course…
A graduate of the Enderle Group’s School of Slamming Apple Products for Fun and Profit?
This guy is on something…
Read this for a background of John Strand: http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/12/15/strand-consult-denmarks-illegitimate-iphone-angry-pundit-nutter/
“What part of 100,000+ Apps is… form?”
The Pocket Supermodel app.
Someone should tell John Strand that he should have used the “Microsoft Syndrome” for his argument.
Paid Microsoft shills. Pure and Simple… minded, that is.
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So, it appears that MS is trying to counter the common truth that Windoze users suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.
Ampar… pray that there are no Chiropterans on Earth. Well, other than the run of the mill bats that is. The humanoid ones are bad news… and they all have iPhones.
One can hardly compare a hostage situation to a gadget. I believe Strand also exaggerates what people are feeling towards a device which essentially just works, does what users enjoy, and makes the user’s experience simple and easy to use. This is part of what makes customers loyal to a company because of continued satisfaction of its products. And remember, most Mac users are former or existing PC users as well, so they know a good thing when they see it. Strands behaviour is typical of somebody who seems threatened about a simple device, which, by the way, has not even reached a serious market share (yet). Customer demand will decide how far the iPhone will go, provided Apple continues to provide a satisfying experience to its customers.
First they attack my communicator.
Next they will say my iMac is not really a transporter….
Of being efficiënt is called nuts, than I am happy to be nuts.
I know I’m nuts, there not telling me something I don’t know. Proud of it to! LOL
“Many people I know are frightfully attached to their iPhones. They treat them as if they were a peculiar and exotic lover, one they can hardly believe they have managed to seduce,”
Sh…t!!! My feelings exactly!!! How did he know?
Oh wait, I don’t have an iPhone (yet)
Darkness:
If you can handle the scary truth, check out the venerable Weekly World News.
http://weeklyworldnews.com/mutants/14109/bat-boy-sighted-at-harvard/
And thanks, Funky Feldman. Interesting.
From Roughly Drafted:
“The public’s perception of the iPhone, Strand claims, has been warped by a vast conspiracy of iPhone fans, lying reporters, and evil companies that apparently stand to benefit from the iPhone. “In reality, the iPhone is surrounded by a multitude of people, media, and companies that are happy to bend the truth to defend the product they have purchased from Apple,” Strand claims, apparently completely blind to every facet of evidence that suggests the contrary.”
“They treat them as if they were a peculiar and exotic lover . . .”
Not sure about that. The vibrate function isn’t nearly long and intense enough.
No, I think a better definition of Stockholm Syndrome is when you encounter a blue screen of death, reboot, move all of your files to an external hard drive, re-install Windows and then have a feeling of accomplishment and glee for having done so.
Using an iPhone repeatedly and espousing its wonderful traits is more akin to “admitting, “I like orgasms.”
Someone who is either indifferent, or actually hostile, to their phone or computer, apparently must assume that those who love using their devices must be some sort of cult. Apple makes phones and computers which perform their functions clearly and powerfully, and sufferers of other devices cannot get that.
OK, so here are the 10 myths in the report:
1) The iPhone drives data traffic into mobile operators networks
True. Do you think ATT had such a problem with data usage before the iPhone?
2) The iPhone helps operators attract new customers
ATT sure thinks it does, and has the numbers to prove it.
3) The iPhone is good business for mobile operators
Millions of users who pay $100-$200/mo for voice and data? Sounds like good business
4) The iPhone is dominating the mobile services market
It’s THE smartphone and everyone else is trying to copy it. Isn’t that domination? The numbers will beat RIM and Nokia shortly.
5) App store is a huge success that has revolutionised the services market
True. Software development and delivery has never been this easy, nor have developers enjoyed a centralized distribution point which handled all charge expenses and paid so well.
6) There is money to be made by developing applications for the iPhone
Many, many stories of people making substantial money developing for the iPhone. There may be a lot of free apps, but that’s the developer’s choice.
7) It is iPhone customers that are generating the majority of online mobile surfing traffic
They’re telling me this isn’t true? Have you seen a Blackberry user surfing?
8) The iPhone has a large market share
Not of the overall phone market because there are so many freebie, throwaway phones (read – not profitable, Nokia), but it does have a large portion of the smartphone market.
9) The iPhone was the first mobile phone with a touchscreen
Just the first one that was worth having, particularly without a stylus.
10) The iPhone is a technologically advanced mobile phone
The OS certainly is, and that’s the important part. The hardware bits are mostly off the shelf stuff, but that’s dictated by the networks the iPhone lives on. However, the build quality is second to none (see that, Palm?)
Yeah, I guess those were myths (if you didn’t look for the answers).
I’d expect nothing less from cnet. Bunch of PC dungheads.
“OMG so then my 16 Cilincers Bugatti Veyron is not as fast as i think? is a delusion?”
Your Bugatti is not as fast as DELL firing people
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Riiight… I’m being held hostage by the first device that actually freed me. Who’s the delusional one?
