Jason Calacanis, the man behind such companies as Weblogs, Inc and Malhalo, has quite an out spoken view on the world in some regards. His latest rant/argument/statement of intent has the Apple/Gadget blogosphere up in arms (http://calacanis.com/2009/08/08/the-case-against-apple-in-five-parts/). For those who haven’t read it, Jason talks about Apple and it’s closed systems, arguing that it’s anti-competitive and stating that his ‘love affair’ with Apple is now over.

Bloggers left, right and center have been falling over themselves to either agree with or argue against Jason. To say that it has started a ‘healthy’ discussion would be underselling it. Standing back and watching it play out is quite interesting. Each side, mainly thronged by Apple afficionardos, have good points. The problem is that each new article seems a little too emotional.

So it’s clear to me that Apple is a company which evokes an emotional response, one that far out weighs that of other similar tech companies. Apple, once an underdog, still garners the devoted support of followers. Where as many people may have bought an Apple product at one stage or another, most likely an iPod, there seems to be a large percentage or those buyers that are more than just simple consumers. Many people who are Apple product purchasers are also Apple followers. They are the people that truly identify with the brand, the people that champion products and fill their lives with the Apple ecosystem. Garnering not only customers but followers is something that is relatively unique to Apple and something it has worked hard to successfully cultivate. To my knowledge there aren’t many other companies that have obtained that enviable position, save for Sony at one time or another in the living room. Jason undoubtably was an Apple follower, buying whole heartedly into the Apple ecosystem, and therefore has more than consumerism in mind with his rant. As are the bloggers that flock to comment. Each producing an emotional response. If this was any other company being discussed I’m not sure it would have erupted so.

But what about the points? Well I two are an Apple consumer but I don’t have Apple in every corner of my life. Therefore I shall refrain from comment on the points, but just to say anti-competitive and draconian or not, Apple is a successful company and whether or not it would have gotten there without it’s current ways is anyone’s guess.