Apple has posted a new “Get a Mac” ad seemingly based on Walt Mossberg’s recent “crapware” articles for The Wall Street Journal.
As Mossberg explains in one article, “An excellent way to avoid or minimize the craplet problem is to simply buy an Apple Macintosh computer. New Macs don’t have any craplets displayed on their desktops. On a new Mac, no third-party software is automatically launched when you start the computer, and you don’t need antivirus or antispyware programs because the Mac is essentially free from those menaces. So, even my year-old Mac laptop reboots roughly three times as fast as my three-week-old Sony. Apple does include a few third-party programs on Macs… but these are tucked away in the applications folder and most are full working versions, not trials or offers. The main exception is a trial version of Microsoft Office. With some Mac models, you get trials of two Apple programs, iWork and FileMaker Pro. But these trials can be deleted simply by dragging the icons to the trash can.”
In the ad “PC” is stuffed to the gills with useless crapware which really slows him down:
See the ad in higher quality here: http://www.apple.com/getamac/
MacDailyNews Take: Thanks for odd, yet humorously compelling melding of “The Meaning of Life” and “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” imagery, Apple! Quick, someone get “PC” one last wafer-thin mint!
Related articles:
Mossberg: Get a Mac to avoid resource-hogging Windows PC craplets, antivirus, antispyware apps – April 12, 2007
Mossberg decries Windows Vista’s dog slow boot and restart times vs. Apple’s Mac OS X – April 06, 2007
…and don’t skimp on the pate’!
Sort of a lame ad. Macbooks come with trial versions of iWork and Office. In fact, if you don’t trash the trial version of Office before you load your legitimate full version copy, your computer will get confused by the two.
Boo. Mac Ad’s first real stinker.
@ Wil…
Yeah, but notice it’s Micro$cum software that screws things up.
@ Des Gusting,
True, but it’s Apple who allowed their software to be put on their machine. In addition, the ad gives the impression that there is no trial software on any Macs which is not true. Probably not the extent that PCs have, (although I can’t be sure since I haven’t been in the market for the PC in a while), but the ad is misleading
@Wil
Although it still is trial software, I think it is different from the Windows “crapware”. Have you ever bought a box from Dell or somebody, and seen the amount of incedibly useless shit on it? In contrast, I wouldn’t even call these two programs crapware. Most people need some sort of Office type software anyway, so this just helps to let them know of a few of the main options, and lets them try them out.
All I can say is, “better bring a bucket!!”
Wil, Wil, Wil… These are two very different things. Much of Windows “crapware” is stuff that runs whether you want it to or not. That’s what causes the slowdown of your PC, not just the fact that the programs exist on the hard drive. When you boot your new Mac, there are no third-party background applications automatically loaded.
In Medieval times, folks would argue how many angels could dance on the head of a pin. Well, we are more sophisticated nowadays. In the 21st century, we debate how much adware and trial software constitutes unwanted software on a hard drive.
IMHO all software is unwanted if I didn’t install it and/or gave permission that it be installed.
To all those defending Windoze because the Mac has a couple of sample programs it is really not the same. On the Mac, you can do a complete reinstall and choose not to install the samples. On a Windoze machine you have to reinstall all the crapware.
Even if you own a clean version of XP, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get the proper drivers for the machine from the manufacturer. Sure you can hunt them down but Dell and HP won’t give them to you if you ask.
My GF bought a Compaq with crapware installed. I figured I would just put on XP, a clean install. Tried to get the drivers from Compaq or at least pointed to where I could get the drivers and they said no. The drivers were only licensed for use through their restore CD and they could not give them out seperately.
Needles to say after 4 months I took the machine back, got a full refund and bought a bondi blue iMac for my GF.
mw: play as in Oscar don’t play that sh*t
Wil has a point. Macs do come loaded up with a GB or more of “trial-ware”. That, and a bunch of utilities that are semi-limited “full versions” … non-trial-ware that can’t be upgraded for free – unlike the commercial versions. Still, these don’t load on boot-up – not unless you tell them to. There are people out there who load every widget in the world and several apps on their Macs at boot – and it costs them. It costs them in boot time, in memory use, in frustration … almost like having a Windows system.
OTOH, these problems are choices with a Mac. You can make them “go away”, or – at least – not bother you. It isn’t hard, you just undo whatever you did to make them a problem. A bit harder with Windows trial-ware. OK, a whole lot harder. Isn’t that their point?
DLMeyer – the Voice of G.L.Horton’s Stage Page Pod Cast
and by the way, that was an excellent commercial
Brilliant ad… very funny!
Very good visual ad. Makes you want to watch and listen to what’s being said.
@ All who responded,
Des Gusting: It is Microsoft, but it is Apple’s decision to throw it on. Since I work at a Mac reseller, I have had to help several customers wipe both their Trial Office and ‘Real’ Office, and then reinstall the full version, since there were conflicts between the two.
