Neowin.net

lame

how about you all get together and help me make a new OS i'm designing =)

all i need is programmers and some type of security anylist

and a spell checker...

It's kind of sad that the only thought those folks at Apple have is how to bash Microsoft for what they're doing. Why do they feel the need to make fun of Microsoft to make themselves look better?

i love how retarded apple is. they've nothing better to do than make fun of the big guy? oh wait that's what the underdog always does. they can't stand being in a far distant second so they immaturely try to belittle them. maybe they should use their time and money to produce better software. and get their fanboys some counseling for thinking they're superior.

Woo, Apple FTL.

This from the company that only runs ads saying "Windows sucks" without explaining the virtues of their own products... Whatever...

Someone is going to have to explain how these ads are going to demonstrate the inner quailties of Apple products.

i rather liked the ads lol

It wasn't $350 million, but $300 million.

The "advertising" ad was a good one. Didn't care for the "V-word" ad, though. I can't really blame Apple for taking MS down a peg or two this time since they pretty much hung themselves after that horrible Seinfeld/Gates fiasco.

LOL @ the sales and marketing noobs in this thread. Seriously. Another "Apple is so mean" whine thread.

You're taking it all very personally. The ads work like a charm. Why should they stop?? Because they're hurting the feelings and soft sensibilities of Windows-using Neowinians??

Apparently, the sales/growth figures disagree with you. In fact, the competition should be copying Apple, if anything. Apple is a company that is clearly in touch with the average user and produces things people want. What they've been doing has proven to be extremely effective. Is this not apparent??

well, all I can say is that I switched to Ubuntu 64 bit and burned my microsoft dvd THAT I PAID good money for. Vista was such a disappointment (paid extra for ultimate). I then turned to opensource and low and behold they are offering a more superior product. For one thing I don't have to load up on virus protection, spyware protection, firewall, malware protection. I use (firestarter, free) and the peace of mind of not been a frigging target of every creton looking to exploit my machine. I am done with the racket of having to pay for stuff that should be provided with my OS. I am done making the spyware, malware, virus companies rich. What sealed it for me was the fact that I wanted the Compiz effects. I have a dual core, dual video cards(SLI), raid0 system, and instead of my OS providing me with something comparable, I would have to go out buy Deskspace. Hell no, no more...NO MORE!!!

And here I was thinking to myself that the presidential campaign was ignorant and dirty.

I kinda find the ads a bit ironic though: your want to make the point that your opponent is advertising too much instead of focusing on their OS, and you do that by making your own ad? Talk about strange logic.

At least MS have the dignity to not make such stupid attacks at Apple.

Maybe you should all call the highly successful marketing team at Apple and tell them they've been doing it wrong all this time.

Unbelievable.

i hate apple for this, why do they think they are so much better than anyone else?

it's lame from Apple side, the Bean Counter ad speaks for itself, instead of Apple trying to show how the Mac is better they're wasting money looking Microsoft look bad. =-\, lame, simply lame

When will they go back to actually showcasing and advertising their product?

all i have to say is..... jajajajajajajaa kujajajajajajajajajaja jajajajjaaj microsuck =mocosuck =fusuck

Here we go again.. *sigh*

o_O Vista's already fixed.. Stupid Apple.

This advert had better be set in a barn somewhere near Apple Towers and filmed in black and white, or its a bit hyppocritical to moan about MS spending money on advertising.

IMHO the novelty wore off after the first set of "I'm a mac, I'm a pc" ads, they jus b*****n' now.

Hell, the only Microsoft ads I ever even SAW were the Vista ones

Yawn... Just when you think Apple advertising couldn't get any more pathetic (and inaccurate) they release these.

I can't believe that people are complaining about Apple's "smugness." Or some other nebulous, abstract side of their "attitude." As if that has ever, or ever will have any bearing on my purchases!! ROFL!

You've got to be kidding me.

They make a damn good product. They've been at the absolute forefront of the tech industry for a few years now, they set the bar in terms of hardware/OS design . . . and you all cry about their attitude toward the the competition???? It's their job.

Most of the responses in this thread are not only completely illogical, but its as if none of you have any concept of what it means to market a product. It's basic business understanding.

