Macbook Pro and Bio-Life Dish Soap
Act(s)
of consuming: using/ reusing
Product: MacBook Pro 2012 Model
13” Laptop
Price: approximately $1,600
Price of
Similar Products (different brands):
Previously Owned Dell Computer 2009
17” Laptop
Approximately $100,00
|
Samsung Series 5
2013
13” Laptop
Approximately $699.99
(Bestbuy.ca)
|
Asus G73jh
2011
17.3”
Approximately $1,199
(personal communication)
|
Why I chose
this brand?:
In my first year of university (2009) I owned a Dell
computer that I had selected and my parents had bought me for graduation. Most
of my relatives had owned Dell laptops before me and had, had no issues with
there computers. My decision to buy this computer was largely a result of my
families trust in Dell products but also because I did not want my parents to spend
to much of their money on it. However, my experience with this laptop was
dreadful. Within the first month of owning this computer I got a virus, even
though I had only been using it for school related research and writing
documents. I Over the next year the computer crashed 3 more times, and the
battery charger broke. In addition to this the battery no longer held its
charge and had to remain plugged in whenever the computer was on. Since I was
attending York at the time this was not as big of a problem than had I been
attending Carleton as there were more plugins in almost every classroom. In
those classrooms that did not have plug ins I was forced to take notes in a
notebook, which I later transferred to my computer. It is interesting to note
how owning this brand of computer, and the computer’s unrealiability, forced me
to make certain decisions I may not have otherwise made. As a discussed these
decisions include the need to buy anti-virus software, to repair the computer
and to take notes by hand.
In addition to the technical problems I experienced with
my Dell owning this computer also set me apart from many of my peers. Within
York University the majority of students owned Apple computers, very few owned
PCs and even fewer owned Dell’s. This made me feel different from the other
students but more importantly I felt that my peers were looking down on me. It
seemed to me that the assumption was that someone would only chose to own a
Dell over a Apple computer because they could not afford the “better” but more
expensive brand. In fact a number of other students questioned me on my choice
asking me “why would I buy a Dell?” and “didn’t I know that Dell’s were
‘crap.’” It appears that owning this computer certianly had an affect on my
identity, especially on how others viewed me.
The fact that owning certain computers is linked to ones
identity always reminds me of the “Mac vs. PC Apple commercials.”
In this commercial a man
wearing glasses and a business suit is contrasted with a younger looking man
with wearing jeans and a causual top, either a sweater or a long sleeve button
up (YouTube). The first man is meant to symbolize a PC and the latter a Mac. In
these commercials the PC is being presented as only being able to run microsoft
word while the Mac is presented as the computer that can do “fun” or “life
stuff” (YouTube) It implies that one who identifies as fun, likes to use their
computer for multiple purposes and is creative would own a Mac. These include
people who would take family photos on vacation, make videos or have “the
latest” technologies they wish to hook up to their computer (YouTube). I would
definitely say that I meet the requirements of this supposed identity. I like
often upload pictures onto my computer, listen to music, use the internet to
watch videos and I still use the computer to do work related activities. In the
ways just discussed the commercial suggests that there are two categories or
identities that people fit into those who own a PC and those who own a Mac.
More
importantly it does seem as though people, my self included, accept this idea
that owning a particular brand or type of computer gives you membership into
either the PC or Mac group. In fact, I have been involved in a number of
conversations where people argueing the pros and cons of these computers. In
these cases it seems to me that these people are giving these arguments a lot
of important. It is almost as if people are not just afraid of losing the
argument because they want to be right but because it has some greater
importance to them. Perhaps this importance is that being questioned about
their computer is the same as being questioned about there identity? Futhermore,
people often use phrases like “oh you’re a PC” or “right I forgot you’re a
Mac.” Statements like these also imply that the computer one choses to own or
consume is linked to their identity.
