[Closed] Cool brands.

right, i'm so cool i'm going to drive to swindon for the day.

tally ho losers!

The number of people that I have met that _hate_ their Blackberry devices with a passion means that they cannot be cool under any circumstances. Some level of "meh" might allow possible inclusion of them in the gadget league tables, but they are not _that_ good at what they do (iPhone better as a smartphone, laptop better at mail, etc). Personally, anything that is more "meh" than "wow" is out.

I like Aston Martin, but I would not say the whole brand is cool. Some models are cool, some not. I think that goes for just about everything on that list. Some bits good, some bad. New stuff on Google: Maybe cool for a while, then not.

You want cool, go look at niche stuff, something that has no brand, or has a brand that is unattainable to the common man. Hassleblad are cool, Porsche Spyders (James Dean, killer of) are cool. Rolex? not cool.

Vans are not cool anymore, they were but they are no longer.

I don't think you can actually buy cool, you either are or you aren't.

People who try to are all a bit sad, really, aren't they?

Anyway, cool is way over rated, happiness is much, er, cooler.

[b]Aston Martin[/b] - Look nice, but in a showy way. Not cool IMO. Too expensive and too heavy on fuel. For cool, fun car, look at the Abarth 500. Cheap(ish), economical(ish) and a huge, huge grin every time you drive it

[b]Apple[/b] - Look nice, tactile, "affordable" and a "must use" utility - Cool, irrrespective of commonality

[b]Harley-Davidson[/b] - Not cool, but I do like the V-twin sound. Fancied a Moto Morini Corsaro for V Twin noise and quirky looks - although of course, the exclusive price tag means unlikely to be cool.

[img] http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZUbLiwifSzsH7x4sGQY8udJYFR3zkGXlk46pts3_rGgHZ5ewdP3iDuSGxEA [/img]

BMW F800GS would do nicely - parallel twin, excellent utility, quirky looks, tuned to sound like the big flat twin GS

[b]Rolex[/b] - flash and gash

[b]Bang & Olufsen[/b] - oh, look at me, look at me...

[b]BlackBerry[/b] - I don't "get" BalckBerry - prob due to big hands and small keys. Too businessy to be cool, unless your an inner city looter

[b]Google [/b] - I get where Beeb are coming from, but to me this is pure utility.

[b]Ferrari[/b] - beauty, but at a price that defines uncool exclusivity

[b]Nike[/b] - cr@p. Utterly uncool. About as uncool as you can get IMO

[b]YouTube[/b] - Neither cool or uncool in itself.

I'm generally "brand"-averse.

Not rabidly anti-apple etc but I think I'd be less likely to buy anything that was generally put in the same bracket as Aston Martin and Rolex

Vans are not cool anymore, they were but they are no longer.

they're cool if you actually skate in them.... they only become uncool when bought by some ****er from JJB or schuh.

as the original skate shoe they will always hold a special place in my heart.

Im 30...

Aston Martin, New Astons are uncool, thier image is becoming what Porsches image was in the 1980's. Maserati are cool. The Alfa Romeo 8c and 4c (concept) are cool.

Apple, uncool no matter how hard they try.

Harley-Davidson, Uncool, unless your names Bonesaw and you live in Arizona.

Rolex, uncool, but will become cool again.

Bang & Olufsen, mildly cool so long as you dont namecheck it.

BlackBerry, uncool.

Google, just a search engine.

Ferrari, Too much merchandise has devalued the coolness brand.

Nike, uncool unless your a teenager. Onitsuka Tigers are much cooler.

YouTube, indifferent.

I fail to understand this obsession with brands.

Apple must be cool - because so many people want its products.

Personally, I think cool left the Apple building sometime around G4.

Style-wise, it's still fresher than Dell, but it's become so utilitarian, so defined by manufacturing cost savings, the range looks pretty bland to me nowadays.

(Written on a G5 iMac)

I fail to understand this obsession with brands.

*TJ is not a people.

I have to agree with the Ferrari merchandise thing. Hideously, hideously uncool. And when was the last time they made a desirable looking car?

When I was a kid, we loved Ferraris because they were rare and were styled by people who knew what they were doing. Now, the cars look awkward and are a relatively common sight.

As for Lamborghini, they're the perfect car for someone who's trying far too hard.

There are a lot of pretentious automotive brands out there trying to attain coolness, but IMHO only Alfa Romeo and possibly Jaguar have it right.

Cool brands:

Donnay Sports

Naff CO 54

Eclipse jeans

Kappa

Henry Lloyd

Rockport

Lonsdale

Nike have there moments but I would think that Adidas are cooler as are Converse.

trainers are not cool, they might be if you are 12 or you shop at JJB sports. Grenson are cool as are Trickers. Grenson is now owned by Tim Little who dragged Adidas from the mire back in the 90's, he's now working his brand magic with brogues.

all mainstream aspirational brands are not cool.