Stupid Apple? Seems they're the only smart ones in the industry. They're making an absolute killing. We should all study Apple and their extremely successful business model. And did I mention they make some really, really solid products? Can't deny that.

Wow. LOL.

Apple should talk instead of spending money on their ad campaign they should use the money to get more games for osx.

Ok both ads were bad. Just make ads showing off your computers and OS Apple and stop this silly game.

Now say I never heard of apple. And I watched this commercial. What kind of business could I conclude apple is? A community for people who enjoy bashing on windows? That is all the ad portrays. I could never conclude that apple is a computer company and that they are actually trying to sell me a product. Not from these commercials.

More substanceless propaganda ads from Apple. Boo! Next time, actually try to convince me to use your wares instead of pointing fingers at what others are doing 'wrong'. Fail.

Microsoft is getting ready with Windows 7...still Apple is far behind with Vista!!...Ask Apple to charge less for there not-worthy-laptop for that amount.. I can load OSX in Dell inspiron too (hahem if Apple sells the OS to load it on a dell)

The Bean Counter is so Funny LOL

Makes me glad competitive advertising is illegal in my country.

I don't see what wrong with Apple calling a spade a spade.

Its really sad how Apple resorts to negative ads to actually get people to buy their crappy product.. Microsoft's ads didn't make one negative comment about anything to do with Apple, besides the fact they were sort of poking fun at Mac's ads with the "I'm a PC" thing. Apple's the one being hostile here. Microsoft is ALWAYS improving Vista, with every update it gets better, and faster. People still think of Vista as the bloated OS that it originally was when it was launched, and Apple is taking advantage of that. Dirty tricks.

You see, Apple has to use negative ads because they just can't think of anything that's better about their OS that's boast-worthy.

Apple needs to decide if they are a hardware company or a software company. I've always heard they were a hardware company so they should not even care what MS is doing.

Attack ads, they're not just for politics!

Looks like Apple can't think of any more praises for Mac now. Attacking the competition is just childish and a sign of weakness.

Apple, do us a favour and just focus on improving iPods, and most of all, iTunes.

The problem is that as long as Apple continues to be so tight in their software/hardware, the competition (MS, music players, phones, etc) will continue to produce better products than theirs.

The iPod was what brought them back. The iPod's software is really good, but that's it.

Besides that, their OS is as good as any other OS out there.

Too bad they have to spend all their ad dollars bashing other products instead of touting there own, makes you wonder if maybe they don't have anything all that special really? Weak, condescending and getting more than a little old.

Overpriced hardware, waiting longer for Mac versions of mainstream software (PhotoShop Elements, Quicken and Office are always lagging in releases and features), charging for firmware. I'd probably try to keep the eye on my competitor too if I had these issues.

Last edited by bob_c_b on 20 Oct 2008 - 21:29

I don't know whats wrong with people who are talking about what they dont know!
the apple mac campigns are some kind of episodes, the talked about their products upsides in some, and vista downsides on otherones, and bashed microsoft in another ones too

the thing about those last 2 ads is that:
microsoft has played a little mean game in their ads "iam a pc", which is: changing apple true intentions (which is making some ads about how pcs do less a hassle compaered to macs with this guy playing the role of the PC) and twisted it to the concept that apple is making fun of PC users themselves (as if that pc guy represents pc users, which is wrong)

this was a trick microsoft was trying to trun people against apple morally! and thats so twisted!
SO APPLE IS NOT BLAMED TO RESPOND TO THEIR LITTLE DIRY MEAN TRICK WITH THOSE LAST ADS, SAYING: NICE TRY!

edit:
and by the way, when apple tells in the mac ads that the bigger market share os, has that hassles and their products does not!, that means that they are telling whats their products good about, but in a different way!

Last edited by Pink Waters on 20 Oct 2008 - 21:58

Like the ever-losing type of politician, Apple (and their army of RDF'd idiots) can do nothing better than to bash their competition. And even then, They don't get ahead in terms of market share or sales, Compared to Microsoft.

This is just sad.

