Class signaling via Apple products

[firecat]

"A Macbook Pro is just as much of a status marker as a Louis Vuitton purse or a BMW."

I recoil at the notion because I think Vuitton purses and BMWs signal a different class than ones I identify with. (At least I tend to have prejudices about people who have those things—I'll assume "not like me" unless I get evidence to the contrary.) But I do think that, in California at least, there's a class I might call "hi-tech professionals" and having Mac products can signal identification with it.

FWIW, I think I'm kind of clueless about class.

Anyway, it's interesting to contemplate. What do you think?

Comments

[necturus]

The whole status symbol thing mystifies me. Cars, computers, and luggage are things I acquire because I need them; they are not me, and I wouldn't spend any more than I have to on any of them. I can't imagine paying $80,000 for a car that has to stand up to years of road salt, potholes, and Massachusetts drivers.

Now Apple computers are well made, dependable products. It might be interesting to buy one and see if I could get it to run a radio station. But I prefer Linux to OS X, and Apple has a "fascist" corporate attitude I don't want to endorse. I admire the iPad, though, and would love to run Linux on one.

I've spent so much of my life trying to stretch dollars, both for myself and my employers and clients, that the habit has become hard to break. Conspicuous consumption isn't my thing.