To the Rest: For sure, it’s probably much less than the crap you get on PCs, (I only assume so, since it’s been years since I’ve thought about buying a PC). But the ad is misleading. Macs DO come with trial software. Maybe they could have made the point of the dialogue clear about the AMOUNT of trial software.
Guess I’m a “Dialogue” guy.
new ‘Get a Mac’ ad: ‘Delayed’ – as in Leopard is delayed.
I don’t know about you guys but i loved this ad. I laughed!
To the idio who said this was “sort of a lame ad”, and then proceeded to do the moral equivalency thing between Mac and PC:
You’re an idiot!
Now, Ballmer and Gates, you bozos, deny that!
S.
It has a good beat.
It’s easy to dance to.
I gave it a 95.
@Wii,
You can’t even remotely attempt to compare the innocuous trial ware comes with a mac to the floodgates of nightmare start up ware new Windows PC comes with, have you ever really experienced buying & starting a new PC? You haven’t so you really aren’t qualified to comment. Heck you have to go looking for the trialware on a Mac. On a Windows box it explodes in your face and is a major pain to get rid of.
The ads are not misleading.
There must be 3 columns of trial software on a new PC compared to what on a mac? Office and a trial of iwork?
No comparison, be real. Go look at any desktop of a new computer at COMPUSA, if you still have one, see the clutter of icons already on your screen before you even open your first window.
why so anal about 20pcs of crapware compared to 2 or 3 on a mac? Clearly it’s bloated..
OOmpa loompa doopadedo….
Let’s contrast and compare…
Removing a piece of pre-loaded software from a Mac: click on application icon or folder > drag to Trash > Empty Trash.
Removing some OEM trial installs of Norton Internet Security on Windows XP: first, try and uninstall through Add/Remove Programs. Discover that program wasn’t installed. Scratch head. Refer to various support sites. Discover that uninstall requires the installation of an uninstaller. Discover joys of drinking before noon. Damages liver; improves sense of normalcy in a surreal world. Find uninstaller on OEM’s website. Install uninstaller. Now adding hard liquor to coffee – maybe I’m developing a problem. Run uninstaller. Uninstall uninstaller. Install “commercial” version of product. Use customer’s computer to locate nearest psychotherapist and substance abuse problem. Discover the joys of IE7. Go and find another bottle.
Sorry, I mean “substance abuse program” – see how dangerous Canadian Club can be on an empty stomach.
The last time I checked a new Mac with a trial version of Office, there was an uninstaller hidden in the Office folder. A pretty pain-free way of irradicating MS software. At least the MS MacBU has their heads screwed on the right way.
Apple includes things like Quicken (or used to) and Graphic Converter. How can you argue about software with such obvious value?
New hard drives often come loaded with a bunch of useless crap. I used to feel some weird obligation to back it all up and/or try it out first. Not any more.
I clog up my system with all kinds of add-on stuff. The difference? It’s MY choice to do so and I’m not stuck clearing off crap I don’t want, am uniterested in and will never use… like Office.
@Wil
Justin Long (mac) said “the only stuff that comes on a mac is stuff you want.”
I think that’s a valid point. I was glad that my MBP came with office so that I could decide whether or not I wanted to spend the money on it.
Meanwhile, at the friend rate of $25 an hour I spent almost 2 hours cleaning junk off of a brand new dell for a friend of my moms.
(All told, I spent 9 hours over there, but most of that time was spent moving software and data from her 11 year old windows 95 machine to her new xp machine. Oh, and finding xp drivers for her internal pci dsl modem….)
Sorry – I strayed a little bit from the topic there…..
@CitizenX
Not that I’m defending Windows or anything, but if you can’t get drivers off the manufacturer’s website, then that’s a bunch of crap, and should be fixed. I know you can get drivers from Dell and Acer on their websites, but I can’t believe that others would not allow this.
Not that it really helps, because in the end, you’re still using Windows. (Thank God for Linux, eh? I’d loose my sanity if I had to use Windows while waiting to get my MacBook…)
@ Oops,
No, I don’t think I’m an idio nor and idiot. I just like Mac ads to be accurate, since I have to deal with switchers everyday. It’s true that PCs have a lot more trial software,
but the ad insinuates that Macs have none. This isn’t true; and as a reseller that has to help new switchers wipe their Macbooks of conflicting Office software,
it would be better if Mac guy says “Macs just come with trial versions of Office and iWork, so you can work seamlessly with your PC friends” or something like that.
Previous commercials have already referenced Office, so it builds a narrative.
Thanks for your insightful comments, tho.
Jesus,
I know it is possible to hunt down the drivers, but should you have to with a new machine? Also, Compaq stated that the license for the drivers did not allow them to be given to machine owners or even to tell where they could be found. The license for the drivers was only good for their install disk, not any other method of distribution. That is when I took the machine back.
@DLMeyer
What the hell are you talking about??!!! Exactly what “semi-limited” utilities did you buy a Mac with?
Ugh!!
MDN Word: full; as in, you’re full of shit!