Edit: Oh, and to certain furious fanboys posting in this thread.. Seriously, I do think you need help. Defending a brand you have no relation to what so ever is just plain worrying. Seek help. Now.

oh this was way better than the MS ads, and funny too... guess what they didn't even have to get someone like Seinfeld or another comedian to try and make it funny (which makes it completely lame of MS).

Watch the MS fanboys jealousy in the truth come out.

So...are any of these companies ever going to make ads which actually show what using the OS is like?

It's kinda funny how I know about all of the amazing things that ShamWow can do but OSX and Vista are still nebulous concepts to me as an average commercial viewer.

at least these ads made me laugh, seinfeld doesnt.

Anyone want to place a bet that Apple will accuse Microsoft of "pallin' around with terrorists" in their next ad?

The big pile of cash is the PC guy's Mac hardware savings fund and the little one is for building a new PC with similar specs.

Thank goodness Apple has responded, and responded it has well.

Why must so many people take these ads so personally?

There is far too much hostility, name calling and assumptions being made in here. It's almost as if you can't say anything bad about Vista, warranted or not, without starting a flame war. I also find it hypocritical that someone above me mentions Apple's users RDF, because lately I've noticed a strong one resonating around Vista users as well.

For the record, I have used Vista since the day it was released and have went through all of it's growing pains. I'm still going through some and I am tired of waiting for vendors (Creative) and Microsoft to do something about it. The waiting and frustration has convinced me to switch to Apple in the near future and I don't consider myself any better than the next user.

A lot of you need to geek down and to stop taking these ads so seriously. Ignore them if you have to and know that all is fair when it comes to competition.

I think they worked, and it's funny how many fangirls in this thread are offended by that.

As much as I love Apple's products, those kinds of ads are getting old and are now simply stupid.

is this the reason i dislike Apple and don't want to buy a Mac, their Ads are totally childish

is this the way that a company express themselves ? for me don't look any different from a bunch of kids and treating everyone as such making me not trust on any product of them

if i wanted to see kids promoting their products simply can go to a university and see their projects

and no, i'm not a anti mac, not a microsoft/vista fanboy or whatever, i will say the same of any company doing ads like this and such making me not buy anything from them

These are my favorite ads from Apple!

Macs vs. PCs*thumbsup*

OH MY GOD why does everyone get so ANGRY about these things?

Can't the Mac fanboys just concede Windows is more useful and Windows users concede MacOS is prettier and be done with it?

that made me lol

I seem to have forgotten the day 'advertising' was no longer talking about yourselves or your products, but talking trash about your competition and nothing else. That's the same thing as the election campaigns on both sides of the border. :/

Like honestly, an average consumer couldn't give a ****ing damn that Microsoft spent X amount of dollars in ad campaigns. How is that beneficial in anyway to the average Joe?

After spending millions of dollars on advertising the two OS giants fall to operating systems created for free by the OSS community.

On one hand I found them kind of funny (mostly because I think the actors do a pretty good job), on the other I found them highly annoying because of full of bull****.

I have to say I'm getting sick of these ads, all that Apple can seem to do is hack on Windows... Tout your own bloody software like a normal company and yes for you out there I am a Windows user and yes I don't like Apple, but seriously is it that hard to make an ad that isn't bashing the competition. As far as I am aware Windows have never created an ad to directly attack Mac (but I could have easily missed all of those).

Well, in all honesty I would like to see Apple release an OS that targets the sheer variety of hardware (Including driver and component support) that Microsoft works to target. I really am impartial here as I like both companies really, but these adds are really unfair to Microsoft (Though funny). Apple doesn't take on anywhere near the challenges Microsoft does and instead locks down their OS so that it can't run on anything BUT Apple hardware. So, come on Apple? If it's so easy, realease Snow Leopard for PC... I dare ya'... :p

I think its just plain Sad, I do like the look and everthing else about OS X but still no decent hardware or game support. Maybe they should look at spending there advertisment cash on supporting games rather then having a dig at microsoft!

Haha I thought the ads had a lot of humour.

My company would love to have a marketing dept. like Apple.

Well, to settle matters, the problem with the recent ad bashing galore seems to be that apple contracted creatives haven't been able to find an easy target to steal a good idea for a new have of advertising, as such they just keep on repeating the same ideas with variations on the latest trends.

