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The Gold iPhone isn't just for mindless sheep that want to show off

jkhowland.me

41–50 of 58 posts

Re: The Gold iPhone isn't just for mindless sheep that want to show off

#41

>Apple didn’t release something out of style to which mindless sheep are flocking because it’s new. Apple released something in-style to which millions are flocking because it’s attractive. I'm sure there are plenty in each camp. There are people flocking towards it because it's now. And there are people buying it because it's attractive. Sometimes new is attractive. I know at least 3 people on my own Family Plan are…

I think that there is a 'self definition' (whether right or wrong) that takes place with a device decision. When people choose an iPhone or Android phone, they start to identify with that brand. The same can be said of color. Back in 2007 I remember listening to a student and his father shopping for a Mac. He refused to buy the lower cost white one because it was girly. He had to get the top of the MacBooks black mod…

That's a fair point. I remember buying 'up' on a road bike for the color I preferred. So you're right there.

Maybe I think it lasts a shorter time because I was almost entirely apathetic towards which color I got this time around. I ended up with black (space grey) because that's what the store had when I got there.

Re: The Gold iPhone isn't just for mindless sheep that want to show off

#42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

techies don't want the bling crowd to encroach on their territory? If anything, its a gift to the snatch and run crowd. Sadly there is a clique out there that sees status in what type of phone or laptop you have. Its this generations 3 series. Personal expression of wealth, or pseudo wealth. Jersey Shore, Kardassians, and the ilk. The techies reject this use of their domain, hence the disdain expressed by many. My op…

> "Jersey Shore, Kardassians, and the ilk." I don't think this is an accurate distinction at all. Conspicuous consumption is everywhere, even within techies - you really don't have to reach as far as Jersey Shore and the Kardashians to find people who wear their electronics like jewelry. Hell, even Uber is conspicuous consumption in a lot of cases. Why roll up to the club in a cab when you can do so in a sleek, black…

Hell, the very first iPhone quickly became a status symbol, since it was both expensive and had a very distinctive, trend-setting design. For a a brief moment, it was a pocket computer to the digerati, and a fashion accessory for everyone else. (Actually, I'm not sure that's changed much...)

Re: The Gold iPhone isn't just for mindless sheep that want to show off

#44
post #33

I got the pink iPhone 5c 'cause I like that color and they don't have purple. And it makes good conversation about how pink is "for girls" but that's just society telling you that, I'm a rebel!

The images on apple.com make it seem closer to red. Maybe it's my monitor here are work (though other colors seem fine). Nothing wrong with pink, but you're braver than I.

Edit: I went back and some of the other pictures make it a bit clearer. Also the selection says pink in the html so I guess it must just be my eyes.

Re: The Gold iPhone isn't just for mindless sheep that want to show off

#45
post #8

Hmm, let's see. Chromatic: Red, Blue, Green, White, Black Metallic: Gold, Silver Bummer, Takhisis is winning.

Did Apple acquire WoTC at some point recently? These are like all the MtG card colors (including foils and legends!).

tap Green iPhone, Regenerate.

Re: The Gold iPhone isn't just for mindless sheep that want to show off

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

True. But many people bought it sight unseen.

Device unseen, maybe. Sight unseen, no. Apple.com had pictures of the device long before they waited in line or clicked 'buy'.

I thought "sight unseen" meant not having seen it in person. At least that's how I used the expression.

It's really hard to get a good idea of how these phones look in pictures. You have to see them in person. But many (most?) of those 9 million didn't.

Re: The Gold iPhone isn't just for mindless sheep that want to show off

#49
post #14

It saddens me a bit that the most exciting aspect of a new Apple product is it's color.

It's a sign that the product is mature.

Desktop PCs used to be beige, or rarely black. Now they come in colors with LED lights, and all kinds of decoration.

Cars used to come in black, now they have colors.

It's like that for everything - at first you just want the thing for the functionality. Later you also want it to look nice.

I've sometimes waited to buy a new gizmo till I see it offered in colors - that's my sign that the product is "finished" and is as good as it's going to get. (It's true for games too - do you know games where you can change the color/outfit of the character?)

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