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I don't see the big issue, they're showing everyone the same lists and same prices, the only difference is their recommendations are different, a different ordering based on statistics, which means it will probably help more than it will inconvenience by forcing them to click the order by price ascending button.
 
If you book your room using a Linux computer, do they put a lash in your room so you can beat yourself because you clearly enjoy suffering?

with some of the ridiculous names that devs name open source software, probably.

GIMP, i know what it stands for but every time i hear the name i think of the gimp from pulp fiction
 
Since when do computer owners make more than 70,000 a year? If I made that I'd have no problem paying more for a hotel.

Yeah I am thinking something is major wrong in that story.

Because 100K average for mac owners isn't right, either.

According to the census bureau, over 65% of Americans have broadband at home, which means some kind of computer.

The average household income was just over 50K in 2011. There is NO WAY that there are enough rich computer owners, or (non-computer-owning poor) to swing that average up past 70K.
 
I can already see the snarky comments about Mac users thinking they're so superior, they need to buy premium hotel rooms for themselves, etc. etc.

All I know is, I don't fit their pattern at all! I'm a Mac user with multiple Macs, an iPhone 4s and an iPad, plus an iPod classic in my car, attached to the car stereo. Yet when I shop for hotels (usually on Priceline, actually), I look for the very cheapest thing in the area that's part of a chain (so I know what I'm getting, at least).

No reason to pay more, IMO, when I've always been able to get a clean, decent room for under $60 or so at a Days Inn, Comfort Inn, or the like.

yep, i've stayed at different chains and most times the cheaper ones are worth it. the useless crappy continental breakfast that more expensive chains charge you $10 a night for which costs them $1 is a rip off
 
I am with him on the elitism in this thread is rather appalling and in many ways speaks volumes of why the Apple community is though so low of.

Now it is not that PC users are cheaper compared to Mac users but lets do a break down of users. I am willing to bet good money that Mac users in general have a higher income. Macs are just outside of many people's price range on what they can afford.
I am willing to bet if you did a break down on income the results would not matter as much as what OS was used. It just OSX users tend to be in a higher income bracket.

Some people always have an elitist attitude; it's not unique to this thread, nor to Mac users as a whole. It's another generalization. I know some Mac people that have that attitude; I also know some PC folks that are the same way. People being jerks isn't confined to one demographic ;)

I never claimed that PC users are cheaper. The marketing firm that did this analysis says that PC users tend to spend less on hotel rooms. If that's what their data says, it makes perfect sense for them to target the more expensive rooms towards the people they think are more likely to rent them. You're right, it's entirely possible that the difference in preferences is due to income...but it's much easier to track people online by their web browser than by their income.
 
Yeah I am thinking something is major wrong in that story.

Because 100K average for mac owners isn't right, either.

According to the census bureau, over 65% of Americans have broadband at home, which means some kind of computer.

The average household income was just over 50K in 2011. There is NO WAY that there are enough rich computer owners, or (non-computer-owning poor) to swing that average up past 70K.

The average household income of 50k is for 100% of surveyed Americans. 65% of surveyed Americans have broadband, so what's the average income for that specific 65%? It could be better-than-average, or more than 50K, say 70k?
 
The average household income was just over 50K in 2011. There is NO WAY that there are enough rich computer owners, or (non-computer-owning poor) to swing that average up past 70K.

Senior level engineers regularly see six figure salaries. And remember, we're talking household income, not individual income. If there are two earners in a household, that's only $50K each.

In the part of the country where I live, a family trying to get by on $50K per year is seriously hurting.
 
I was hoping that if I own a Mac that I would make more money and not the other way around.

I always toggle the show lowest first whenever I shop online. I think it's pretty ridiculous though that they don't necessarily show the lowest first to Mac users. I see so many college students with Macs. Trust me, they aren't rich.
 
Your argument is flawed - It's like saying I'll take the Travelodge over the Hilton because they both have a Queen bed, a desk, a television, an elevator, and a check-in desk but Travelodge is half the price.

While some Mac users do value status, most value USER EXPERIENCE - Which is exactly what high end hotels do. Sure, the tasks you are aiming to perform (sleeping, showering, changing clothes, whatever) can be completed on both platforms/hotels... But the user experience of a Hilton/Wynn/whatever is so much nicer than it's bargain-priced counterparts.

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Someone didn't read the article...

Orbitz FEATURES higher priced hotels when the search is performed on a Mac. You still get all the same listings no matter what machine you are on, they are just displayed in a different order. Click "sort by price" on both a Mac and a PC, and the lists are identical.

Someone didn't read my post.

I know they sort differently and bot user types can still get the same information. I'm not happy with the way it's done. Maybe things are different in America and this sort of **** is ok but I've never walked into a food restraint for example where the waiter hands a menu going "you look like you love food fat boy, so here's all our most unhealthy options first, I'll stick all the salads at the back of the book since you won't need them" or "you appear to be a bit sporty, here's some salads and protein drinks first, I'll leave the burgers and pizzas at the back".

