What is meant by the term: Power User?

[slackerinabox]

Let's be honest. Substitute 'mainstream' with "non-Apple", and any one of us has met at least a few people for whom this has *everything* to do with owning an iPhone.

That's b.s. - apple is the epitome of mainstream, meaning if you want to call iPhone owners hipsters, well, you're calling every grand ma and soccer mom a hipster, which is wrong. Android had the antimatlinstream vibe for a long time, starting with the droid (it's campaign was 'I'm unique for owning this phone!" Also, hipsters ARE ludites, preferring vinyl, aviators, etc. Yes a lot of bearded Brooklynites own iPhones, so do a lot of other types of people.

 

[shortylickens]

When you buy a nokia E90 and install 3 different versions of Linux.

 

[Commodus]

That's b.s. - apple is the epitome of mainstream, meaning if you want to call iPhone owners hipsters, well, you're calling every grand ma and soccer mom a hipster, which is wrong. Android had the antimatlinstream vibe for a long time, starting with the droid (it's campaign was 'I'm unique for owning this phone!" Also, hipsters ARE ludites, preferring vinyl, aviators, etc. Yes a lot of bearded Brooklynites own iPhones, so do a lot of other types of people.

I wouldn't call most Android devices anti-mainstream. Brands like OnePlus or Blackphone, maybe, but certainly not HTC, LG, Samsung, Sony or Google itself. And only a subset of Android users are actively interested in getting the platform as a conscious attempt to stand out.

I'm still amused at the irony of some Android fans portraying themselves as counterculture rebels simply because they bought Android phones... and promptly crowing about Android's larger market share. It's like declaring that you're a true indie music fan because you listen exclusively to Top 40 pop. You're a power user if you bought an Android phone primarily with customization as a major factor, but going with the majority platform and a large manufacturer? That's about as conformist as you can get.

 

[blankslate]

I'm still amused at the irony of some Android fans portraying themselves as counterculture rebels simply because they bought Android phones... and promptly crowing about Android's larger market share. It's like declaring that you're a true indie music fan because you listen exclusively to Top 40 pop. You're a power user if you bought an Android phone primarily with customization as a major factor, but going with the majority platform and a large manufacturer? That's about as conformist as you can get.

There are people who use both Android and iOS who are guilty of thinking they're counter-culture because of their choice of phone let's be far about it.

People who use Windows mobile may be the most "counter-culture" if they know all of the disadvantages of that platform and still choose it. I know one person who has a Windows phone.

What should be important is features you want in both the hardware and OS (and the apps that will run on it). The features I want are only offered (afaik) by Samsung and LG and Samsung is moving away from that. Although I may look at a Note 4, as well as the LG G4 for a future upgrade.

As for power users it's probably divided by tiers. The apex power user is the one who gets root access to their phone to wring every ounce of performance (and/or customization) they can out of it.

Others who do less fall into lower tiers. But they all do more than just turn on the phone set up contacts and install apps.

As for me all I did was enable developer options and set up Apex launcher because it is noticeably smoother and offers more options than the customized UI that the manufacturer put on my phone. I also installed a file explorer that provides more information and is more capable than the stock file explorer.

I don't really consider myself a power user as far as phones are concerned though.

..

 

[Artdeco]

They're actually using typewriters.

I've wanted a steampunk styled phone for years now, LOL

 

[Commodus]

There are people who use both Android and iOS who are guilty of thinking they're counter-culture because of their choice of phone let's be far about it.

People who use Windows mobile may be the most "counter-culture" if they know all of the disadvantages of that platform and still choose it. I know one person who has a Windows phone.

Heh, this is an important point -- I don't think you're really counterculture by going iPhone, either. I suspect that you'd have to go with a Jolla phone if you really wanted to be a before-it-was-cool type.

What should be important is features you want in both the hardware and OS (and the apps that will run on it). The features I want are only offered (afaik) by Samsung and LG and Samsung is moving away from that. Although I may look at a Note 4, as well as the LG G4 for a future upgrade.

As for power users it's probably divided by tiers. The apex power user is the one who gets root access to their phone to wring every ounce of performance (and/or customization) they can out of it.

Others who do less fall into lower tiers. But they all do more than just turn on the phone set up contacts and install apps.

As for me all I did was enable developer options and set up Apex launcher because it is noticeably smoother and offers more options than the customized UI that the manufacturer put on my phone. I also installed a file explorer that provides more information and is more capable than the stock file explorer.

I don't really consider myself a power user as far as phones are concerned though.

I'd generally agree with that assessment, and it's important that we don't have an alpha geek mentality where those 'lower' on the ladder somehow aren't as worthy. I'd say that someone who controls a home automation system through an iPhone is every bit as passionate about tech as an Android user who rooted to install a CyanogenMod nightly. It's all about knowing what your device can do and making good use of it.

 

[Zaap]

That's b.s. - apple is the epitome of mainstream, meaning if you want to call iPhone owners hipsters, well, you're calling every grand ma and soccer mom a hipster, which is wrong.

As stated by someone else, there's plenty of people who think they're counter to some sort of mainstream culture by owning Apple products. It's a carry over from the days of Apple being a small marketshare compared to PCs so 'hipsters' (and yes, people called them that) used Macs. There's tons of people who still think of themselves like that for their choice of iPhone. Ironically, it's usually more grounded people (even here on this forum!) that remind such people that there's nothing all that special about having the same phone everyone's grandma and kid sister has!

