New Mac vs. PC ad campaign!

ID:11875
 
May 2 2006, 6:33 am
I think that this new set of commercials is waaaay better than the "Switch" campaign from a few years back. Pretty funny:

http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/


"Network" "Viruses" and "Restarting" are the best.
May 2 2006, 7:18 am
Ha!
May 2 2006, 9:15 am
I saw one on TV last night, slightly funny, but mostly bad. Perhaps it is true about the numbers they mentioned, but Mac would be just as hard hit if it where as popular, most of the viruses and malware are actually use human stupidity to gain access to systems, not flaws in the OS. I know there are plenty of flaws, but you can't hold idiots against Microsoft, all OS are weakened by idiots.
May 2 2006, 10:15 am
I agree that if Macs had a larger market share then there would probably be more viruses for them... but on the whole Mac OS X is far superior to Windows XP, and is much more secure.
May 2 2006, 12:06 pm
I agree that if Macs had a larger market share then there would probably be more viruses for them... but on the whole Mac OS X is far superior to Windows XP, and is much more secure.

It isn't really fair to say, "It's far more secure" There aren't enough people to justify writing spyware, or malware, or viruses for the macs. It's like the local burger joint vs mcdonalds. Not enough people have been to that burger joint to insult it, if you want to goto mcdonalds(Windows) You just have to walk around the corner.
May 4 2006, 7:34 am
Those ads are absolutely horrible. Apple seriously needs to fire whoever has been doing their crappy Mac ads for the last few years and hire the same people that did the iPod ads.

These ads, like the terrible 'switch' ads, never actually show a computer (the one second at the end doesn't count). Like their predecessors, these ads show nothing but people talking. As far as Joe Average Consumer is concerned, "Boooorrrring!!". They'll quickly tune out and won't remember what the ads were about. If Apple wants an effective ad compaign, they need to glitz it up to grab viewers' attention while showing how cool/easy/compatible/secure it is.

On top of that, these ads are extremely smug and condescending towards PCs. The target market (people curious about the Mac and/or thinking about switching) will be put off by that. And of course the ads will only fuel the rage of Mac/Apple haters.

No wonder Apple is mired in single-digit percentages of overall computer sales. I don't see them growing the Mac market share anytime soon with this kind of crap. They deserve it if that's the best they can do.
May 4 2006, 7:40 am
I agree, Mac seems to want to push the smug aspect of owning a Mac. "I own a Mac, so I AM better than anyone who owns a computer running Windows"(Not to be mistaken with PC, which just means personal computer, which includes Mac, Linux, and most OSs). I am rather tired of the 'better than you' attitude that Mac users give off. You may own a Mac, but I can build my own computer, and choose what hardware I want, from a very large selection. I won't get into software, because I know that selection is not limited by Mac, but rather a bias developer base(Unlike hardware, which Mac likes to keep as their own business).
May 4 2006, 10:33 am
I have to say, I disagree Mike. Being smug has been a major problem in the past few years for Apple ads (the Intel chip tv spot about PC's being "dull little boxes" was the most annoying commercial to date), but I felt that these ads came off without being smug at all.

First off, the humor in these new ads really appeals to the younger generation... especially college students. Incoming college freshmen are about to start shopping for new computers, and more and more are switching over.

Second, from just a writing standpoint, these ads creatively and effectively get across the simplicity of a Mac. The "Network" spot in particular is absolute genius. Even people with minimal knowledge of computers can understand the concepts that that particular spot symbolizes. The analogy of the "language barrier" with the Japanese girl is simple to understand and really gets the message across.

I feel that the most important part of these ads, and the reason that they aren't smug is because the guy who plays the PC is a likeable character. He isn't playing the role of the uptight guy in a suit that you'd expect... he's an amiable character who you almost sympathize with. He's not the butt of the jokes in a mean way-- he's funny in his own right.

I feel that this set of ads is a breath of fresh air. That said, Apple is the "little guy", so it has to be the one on the attack. People thinking about buying Macs are going to compare them to PCs. Apple needs to show why they have a superior product in order to persuade people... and these ads are a creative and playful way to do it.
May 5 2006, 12:50 am
I don't think they're that bad, actually I thought they were rather clever.

If I try to view the last video, though, Apple Quicktime crashes (in turn causing Firefox to crash). Ironic much? =P
May 5 2006, 5:51 am
It won't even load for me in FF, I am forced to load it in IE. I think this is because I installed quicktime before FireFox. But I do find it ironic that I am forced to use a Microsoft product to view a Mac video, even if it has nothing to do with ether one of them.