Velveeta Fanboys Beat Out Apple Fanboys?

from the good-cover-for-Sony-and-Dell dept

Thu, Jul 13th 2006 12:52pm — Joseph Weisenthal

The utterly perplexing 'Best Brands' poll is out, and for the seventh straight year, Sony comes at the #1 spot. This is of course in spite of last year's rootkit DRM saga, in which the company compromised the security of customer computers. Coming in at the #2 slot is Dell, which has taken numerous hits to its reputation in the last year over things like customer service and product quality. So does this mean that people just don't care about this stuff, and that those of us who track these things are just totally out of touch with the way most people think? The likely answer is that the poll is flawed and meaningless. One only need to look at the market to conclude that Apple (#10) probably should be higher than HP (#7) or that Google and Nike should be somewhere on the list. And, though it comes in at #9, you don't see many Kraft fanboys out there. So, unless these surveys can produce results that square with reality, the concept of best brand will continue its slide into meaninglessness.

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29 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:14pm

I would think the person who compiled and wrote that was not technology savy and thus they looked around there house for brands and didn't think of the heavy hitter technology companies.
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mp, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:14pm

I don't understand your logic. Being a great brand is about having fanboys? Or it's about people buying your brand without even CONSIDERING another one? Because that's how people feel about brands like Kraft. It IS macaroni and cheese. You definitely see people who are anti-Apple. Do you see a lot of people who are anti-Kraft? I don't think so.
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- Solarcanine, 13 Jul 2006 @ 2:16pm
  
  Re:
  You definitely see people who are anti-Apple. Do you see a lot of people who are anti-Kraft? I don't think so.
  
  Think again, bucko! Kraft is mainstream commercialized crap - I can't stand that faux mac and cheese they pass off as dinner! Er, I mean... Eh, whatever, it's mac and cheese. You win.
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- Nick, 15 Jul 2006 @ 11:05am
  
  Re:
  Plenty of people are anti-Kraft.
  Just because you don't know them doesn't mean they don't exist.
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Riddelin, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:15pm

Far as I can figure, the polls are warped either by money or NASCAR. I hate polls they're too easy to manipulate.
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- Alan, 14 Jul 2006 @ 6:56am
  
  Re: Polls
  I used to work for a company that ran the data for polls. We would submit our results to them, then they would selectively delete certain demographic groups from the poll in order to get the results they want...
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slide23, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:19pm

HPonline sucks...
So, HPonline conducted this survey (try RTFA before responding). Whenever I have taken one of these HPonline brand surveys, it was annoying beyond all belief. I finally started answering falsely, just BECAUSE it was pissing me off.

The large print giveth and the fine print taketh away: "All surveys are subject to several sources of error. ... With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided."

And finally, for those of you that have taken any statistics classes, you probably know: "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."
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kantankerus, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:29pm

a gem from a statistics class
'figures don't lie, but, liars figure"

i guess our politicians are figuring, as well as techno corps

lol
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Corey, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:30pm

Popularity Contest
It looks as if the survey is nothing more than that of brand recognition. Just because someone recognized one brand more readily than another does not mean the more recognized brand is better or has products of superior quality to the lesser recognized brand.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:30pm

Everything sucks, doesn't it?
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PJ, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:33pm

I vote Sony for last place, not first.
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Topher3105, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:42pm

The survely looks like this
What do you like most?

A) Sony
B) Getting a root canal without pain killers
C) Getting an enema
D) Getting kicked in the nuts

The problem is that while Sony won the poll and got the "Best Brand" reputation, it only got 30% of the votes.

What this means is that Sony is COMPLETELY in the wrong business and just proves that they have no idea what their customers want.

People can come up with statistics to prove anything. Forty percent of all people know that.
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Insaniac, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:43pm

Simple Question
Quick question...a little off topic, but noteworthy nonetheless. Who decided that the word 'fanboy' was okay to use? Is this a common term (dear god i hope not) for someone a little into their favorite brand or was it forged specifically for this post? The word just strikes an image of a half-crazed man wetting himself inside the Mr. Peanut costume he's wearing because he finally found the missing Planters collectible that will complete his collection of mixed nuts tins. Is anybody else with me on this, or is the word fanboy really the word that fits best?
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- Real Man, 13 Jul 2006 @ 2:04pm
  
  Re: Simple Question
  I think it fits for any one who cares enough to get emotional over any intimate object or a company. I think Topher would be a fanboy. He is at least a fanboy with his insane ranting about Sony. Its a company that needs to make profit. It is not evil or tries to harm people. Capitalism is not bad and because someone makes money is not bad. You may not like their products which is fine, but obviously many, many people do. If you like something buy it, don't preach about it. If you don't like something, don't buy it and don't preach about it. Lets keep things rational.
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- Anthony, 13 Jul 2006 @ 2:56pm
  
  Re: Simple Question
  I know what you mean. I swear, one day I never heard of anyone using "fanboy" and the next day it was everywhere? Is it the cool word to use now?
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hoozyadaddy, 13 Jul 2006 @ 1:57pm

Your reasoning is flawed. You're assuming that everyone who could possibly have been asked to take the poll is aware of the Sony rootkit fiasco and so they shouldn't place on this poll, ergo the poll is "flawed and meaningless".

