“Apple has recently started an advertising campaign for the Mac and other specific features of OS X that makes the point that if your message is strong enough, you don’t need any of the other fluff,” Brandon Watts writes for OSWeekly. “I’m making reference to the Get a Mac campaign that features two people standing in front of a white backdrop and talking. In fact, you may even recognize the two individuals from their other work. John Hodgman (The Daily Show) represents the PC, and Justin Long (Dodgeball) represents the Mac.”
Watts writes, “As is also the case with Apple’s previous Switch campaign, it’s immediately evident that anyone with a video camera and some simple editing software can recreate these ads with absolutely no budget. This ‘copycatability’ isn’t exactly something that you’d expect from a company the size of Apple, but it certainly encourages filmmakers to make their own parodies, which will only solidify the reputation of the ads. If they’re worth copying, then they’re surely worth watching.”
“Apple takes the opportunity to emphasize the advantages that they have in terms of lack of viruses, stability, networking, media creation, and initial appeal right out of the box. Some people might say that these ads are too harsh on Windows, but they’re not getting the point. The approach that they take is all in good fun and prevents the spots from feeling like attack ads, but beneath the cheerful surface, there is a lot being said here,” Watts writes.
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Expert panel critiques Apples’ new ‘Get a Mac’ ad TV campaign – May 15, 2006
Do Apple’s new ‘Get a Mac’ ads generate animosity among the uninitiated? – May 08, 2006
The Joy of Tech suggests tweak for new Apple Mac TV ads – May 04, 2006
Why Apple’s new ‘Get a Mac’ campaign will fail – May 04, 2006
Apple’s ‘Get a Mac’ campaign seizes the moment as Microsoft suffers Windows Vista setbacks – May 04, 2006
iTWire’s Beer: Apple’s new ‘get a Mac’ campaign misses, preaches to converted – May 04, 2006
Apple debuts ‘Get a Mac’ TV ads, new section of website replaces ‘Switch’ (link to watch ads online) – May 01, 2006
Windows zealots HATE them. Now, these are folks that wouldn’t have a Mac if it were the last computer on earth, so I’m not sure what that means….
Have a look:
<http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/48409524/m/642003498731>
Re: C. Just curious did you install more ram right away, when I hear of kernal panics my first thought is funky ram, or improper installation of it. Have you looked into that?
They’re the only commercials that I actually will stop the fast forward button on my DVR to watch them…I think they’re cute.
I’d like to see one with a couple of women, one Mac, one PC; the PC’s kid is on a very short leash, while the Mac’s kid is running around playing:
PC: What is your kid doing?
Mac: Playing.
PC: But what about how dangerous it is? Predators, ads, you know, all that…
Mac: Well, I’ve got parental controls so I don’t have to watch my kid all the time.
PC’s kid: Mom, can I go play with her? (points to Mac kid)
PC: Sit down and keep quiet!
Mac’s kid: Gee, it’s boring being a PC.
Mac: (smiles indulgently)
Show the Mac…
MW: stock; show this commercial and stock goes through the roof…
The real question is whether the ads work. Most of us here are not the target audience, so I’m not real sure that what we think matters much. I think Apple is trying to humanize the computer as much as possible, rather than talk about esoteric geekspeak. (Yes, I know there’s a middle ground, but a lot of folks just don’t want to be bothered with technical details. These ads are for them.)
Next ad, you rock. That’s a GREAT idea!
OK, I have an idea for an ad:
Both guys are running vacuum cleaners.
The Mac guy says, “Hey, here’s something that you do a lot better than me.”
The PC guy says, “What’s that?”
“Suck.”
Fade to black.
Wingsy,
I agree with you. Think back to the original iPod ad with the guy dancing around right after he syncs his iPod to his Mac. It basically shows how easy it is to put your music on an iPod and take it with you.
davida, don’t think it is the RAM since I had it running for two weeks and all tests (exc. memtest which I will run tonight) indicates that the RAM is fully functional. I actually believe that it may have been some sort of java error since after I updated to java 5.0 I have not had the issue (after an archive and install). No panics yet today – knock on wood. The panic log is very non-specific but I found no indication that it was a memory access error.
Given all of the advantages of the OS X platform over Windows I am still very happy with my decision. But I would have to say that the commercials are stretching the truth a bit when I have to update the second I turn it on and have had it crash for no real apparent reason and the solution was to reinstall OS X. I still like the computer and OS better than any other computer I have owned.