Louis Psihoyos - Photo wall apple TV ad - stolen after negotiations with apple failed
Christian Marclay - iphone telephones - stolen after negotiations with apple were declined
Lugz - Apple copied the shoes commercial - apple ended up having to pull the ad
The Postal Service - music video almost cloned shot by shot - apple feigned ignorance it existed
Jobs admitting the ripping off - http://youtube.com/watch?v=J0UjU0rtavE

Here's a little more detail - http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/apples-...ng-off-artists/

Apple's "think different", and the Picasso appropried frase "Good artists copy, Great artists steal" is starting to get thinner by the ad.

Last edited by pax13 on 21 Oct 2008 - 10:36

These ads just seem childish... not calling Windows by its name... "Vista".. vista isn't its "name" it's the name of the version... so that ad just feels really dumb... MS can't call Windows, Windows? what happens when Windows 7 comes out... Apple going to run ads saying don't but "7"? no they will say dont get windows... I just don't know, these ads turn me off from Apple more then make me want to buy a mac, sure they are nicely designed, but these just make me look at apple as the bully in the market while MS tries to keep their ads more friendly....

http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=c...45&Itemid=1

Somewhat offensive, But sums it up.

lol... I really don't see how the average person can really care about the ads this much. Fair enough if you find them annoying. Plenty of ads are annoying... But they're just ads.

Last edited by acies on 21 Oct 2008 - 12:55

LOL that last one was brilliant

Ads don't need to showcase anything about the product being sold. It can be done indirectly. Effective ads don't even need to include any kind of speech or text!

There is a place for both negative and positive advertising. Negative ads may seem distasteful to certain individuals, but they can be incredibly effective. It is not a sign of weakness, it is not a sign of imaginative bankruptcy - it's an attempt to put your product in the best possible light by turning the tables and emphasizing your opponent's shortcomings. This has been practiced for years, not just in advertising, but in politics, business, all walks of life. it isn't just about selling a product, it's about finding a weakness (or one that your target/audience is able to perceive) and then exploiting it. YOU have likely engaged in this kind of behaviour as well! In relationships, business dealings, etc. It's about taking your opponents image, and then substituting with your own. If he goal was not to sell anything, we can play this nicely all the time. But in such a fast-changing industry as tech, you have to be deliberate and even aggressive at times. It's not dirty, it's all part of the process.

Advertising's goal is to ultimately influence the audience - to get them to believe something, to behave a certain way, to view a thing, object, person, etc. in a different light that will result in sales. You don't need to showcase or demo your product at all! It can be direct or indirect. it can be an implied message, or a direct message, or a mixture of both.

Mac vs. PC ads have been on for a while now. It's only recently that Apple has decided to target Microsoft a bit differently than before - they've perceived a weakness, a chink in their armour and are now exploiting it. Simple as that. It isn't bad or good. It just *is*. It's amoral.

I'm not being paid by Apple. I don't fly out to Cupertino in order to participate in any kind of "consumer appreciation event." I just like to defend effective, ballsy advertising. Apple is a company that spent its time in the shadows during the 90's. And out of nowhere it strode out and asserted itself among big, established players such as Dell and HP. That's impressive. Their products are now the most sought-after in the tech industry. Top sellers on Amazon.com. The darling of tech reviewers. You can hate them. You can find their methods offensive. But don't begrudge them their success despite huge odds. They don't sell junk. Everyone knows that. You can't deny that they do indeed have a commitment to quality that is uncommon in this industry, which has resulted in not only a large population of switchers, but repeat business. Satisfied customers.

Apple's success doesn't excuse them from any wrongdoing, however. Same as MS' success doesn't excuse them from any wrongdoing as well (a la antitrust.) But we need to also understand that all's fair in love and war. If you were reaping the benefits of negative advertising, you would certainly not complain. It's really all a matter of perception, all a matter of where you happen to be sitting. If I had the opportunity to capitalize on my opponent's weakness, to exploit their fumble of the ball, I'll do it. It's an opportunity, that's all it is. If it works, it'll leave my image, my product, as the alternative - and hopefully consumers will have a far better experience with my products. That's the goal. At the end of the day, the only reason to be in business is to make money. This isn't for everyone. There are plenty of non-profit, charitable organizations that operate differently. But if you have stakeholders, if you have an available target market, if there are expectations in terms of revenue and profit, then you really can't be worried about hurting the competition's feelings.

