Why does such a small % of the population use Macs?

**chemistry_geek** · January 9th, 2002, 08:19 AM

I've been thinking about this for a while now, and now it's time to ask a question. What is it about people who use Macintoshes so steadfastly in the face of adversity? The only reasons that I can think of are personality traits arising from specific genotypes, social dynamics, and population dynamics (gene frequencies). There is something unique about a small group of people that begs the question "OK if they're different (no pun intended on Apple's ad campaign), why are they different?" Are there certain personality-determining genes that manifest themselves i.e. "leadership" genes, as opposed to being part of the population of drones in the other 95%. I cannot use the argument for intellect because artists and scientists use not only the Wintel platform, but also the Macintosh platform (and other platforms). I think that my question goes much deeper than personal preferences of the individiual, especially with the fact that Mac software is difficult to come by in the common market place, i.e. BestBuy, K-Mart, Target, etc... It seems that no matter what news is obtained about "advances" in the PC "Wintel" world, a small percentage will always use Macs. Why is this? As a side note, most people I've met who use Macs, seem very bright, are individualistic, are confident in the abilities, and "don't seem to follow the crowd".

Attached are some links for REAL/Professional Personality Inventory Testing. The Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory will classify your personality into one of 16 types. Some people can be on teh threshold of two or more types.

Myers-Briggs Personality Test Online:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm

An excellent website to explain the Myers-Briggs Personality Typing:
http://typelogic.com/

Working out your Myers-Briggs type:
http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/tt/t...l/mb-simpl.htm

Myers-Briggs Personality Typing FAQ:
http://www.ibiblio.org/personality/faq-mbti.html

Incidently, my personality type occures in about 1% of the population. There must be some component in our personalities to choose a product that the other 95% of the population claims they will not use. Why and what is it?

What ideas do you have about this subject? I don't want to hear "Macs are great, PC's suck" - no mud slinging and flambaiting. I'm sure a few others here reading this forum would like to know, including Apple Computer.

**Dinkmeister** · January 9th, 2002, 08:25 AM

The answer is quite simple. Its the cost.

I believe that most people (especially families with budgets) look at the price before looking at the specs. Unfortunatly price does not seem to concern Steve Jobs.

**FrgMstr** · January 9th, 2002, 08:43 AM

Ive just taken the test it's quite good. I know a mac user, i can agree with you he goes against the grain and doesnt really care what people think of him.

You get what you see basically.

**benpoole** · January 9th, 2002, 08:52 AM

Hey dinkmeister - what did chemistry_geek say, hmmm???

I don't want to hear "Macs are great, PC's suck" - no mud slinging and flambaiting. I'm sure a few others here reading this forum would like to know, including Apple Computer.

I'm a long time Mac (home) and PC (work) user. And I'm not rich, so no, cost is not the factor!

Oh yeah, eNJF... 2-3% of the population, "pedagogue" type.

But I ain't a teacher

**chemistry_geek** · January 9th, 2002, 09:06 AM

Well I suppose I'll be the first to share my Myers-Briggs info. I fall in the INTJ/INTP/ISTJ spectrum. INTJ occurs in about 1% of the population and make excellent scientists, as one my college professors and a psychologist once told me.

**fiznutz** · January 9th, 2002, 09:31 AM

I am INTP character so im an excellent bookstand as my father once told me

**twyg** · January 9th, 2002, 09:33 AM

INTP is apparently coming up more and more.
Perhaps Steve could use this demographic, and make Macs appeal to the other personality types as well.

**Dradts** · January 9th, 2002, 09:36 AM

I think Mac users are mostly people who don't like Microsoft and its behavior on the software market. Its just that Apple, their Software and their Hardware, seem to b more friendlier and not as warlike as M$ is.