I am no longer an Apple fan

``Once you’ve gone Mac, you can never go back’’ has been often repeated by fanatical Apple users for years.
Apple users are known to be fiercely loyal, showing their dedication by lining up for hours or even days at a store just to be the first to get their hands on an iPhone or an iPad, and buying only Apple products.

This is the fifth and last in a series of article shedding light on the latest brouhaha over Apple’s decision to delay the debut of the iPhone 4 and iPad in Korea. ― ED.

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff reporter

``Once you’ve gone Mac, you can never go back’’ has been often repeated by fanatical Apple users for years.

Apple users are known to be fiercely loyal, showing their dedication by lining up for hours or even days at a store just to be the first to get their hands on an iPhone or an iPad, and buying only Apple products.

But cracks are beginning to show. Apple has been roundly criticized by the media and some consumers for its stubborn refusal to apologize and admit the flaws in the iPhone 4.

Even some long-time Mac users are finding out that the once-invincible Apple might have an Achilles’ heel after all.

Much has already been written about Apple and its almost cult-like following.

Long-time fans always touted the superiority of Apple products’ design and quality, as well as the easy-to-use interface and innovative features.

It’s easy to get hooked on Apple products because of its consistent look, design and feel. When it introduces new products, longtime users always know what they are getting and there’s no difficult transition.

Despite a significant price premium over competitors, Apple users like to brag that they’re getting more ``bang’’ for their buck. And of course, having a Macbook or iPhone sends a signal that the user is trendy, stylish and cool.

Image is everything, and Apple has created this young and hip image throughout the years. Who can forget Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie typing away on a sleek Macbook on ``Sex and the City’’?

Apple is also an expert at coming up with new products that consumers never thought they wanted. Take the iPad: who can honestly say they wanted a tablet computer until Apple released the iPad?

Despite a price premium for its products, Apple users gladly shell out money to continually upgrade their Macbooks, iPods and iPhones because of the high quality reputation.

Nevertheless Apple’s reputation for high quality products has taken a hit with the iPhone 4’s flawed antenna. It is probably the biggest problem that Apple has faced in years and even some loyal users are left dismayed.

The company’s response to ``antennagate’’ has been mishandled, as it initially denied anything was wrong, then blamed AT&T for the signal, before finally claiming it is an industry problem.

To placate irate customers, Apple is giving away free iPhone cases and bumpers for those who bought it before Sept. 30. But some have suggested putting duct tape on the antenna gap will fix the antenna problem.

The Apple website discussion threads have been filled with complaints from users of the iPhone 4, not just with the antenna but also the proximity sensors that fail to detect when the user is holding the phone to his face.

Consumers are also seeing through Apple’s attempts to divert attention from its antenna problems by saying that other leading smartphones have similar problems.

On its website, Apple said: ``Every smartphone has a cellular antenna. And nearly every smartphone can lose signal strength if you hold it in a certain way.’’

Apple posted videos of how other smartphones, Blackberry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris, Motorola Droid X, Nokia N97 mini, Samsung Omnia II and iPhone 3GS, also experienced loss of signal when held in the ``death-grip.’’ It also included a section, showing photos and videos of its $100 million, state-of-the-art antenna design and test labs.

Despite all the criticisms of Apple, CEO Steve Jobs might have the last laugh. A Yankee Group survey released July 23 in the U.S. showed that 77 percent of iPhone owners say they'll buy another iPhone. This is compared to 20 percent of Android users that indicate they will buy another Android phone.

At the ``antennagate’’ press conference, Apple even played a YouTube video ``The iPhone Antenna Song’’ by folk singer Jonathan Mann.

In it, Mann sings just what might be the perfect summary to this whole iPhone 4 brouhaha: ``If you don’t want an iPhone 4, don’t buy it. If you bought one and you don’t like it, bring it back... But you know you want it.’’

‘나는 더 이상 애플의 팬이 아니다’

애플 사용자들은 수 년간 “Mac을 쓰기 시작하면 다시는 다른 것을 쓰지 않을 것”이라고 말해왔다. 애플 사용자들은 아이폰이나 아이패드 발매 날 매장 앞에 아침부터 줄을 서는 등 열성으로 유명하다.

하지만 그 열성도 깨어질 듯 보인다. 애플은 최근 언론과 소비자들로부터 아이폰4 결함에 대한 태도문제로 집중 포화를 받고 있다. 심지어 오랜 팬들 조차 등을 돌리고 있다.

애플은 자신만의 젊고 멋진 스타일을 수년간 유지해 왔다. 애플은 또한 소비자가 생각하지 않았던 상품을 내놓는 것이 전문이다. 하지만 애플은 아이폰의 안테나결함문제에 대한 미온적인 대처로 곤혹을 치르고 있다.

이러한 비난에도 불구하고 스티브 잡스는 결국 웃을 것 같다. 미국에 있는 77%의 아이폰 사용자들은 새로운 아이폰이 나오면 살 것이라는 설문조사가 나왔다. 이는 안드로이드 사용자들의 수치인 20%보다 훨씬 웃돌고 있다.