 

[openwheel]

Oh those hipsters, they definitely are Apple crazy. Skinny jeans and Apple laptop surfing at local Starbucks. I can't stand those guys. The girls are okay in my book, they generally are easy on the eyes.

 

[Artdeco]

Dunno about hipsters, in LA they have every phone like everyone else.

Seen a lot of them with Samsung phones TBH.

 

[slackerinabox]

Dunno about hipsters, in LA they have every phone like everyone else.

Seen a lot of them with Samsung phones TBH.

Yeah, I have no problem admitting I'm an aging hipster (our girls are cuter than you chunky 'americana' chicks), and the iPhone is seriously not a weapon of anti-conformity since EVERYONE from Saudi kings to soccer moms own them.. I bought the s6 edge for the goofy reason to be different (I don't like it, however). Heck, I bought a palm pre to be different. I think with laptops it just happens to be that a lot of hipsters are in creative fields (ok, it's code for mom and dad paying the rent) and macs have better creative tools for the most part. Also, liberal arts colleges shove macbooks down students throats, it's less about snobbery and more about what everyone else in their field uses.

 

[ThisIsChrisKim]

Dunno about hipsters, in LA they have every phone like everyone else.

Seen a lot of them with Samsung phones TBH.

I think more than hipsters, there's also a racial divide. My own experience has suggested that non-iPhone owners tend to be racial minorities for whatever reason. Of my friends I can think of that own non-iPhones, not one is caucasian (go figure). That said, plenty of my non-caucasian friends own iPhones, too. But among my friend group, lots of iPhones owned by everyone and some non-iPhones owned by some non-caucasians.

 

[slackerinabox]

I think more than hipsters, there's also a racial divide. My own experience has suggested that non-iPhone owners tend to be racial minorities for whatever reason. Of my friends I can think of that own non-iPhones, not one is caucasian (go figure). That said, plenty of my non-caucasian friends own iPhones, too. But among my friend group, lots of iPhones owned by everyone and some non-iPhones owned by some non-caucasians.

I didn't want to say it because it's a little mean and dismissive, but what you're seeing is socioeconomics to a degree. You can get an android phone for $100 off contract, it does gang buster in the prepaid world for example. Lots of android Boost Mobile phones out there. Of course the caucasian equivalent is often rocking an iphone 4 (perhaps on Straight Talk) in 2015, "it does everything I need!"

Don't get me wrong, my android phone was not cheap and I'm not judging people for being poor.

 

[ThisIsChrisKim]

I didn't want to say it because it's a little mean and dismissive, but what you're seeing is socioeconomics to a degree. You can get an android phone for $100 off contract, it does gang buster in the prepaid world for example. Lots of android Boost Mobile phones out there. Of course the caucasian equivalent is often rocking an iphone 4 (perhaps on Straight Talk) in 2015, "it does everything I need!"

Don't get me wrong, my android phone was not cheap and I'm not judging people for being poor.

I thought about that too. But when I compare mostly in my own social circle (we're all, what I'd consider to be upper middle class and educated (mostly scientists or physicians)), it's still the minorities (I'd say more than 50% of my friends are Asian-Americans). Nobody in the group owns one of the $100 cheap-o phones (mostly Galaxy S5+ or Note 3+), and most of them all use Verizon or AT&T, so it's not pure value they're all after.

I wonder if ethnic ties contribute--I feel more inclined to go for a LG or Samsung purely for the fact I'm Korean. Several other of my Korean-American friends feel similar. But then again, the other half (probably more actually) of my KA friends have iPhones. On the other side of it, though, none of my Chinese-American friends have Chinese (or Taiwanese--HTC) phones. Or maybe it's just that nobody cares to adventure outside the mainstream (probably also a big factor).

Just interesting to see how it all ties together. Fun to think about.

 

[Commodus]

I don't think it has much of anything to do with culture or genetics (you aren't inherently predisposed to certain smartphones!). I'd put my money on social circumstances, whether these people are wealthy or not.

And it's not surprising that your Chinese-American friends use Chinese phones! Those brands aren't very common in North America, and most people aren't really so wrapped up in their heritage that they'll go out of their way to get one of those brands. For Huawei, Xiaomi or ZTE, you'll most frequently have to buy an unlocked phone (and in some cases, import it).

 

[Artdeco]

I thought about that too. But when I compare mostly in my own social circle (we're all, what I'd consider to be upper middle class and educated (mostly scientists or physicians)), it's still the minorities (I'd say more than 50% of my friends are Asian-Americans). Nobody in the group owns one of the $100 cheap-o phones (mostly Galaxy S5+ or Note 3+), and most of them all use Verizon or AT&T, so it's not pure value they're all after.

I wonder if ethnic ties contribute--I feel more inclined to go for a LG or Samsung purely for the fact I'm Korean. Several other of my Korean-American friends feel similar. But then again, the other half (probably more actually) of my KA friends have iPhones. On the other side of it, though, none of my Chinese-American friends have Chinese (or Taiwanese--HTC) phones. Or maybe it's just that nobody cares to adventure outside the mainstream (probably also a big factor).

Just interesting to see how it all ties together. Fun to think about.

Yep, my wife is Korean, and she's fiercely proud of her country and its corporations, I've always bought her the newest Note, and she loves them.

There is a socioeconomic factor at play, not so much with specific minorities, but just disposable income, a free phone is usually the best option with a subsidized plan, and the cheap phones for the non contract world are Android.

I just moved from LA to an economically depressed area, and my 6+ sticks out pretty badly, as well as the wife's Note. I'm surrounded by cheap phones.