* suspects GlitterGary works at Sports Direct *

You forgot Spliffy jeans.

PJM1974 - Member
I have to agree with the Ferrari merchandise thing. Hideously, hideously uncool. And when was the last time they made a desirable looking car?

The 250 GT California. Possibly the most amazing looking car ever. I've wanted one since the first time I saw Ferris Beuller's Day Off.

I know someone who always says things like "where are my Oakley sunglasses", "have you seen my iPhone".

As if anyone gives a monkeys what brand they are. Am I supposed to feel inferior & awestruck by their brand choice? 🙄

Wouldn't most people just say "where are my sunglasses" or "have you seen my mobile"?

Wouldn't most people just say "where are my sunglasses" or "have you seen my mobile"?

Depends. How many sunglasses and mobiles does your chap have?

trainers are not cool, they might be if you are 12 or you shop at JJB sports. Grenson are cool as are Trickers.

*Considers binning Grensons in favour of Sambas*

As if anyone gives a monkeys what brand they are. Am I supposed to feel inferior & awestruck by their brand choice?

Edit:

Spliffy jeans

Kickers

Ellesse

There's no such thing as a cool car.

Modern motors can't possibly be cool as they're just big domestic appliances built to meet cynical marketing data, and old motors that [i]might[/i] have some cool points (Citroen DS & SM, Saab 96, SWB series Land Rover, perhaps Rover P6) would be cool but for the fact they're classic cars, and classic car ownership isn't cool - it's a geeky expensive nightmare of an enthusiasm dominated by hard shoulder stops, oily hands, spanners, WD40 in the glove box, phoning round for limited mileage insurance, endless washing, waxing and never driving in the rain. And, horror of horrors, waving to fellow enthusiasts.

Motorbikes are just the same. No such thing as a cool modern motorbike - especially the modern retro ones, they're [i]painfully[/i] desperate - and classic bike ownership is for beardy men with dirty fingernails who either don't like their wives and need something to get them out of the house, or haven't got a wife so use the living room as a garage.

And to be honest, except for the black cab you flag down in the street, in 2011 anything with an internal combustion engine has got a real struggle on to be cool.

In fact I'd go so far as to say anything you have to tax and test, that you have to do lessons and a government sanctioned two part test to be able to drive or ride, and have to stop at a big gaudy filling station complete with Spar or Londis to fill with petrol every few miles ruins any sort of spontaneity required for being cool.

Boris bikes are the coolest thing on british roads right now by some margin. In fact they're the [i]only[/i] cool thing I can think of on british roads right now.

MrSmith - Member

all mainstream aspirational brands are not cool

'bout sums it up for me 😉

if you can 'click to add it to basket' or if it's 'off the shelf' then not cool,
if it requires measuring/fitting/pre ordering or involves any degree of specification customising then it's got a good chance of being cool.

The very fact that a bunch of middle aged cyclists are discussing whats cool on an internet forum is laughable.

Apple are officially now more evil than Microsoft.
Assuming the reports of Microsoft having taken down it's 3rd Botnet of the year... whilst Apple have just issued a whole load of patent suits.

Blackberry is out of date - current market share spiralling down in favour of Android phones (so I guess Android phones must be cool).

Hmmm has no one mentioned Abercrombie&Fitch - I thought that the yoof were queueing up for it?

Defiantly not in a position to comment on the status of "cool", but if cool is portraying an image that is regarded as such without giving the impression of trying to be "cool" then brands that sell products only on the merit of their image cannot be cool. For example I'd categorize Apple users into two category's,the ones that have one product because its good (for example the Ipod is a good product) and the majority that are buying the image (and hence every item in the shop, I'd bet you all know a few people with 6,7,8 apple products) the product portrays. How can the latter be cool? Same goes for all brands. Therefore no individual brand can be cool.

Iain

Gary_M:

The very fact that a bunch of middle aged cyclists are discussing whats cool on an internet forum is laughable.

Well, what do you want to talk about then, smart guy?

Kittens? They are fluffy and cuddly

No they aren't. 😈
[img] [/img]

Blackberry is out of date - current market share spiralling down in favour of Android phones (so I guess Android phones must be cool).

Popular does not = Cool

In my head, it's cooler to own something less common, even if it's not considered to be the 'best'

The very fact that a bunch of middle aged cyclists are discussing whats cool on an internet forum is laughable.

Dammit. Is it no longer cool being middle aged and a cyclist?

All those brands are equally cool or uncool to me. They are all essentially neutral. But then again, I have a special helmet (not a cycling one!!!) which protects me from all advertising and marketing. I am above all that hype!

Am I unusual in buying some thing because the product is good, and not because the brand is cool?