Has anyone seen the parody of the ads where a third guy, a black man, comes in and introduces himself as the new MacBook Pro. When asked what makes him different that the older Macs, he says “I have a bigger hard drive”. Just before the commercial fades out, he says “I run faster, too”.
Pedantic Grammar Police, the second sentence in your first post should have read:
That’s “too”, not “to”.
JustMe2 —
As a parent of a 2-year-old, I love that ad idea.
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Okay, here’s the problem: The get a Mac campaign is preaching to the converted. Mac users love it: Windows users are tuned of by it. These ads aren’t designed to get Mac users to buy more Macs, it is designed to get Windows users to switch. Rather than see the humor, differences, superiority of the Mac; Mac OS X; software suite… Some Windows users are turned off by the ads. They do not get that the actors are personifications of the respective Operating Systems, in fact they think that actors are ‘users’ of the respective Operating Systems, and as a result feel demeaned/set upon.
I like the ads! But then again I’m not the target demographic! (In my humble opinion) I think that Apple needs to give consideration to the target demographic with a softer, more informative series of ‘Get a Mac’ ads to shore up the current series.
Too harsh for Windows? Gimme a break.
When you’re an 800lb gorilla, you have to expect that other gorillas are going to throw some poop at you.
Get used to it.
That’s what gorillas do.
MDN word: nature. As in, that’s how nature works.
Exactly what ‘Wingsy’ said!! The current series is about why you don’t wat Windows XP/Vista… the series proposed by ‘Wingsy’ is about why you want/need a Mac!
Extremely Pedantic Grammar Nazi.
Firstly, I only posted once.
Secondly… let’s not split hairs!
Quotation marks are overrated.
mudflapper,
Indeed 30 seconds is not a lot of time to address all of the features/merits of the Mac/Mac OS X/Mac iLife software suite. But Apple has created an impressive chain of retail outlets across the country that feature FREE one hour tutorials on all of the above and more. Why not tie those services in to the series of ads proposed by ‘Wingsy’?
You know, ‘Drop by an Apple Store today for your free tutorial on getting started with the Mac/Mac OS X/Mac iLife software suite…’
Harry wrote:
“OK, I have an idea for an ad:
Both guys are running vacuum cleaners.
The Mac guy says, “Hey, here’s something that you do a lot better than me.”
The PC guy says, “What’s that?”
“Suck.”
Fade to black”
Pretty good. It would also work well as a “cross-over” ad, if used in conjunction with vacuum manufacturer.
It would be hysterical if PC guy was using a Dyson.
I’d like to see one with a couple of stay-home-dads, one Mac, one PC; the PC’s kid is shaking a corded game-controller, while the Mac’s kid is clicking a cordless MMouse:
Mac: What’s your kid playing?
PC: Stomp Heads 3, of course. What about yours?
Mac: Uh, yeah. Uh, Simcity 4.
PC: But what about how dangerous it is? Predators, axe killers, you know, all that…
Mac: Well, I’ve got to say she’d rather build than kill, all the time.
PC’s kid: Mom, can I go play with her?
PC: Keep killing you’re losin points!
Mac’s kid: Gee, it must be boring being yet another disembodied-floating-gun.
Mac: (proud poppa smile)
Show the Mac…
The Heedline writer (obviously a Windummy) is too “harsh”.
^a
pussys need to get over it, and get off windows because it sucks, and yes they (the users) are RETARTED for continuing to use it…
Miffed Pedantic Grammar Police,
“Secondly… let’s not split hairs!
Quotation marks are overrated.”
You must be joking! Who’s splitting hairs? And besides, your lack of the comma is the worst of it and you still don’t see that.
Go back and try redaing your sentence again. It is awkward as hell. On the other hand I think anyone could quite easily and quickly figure out which form of “to” the original poster meant.
Get a life buddy!
LordRobin – “Has anyone seen the parody of the ads where a third guy, a black man, comes in and introduces himself as the new MacBook Pro. When asked what makes him different that the older Macs, he says “I have a bigger hard drive”. Just before the commercial fades out, he says “I run faster, too”.”
LR, it’s actually about the new black MacBook. It’s a parody, and “kind of” tells about the additional upgrades on the “black” version of the MacBook:
NOTE: Please have a sense of humor and don’t get all politically correct over it. It’s not intended to be offensive. It’s a funny little parody – that’s all.
HARSH??? Hardly. They could be harsher really.
They are simple ads to be sure. Simple is good a lot of times.
^^^ While making sure the link I posted above worked, I came across this ANTI-Mac parody. I found it hilarious! – if a bit outdated. Check it out, and again have a sense of humor will ya? – it’s a parody, and a funny one.
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