Final answer:
Laurie's increased passion for iPhones may stem from Apple's ecosystem, including services like FaceTime, user-friendly interface, and iPhones serving as a social identity representation. Apple's utilization of comparative advantage in production also underscores the quality and cost-effectiveness of the devices.
Step-by-step explanation:
After having the conversation about whether iPhones or Androids are better, Laurie was even more passionate about iPhones due to the integration of services like FaceTime and the user-friendly experience that Apple devices are known for. Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, revolutionizing the smartphone industry and setting the stage for future innovations, such as the 2015 introduction of voice recognition via artificial intelligence. Moreover, smartphones like the iPhone can be seen as personal avatars, reflecting the user's social identity, as theorized by Miller.
Apple's global platform utilizes the concept of comparative advantage, where engineering and design happen in the United States, assembly in China, and component production in Korea. This international collaboration and specialization permit Apple to provide high-quality devices at lower costs while focusing on what each country does best. Despite the competition between brands like Apple and Samsung, they are interdependent, with significant components of the iPhone being produced by its rival, which indeed highlights the complexities of international trade.