I'm cool and I think Nike 6.0 are cool but not the rest of the stuff they sell. Here is a picture of the Nike's I'm wearing now just to prove that I am cool.

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/29930426@N04/6191804602/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/29930426@N04/ ]i_ache[/url], on Flickr

Dude a dirty trainer and Dell?

And it's unlucky to put a shoe on the desk, the sky will now fall on your head.

Everything I have is cool, most of it I can't tell you about because you are all clearly uncool (especially trainer dell desk dude)and probably not good looking.

But I'll let you into my cool watch, because it's very sunny here, a great day and I feel much better thank you.

[img] [/img]

Edit: Oh I nearly forgot it's cool because it has stuff that pilots use and I haven't got the foggiest idea how to work it because I'm not clever, just cool, cool people are not clever, they told me that when I bought it.

Actually its a Dell monitor plugged into the little Sony laptop on the left.

More cool points for running two monitors off one computer. 😀

More uncool geek points for running two monitors off one computer.

What are all those cool buttons on the wall in back.

In my head, it's cooler to own something less common, even if it's not considered to be the 'best'

[img] [/img]

Bang & Olufsen....not sure on this, i'm going with not cool, i think this marks one out as a stereo nerd/geek.

No it marks someone out as having too much money and knowing nothing about stereos.

don simon - Member
More uncool geek points for running two monitors off one computer.

Dammit I've been outed.

To be honest I had to run the Dell Monitor because the laptop has way too small a screen for all day use its only about 11". I'm too uncool to go and buy a widescreen Sony monitor when the Dell was already here.

To be honest I had to run the Dell Monitor because the laptop has way too small a screen for all day use its only about 11". I'm too uncool to go and buy a widescreen Sony monitor when the Dell was already here.

Explaining your coolness (or lack of) probably isn't cool.

Suggestion:

Whatevs, brah

I'm cool and I think Nike 6.0 are cool but not the rest of the stuff they sell. Here is a picture of the Nike's I'm wearing now just to prove that I am cool.

you work in a boring office sat at a P.C.
you are not cool.

As somebody else said in an earlier post, if it tries to be cool....like Ferrari with the hideous merchandising then it is not cool.

Cool is not about objects as such but about how these objects are used....effortless and laid back is cool.

When i see another middle aged, perma-tanned, jewellery clad, sunglasses wearing Ferrari driver in his showroom shiny car i dont think he looks cool....he looks like he's having a mid-life crisis....

...however, take the same model Ferrari but one that looks like it hasnt been washed in months, put the driver in less flashy attire and have the Ferrari park at the local supermarket while the owner nips in for some shopping and you have a cool Ferrari....even better if on close inspection there are some kerb marks on the alloys or a few car park scratches.

Similar story for Ducati....the bikes themselves are cool but ruined by the tw*ts who kit themselves out from head to toe in Ducati gear and matching leathers to go for a ride about 6 times a year on said bike....cool Ducatis are when you spin round because you hear that awesome engine note and are met with a slightly ratty example carrying its patina with pride, the rider should also be wearing jeans for maximum effect.

People who name drop brands into conversation are instantly uncool and sadly the brand they have just name checked slowly becomes less cool as more and more bores bang on about said brand....Apple for example.
Nice products but the following that Apple has is cringeworthy...instantly uncool and as somebody else said, very rarely will an iphone owner ask if you've seen their phone if they've mislaid it....it will always be "has anybody seen my iphone?"

[img] [/img]

ouch... carving looks gnarly.

talking to a mate who's 21, her take on this?

iphone/apple: cool
Aston Martin: depends on who's driving
bang and Olfulson: what?
blackberry: after the riots? are you shiting me?
Harley: same as Aston Martin
Rolex: depends on the bloke wearing it (ie is he fit LOL)
Ferrari: same as Aston martin
Riding around on bikes getting sweaty: sooooo uncool lyrca? on old blokes? no thanks, gay much?

you work in a boring office sat at a P.C.

Apple + Wacom + NI = Cool

I'm at home working on my MacBook Pro drawing with a Wacom Intuos 4, whilst doing a live mix on Native Instruments Tractor DJ on my iMac.
Apple + Wacom + NI = Cool

Trying too hard, not cool.

Trying too hard, not cool

I'm at home working on my MacBook Pro drawing with a Wacom Intuos 4, whilst doing a live mix on Native Instruments Tractor DJ on my iMac

im only using an intuos3 but it is a4, and i'm using an eizo grading on finalcutpro-X for a trendy coffee bar viral is that cool? or do i have to use colourista and be sitting in soho not tooting?

tooting cool - not heard of eizo - more of a magic bullet man in after effects

I'm at home with an espresso, and a macbook, listening to bangin' choons, doing whatever the **** I want*

*just finished tidying up, doing the dishes, dusting and hoovering for MrsiDave imminent arrival

Erm, office yes, boring not really, PC yes. But does the fact that I'm clearly deeply uncool (you dont know the half of it) mean that Nike 6.0s are uncool because I own some or do the users/owners of products not count towards the products coolness? BTW I took the pic on my iPhone so you can put apple in the same boat as Nike. Oh and I'm using Google Chrome as my browser. 😀

iDave, also trying too hard.