Outside of the tech press and a few blogs, the rootkit debacle really wasn't paid attention too very much. It didn't make much of a dent in Sony's overall reputation. If anything, it increase Sony's overall brand awareness.
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Simon, 13 Jul 2006 @ 2:40pm

I'm anti-Kraft - they are evil.
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fastOrange, 13 Jul 2006 @ 3:03pm

Apple Brand
Since macs suck they automatically suffer from a handicap which at least explains why they didn't make it into the top 9. Speaking of macs...if you're talking about mac and cheese...well now there's something...
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Xcetron, 13 Jul 2006 @ 3:22pm

Microsoft should be 2nd.
and Apple should be like 20th.
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Andrew N, 13 Jul 2006 @ 3:52pm

Stats
13% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
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- NT, 13 Jul 2006 @ 4:21pm
  
  Re: Stats
  Really only 13% I would have thought it was more like 25% ;)
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Tho, 13 Jul 2006 @ 4:00pm

Boo hoo
Don't come crying because your favorite companies did not make the list.
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sickboy76, 13 Jul 2006 @ 4:20pm

mac-n-cheese over macs please
of coarse kraft won. it is the best... especially if you are all day working on computers and want something you can make fast for dinner. and it's like $2 and your full. everyone knows the brand. mac, now that's not so good. some people hate mac. and that's just out of the fraction of the world that cares about computers. kraft is known by computer users as well as those who don't give two shits about a computer. my grandma knows kraft, but wouldn't know what the f a logo of an apple with a bite out of it was. that's why they win. hp. they've been around for years and years. they made freakin calculators that are still sought after by collectors. printers galore. they work with mac and pc. so of coarse they win over mac. who cares that mac is so low anyway. some dick head with an ipod who thinks he is so cool bc of the sweet comercial he saw telling him if he got it he would be cool too. or because he saw puff daddy with an ipod on mtv cribs. so what. apple blows. their computers stink and they now have to boast that they can run windows to get people to take them seriously, and to run more software. more people know microsoft than mac, even if it is just bc they have heard about bill gates and all of his law suits. hate him or not, it didn't get mentioned as most recognized. be happy apple got noted at least. even though they suck like the gap and starbucks. throw out the ipod and get an mp3 player that works with anything... mac sucks.
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anonymous coward, 13 Jul 2006 @ 4:31pm

Kelly Clarkson had a #1 selling album, but neither I nor anyone I know own that album. Does that mean she can't possibly be popular?

There is a world outside of your parent's basement!
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P*ssed off, 13 Jul 2006 @ 4:48pm

all polls suck!

I had this crazy girly asking me one day if i was the freagin lady of the house! GDI my voice is like int eh 500hz range and she's asking me this?!?!

Anyway she was so friggin biased that she was wondering whether I (so called lady of the house) (didnt want to subject wife to this horror) was concerned if TV ratings were too lax.

Well if you're asking a lady then they obviously are going to (*majority) believe that their too lax!

What guy thinks they too lax?
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P*ssed off, 13 Jul 2006 @ 4:53pm

IF YOU USE A MAC GET OFF THIS FRIGGIN SITE!

Ok rant over
Hate macs love microsoft
Hated the microsoft monopoly court case
Hate Apple
Hate steve jobs
(Yes hating is legal)(If it bugs you then officially I said strongly dislike)
Hate iPods
Love iRivers
(iRiver was FIRST, FRIGGIN APPLE TOLE THE FRIGGIN "I")
Told you I was pissed
Hate imacs
Hate iBooks
Hate G4,G3,G2,G1 proccessors
Love intel
HAte ATI
Love nVidia
Hate Dell (STRONGLY)
Hp "ok"
nice printers from them
Lexmark Rox
Love voodoo,Alienware(though I havnt bought one)
(build my own sexy babes)(substitute babe for computer if you don't get it)
Kelly clarkson is nice
Keira Knightley is hot
Ok this is getting random
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ditto abovee, 13 Jul 2006 @ 4:54pm

ok I take the mac comment back, mac ppl may just not be able to afford windows, you guys are ok but if you like them maybe not, not sure
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nunya_bidness, 14 Jul 2006 @ 5:49am

Take My Poll
Most% of people do not know Macs are computers and Windows is an operating system. Each product has it's place and comparing the two is ridiculous. Now Macs can even run Windows and Linux, so some people are going to probably start calling Macs, Windows' or Linuxes. I have to laugh at the ignorant haters that pop up when some popularity contest threatens their favorite product. Use whater suits your needs, and direct your wasted energy towards some useful purpose. For the record PC's and Macs average price are about the same these days and the word fanboy, I think,(50% sure)came to popularity in the mid to late 90's.
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DV Henkel-Wallace, 14 Jul 2006 @ 6:36am

Kraft makes more than Velveeta!
Hey, don't forget Vegemite -- I couldn't start my day without it!

I'm not sure there is any other Kraft product in our house, but it's probably one of the best-known brands here...in the top 5 at least.
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