Yeah but non of the macs trails slow the computer.
Windows, You have a trail of a DVD player, Trail for Anti Virus & internet security, trial for a word processor, a bunch of trail version screen savers, games, Internet service provders, american online, picture software, video editing.
A new windows PC needs to be defragmented because it’s one big fragmented operating system when turned on the first time.
Macs, iWork and it’s usefull, Office for Mac can be useful depending on what you prefer so it’s not bad either.
Plus the system isn’t effected by these add on. You will pay for a full version of one of programs anyways.
You build a Windows PC from scatch or just install a fresh copy of windows on any any computer, it’s just lame. You have no special software. Just Internet Explorer and Windows media player, Windows messenger, Thats it. Theres nothing you can really do. Then you have to spend hundreds if not thousands to get what you really want running.
Versus the Mac that pretty much has everything you need to get going. All I ever had to by was Office for Mac, and Intego Anti virus for emergency and nothing else for my iMac, Mac Mini, and iBook.
So that is what Apple is really proving here.
Oh look, theres DL Meyer again
nothing to say but “Heres the link to my dumass webpage !”
“Wil”
Reads as a Microsoft plant.
Sorry but to ignore the huge and obvious difference between software that’s rooted in your install disks and impossible or nearly impossible to get rid of, that loads automatically and software that’s a demo copy of software you can run or not at your own leisure and drag to the traash and erase without much effort…
Not to mention PC “trailware” slows down brand new machines and is a big enough problem the people write about ways to get rid of it and major technology writers talk about how big of a problem it is..
Sorry but you’re a tool, and a troll or a paid for plant, not a real person with a real problem or point.
Now run along and collect your check from Redmond, thanks for playing tho!
“Wil has a point.”
No, he hasn’t. He’s deliberately defending the indefensible, and probably works at Redmond.
Mossberg’s earlier article already covered this *non*-“point”:
“Finally, an excellent way to avoid or minimize the craplet problem is to simply buy an Apple Macintosh computer. New Macs don’t have any craplets displayed on their desktops. On a new Mac, no third-party software is automatically launched when you start the computer, and you don’t need antivirus or antispyware programs because the Mac is essentially free from those menaces. So, even my year-old Mac laptop reboots roughly three times as fast as my three-week-old Sony.
Apple does include a few third-party programs on Macs, including one that, oddly, is for drawing comic-strip effects on photos. But these are tucked away in the applications folder and most are full working versions, not trials or offers. The main exception is a trial version of Microsoft Office. With some Mac models, you get trials of two Apple programs, iWork and FileMaker Pro. But these trials can be deleted simply by dragging the icons to the trash can.”
http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20070412.html
PC OEMs are abusing the public and should be called out for it.
Anyone criticizing this ad obviously hasn’t bought a Dell recently!
twilightmoon@mac.com
“Wil”
Reads as a Microsoft plant.
Yes, Bill Gates has sent agents here to MDN to spy on you guys!!! WOOO HOOOO.. He knows Apple is about to totally destroy the Microsoft empire…
Man Twilight Moon, Your are REAL Important person now buddy… A Big Boy Internet “expert” that Microsoft has to keep an eye on..
More like a delusional French fly boy at McDonald’s … Now run along get ready to put in your shift down at the golden arches.
Thanks for playing tho!
Wil:Since I work at a Mac reseller, I have had to help several customers wipe both their Trial Office and ‘Real’ Office, and then reinstall the full version, since there were conflicts between the two.
Whether it’s “Trial Office” or “Real Office,” it’s still Microsoft crapware.
@ Mindless Fanboy:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing
Would help if you were remotely informed of how the internet works, and how Microsoft works.
Did Wil get planted here by Microsoft? Don’t know, don’t care.. But I do know that Microsoft does send people on their payroll to pump them up, this is a well documented fact. Whether they bother with MacDailyNews.. who knows.. maybe..
But suggesting it isn’t as crazy as you think, it doesn’t cost much for a 280B market cap business to send a few nerds out onto the internet to post on various websites to pump up their image.
Next time you want to insult me, have something intelligent, and preferably informed, to say.
Thanks for playing tho!
Documentary filmmakers used to edit their footage by manually cutting up giant reels of celluloid with a razor blade. The price for entry was high, and the chances of an audience ever seeing your film were staggeringly low. But now fledgling directors equipped with cheap editing programs such as iMovie have found a new outlet on the internet, and an audience of millions who just can’t get enough.
[snip]
The kit you will need
If you’re using an Apple Mac, the iMovie software is bundled with your machine. This can edit regular MiniDV video and high-definition video. The documentary Tarnation was edited with a regular copy of iMovie and it got a cinema release. If you’re more adventurous you could take a look at Apple’s Final Cut software. If you’re using a PC then it’s worth investing in Adobe Premiere Elements.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2007/04/14/nosplit/dldoc14.xml
That’s a nice Mac ‘advert’ from the London Telegraph and coincident with the bundling story.