Hung up on brand names? Surely the epitome of uncool.

Cool kids at the skate park where I take my boy (these kids are so cool they wear woolly hats with ear flaps in the summer, man) have BMXs without brand names on them. Cool bikes for cool kidz, I reckon.

When I see a fit girl riding a dutch bike, I think she's cool 🙂

So, no coolhunters on STW today then?

Random observation:

Just saw a flash geezer wearing flash shades get into his flash soft-top and flashily press the button that removes the flashy roof... only to get stuck in city centre traffic and try way too hard to hide his frustration under a cloak of über cool.

I spend a lot of time at skate parks actually skating.... bloody BMXers should stick to dirt jumps! If I could ride anywhere and build my own ramps etc out of dirt there is no way I'd be riding a skate park. thats uncool.

😆 - well they're cooler than the scooterists (eg. my son!) and the inline skaters 🙂

damn straight they are! scooterists should be banned. Inline skaters have no idea how to use parks and always stand on top of blocks or in the run outs from stuff... At least BMXers have the courtesy to start from similar places in the park and look out for people already dropped in. so I guess they are not ALL bad 😉

[img] [/img]

I'm at home working on my MacBook Pro drawing with a Wacom Intuos 4, whilst doing a live mix on Native Instruments Tractor DJ on my iMac.

You are Nathan Barley and I claim my £5

Haze - agreed. Always rode Gullwing, but Indy definitely cooler.

Totally Mexico my friend - 5 Kubriks are yours to collect from my Surrey Hills Media Hub! Nath x

never ride anything other than Indy's anymore stage 10 149 are the nuts. never a fan of gullwings.

Indys, Anti Hero 8.25 or wider, reds, Jessop tape, shorty's mounting hardware (if you find it) and Bones SPF wheels... lush.

I love skateboarding... any other skaters about?

Just waiting for the eldest to grow a bit and show a bit more interest so I can err.. supervise on the local mini ramp. Found I can still kickflip 2/3 times, and heelflip to amateur vasectomy the other day 😯

Sometimes I'll have a play on my Zoo York

The wheels on my skateboard:

[img] [/img]

🙂

Just waiting for the eldest to grow a bit and show a bit more interest so I can err.. supervise on the local mini ramp. Found I can still kickflip 2/3 times, and heelflip to amateur vasectomy the other day

if you're ever near brum I have the keys to a mini ramp, that belongs to the local skate shop... 19 years of loyalty has its rewards.

Bit before your time eh?

Ideal?

I don't know if this is cool.. or even a good deck.. but we have one on our sitting room wall because it looks nice..

I haven't skated since the 80s cos I'm not cool..

[img] [/img]

Just waiting for the eldest to grow a bit and show a bit more interest so I can err.. supervise on the local mini ramp.

Used to have an amazing 5ft high mini ramp with a spine to a 4 ft mini ramp in our garden that my dad and brother built. All rotted away now sadly. Will try and find some pics of it one day.

Cool seems to me to be all about a state of mind.

Well loved ancient Moto Guzzi = Cool - Brand new Harley Davidson = Ha
Aston Martins = Not cool - Person who can afford Aston Martin Driving a battered runabout = cool
Person making good music without any commercial consideration = cool
Person making formula music to make money = Not cool.

I'm not too sure theres that much cool stuff around anymore the marketing bods get their filthy mitts on everything and befoul it.

And so on and so forth.

Can i wade in? Cool is fluid and relative. What i think is cool is not what you think is cool. Anyone who thinks their version of cool isn't cool (see: all the angst on this thread about 21 year olds' opinions) obviously isn't cool.

Having said all that, if i had to pin down a moderately(but not too) popular version i'd go for things with a woodsy, unbranded, ethical vibe. Makr. Bestmadeco. Foraging for fruit in the woods.

i'd go for things with a woodsy, unbranded, ethical vibe. Makr. Bestmadeco. Foraging for fruit in the woods.

deeply uncool

I think it's cool, therefore it's cool. You can disagree, and that's cool too.

Not cool man, not cool:

[IMG] [/IMG]

Ice cold:

[IMG] [/IMG]

Not cool man, not cool:

[IMG] [/IMG]

Ice cold:

[IMG] [/IMG]

PS. Skateboarding is not cool unless you're like 13 or something

cool man.. I'm cool with that.. 8)