Posts tagged ‘Mac’
Once you go Mac, you never go back
Those of you who have read my blog posts for a while know that I am a big fan of Apple. Of all the companies out there who deliver on a successful Navel Strategy, Apple is one of the best. From a marketing guy’s perspective, I admire their ability to consistently create passionate and raving fans for their products.
I made the plunge about 2 years ago and got an iPod. I had tried several other MP3 players, but I discovered that Apple just did it better. I had already started using iTunes, so it was a natural integration.
Next, in October of last year I bought an iPhone (yes, after they dropped the price – one of the things that finally pushed me over the edge). I was absolutely blown away by the design, functionality, and most of all – the service.
Well, I have finally stopped dipping my toe in the water and bought a MacBook laptop. Many of you know I have been threatening for a while, but I finally made the plunge.
Lest this blog post turns into a review of the MacBook, I just wanted to simply say that I am again blown away. Apple just does things differently. They think differently – no they think better. It is absolutely amazing how intuitive it is.
However, I don’t think that I am alone in my evolution. I have gone from satisfied customer, to loyal customer, to evangelist. I started with the bite size-chunk (iPod) and moved my way along the product line. Now I must finally admit, I am a raving fan, an evangelist, a Mac freak, or whatever other terminology you feel comfortable.
I also found out I am not alone. I am completing my MBA through Thunderbird School of Global Management right now and they even have a Thundermacs (Mac Addicts) message board specifically for lunatics like me. I have found that they are not the only ones, either. Mac forums are all over the web.
There are few brands that I evangelize, simply because most fail miserably in trying to win my affections. However, both Apple and Google have done it with great products, great cultures, and great customer interaction.
My Precious…
I broke down and bought an iPhone a month ago (OK, I begged my wife to let me buy it). I am a total gadget guy and I had to have one.
Anyway, the iPhone has two speakers on the unit for external sound. I put my iPhone in my cup holder in my truck and got some dirt lodged up in the little holes on the bottom. Then a couple weeks ago, I noticed one of the speakers wasn’t working. (You iPhone people might know where I am going with this) I couldn’t have a broken speaker on my month old sleek toy.
I called up Apple to tell them about my problem and possibly get a replacement. When I told the guy at Apple about my problem, at first he didn’t understand. Then he realized what I was telling him and he informed me that one side is a speaker and the other is the microphone. Honestly, I don’t know how he did it without openly laughing at me. Not only did he not laugh at me, he was extremely helpful about how to clean out the speakers and answering any other questions I had. I felt like I was the only person he had to talk to all day. When I got to the office, I checked my e-mail and he had sent me an e-mail with some additional information.
Those of you who have read previous blogs of mine know that I am an Apple fan. I think they produce incredible product. I have an iPod (along with my wife and 3 daughters), an iPhone, and I have sworn that my next laptop will be a Mac. However, I have officially made the switch from loyalist to customer evangelist. I have never been treated so well by a tech support person. It is the product combined with the cause, the position, the culture, the experience, and almost all of the other pieces of the navel model. In the end, Apple is one of the few companies that has put them all together.
Long live Apple!!!!!
