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.
I’ve seen that desktop used in Dell ads for, like, forever. I still don’t know how either Dell or Apple can stand to use such similar desktops for such a long time. Dell has been making silver laptops for a long time. For someone to get all indignant about this today, it’s like, where the heck have you been for the last few years?!
This may just be a Photoshop filtered version of the other Pretty Blue and White screen with hex dump information that our Windows Brethren may see in the near future.
The comfort of seeing the same colored “wallpaper” may lead them to believe that all is well.
Hey – A Matrix screensaver – how come the letters aren’t falling ??
Yeah, I’ve noticed the aqua-like desktop in their ads. Doesn’t bother me, something about flattery springs to mind.
However, that lisping woman who mouths the Dell ads is annoying as heck! How is it that the only spokesperson they find is a lisping one? Can’t they do any better?
I like how when you click on the Dell ad at the top of this page, it takes you to Apple’s site! hehehehe
blue is commonly used in marketing to show simplicity.
Apple was not the first at this, and I think its sad how you guys go out of your way here.
Why do you need to make such a stretch to pick on a dell’s appearance. Its already too easy.
Not to mention Vista.
Wow. Deep breaths, folks, deeeeeeep breaths. All calm now?
Time for a Fun Fact: Computer companies do not create their own print ads. They hire ad agencies to do that for them. These ad agencies usually run on Macs. And are staffed by people who like Macs. These people often have an impish sense of humor. I wouldn’t put it past one of them to stick the OSX background on the Dell as a joke.
Wupdeedo on the ad.
I tried clicking on the ad, but it didn’t take me anywhere. I notice MDN posts links ot hated writer Enderle all the time. I wonder if MDN is taking a kick back by linking to Enderle, Therott, etc.?
MDN – I’d love for you post your policy on click-throughs to the articles you link to. Do you take any revenue from Enderle and Thurott or the organizations for which they write?
Enquiring minds would love to know and I think your readership deserves to know.
Thanks!
I’m sure someone in marketing thought it would be good to echo the Apple look, and some (likely Mac-using) designer in the creative shop they use came up with this… I doubt Michael Dell has even seen it or any of the other ads that use the look. Even if he had, the numbers probably show that it’s a successful ad, which is pretty much all he needs to know. Emulating the market leader is a perfectly good idea. As a matter of principle, not so much, I guess. But it’s not like these are intensely personal decisions made by Dell’s evil minions to rape the specialness out of Macs and destroy the spirit of Mac aficionados like us. So in the end I say, gee, interesting ad unit… not very original, but probably gets the job done. Doesn’t bother me any.
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magic word = hell, as in there ain’t no such place
There were a few Dell ads in the last few years that had iBooks in them with out the logo… really! This is no surprise.
Pathetic. Sad and pathetic.
Funny thing is…. that Dell’s avalanche of direct mailshots are always graphically crude and fit only for the bin.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”cool smile” style=”border:0;” />
Dell makes more money than Apple anyway, and that’s whats important. So kiss my billion-dollar buttocks.
Thanks,
Michael Dell
michael dell is a bitch
Someone mentioned “newbies” in reference to justifying the acerbic tone against anything non-Mac because we (long timers) have endured the slays and arrows of big-and-small critics. Personally, as I have always touted my “superior” OS to my die-hard PC/WinDoze friends, and as the years have passed, the truth is finally making its way to the top. Apple’s mere survival and (finally) recognition for its superiority/security (thank goodness UNIX/OSX was developed), I feel like I really don’t have to say a word anymore. The more we (MAC users) squeak about this minutia, the less these current PC (potential MAC) users want to step closer to being associated with “the Cult-MAC”. I can’t blame them on that account.
Michael Dell is a conservative??? AWESOME! I think I’ll go buy a Dell. Fuck all liberals.
Here’s one of my favorites:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000950041082/
As for the current topic, it’s clearly inspired by OSX.
Keep the flatery coming.
slays? It’s slings.
I would like get an AMD-POWERED Apple Powerbook which can dual boot Tiger and Windows. Too bad Apple chose Intel which has inferior design and lousy chips. What a waste!
Steve Jobs is my idol. Why would he choose Intel?
<a href=”http://brayn.blogspot.com/2005/08/os-x-on-dell-laptop.html”>
i found this in a mag i was reading.
http://www.jason3d.com/blog/2005/11/21/apple-sucks
Doesn’t really matter. Microsoft is still trying to rip off the OSX experience, why shouldn’t adverts rip off the Apple Ad look. Apple computers are no better than any PC anyway. It’s not like they have had fewer recalls or class action suites. You’d think that since the Apple hardware design is so locked down (Apple is the only vender of the Apple platform) that they would be able to produce a better product or offer better service for the huge price they charge.
Chill out, yer young lads… In VERY LITTLE TIME all that Apple will have is a powerful OS “donated” from the FreeBSD Community (which wants something back, you know how OpenSource works, but maybe Apple doesn’t)and icons “imported” from every icon set in WinCustomize.
For these are the times of the MacTel. As always Mac Experience is full of crap. I use both platforms and my AMD64 at home performs much better at tasks as After Effects and Photoshop than the Dual 2.0 Ghz G5 w/2Gb. RAM at work.
You know, when an Operating System uses so much resources (and ye can’t turn them freakin’ off) it turns itself in a pretty shiny box as soul-less as any other machine (since MacOSX is the same on every computer, even x86).
Last thought: Macs are also PCs (with Mac OS), get over it. Call them Macs and x86 . . . (uh… wait…)
This news story and the discussion on this board that followed it are absolutely absurd.
Please, MacDailyNews. Stop.
Well I guess if you’re going to steal, you might as well steal from the best.
Trying to dress up windows is like putting frosting on rotting food. It’ll still attract the flies and maggots.
Why did nobody complain when Microsoft stole their “rolling hills and sky” from the Teletubbies? Both Tinky Winky and Laa-Laa got tummy aches from a bad OS.
Hey, I’m a Mac diehard, but how about Apple copying shot for shot an old Postal Service commercial? I don’t have the reference on my computer, I saw it on another machine, so I can’t post it here. But I’m sure someone can post a link. Anyway, it’s true, Advertising agencies don’t give a shit who or what they copy, and they probably DO NOT tell the client when they do!
So: Much ado about nothing, IMHO.
dells are for sluts
BE HONEST – XP is simply too complicated for you to use or understand at a glance. So rather than read the docs you make beleive that you know what your talking about and claim that OSX is better across the board. You then start to parrot each other, doign your best to sound like you know hwat your talking about. I deal with MAC users all day every day and know this to be a fact.
Give DELL a break. They make a fine product that runs a OS platform 90% of the world feels good about…
Its like totaly pretty
Hehehe well MS have got on the bandwagon with it too and stolen , sorry, appropriated it for their new Silverlight product….
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Is Apple Mac Os Good. I only use windows Xp and Ubuntu. My Favorite is Ubuntu. It’s Open Source and Free.
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