Wow. Do the new mac ads ever suck. Nothing but bad karma. How about actually *showing* people why the Mac is better? I expect this kind of demeaning crap from Microsoft, but not from Apple. Two thumbs down.
Update: Apparently I’m not alone.
You’re currently reading “New Mac Ads,” an entry on VMUNIX Blues
May 2nd, 2006I think they’re funny as hell.
Considering they’re ads though, I think they’re pretty ineffective. If I were not a Mac user, I don’t see how they would compel me to buy a Mac or even look into buying one. Apple missed the mark on this one - these ads only provide entertainment value to existing Mac users.
May 2nd, 2006That’s basically what I mean. If I weren’t a Mac user already, I’d feel like I was being made fun of.
May 3rd, 2006I disagree. I think these ads are aimed at PC users that are on the fence. Specificly, fickle consumers. It clearly builds on the foundation of the Apple/iPod culture that many people now see from Apple, existing fears and frustrations with PC (the ads “Reboot” and “Virus”). Apple isn’t marketing technology, they haven’t done that for years, they’re marketing “kool”. iPod make you kool. Mac’s are kooler than PC’s. etc. Your selling an emotion and banking that consumers will choose kool over kost.
May 3rd, 2006Apparently I have no sense of humour. 
Ok, well, I agree that they’re sorta funny. I just didn’t think the target demographic (PC users on the fence) would see the humour. But perhaps I’m simply not giving them enough credit.
I hate FUD, and while I (obviously) don’t disagree that Windows is malware and virus-prone, it’s been quite some time since I had a PC that needed to be restarted all the time, or didn’t do the right thing when you attach a camera..
So, two against one so far. Damn I hate being wrong!
May 13th, 2006I’m with you Mark - not cup of tea.
May 22nd, 2006I’ll admit I love my Macs (iMac G3revD 333Mhz, and Mac Mini G4 1.25Ghz), and I love OSX, however they really don’t compare with my AMD 64 based PC. These ads just come across with too many half truths and irrelative information.
Personnally I want to see the commercials dealing with Gaming, Customization and upgradability!
May 24th, 2006Iam a PC user. i have not seen a PC act like they say since XP. and i dont think XP is the best os, i think 98’s better then XP. the only ad that is some what right is Virus. and now that Mac is using intel chips there will be virus soon.
June 12th, 200698% of the marker is using PC and they have been doing fine so far. To be honest with you, I don’t think without PC we would be here now. I think what Apple needs to explain is why a Mac is 3 times more expensive as a PC with the same performance. They should put that in their stupid ad somehow.
June 24th, 2006These ads are insulting to the target market. Apple is playing off of old clichés that have more to do with a PC made in 96’ than 2006’.
Unlike the ads suggest, my Japanese made digital camera was able to “talk” just fine with my PC on the first try. The same goes for my latest PC “just working” right out of the box.
If you want me to switch don’t lie to me – tell me why your product is better (and BTW please don’t confuse me in the process by making me relate more to the square 40 year old than the young guy my age – another rant).
I think this might work with the non-computer owning market that is nervous about buying their first computer and is a bit out of the loop; but how many of these people are really left?
June 25th, 2006The new Apple vs. PC ads reveal whom the Apple elite really are; I’ll demonstrate why the ads fail and expose Apple, on a few levels… I will respectfully ask you to follow along with me for a moment and you’ll “see the light”.
Apple = Elitist out of touch Liberals
PC = Everyone else
Apple attacks PC to make itself seem to look better.
Apple fails to mention any facts… at all.
Apple uses vague ‘PC’ so to avoid a fact filled reply by a competitor.
Apple maintains a smug know-it-all posture without any justification.
Apple complains but offers no solutions other then ‘buy/vote’ me.
Apple thinks you don’t ‘know’ what you “know” to be the truth.
Apple Says almost not-a-thing about itself.
Now look at whom the executives (Steve Jobs, Al Gore, etc…) are over at Apple and then what political agendas and groups (ie: moveon.org) they support and contribute to and there you have it.
If you think I’m wrong prove it.
June 27th, 2006I’m a mac user and even I think these ads suck
I recently saw the mac ad about rebooting? macs have to reboot as well, but the ad says they don’t. Also, alot of the mac programs are PC compatible, there is one great fil editing piece of software for the mac called final cut pro, but then there is adobe audition for the PC, pretty evenly matched.
About the Ad for viruses
macs can get viruses as well, the blue screen of death, when this affects a PC all you have to do is reboot a computer, but when a mac gets this virus, thats the mac gone then, you try to phone the apple company and you get some guy drinking a latte, probably skimming the apple troubleshooting book from a manbag.
A piece of corrupt data can destroy any programme, there are ways to fix it but the guy on the phone will probably tell you to get a new mac.
Then we come onto games….How many good games are mac compatable?? exactly.
and personally, I don’t read the wall street journal so I don’t particularly care.
I’ll get a decent p.c at the next given opportunity
June 30th, 2006Yeah! I agree. These ads make me ANGRY because the are misleading. Shame on you Mac.
July 3rd, 2006The Mac ads seem to be aimed at inexperienced computer users (who therefore, don’t know any better and will STILL have problems operating any computer) or at current Mac users. I doubt that the ads are aimed at experienced computer users because any one of us can tell you why those ads are misleading or just plain wrong. And honestly, that’s like insulting someone’s intelligence.
Frankly, I’m closer in age to the Mac guy than the PC guy. I dress alot sharper, too.