So because of the technical issues, and I suppose
partially because I wanted to ‘fit in’ when I transferred to Carleton, I
invested in my first Macbook computer in 2010. In the time I have owned a
Macbook I have never had any viruses, although I will admit to having a number
of other software and hardware problems. These problems have always been
minimal though and have been fixed at latest within the week. As a result, despite
these difficulties I would definitely say I am a “Mac” in that I am loyal and
trusting of the company. I continue to buy their products and suggest them to
friends, including my mother who I helped pick out her first apple desktop last
year. In conversations where the benefits or faults of computers are brought up
I certainly “take the side” of the Mac over the PC. Moreover, if someone asked
me what was the one thing item I could not live within I wouldn’t say “a
computer” I would say my “Macbook.” In fact, when I have been forced to use
another computer I have found that I have trouble working the programs or
typing on the keyboard and often get frustrated. I have also customized my
laptop to futher express my identity. One example of this is the case I bought
for my computer, also an apple product, which is pink because I liked this
colour more than the other colours and because I feel this expresses my
“femininity” (although I do recognize that women liking pink or pink being “feminine”
is a stereotye and therefore socially constructed). Another thing I did to
customize my compter was to download a background from my favorite show, Haven.
Not all backgrounds will work with a Mac computer without making the image
blurry and so my choice in backgrounds was limited. However, the background I
chose does express my identity both as a fan of this television show and also
as someone who generally loves the genera or science fiction. All the things
just discussed show just how much my computer and the apple brand has become
part of my identity or has been used to further express my identity.
In conclusion, by discussing both my ownership and use of a Dell laptop, as well as a Mac
computer, I have shown my reasoning for consuming these products. Both my
decision to originally buy the product, and to discontinue use of the product
in the case of my Dell, were based firstly on my trust in the product.
Secondly, I chose to switch to a Mac because in order to adopt, or seem to
adopt, the identity that is associated with a Mac computer and to “fit in” with
other peers. It should be noted, however, that although I bought a Macbook so I
wouldn’t stand out among my peers perhaps I wouldn’t have drawn attention to
myself at Carleton as many more people own PCs or Dell computers. It also says
something about my identity that I would not wish to draw attention to myself
based on the type of computer I own. It is, therefore, out of trust, as well as
a desire to express a certain identity, that I continue to consume the Apple
brand over others.
Limitations
on choice?:
There are a number of different brands of computers to
chose from Dell, Samsung, Acer, Asus, Lenova and HP just to name a few. It is
also important to note from my earlier discussion that my trust in apple
computers over brands is based on personal experience and not whether or not
one brand is actually better than another. As a result, there is the
possibility to make a choice between brands.
That being said unless one has the skill to
build a computer from scratch there is very little possibility of one chosing
not to buy a brand name computer. It is likely even more improbable that one
could find parts to make a computer that are not themselves branded. One could
argue that one does not have to buy a computer and they would be correct in
saying so. However, in our modern society where computers so pervalent it is
unreasonable to say that someone would not need to at least use a computer at
some point. Especially for myself, a students, who needs to use a computer to
type, research and print assignments. These examples do not even include the
uses I find for my computer that are not necessary but are certainly helpful in
my daily life. For instance, transfering money online, connecting with friends
and planning my travels on OCtranspo. It seems, then, that I would at least
need to use a computer, if not own one, and these computers would also be
branded. Carleton, for instance, uses PC computers.
Lets
assume, however, that like I did one is purchasing a computer. One factor that
may limit this choice is the price of the computer. As I said my original
choice of a Dell computer was because it is cheaper, close to 600.00 cheaper,
and would have saved my parents money. My parents are not wealthy and as it was
I expect this graduation gift took them the better part of a year to save up
for. When I bought my Macbook I had just come into a small amount of money from
a relative that had passed away. Therefore, for myself and likely for others
cost can limit which brand of computer a person buys.
Another
limitation that is related to which computer brand a person buys is the
operating systems of computers. According to www.Dictionary.reference.com an
operating system is “the collection of software that directs a computer’s
operations, controlling and scheduling the execution of other programs and
managing storage, input/output, and communiction resources.” As far as I
understand this an operatioing system is the software that determines how a
computer runs and what it can or cannot do. There are a number of different
developers of operating systems. However, most of the well well know developers
have only developed one operating system (Operating Systems). This is in
comparison to the two main developers Microsoft and Apple who have developed a
large number of operating systems (Operating Systems). In addition to this,
most computers that are bought come with an operating system arleady which is
most likely either a Microsoft or Apple system. Other operating systems usually
have to be bought seperately which limits the likelihood of someone having
systems that are not developed by either Microsoft or Apple.
