2011年2月21日 星期一

Consumerism: Apple

Short life cycle

  • iPhone
    •  4 generation in 4 years (original -2007, 3G, 3GS, 4-2010)
  •  iPod
    • Classic: 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G
    •  Mini: 1G, 2G
    • Shuffle: 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G
    •  Nano: 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G
    •  Touch: 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G 
  • iMac
    •  G3: Tray, Slot; G4; G5
  • Macbook
    •  MacBook :Core; Core 2: Polycarbonate, Aluminum
    • MacBook Air 
    • MacBook Pro:Core; Core 2

  • quick evolution of software , forcing people to upgrade
  • each evolution only has marginal difference, but people still buying the new version
  • the maintenance period of i-phone is 1 year 
    • obvious that the phone may easily break down after the  maintenance period
    • planned obsolescene
  • They are not changing the form and adding function a lot  to each evolution, but it erges royal consumers to buy  each evolution
  • to keep up with the trend
  • A short life cycle 
    •  more consumption, a stress to buy the newest model
  • "Out life depends on the life cycle of object"
  • The value of design is not really added new value for new product,however, designed to plan to make the product life become short.


Series

  •  Expand of product series
  •  iPod
    • classic, nano, touch, shuffle 
      • different in size and marginal difference in function and shape 
  •  Each product (e.g. iPod) inculdes a series of colours for consumer to choose from
  • Similar Niche market for the product series
    • e.g. Mac book,  Mac book Pro,  Mac book Air
    • One person may think they belong to two or three niche market , so they will buy more than one product
    • Overlapping Niche Market
      • consumer easily fits themselves into any of them, and buys Apple product


    Brand

    -Apple inpose a  coherent and collective image for its products, through
    • Same interface (iPhone, iPod, iPad)
      • switch
      • touch screen
      • the operation panel - wheel control of iPods
    • Material (white, black, silver finish, glossy surface in most products)
    • Form language
      • e.g. the round edges of Macbook and iPhone 3GS
      • placement of logo
      • the blue LED light in on/off switches - macbook
      • simple style, clean, minimal
    • Packaging
      • Box
    • Same USB connection, battery charging line
    • Placement of battery/ computer connection points
    • Unique software that only applies to apple products
    • Apple created the "image" of each niche markets, .if one wants to have such "image", they will have to buy apple's products 

    Complusory Obsolescene
    • added value
      • through form langauge and advertisment, creates a fashionable lifestyle of the professionals
      • shows the status of consumer in the society

    Capitalism
    • Branding + series + short life cycle + advertising
      • increase the desire of consumer

    2 則留言:

    1. Well done, just some minor points below:

      "They are not adding value to each evolution, but it erges royal consumers to buy each evolution"
      We don't use "adding value" to confuse ourselves with "added value". Instead, do point out concretely what they DID NOT do.

      "Similar Niche market for the product series"
      So? I am not saying you are right or wrong, but how is it related to consumerism?

      "through form langauge and advertisment, creates a fashionable lifestyle of the professionals"
      So you can use semiotics to analyse the "fashionable lifestyle" created by the ads to enrich this part in the future. See the connections between the theories?

      marsha

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    2. Apple has announced new version of iMac you can read Apple iMac 27 inch 2019 review here hope you like it and share it with your friends too.

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