I originally wrote this post on Google+. Re-posting this on my blog for future reference.
There is an interesting conversation going on at a post by Mike Elgan, based on his article about what Android fans think of iPhone users.
I mentioned in my comment on the thread that my problem is not with the majority of people who buy Apple products but with the fanbois; those who are so stubborn with their opinions that they put down/ridicule anyone who has something different. BTW it's not just Apple fans who display this behaviour, some Android fans a guilty of this as well (I work with a few of them).
I believe that different products suit different people. I love Android on phones however if I was recommending phones for my family or other non-tech minded people, I will guide them towards an iPhone or Windows Phone 7 before Android.
I have been guilty of Apple-bashing in the past. I hate the marketing behind their 'magical' products, the way die-hard Apple fans describe the products as an extension of themselves (meet a true Mac fan and you'll understand what I mean). But despite this, I haven't completely ignored Apple products when trying to find the best gadget to fit a certain purpose.
I currently own an AppleTV, which is connected to a 32" LCD wall mounted in the kitchen. I needed a small and cheap media box which would stream my videos from my Network Attached Storage (NAS) unit. The AppleTV is so small and light that It's mounted using one adhesive strip to the side of the TV, and jailbreaking it and installing XBMC means it will playback all the videos that my dedicated HTPC box in the lounge room can play.
I also owned a iPod Classic many years ago as my portable media player. I remember looking at alternatives as I hated Apple, and I was close to buying a Creative Zen Vision media player. The Creative was more expensive, heavier, and bigger with far less accessories available; but it wasn't an Apple.
After a good month of research I was ready to buy the Zen Vision when Apple announced an updated iPod classic; even slimmer than the outgoing model, still cheaper than the Creative and 80GB of storage compared to the 30GB you got with the Zen Vision. I put aside my prejudice and bought the Apple, and never regretted it.
It's the above reasons why it is stupid to be a fanboi of just one brand, you close yourself off to other products which may suit your needs better. What's the point of not buying a great product on a misguided hatred based on the perception of the company or the people who buy the product.
It is this reason why I have decided that my next tablet purchase will be an iPad. While I love my Android for phones, the main reason I would use a tablet is the apps available on it. In that regards, the iPad is way ahead of any of it's android competitors. Android may have caught up in a few years like they have on phones, but I don't buy products based on their future potential.