So the next time you see a negative ad, just remember that the only one yelling "dirty tricks" . . . is the other side.

Until they do it too.

Playing nice works only some of the time.

Cheers.

Ok, those two ads made me laugh. Good job, apple.
V-word: Ok, lame premise but it's executed well.
Been-counter: Now that's funny. I don't care if you're a mac-fan or a MS Fanboy, or if you are a weenie and can't find the any button on the keyboard; this is pure comedy gold. Very well done, good job Apple.

I thought these were hillarious! I can always count on an Apple ad to make me laugh because of how much they hit home being a former Windows user.

Oh please. Another bad advertisement from Apple. Please Apple, instead of only bad mouthing MS, try and promote your product. If this is the only way Apple can promote itself by bad mouthing MS...then they are in big trouble. If you cannot make your stuff sell without these lame ads, then you pretty much suck and dont know how to advertise. MS never had to do this.

And yes MS is putting a lot of $$$ towards advertising...because the can and they CAN AFFORD IT! There is nothing wrong with Vista ( i have it installed on 4 systems no issues), just people bitching and moaning because for the first time EVER, they need a decent system to run a Windows OS. Apple has ALWAYS had better hardware in their systems because their OS has required that for A LONG TIME. Yea, MS paid 300mil for advertising...thats just chump change for MS. Apple is just moaning and complaining because all they can do is hire nobodies and create a commercial with 2 morons on a white background chatting. You know what Apple, stop your crying and advertise your PRODUCTS. Maybe if you do this and stop trying to bad mouth MS, your company will do better. This kind of bad mouthing tactics are not working in the Presidential election and will fail here. Its been proven that people dont want to hear bad mouthing but information on what the company/person is selling. Apple doesnt want to battle MS in advertising. MS has MUCH more money to promote their products and create new products. MS could buy Apple and make them their bitch if they wanted...haha...but hey, no one wants that.

Last edited by techbeck on 21 Oct 2008 - 15:12

Really sad ad by Apple This makes me not want to buy a Mac even more.

Maybe they should change their company name from Apple to Rotten Tomato. That's what it seems they want to be remembered for hurling

Last edited by devHead on 21 Oct 2008 - 18:41

When you are the underdog or trying to compete with the big dog, you have to resort to negative advertising. Instead of telling people about the greatness of your product, you bash the product from the competitor instead. Microsoft still dominates the Apple in terms of PC sales, its not even close. And it will stay that way for many years. Microsoft being the big dog, they don't need to resort to negative advertising because they are dominating. And in terms of MP3 players and iPhones, notice Apple never resort to negative ads because they dominate those markets.

I liked the I'm a Mac/PC ads at first but they are just annoying now. They are only making fun of Microsoft instead of telling me why Apple is better. Negative campaigning only can take you so far (to take a line from politics).
Not that Microsoft's ads have been any better. Neither of them get into the core reason why you might choose one OS over another.

I think the second one probably isn't really an ads, I think its more to help microsoft with its budgets

Why so serious? In my opinion, the ads are not to break down MS or people who use Windows. They're just made to laugh. That's why in the ads, the mac is a funny guy and the pc is boring. They want you to know you have to laugh with things. I'm sick of these kind of comments EVERY SINGLE TIME. If you can't stand the ads, don't look at them. And if you take that back at me for saying "if you can't stand these comments, don't come to neowin" than that's ok. I'll never read anything here again. What the hell is wrong with you people? It's like you have to hate each other.

Heh. And despite the "problems" with Vista, it has still out-sold Mac OS X by leaps and bounds. How embarrassing for Apple. No wonder their ads scream desperation.

Instead of these companies attacking each other with ads, they need to spend more time working on software and fixing what's wrong with both OS's. Just my two cents.

Actually, these ads are effective with two types of people: 1. mac fanboys 2. insecure clueless young people