So other a month ago I got an email from jimmy-google with a rather good Lunchtime Discussion about his loyalty to Sony. Genius that I am, I completely forgot about it until last night. So here it is, for all to see. Enjoy! Oh and if you have an article of your own you can get hold of me from the staff page.
It was a Saturday afternoon in February about 13 years ago. The birds were singing in the trees. The sun was shining. The light reflected off the glossy box in my hands as I headed home. I sat down in my parent’s front room. Carefully pulled back the grey tabs. Slowly slide out each element in turn. Placed them in position. Opened the top. Removed the fresh film from the smaller clear plastic box. Took the circular black shiny piece out and popped it in place. And then flicked the power switch. The beautiful chimes started and it began.
That was the day. at the age of 14. when I got my hands on my first Playstation and my loyalty to the Playstation brand and Sony started. Within a couple of years my Dad had begun to refer to me as a Sony snob. I chose Sony MP3 players over iPods (I have one now but I still feel a bit dirty using it and I miss my old sleek Sony one which I swear has better sound quality). My mobile’s have been Sony for years (I think I’d pass out of a PSP Phone was released). My video camera is Sony and my TV would have been if I’d had the money (my 3D TV will certainly be Sony). Since the Playstation I’ve bought each Sony console at Launch (even the PSP Go which I love). I’ve had has a PS2, PS3 and PSP all die on me but I still go back to Sony.
Looking back on it my decision to go with all things Sony wasn’t that bad a choice but it wasn’t a perfect one either. The biggest problem is that I know it wasn’t based on logic.
My irrational loyalty stretches far beyond games. I’ll see a film just because a certain actor is in it, even if I know the film will be awful. I’ll buy an album I know I won’t listen to because I’ve bought every other album by the same band. My brain knows it’s stupid but I can’t help it. I’ll keep buying Sony, watching Simon Pegg films and buy Divine Comedy albums.
So the question is quite simple. What irrational loyalties do you have if any and how far have they taken you?
jimmy-google
I’d completely forgot that I’d written this as well. My loyalty might have wavered slightly since I wrote it as one of my ps3s ylod on Saturday night. Fortunately I’ve found a local place that’ll fix it for £30. If I can’t get it fixed cheaply I’ll use it as an excuse to get a slim.
This heat’s no good at the moment. My PC seems like it could blow up at any moment as well. Think I need some air con before all my electricals die.
teflon
I don’t think I’m particularly brand loyal. I’ve owned an N64, a Dreamcast, a Gamecube, a PS3 and a PSP…
I’ve only ever used Macs at home, though. Used them all my life and Windows makes my eyes bleed. So I also have iPods since they’re the only ones that work properly with OSX.
I’ll likely stick with the PS brand for the next generation, though.
hairfreax
I think its the colour that does it for me. Spectrum, Master system, Megadrive (PS1 grey i know) PS2 then finally PS3. Also its the games that go with the console of choice. Its hard to explain but it will always be Sony over anything else
tonycawley
Haha. I’m exactly the same. Everything i own is sony, i love them. I have a sony dab radio in the kitchen, sony mobile, ps3, bravia, and a vega theatre amp/surround sound system. Love it. I remember telling djkaty if sony made boys, i’d be gay, and i fully stand by that comment! :-)
duncanuaz
I’m only loyal to myself and my wallet. I buy what I can afford and if it’s from different brands then so be it. I’ve had NIntendo, MS & Sony consoles from different generations and different MP3 players, phones etc. What works for me is what I buy. I’m no bitch to the capitalist dogs! (Although just got an iphone and they’re quite cool)
jasopan
Sony PS1,3,PSP
Sony Camera, Sony LED TV
Other miscellaneous items.
Hate the customer service and kinda hate our their TV’s are sooo overpriced
But I’m loyal :)
Lesbie
i have a fixed loyalty to prostitutes.
once you had a bradford hooker, you never go back to an ipswich whore.
John Malcolm
Ho! Ho! Ho! ;-))
Jumping Monks
I would have to say that I’m most loyal to Nintendo. I own everything except the Wii (which I will soon be buying) and I have a lot of Nintendo merchandise and the like.
stonyk
have to admit I used to be anti-sony until the PS3 generation. Basically I bought a 360 and it broker after 3 months (RROD) so went for a PS3 instead and was shocked at the difference in quality, so will possibly never buy a M$ console ever again (Although I said the same about sony :-))
Anyway I am certainly NOT a Sony fan, however virtually every electronic item I have is Sony mainly because once an item breaks I don’t buy them again and slowly all my products have become Sony for the time being. I just wish that (in my experience) other companies (like M$) were competitive and didn’t break so I could have more options.
djhsecondnature
Anti-Sony is hardly loyalty, that’s just a grudge.
theDAZBOMEGATRON
I’ve had almost every console available in the UK, all but the Atari 2600, even the atari jaguar :( and the Sega CD :( I started with a Philips G700 (google it). I’m not loyal to any brand, but I like to think that I buy the best depending on what I need to acheive.
Same with TV’s, HiFi’s, radio’s, mp3 players. It doesn’t matter what just as long as it’s the best I can afford.
plutoniumdragon
Someone else had a G700 as well? :) I seem to be one of those people who buys the “non-mainstream” hardware… I have had all the Atari consoles and “PC”s I liked my ST and the Gem OS – remember that? :)
Now though, most of the electronics I have is Sony – mainly because I like their stuff and find it easy to use.
I don’t have an Xbox simply because I use my (non-Sony!) PC for all non-PS3/PSP gaming and don’t really see the need for another console for the handful of games I’m missing out on.
I hate Apple as a company so will never buy an Ipod or iPhone, again I prefer my Sony X-series or even my Creative Xfi MP3 players anyway and my HTC phone :)
jimmy-google
Atari? No!!! You need Amiga’s.
I still hate having to use PC’s or Macs when the Amiga was so much better.