ex ped: A store that sells Apple products is not the same thing as an Apple-owned store. See here for a map of Apple Stores around the world.

Perhaps you are hung up on the “look” of Apple products, hence the “style over substance” dig. I would venture to say that most people don’t speed hundreds or thousands of dollars on a computer merely because it looks cool or different although perhaps some do. The style of Apple products is not something that I think much about myself. There are those designers of the world who make everything from a can opener, the latest iMac or a skyscraper who would argue that design is very important to the usefulness of a product well beyond that surface attributes one might first notice.

I suppose you can make that argument that interest in Apple products is but mere blind brand loyalty, but that seems more of an argument within a comparison of say HP vs. Dell. A Mac is rare alternative to Windows and provides a different user experience both in the short and long term use of the product. I would argue that it is the very intrinsic value of the products themselves, the underlying software and, to a lesser degree, hardware engineering that goes into a Mac that creates loyalty to the brand. One could say the same about the iPhone and iPod as well since they run on software unique to those devices. In general, I'm not really a fan of the material fascism that your criticism seems to favor. I’m glade a grand leader doesn't make us all drive VW's or, for that matter, use Windows OS. It is nice to have options, competition and diversity. Considering how many of the things pioneered by Apple have become the norm throughout the industry, we all benefit from them whether we know it or not.

BTW, there is no way you could pay me to show up for one of these store openings! IMHO, you gotta be nuts, bored or both.

Funny, however, what is being brought up when talking about the opening of a computer store:

All Germans are shity dressed, bad mannered, lousy food eating all-things-american-envy in-line marchers. Anything else?

horrible staff, acting like popstars>>>SICK

they only sell computers, nuthing more…

cant believe it!!!!

There is no such thing as German envy of America. It's more of a mixture of love and hatred. But Germans and Americans have a lot in common: they dress shity, eat the worst food and have bad manners.

Mark from Berlin

As for the so often stated "American Envy" that we Germans have, I am tempted to say something about that but I don't go there. Envy for what? Get a grip.