Don’t feed the trolls…
Oh yes I love My Precious but now I have also fallen for my Magic Mouse and big beautiful bright i7. So easy to flick right past the weird drivel. And Ampar is back !!!
Strand is just trolling for carrier clients, who don’t have an iPhone to sell.
For Cascadians:
“Oh yes I love My Precious”
As one of the posters or postees above notes, the iPhone just works.
I have had a Blackberry and it was terrible, small buttons on the keypad meant I’d press more than one button at a time. It couldn’t display a whole webpage meaning I took longer to get to the bit of info I wanted and so ran up extra costs for taking time I shouldn’t have.
That was nearly 2 years ago and until I got my iPhone 2 months ago I did without a cellphone alltogether.
Yes since the iPhone other phones inc. Blackberry have had a wake up call and improved.
Still, nothing compares to a first time experience that for me has put me off Blackberry and still does. My iPhone isn’t perfect, but it does do what I want it to do, quickly and efficiently.
) The iPhone drives data traffic into mobile operators networks
True. Do you think ATT had such a problem with data usage before the iPhone?
SURE AS HELL THEY DID; WHICH IS WHY ALL THE IPHANS WERE SCREAMING WHEN APPLE CHOOSE AT&T;2) The iPhone helps operators attract new customers
ATT sure thinks it does, and has the numbers to prove it.
WELL IF YOU ACTUALLY RECEIVED AND READ THE REPORT FROM STRAND, YOU WOULD SEE THAT AT&T;FOLLOW THE MARKET IN NEW SUBS.
3) The iPhone is good business for mobile operators
Millions of users who pay $100-$200/mo for voice and data? Sounds like good business
ROTFLOL, WHO PAYS 100-200 $ PER MONTH?
4) The iPhone is dominating the mobile services market
It’s THE smartphone and everyone else is trying to copy it. Isn’t that domination? The numbers will beat RIM and Nokia shortly.
THE MOBILE SERVICES MARKET IS WORTH SOME +25 BILLION $, APPLE APP STORE REVENUE +150 MIO $
FREE APPS DONT GENERATE REVENUE…
5) App store is a huge success that has revolutionised the services market
True. Software development and delivery has never been this easy, nor have developers enjoyed a centralized distribution point which handled all charge expenses and paid so well.
SEE ANSWER TO N 4
6) There is money to be made by developing applications for the iPhone
Many, many stories of people making substantial money developing for the iPhone. There may be a lot of free apps, but that’s the developer’s choice.
SEE ANSWER TO N 4
7) It is iPhone customers that are generating the majority of online mobile surfing traffic
They’re telling me this isn’t true? Have you seen a Blackberry user surfing?
WITH FLAT RATE DATA PLANS, WHERE ARE THE REVENUE?
THEY MAKE THE SAME IF YOU SURF 1MB OR 1GB….
AND BTW MOBILE BROADBAND GENERATES SOME HUNDRED OF TIMES TRAFFIC
8) The iPhone has a large market share
Not of the overall phone market because there are so many freebie, throwaway phones (read – not profitable, Nokia), but it does have a large portion of the smartphone market.
11% OF THE SMARPHONE MARKET, AND GUESS WHAT NOKIA HAS A LARGER MARKETSHARE IN THE SMARTOHINE MARKET THAN IN LOW END PHONES…
9) The iPhone was the first mobile phone with a touchscreen
Just the first one that was worth having, particularly without a stylus.
FANBOY TALK
10) The iPhone is a technologically advanced mobile phone
The OS certainly is, and that’s the important part. The hardware bits are mostly off the shelf stuff, but that’s dictated by the networks the iPhone lives on. However, the build quality is second to none (see that, Palm?)
FANBOY TALK
Nobody Does It Better (iPhone)
Artist: Carly Simon
From the movie “The spy who loved me”
Nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
iPhone, you’re the best
I wasn’t lookin’ but somehow you found me
It tried to hide from your love light
But like heaven above me
The phone who loved me
Is keepin’ all my secrets safe tonight
And nobody does it better
Though sometimes I wish someone could
Nobody does it quite the way you do
Why’d you have to be so good?
The way that you hold me
Whenever you hold me
There’s some kind of magic inside you
That keeps me from runnin’
But just keep it comin’
How’d you learn to do the things you do?
Oh, and nobody does it better
Makes me feel sad for the rest
Nobody does it half as good as you
Baby, baby, darlin’, you’re the best
Baby you’re the best
Darlin’, you’re the best
Baby you’re the best
FADE
Oh, oh, oh
Is it just me or does Strand look like one of the Oompas from Willy Wonka?
If you don’t have any other way to make money, talk shit about those that are – Apple in this case – and get hits on shit.
Hey, Hits On Shit™
It’s mine.
Michael must be locked into a Verizon contract.
