NPR recently ran a 30 minute segment with brand expert Martin Lindstrom. Martin conducted a 3 year, 7 million dollar study on marketing and its affect on the brain using an FMRI or “functional” magnetic resonance imaging machine. The results from the scans of more than 2,000 volunteers were very interesting—and astounding, in some cases.

Martin explains that when we are thinking of buying a big ticket item such as a computer or television, we are loyal to a brand until they sell us three bad products. For example, the majority of people will buy cars from GM until they get the third bad one. At that point, most of the people scanned would try a different brand (in this case, Toyota) until they are disappointed in the same fashion. Using the same methods, it was discovered that the warning labels on cigarette packs actually cause people to smoke 13% more than packs that do not have the label. How ridiculous is that?

So, how does Apple play into all of this? Simple…

A recent survey put out by VocaLabs reveals that Apple is at the top in customer satisfaction for computer companies. 60% of Apple owners surveyed said they were “very satisfied,” compared to 44% of Dell owners and 37% of Gateway owners. Apple was able to walk away with a 52% over all rating, while Dell more »

Since you’re reading an article on an Apple news website, I think it’s safe to say that you at least like Apple. You might even love them. I know I do. Some people just express that love in more creative ways than others. Take, for example, this guy who took his love for Apple and expressed it through the art of blushing apples.

Pics after the break.

The “I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC” Apple ads have now been around for quite some time, and we all laugh every time a new one comes out. A new website, “And I’m a Mac,” is simpler than the Apple ads themself, and lets anyone write up a “I have the power to revolutionize the world, and I’m a Mac” phrase for the site. The site lets Mac fanboys show why they loving using a Mac, and lets PC fanboys come and trash the Mac. After each page refresh you’ll find a new phrase, I did that a bunch of times and came up with a few favourites…