It's generalisation and stereotyping. I bet you would all be up in arms if it was based on skill colour or sex, but it's ok if you have a Mac, clearly you have more money.
 
And by reading most of the threads on this site, I'd say that's about 70% of this community....

Amen. It never ceases to amaze me how uncivil discourse can become on a tech website. I often wonder, if people put as much emotion into politics or other issues the world may be a different place.

As for the article, I chuckled a bit. I never thought about a website using the browser/device info to tailor the info in such a way. Wow. lol
 
Yeah I am thinking something is major wrong in that story.

Because 100K average for mac owners isn't right, either.

According to the census bureau, over 65% of Americans have broadband at home, which means some kind of computer.

The average household income was just over 50K in 2011. There is NO WAY that there are enough rich computer owners, or (non-computer-owning poor) to swing that average up past 70K.


Well in households making a lot you would expect a computer, in households not making a lot they may not even have a computer....so you have a lot more skewing it up since this is based on computer owners.
 
Apple (as in Steve himself) has publicly stated that Apple only has interest in being a premium brand that makes premium products even with the expense of market share. So, not surprisingly Apple products also tend to have a premium price. Luckily for us Apple products also have premium value and quality (and please, lets argue this in a separate thread if necessary ;) )

It is not totally wrong to assume that premium products are purchased more often by people who can *actually afford* them. Apple owners who cant afford their own hardware are a minority and therefore not a relevant group to optimize for.

And based on that Orbitz - or any other business - would be ignorant to not use Mac vs. PC demographics when sorting search results. Everyone else in advertising and online retailing already does it extensively.

Bright side here is that sometimes this also benefits the customer since they are being targeted with (statistically) more relevant content. In case of Mac users, this seems to be premium hotels with different quality vs. price ratio. We Mac users cant argue against the fact that we have a proven track record of choosing at least one premium product. ;)

As long as Orbitz or some other retailer is not pricing the product differently for different users, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this practice. :)
 
Someone didn't read my post.

I know they sort differently and bot user types can still get the same information. I'm not happy with the way it's done. Maybe things are different in America and this sort of **** is ok but I've never walked into a food restraint for example where the waiter hands a menu going "you look like you love food fat boy, so here's all our most unhealthy options first, I'll stick all the salads at the back of the book since you won't need them" or "you appear to be a bit sporty, here's some salads and protein drinks first, I'll leave the burgers and pizzas at the back".

It's generalisation and stereotyping. I bet you would all be up in arms if it was based on skill colour or sex, but it's ok if you have a Mac, clearly you have more money.

It doesn't have anything to do with being in America. When you're on the internet, information is collected about you. The sites you like to visit, subjects you like, the age range they believe you're in, your gender, the area you live in, and your assumed income range. This information is then used to present you with options that they think will appeal to you, thus earning more money for the advertiser. Although in some circumstances similar things are done when you make a purchase in person (your clothing and appearance has a huge impact on what salespeople show you in many stores), it's not to the same degree that it is on the internet. It's not as easy to change things on the fly in a brick and mortar store. Plus, the people at a store aren't following you around. Your internet history and demographic profile are following you around online.

It is generalization; but that's what a huge portion of marketing is. It's tailoring your sales pitch towards your audience. They're still offering the same options, so it's not discriminating. And while not much of this stuff is based on race, you can bet a ton of it is based on gender. You might find it offensive, but it's they way things have been done for a very long time. Now it's just on a bigger, more global scale.
 
Mac seeks quality accommodations with perks.
PC is a cheap bastard

;) :p :p :p

Real question:

Are Macs chose for the quality, or as a status symbol like a BMW?

Thanks for the quote. And in my mind it is 70 percent status and 30 percent performance. Im running a hackintosh and planning on getting a macbook pro soon. I love Mac but there is some serious competition out there for power. However, when it comes to looks (Used mostly in status) Mac dominates. This is prolly why a lot of people use mac simply for status, because Apple is the leader of luxurious and beautiful computers.
 
Gee, didn't know that Bill Gate$ stays in Motel 6's only.

Regardless of the options to sort by prices, this is absurd. Anyone can afford an iPhone or iPad.

Orbitz will take a hit on this one and give them another year in the red. Interesting data mining, but poor execution of it.

That's an ignorant statement.

Since you so ignorantly don't understand it...let me explain it to you:

If someone can afford an cheap PC ($500) they can afford an iPad at the same price point to make travel plans through Orbitz.
 
Some of the responses in this thread are insulting. I'm a PC and Mac user, but the amount of elitism is honestly appalling. What I'm basically reading is "PC users are cheapasses who don't need the upper crust options." I like VALUE. If I want to stay in a hotel, I have three requirements: clean, bed, and bath. No one needs the extra crap. It's a waste of money.

In other words, you fully agree with what Orbitz is doing?
 
Stupid, I prefer Otel.com - cheaper rates.


Seems like a lot of Mac users like to spend money needlessly. No wonder why our peripherals cost so much.
 
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