Strand’s Apple-hating rants are so over the top that he must be mentally ill. expect to see him soon walking down the sidewalk screaming Steve Jobs is satan, alien, or whatever.
Michael..
Fix your caps lock key. Moron.
A jealous Verizon customer more like it.
Ah….Chris Matyszczyk….?….you stoopit.
You’re like a bread-less sandwich with no meat.
Strand Consult is welcome to their opinion. I just hope that no one is foolish enough to pay for it. That would be even more foolish than believing an opinion from Strand Consult.
You know the old saying…Listen to an opinion from Strand Consult once, shame on MDN for posting it. Listen to an opinion from Strand Consult twice, shame on you for clicking on the link.
The only place that the article uses the word “delusional” is in the headline. And as an former editor, most often the headline was not written by the author, but by someone like myself.
However, based on the responses posted above, and my own reactions when confronted about my love for everything Apple, I can relate and I agree whole heartedly with the writer when he states, ” iPhone users are…really quite nuts.”
So trollers beware. I may now have a legitimate excuse to crack your Zune over your head.
“”Many people I know are frightfully attached to their iPhones. They treat them as if they were a peculiar and exotic lover, one they can hardly believe they have managed to seduce,” Chris Matyszczyk reports for CNET”…
Well yeah, the iPhone is a “Princess”…
You think I’d want to love a Droid?!
Next to my iMac the iPhone is quite simply the best electronic gadget I’ve ever owned — by a wide margin.
It is my alarm, my email, my calendar, my GPS, route planner and traffic reporter, my book reader, my game console, my camera, my photo brag book, my SMS center, my calculator, my address book, my stopwatch, my personal meteorologist, my voice note taker, note book, YouTube viewer, movie player, music player… well, it IS an iPod after all. Having MobileMe means my data is not lost even if both my phone and computer are stolen. Syncing with the iMac is flawless and almost instantaneous.
With my iPhone I can tune my guitar, buy a song, learn a language, draw a picture, find out the sound level in any environment or when the next ISS crew change is due to occur, surf the web hone my Mancala skills or order my coffee from Starbucks AND I can make phone calls. It rarely if ever drops calls and if they were to survey me I’d give the thing a solid 99% satisfaction rating. I want to leave the last 1% for the 2010 iPhone. I’m a big Star Trek fan and this thing is the closest device to a tricorder anyone has ever made.
So, because the phone is this good I am, according to Mr. Matyszczyk, nuts??? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
Feral, thanks… lol
excellent reference! (smiling)
… “Fear leads to anger and anger leads to monkey boy!!!
I do use the phone when waiting on line, which is why the apps are there for. I do freak if I were to lose/severely damage the phone due to Apple’s (in)famous return/exchange policies. Other than that, the phone is just that…a phone.
…like other critics of accepted scientific and intellectual thought, from climate change doubters…
well this being an absolute is my only complaint @Mr. Daniel Eran Dilger’s article about Mr. Strand (sounds like a name for a James Bond movie). Other than that slight error, nice article.
Another batch of Dvorak larvae, trolling for attention.
Lets just keep it simple: He is an asswipe.
Strand forgot to mention a very important scientific statistic… it appear that all the people who don’t own an iPhone also happen to have a very small weeny…
Since John Strand reads MDN, let him read this:
You are obviously much too dull-witted to recognize a groundbreaking mobile device when you see one, even when somebody sticks it right in your face. What’s even worse, you’re proud of your stupidity! Lots o’ luck, monkey boy.
Since John Strand reads MDN, let him read this:
What you’re seeing is simply what happens when a manufacturer is SUCCESSFUL at achieving –> Product Differentiation <–
As any *undergraduate* business student knows, without Product Differentiation, a business is limited to competing in the _commodity_ based marketplace, which has narrow-to-zero profit margins.
But does this mean that there’s a ‘Stockholm Syndrome’? Since these iPhone customers could simply pay a termination fee and walk away, they’re hardly hostages: their “Barrier To Exit” is far lower than a lot of other products today.
Where the Stockholm Syndrome really is egregious today is with how tall the barriers are for a Business to try to find an escape from how their Enterprise IT is held hostage by MS-Office and Windows for their Enterprise.
-hh
Oh yes, and I am a pecan!
This guy is an idiot at the very least for his misuse of the term Stocholm Syndrome. It only applies in situations where one entity puts the other into some sort of victimization situation, like being a hostage. Clearly that’s not what’s happening here.
Stop talking ill about The Precious….yes, the iPhone is My Precious, you can’t have it, no, you can’t.
This also is testimony to the quality of cnet news… some asshat “consultant” empties his bowels and this is then considered news?
Now u know why I never go to cnet
@iPhoneEnvy
Ur the one using an iPhone ERGO Ur a MORON
the best shot U iTards have is to start saying Im on another Carrier and have envy of the GayPhone
well shitforbrains…. Im European = 3½ years ahead of your mobile experience….
Ever wondered why the GayPhone didn’t get success outside AT&T;?