-But don’t get me wrong, I like Macs, I love the one I use at work for my design work. I might get one to back-up my PC laptop. But insults and half-truths aren’t the way to sell to people.-
Here’s the list o’ Apple BS:
1. Macs have to reboot, just like any computer. I don’t care what you have in there, or what you use to cool it with, but processors need downtime, and memory and whatnot has to be cleared periodically. Any computer that you badly maintain will fall apart, period.
2. Macs don’t get as many viruses, but they still get them. Why not so many? Because Macs aren’t near as prevalent as PCs.
3. I can edit movies on my laptop, do photos and everything like that. It’s all due to a great company by the name of Adobe. I don’t do spreadsheets on my PC. Aside from gaming, I do things on my PC that may be (now) labeled as Mac things to do.
4. Thanks to WinXP, I’ve had no problems with adding any hardware, especially a digital camera.
-Macs are good machines…but so are PCs. Find a smarter, more truthful way to advertise, Apple. How about saying that your GUI has some easier ways to navigate, or talk more, and in depth, about the MacOS/Windows compability, or the Apple-made software that is in fact, better than some of the MS-made software?-
July 7th, 2006hey Dem-Z- Final Cut pro and Audition are two completely different programs. One is a video editing program and the other is an audio editing program. Sheesh.
July 10th, 2006i think the kick ass, i love em and i love macs, they are better, ive been an owner for over a year, no problems whatsoever, the new ads are awesome
August 30th, 2006As a current marketing and advertising student, I think the ads are fantastic. Simple yet so effective. I’m so sick and tired of seeing computer ads that list the flashy features of the computer. After a while consumers become immune to these ads because it’s the same theme over and over again. These ads do something different. They have established a point of differentiation, something ultimately every company wants to do, yet struggle to find. Well done Mac.
September 21st, 2006I don’t usually like to rant about certain things, but I thought I’d just say this:
I am a fan of Mac Computers. I use them almost every day in school for certain classes like Digital Imaging and Computer Art. Yes, I understand Mac has many other types of programs that you won’t find on a PC. But, I can gaurentee there are at the very least, 5 other identical programs that do the same thing as the programs that are exclusive to Macs.
As for reliablility, I have never had a PC that crashed without it being because of something I did. I used to have an old PC from like 1999 that worked perfectly. It didn’t crash, it didn’t freeze, it didn’t make me reboot at all. As for the Mac computers I use, they would crash and make me restart without any reason. I would be Photoshopping something, and without any warning, the computer would freeze up and make me reboot.
As for security, I do agree with the fact that Windows-based PCs are more virus prone. BUT, that is if they are left by themselves without the proper security. For example, I currently have a computer running on Windows XP SP2 With Norton Internet Security 2005, and it is running behind a router. I, have not yet had any single threat to my computer. Don’t get me wrong either, I have actually tried to put viruses on my PC. I tried downloading one once and before it even got into my computer, my security deleted it.
Finally, we move to compatibility… HA don’t make me laugh. Everyone (Even Mac Users) should know that PCs are hands down winners of compatibility. Why? Because almost every program imaginable is DESIGNED to run on a Windows based computer!!!! DUH!!!! Like I said earlier, even though there are Mac Exclusive programs, there are at the least, 5 clones that do the same thing.
Once again I say, do not get me wrong. I do enjoy using Mac computers. I like their style, their OS, and the features they offer. But I also feel that PCs should not be underestimated by the Apple Superiority Complex that is made up of die-hard Mac fans. PCs could be as good, or better than any Mac currently on the market.
October 15th, 2006I, being a long time PC user, am insulted by these ads. My good old Dell has never crashed, never blue-screened, never contained any overly malicious spyware. And, even without Norton security, I have been able to stop or remove spyware with free programs. I also own a Mac. While I appriciate it’s beauty and design, it lacks any serious advantages over my PC. I can Photoshop just as well on my PC, and I can run much more programs at once with my Dell. My Mac, however, will freeze trying to load some webpages, and can also freeze in the middle of Photoshop use.
The ads, unfortunatly, are effective on some people. These commercials themselves are good- clean, simple, pure. However, they are nothing more than insults to PCs and their users. Sure, we can do spreadsheets, and Word documents. And Macs can stream photos or movies. So, by de facto, Macs are apperently the only computer that can have fun. Maybe they are forgetting games. Until recently, when Microsoft software and Intel chips made their way onto Apple computers via BootCamp and trade agreements, Macs could run almost nothing. Games were made for Microsoft Operating Systems, because they ran on computers with the processing power, like Dell or Alienware.
After watching these ads, someone once sang praise of them across an internet forum. They posted links and pictures, heralding Mac as the greatest computing company around. There were disagreements. One person basically summed up the commercials like so-
“Oh, I get it. The PC is represented by a middle aged man who just returned from his high-paying job and is about to meet his loving wife and children to tell them of his recent promotion. The Mac, however, is represented by an unwashed young man who works at Starbucks, having been fired from his own job because he doesn’t know how to dress properly.”
February 10th, 2007People, people…relax. They’re just playful, light-hearted ads. Geez, many of you are playing right into the stereotypes portrayed on these ads. I’m a PC / Windows user who has never even used a Mac, and I think these ads are clever. Because they make me smile. That’s all. If I was on the fence about whether to buy a Mac or a PC, a television commercial would not be the thing to nudge me in one direction or the other. It would be word of mouth from friends who are actual users, and from independent third-party review sites that would sway my serious decision. TV ads are simply mind-candy, and there are a LOT more obnoxious ads than these being shown each day.
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VMUNIX Blues is written by me, Mark Mayo, in Vancouver, BC. I like unix, coding, and the web, and naturally most articles I write here have something to do with what I like. If commenting on an article isn’t your style, you can always email me — mark (at) vmunix.com.
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