Discussion on:

Apple vs Android: How tech tribalism is ruining the web

"I love being called an idiot or a fanbois by people who assume I know nothing about technology because they know how to program or can solder a motherboard and I buy Apple products."

"I also have a different theory. Apple is all about the democratisation of technology. First with the Mac, and later with the iPod and iOS devices. It has made information technology and all the useful things it can offer available to a vast new audience of people who previously had no truck with it."

I also have some theories ;

Crude stereotyping really doesnt add to the argument

Over the top pontificating about the moral superiority of one technology provider is likely to provoke a response from even the most level headed commenter.

iPod & iPhone certainly expanded the adoption of handheld devices. But as you needed a PC to use them I don't think the adopters had no truck with technology. Nor am I sure how very expensive devices are democratising.

There are indeed idiots on all sides of the debate, best not to give them ammunition

Just say, "No." I don't always follow it - hence this comment - but there you have a way of steering clear of the mindless babbling of the comment crowd.

What matters in IT is what does the job for the client, whether it is Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Unix, Linux, Mainframe, or whatever!!! If you engage in such contests, you are do yourself and more importantly your clients a disservice!!

In the IT business, it's all about the customer. It's our job to know the technology and answer questions and support the device THEY choose.

http://blog.myinternetisbroken.com/index.cfm/2007/8/3/ZDNet-disgusts-me-more-and-more-everyday

They are STILL arguing about it to this day.

????
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I would choose to use "ACCESSIBLE" rather than "DEMOCRATIC".
Apple is not exactly a democratic company when it comes to admitting faults and dealing with complaints.

I would think Oligarchy would be more appropriate...

Technology discussions are as polarized as discussing religion or sport teams, as an IT professional it pays to keep an open mind and early adopt several technologies and discover the beauty and advantages of them all, I know it can become pretty expensive to own an apple, android, Microsoft and Linux devices at home to tinkle with, but when asked by a customer on your opinion regarding one trend or another as IT professionals we should not not overlook at the myriad of advantages these implementations offer, in a nutshell as there is no such thing as perfect sports team or religion we should keep an open mind on the other solutions even if we "follow" or are inclined on a particular one, this not only applies to OS technologies but Databases and programming languages.

If you write an article whose comments you are not interested in because the discussion is moot, so is the article ....

Your "article" "Apple iPhone 5: Guaranteed to disappoint" is geared towards creating this divide you describe.

"chances are you havent said it on an online comment thread on an article involving Apple or Android". Really?

You're just trying to generate friction so people will read your articles. You are the problem ...

3 questions that have always worked for me.

1) Does it need to be said?
2) Does it need to be said by me?
3) Does it need to be said by me now?

Most tech discussions about platforms always are a big "meh" to me. Android, iOS, MS, whatever...they all do the same crap but just go about it differently. Seems like an utter waste of time to either be a "fanboi" or a "hater". Choice is a beautiful thing.

alt.flame, or for that matter any of the usenet groups where flaming could be intelligent, or really childish, but still fun to read.

My belief (such that it is) - it elevated when Jobs did declare war but I always thought is was in the mobile phone market and the iPhone made everyone who owned one think they were superior to all. Googles Androids just added to the conflagration. The problem is that all of the Smart Phone devices turned a system that was meant for simple phone conversations into toys. Toys that play music, games, take pictures etc. From that, now everyone is a Tech genius and will defend to the near death which ever gadget that they have in their hand at the time. ( It was similar with automobile brands long before.) IT is INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY not who has the most popular toy selling by the millions. All of this tirade is aimed at a small try to support the author's premiss. Let's get back to discussions of the How tos, merit and demerits, functions etc of the systems we all deal with no matter who designed, built, wrote, programed them. We all support a customer somewhere.

Ford vs. Chev
North American vs. Germen, vs. Jaspanes

I've been in IT for many many years and have the gray hair to prove it. I love playing with new tech. and I believe that that's the nature of a "geek". All of my "Toys" have indeed payed for themselves by fostering my ability to support them with my clients. The difference between a repair man and a geek is that if a geek were independently wealthy a geek would still do it for free - for the love of the technology. As far as which is better (IOS or Android), why can't they both be great?

We ain't no saints. I suppose that is what you would say in good old America. No? I think we should not be too worked up nor overly critical about postings that are outliers in nature. Why even pay attention to those? Most of us will just ignore such postings - they are of no value to the discussion. Since we do not believe in the Big Brother order of things, so shall we just leave it at that?

I remember someone mentioned in a TR posting that insinuated Asians and implied that we are copycats. Do I get all worked up and ask him to take a trip to "Asia" and be amazed by our diversity? You just need to sit back, relax and be much less affected by such comments. After all, you should know what you are in for.

I love it when the two tribes go to war, its half the reason i read these articles.

Removing the banter would make boring articles like this one not worth reading. Then my friend you would probably be out of a job because no one wants to listen to your mindless dribble.

I cant believe i actually finished your article before getting to the comments

The split in opinion will keep this technology alive a vibrant. This war is wonderful, you get all the benefits of war and no dead bodies. If you think for a second that these two companies' innovations aren't driven by competing with each other (and now Microsoft) you're goofy. Let them battle it out, nobody gets hurt, and we benefit from it all (not to mention the lawyers).