By SteveJack
Take a look at a currently-running Dell ad that MacDailyNews reader “Scotty” pointed out to us recently:
Note the not-so-subtle attempt to evoke the feeling of Apple’s Mac OS X out-of-the-box default desktop. Apple uses this “look” in all of their promotional materials, including PowerBooks. How much has Apple invested in promoting this “look,” so that Dell can paste a derivative of it onto the screens of their garbage laptops? Does Michael Dell really want Mac OS X so badly or does he just want to make his customers think he’s offering the world’s most advanced operating system when all he really has to offer is Microsoft’s Windows XP?
Exactly where is the level where shame is felt from these soulless Wintel creeps or have they just all passed the threshold so long ago that they’ve lost all concept of shame, disgrace, and embarrassment?
SteveJack is a long-time Macintosh user, web designer, multimedia producer and a regular contributor to the MacDailyNews Opinion section.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Michael Dell say’s he’d be happy to sell Apple’s Mac OS X if Steve Jobs decides to license – June 16, 2005
Soulless? That’s rather harsh now, isn’t it? Yeah the “wallpaper” on Dell machines have had a similar look to Mac OS X for some time now… but look at anything else good on the market, people emulate things that are popular or look good. Imitation is the highest form of flattery… calling any individual or group soulless is overly harsh in my opinion.
soulless |ˈsōlˌlis| adjective – lacking character and individuality.
I still find the namecalling distasteful and in the context used, in the same line as the word “creeps” – come on. We can be Mac fans while being above the schoolyard politics. I mean, really. Our platform is currently superior in just about every way and we’ve been spoiled with quality… it seems to me that’s enough. I don’t need to make myself feel better about my choice by bringing other people/companies down. Dell can have a nice OS X inspired desktop picture without us getting all worked up… I assure you… life will go on and the Mac will still be great.
Get real, not everything is a copy of your precious Macs. Dell has used this wallpaper as the default for many years, prior to OS X in fact. It’s a stupid, generic desktop…GET OVER IT! It’s quite ugly anyway, what are you bragging about?
Hey, a spade is a spade. And soulless rather aptly describes Dell. MDN can’t help it if it’s the truth. And thankfully MDN doesn’t play those silly politically correct games, they just call it like it is.
RJWOLFX,
Apple doesn’t seem to use Windows XP’s default fake rolling hills and sky pasted onto their machines to try to sell them. Why not?
SJ’s “soulless creeps” to describe Wintel box assemblers and OS peddlers is so accurate it hurts.
Then feel free to buy from them all you want…you might even want to find a Dell forum (gasp!) to post your comments on as well…you’ve obviously stumbled upon the wrong place here.
Actually I use a Mac every day and think OS X is awesome I’m just not an idiot fanboy that thinks every little thing is a Mac ripoff, especially something as stupid as wallpaper… My work buys Dells and they’re not that bad for cheap PCs, at home I have a couple Macs and a bunch of generics so I’ll use whatever works best. It must be sad to base your opinion on nothing but a logo…
Wow, have they no shame?
Souless creeps…ahhh, and Steve Jobs is a warm, caring human being with a heart of gold. Yehhh, right!
wow, what a nice looking Dell powerbook.
I want a Dell now.
NOT
nothing to get worked up about. I have noticed that the PC industry has been aping Apple since 1984. I know its pathetic -but that is what you get if you are a follower and not a leader.
It’s about what you can expect from DULL. Not really a big surprise considering Michael Dell’s infatuation with emulating Steve Jobs. What really bothers me is THIS WEB PAGE’s use of pop ups for “free iPod Nano” that osmehow eludes the block pop up setting in Safari.
“Dell has used this wallpaper as the default for many years, prior to OS X in fact. “
“In fact” means you have factual proof,right? Love to see it. Or did you mean to say, “maybe, but don’t know for sure, but it makes my argument sound better”?
ender,
Pop-under issue was covered already:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/6986/
It doesn’t bother me to take one pop-under per day from a site that gives us a way to opt-out and announces when browsers’ pop blockers are broken.
I’m annoyed at myself now!
Dell had an insert in the newspaper last weekend in London where the stock photo girl was sitting on a park bench enjoying her wireless experience with a Powerbook!! The Apple logo had been masked out, but it still had the Firewire ports on the side etc.
Should have posted it somewhere.
Sorry all.
Dell is really pathetic in the sense that they really have no clue how pathetic they are, just like Brittney Spear has no clue how pathetic, shallow, and cheap she is.
imitation is the sincerest form of… theft.
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More than likely, the ad was mocked up by somebody using a Mac like most print ads are done on. They grabbed a generic wallpaper for the screen in this case one from their computer: an Apple computer.
Still doesn’t explain why a lot of PC laptop ads, the laptops all are looking more like powerbooks than their own stuff.
To the great unwashed Windoze masses the background will mean nothing, only Mac users recognise the “homage” and since they wouldn’t buy a Dell it really has no significance. Probably wishful thinking at Dell, dreaming about OS X on Intel.
“Souless Creeps”? Ok folks this is rediculous. I think anyone that resorts to name calling needs to get a life… really… what are you doing? Are you scanning the internet for pictures of PC laptops to make sure they don’t have pictures that look similar to Mac OS x’s default desktop? Really… get a life…
It’s interesting to see how many Mac newbies are obviously posting here on this topic. Others of us know the many years we have had to endure being called “idiots” and “children” who don’t use “real computers”.(and not just by trolls in some little bbs/blog thing) Constantly ridiculed by a majority of people believing they were superior to people who use Macs, when in fact, the opposite is true. That’s right “in fact”.
Michael Dell is a Right Wing asshole who contributed more money to The Bush inaugural than the NRA. I await his and his company’s eventual demise.
Mac users have every right and reason to be defensive, protective, and damn angry.
i’m with MDN. “soulless creeps” is spot on. fuck anyone that doesn’t like it. read zdnet if you want plastic political correctness.
fact is that either dell is conciously aping the mac in their ads to make their shoddy merchandise look better or their ad agency’s doing it. and if the latter, then either dell’s aware and likes the pretty results or unaware and not paying attention to their own marketing. brainless, soulless and certainly without ethics. a perfect mate for microsoft.
michael dell will unfortunately escape with billions, but his company will crash and burn and be consumed like compaq and so many other before them. two more cheap box makers will rise in their place, and the clueless will scarf up their crap and beg for more.
again proving the wisdom of the prophet barnum (peace be upon him.)
Michael Dell is a Right Wing asshole who contributed more money to The Bush inaugural than the NRA. I await his and his company’s eventual demise.
Are you kidding Dells politics are right on his computers aren’t.
Job’s computers are great, his politics aren’t.
Mac users have every right and reason to be defensive, protective, and damn angry.
This statement is good, you’re politics aren’t!
That whole thing looks like an iBook and someone put that desktop there intentionally. People are saying Dell always used that desktop, but the 3 Dells that I have (from recent to 4 years old) all have the standard Windows desktops and 1 which is Dell branded and doesn’t look anything like that.