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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304458604577488822667325882.html

Orbitz Worldwide Inc. OWW -1.71% has found that people who use Apple Inc.'s AAPL -1.95% Mac computers spend as much as 30% more a night on hotels, so the online travel agency is starting to show them different, and sometimes costlier, travel options than Windows visitors see.

The Orbitz effort, which is in its early stages, demonstrates how tracking people's online activities can use even seemingly innocuous information—in this case, the fact that customers are visiting Orbitz.com from a Mac—to start predicting their tastes and spending habits.

Orbitz executives confirmed that the company is experimenting with showing different hotel offers to Mac and PC visitors, but said the company isn't showing the same room to different users at different prices. They also pointed out that users can opt to rank results by price.

Orbitz found Mac users on average spend $20 to $30 more a night on hotels than their PC counterparts, a significant margin given the site's average nightly hotel booking is around $100, chief scientist Wai Gen Yee said. Mac users are 40% more likely to book a four- or five-star hotel than PC users, Mr. Yee said, and when Mac and PC users book the same hotel, Mac users tend to stay in more expensive rooms.

"We had the intuition, and we were able to confirm it based on the data," Orbitz Chief Technology Officer Roger Liew said.

This all seems illegal in some way. But hey , if they're willing to pay the premium for their computer,then I guess they'd be willing to pay for other premium products / services.

Apple product users are already willingly allowing their wallets to be raped in the first place. I mean, how can someone with an iPhone or an iPad settle for anything less than five star arrangements in the first place? Anything less than the best for Mac users would be so uncouthly.

xrichx saidThis all seems illegal in some way.

Probably not illegal:

riddler78 They also pointed out that users can opt to rank results by price.

It's equivalent to how Google is modifying your search results based on your web history.

MuchoMasQueMusculo saidApple product users are already willingly allowing their wallets to be raped in the first place. I mean, how can someone with an iPhone or an iPad settle for anything less than five star arrangements in the first place? Anything less than the best for Mac users would be so uncouthly.

This Mac queen refuses to accept anything that doesn't live up to my Apple standards. Perhaps those with Dell's and Toshiba's will take anything, but this queen won't!

Notice the AAA sign.


Yes please!

I don't think it would be illegal, Mac users are given more expensive prices but for higher rated hotels; therefore, you get what you pay for. They are just target advertising. If you want to book a cheaper hotel, then keep looking through the options to find it! I use multiple sites and browse through at least page four on each to find my perfect fit.

I think this is a great move. I just wish you could opt IN from a Windows computer, so I wouldn't have to sort through the shitty cheap places to find the good ones when traveling.

paulflexes saidI think this is a great move. I just wish you could opt IN from a Windows computer, so I wouldn't have to sort through the shitty cheap places to find the good ones when traveling.

LOL. Most travel sites allow you to sort by price, rating, etc. They also have sponsored listings as well.

xrichx said

paulflexes saidI think this is a great move. I just wish you could opt IN from a Windows computer, so I wouldn't have to sort through the shitty cheap places to find the good ones when traveling.

LOL. Most travel sites allow you to sort by price, rating, etc. They also have sponsored listings as well.

I know, but it would be easier if the nice places were listed first.