Act(s) of
consuming: Using
Product: Bio-Life Dish Soap 750ml
Ultra Concentrated Mango Tangerine
Price: $4.49
Price of
Simialar Products (different brands):
Green Works Dish Soap
600ml
Water Lily or Original
$3.49 regular
$2.99 sale
|
Method Dish Soap
600 ml
$4.99 regular
$3.99 sale
|
Sunlight
740ml
Grapefruit
$3.49
|
Why I chose
this brand?:
I chose the bio-life brand of dish soap for two reasons.
The first is that the product makes claims on its label about being
environementally friendly. According to its label this dish soap “biodegradable
& phosphate-free” and “derived from all plant-derived ingredients.” This is
important to me because, as I have said in my first blog post, I am concerned about
the entironment. The latter claim, that the product “is derived from all plant-derived
ingredients,” is of particular importance to me. For three years, from 2009 to
2012 I was vegan. If you do not know what this means it means that I did not
consume anything that had within it or was manufactured with animal
ingredients. When I chose to become vegan I did so because I did not agree with
Western societies practices of over producing animals, wasting large amounts of
land to do so and then harming the animals in order to make food or other
products. I was ordered by my doctor to abandon this lifestyle because I became
animic. That being said I do still try to buy all of my clothing, beauty and
cleaning products with only plant based ingredients. In other words, being someone
who identifies as an environmentalist I chose to purchase a product that
branded itself as being environementally friendly.
However, there were still a number of products that
branded themselvs as being environementally friendly. Some of which were even
cheaper than the bio-life product. So Why did I chose this dish soap
specificially? Well, for starters, I did not even realize that this soap costed
more than the other environmentally friendly soaps, such as the Method Dish
soap. This was interesting to notice because I usually am concerned about the
price of things because I have a small amount of funds to spend. It was
interesting for me to note that while I usually compare the prices of say
clothing I do not notice the cost of things like dish soap. Now that I am aware
of this I will likely check the labels on dish soap from now on.
Another
factor that may have played into my decision to buy this dish soup is that I
have purchased this brand before. I do not remember any qualities of the
product that made it stand out but I do know that I was not disappointed with
this product. Perhaps my previous use of this product lead me to have some
trust in the brand and therefore repurchase the product.
Finally,
the last factor that had an influence on my purchasing this dish soap over
others is the fragrance of it. I happen to like mangos and prefer citrus
scented dish soaps than to other fragances of dish soup, such as water lily or
unscented. As a result, the decision to buy this mango tangerine scented dish
soap is related to my identity as someone who enjoys these sorts of smells.
Limitations
on choice?:
At the shoppers store where I purchased this dish soap
there were no “no name” or unbranded options. That being said I believe that I
have seen a “no name” brand of dish soap at Loblaws. So I could have taken a separate
trip to Loblaws to purchase this dish soap instead. This would have been
inconvient, however, because I was already at shoppers buying other thing and I
like to collect shoppers points. Furthermore, the Loblaws store is father away
and would have required more of my time and for me to take the bus. Shoppers,
on the other hand, is within walking distance. I could also have chosen to make
a homemade dish soap. This would have been fairly easy as I already have the
ingredients for a reciepe at home, including soap shavings, vinigar and water
(How to Make…). These ingredients are also easier to find “no name” or may even
be found unbranded. This, however, would
have also have taken more time as it needs to be heated over a stove (How to
Make…). In conclusion, it stands that there are options for buying or making
soap that does not include brand name products or includes only “no name”
products.
Works Cited
Apple Logo Image. http://www.corporate-eye.com/blog/2009/01/the-apple-brand-and-steve-jobs-review-change-quality-work-well/.
How to Make Your Own Dishsoap Retrieved from http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/09/how-to-make-your-own-dish-soap.html.
Operating System. Retrieved from:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/operating+system
Operating Systems. http://www.computerhope.com/os.htm.
No comments:
Post a Comment