Originally posted by: fisher
it's funny, i used to think mac snobs. but i'm learning otherwise. i went shopping for a powerbook last week at the apple store, and the people there were extremely helpful, friendly and polite. this is completely opposite of what i see from "windows" people at stores that sell pcs (compusa, best buy, those types). they tend to be know it all kids who really don't have a clue what they are talking about. granted it could be the enviornment, or that the mac people are trying to pull you into their cult, but who knows.
suffice to say i was really surprised.
and i answered your poll wrong because the question is completely opposite of what you ask in the thread title and OP.
Given that mac fan boys go out of their way to convert people to apple they try harder to convert you because for what ever reason they get a little tingle inside while doing it.
Here's what I've learned through my experience:
Linux fan boys will prove their points through examples and are well versed in their OS. If you have a discussion with one you had better know your stuff but at least civil debates are possible. Linux fan boys are passive and usuall only show themselves when misinformation is given about linux.
MS fan boys know their weaknesses and typically have an open mind. Discussions with MS fan boys can quickly erupt into a point counter point discussion and having an answer to the weaknesses they point out about the other side is key. MS fan boys can be hard to spot but usually show up when other fan boys are basking in their own stink and are quick to point out faults of the other side.
Apple fan boys are akin to a religious cult where they defend anything their leader says right or wrong and fail to see the world as it really is. Discussions with apple fan boys usually end up as shouting matches where their points having no rationale to them and are typically hypocritical. The biggest strength an apple fan boy has is in it's brotherhood mentality, they show themselves anytime there is an opportunity to "convert" a non apple user or praise apple. When negative publicity about MS shows up they show up in force and are quick to spew their rhetoric. They are also quick to latch on to anything that might have some positive spin for apple but they don't stop there, they will also show up when there is negative press about apple and they will do their best to spin it into something more positive or to play down any negativity that might be geared towards any and all things apple related. They are indeed a cult where their god is steve jobs and all he produces and touches is divine.
I know one bsd fan boy and I doubt he represents them at all. My guess is that they are similar to a MS fan boy.