Apple release new "Get a Mac" ads

[Kirkburn]

You mean like how MSFT is preventing WMP from working in OS X or how XBOX games will not play on anything other than an XBOX? Should I be able to play PS/2 games on my Gamecube?

:laugh:

It is only insulting if you are emotionally invested in your platform choice so deeply that you take it personally.

I'm not taking it personally. It is, however, insulting those who develop for the PC (games, for example).

You are missing my point regarding usage of software on other platforms. Apple is citing the fact that Windows can be used on a Mac as a benefit (of using a Mac), when they are the ones preventing OSX being used on a PC.

I am of the opinion that adverts should at least treat their viewer with respect, and not try and mislead them into incorrect views. Whether or not others do the same (as I'm sure MS does, before you start on me), it doesn't ever make it 'okay'.

Edit: as an aside, I have no problem with OSX. I only have a problem with the 'Get a Mac' and similar ads

Edited June 13, 2006 by Kirkburn

[spaceusb]

Mac is like picking on the company who is bigger than it.

Macs may be nice and the such, but they never mention it's problems (Of course).

The PC in the ads should already be the winning OS in those ads.

[andrewhaji]

I am of the belief that the new ads are incredible. Apple should win an award for best television commercial.

To all those badmouthing it for being biased toward a Mac, I say this: OF COURSE IT IS! It's a commercial. Commercials are intended to make people want to buy your product without blatantly lying (we have regulators who make sure of that).

[Joel]

I am of the belief that the new ads are incredible. Apple should win an award for best television commercial.

To all those badmouthing it for being biased toward a Mac, I say this: OF COURSE IT IS! It's a commercial. Commercials are intended to make people want to buy your product without blatantly lying (we have regulators who make sure of that).

Too bad they still are misleading. There are plenty of blatant lies right on that getamac page.

It's funny that one point is that there's nothing like trial software installed (because Apple controls the entire OS/hardware combo), but mention that MS would control the whole package and the lawsuits would fly.

[Kirkburn]

I am of the belief that the new ads are incredible. Apple should win an award for best television commercial.

To all those badmouthing it for being biased toward a Mac, I say this: OF COURSE IT IS! It's a commercial. Commercials are intended to make people want to buy your product without blatantly lying (we have regulators who make sure of that).

Just because something is a commercial, doesn't suddenly make it okay to mislead people. Do you seriously believe that those ads deserve an award? They're neither innovative nor 'interesting'.

They can get away with misleading people because it is never specific, but relies on stereotypical views.

Edit: the sensible people aren't badmouthing it because it's biased. They're badmouthing it because it's dishonest.

[Joel]

To aristotle-dude: I bet MS could actually prove that Windows 2003 Server saved x amount of dollars or time over a *nix or Apple offering, but in their own setup. Sure, that's marketing. But Apple is claiming sheer falsehoods regarding provable, non-changing points (like the fun factor, as if games never existed on a PC).

[wctaiwan]

I have not read the entire 8-page topic, so I apologize if I repeat what someone else had said.

In one of the first ads, there was one about viruses and that Macs don't get a lot of them. It's not technically true. If it were said before they switched to Intel chips, it might be true. If they used 'Mac OS' and 'Windows' instead of 'Mac' and 'PC', it might be true too. Now that they got Boot Camp and anyone can legally and easily dual boot Mac OS and Windows on a Mac, you can't really say Macs don't get viruses. :/ So if I were a normal user, I would be mislead thinking "Oh! If I install Windows on Mac hardware, I wouldn't get viruses!".

wctaiwan

Edited June 14, 2006 by wctaiwan

[macro]

Misleading ads? Not at all, the whole campaign is "Get a Mac" it's targeted to getting people to switch. If you had to sit someone down infront of a new computer and let them on the internet, would you feel safer getting them behind a Mac or a Windows machine? For the average person going online and using a computer for everyday tasks makes more sense on a Mac in my opinion. And in my experience a user has to be more techie to maintain a Windows machine than a Mac. If you care enough to be bothered by this kind of ad you aren't being "mislead" you already know better. These are to sway the average user to the Apple platform, and they won't be using benchmarks to do that. It's not false advertising but if they are off, no one is going to care (except for on forums on the internet maybe)

[saxondale.]

There are plenty of blatant lies right on that getamac page.

Can you at least back yourself up, what are they?

[wctaiwan]

If you had to sit someone down infront of a new computer and let them on the internet, would you feel safer getting them behind a Mac or a Windows machine?

For everyone's information I got a Mac last Friday and I'm absolutely loving it. I was only making the point that Apple is providing some sort of misleading / incorrect information in their ads. And now they make Boot Camp so easy to use and advertise it to everyone that goes to Apple Center, even some of my non-techie relatives are thinking that if they get a Mac they'd install Windows on it. If Windows is used, there is really no difference in the safety / security. The point is that it's mainly the software (Mac OS) / structure (previously Power PC) that makes the difference, not the glowing Apple logo on your machine. :rolleyes:

wctaiwan

Edited June 14, 2006 by wctaiwan

[balupton]

These 3 adds are a major improvement over the previous adds, although they where all missleading.

Touche - The reason that mac will not boot on a windows machine is because apple will not allow it.

Out of the box - What trial software? And for the drivers, i think i don't mind downloading software for my 12 button mouse compared to a 2 button white mouse any day.

Work vs Home - Eh.

Apple should be trying to convince the audience why mac's are 'better' unbiasly, instead of trying to force it down our throats.

I use windows xp, 2000, vista, linux and mac machines nearly everyday, don't bother flaming at me.

I think macs are a great product but these adverts are biased and misleading.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Hmm what trial software... I made my own pc and had no trial software.

let's see some serious gaming going on a Mac then (without having to install windows in it)

Hmm this ads are just stupid >_>... cool but stupid

They are comparing it to a person going out and buying a dell rather than an apple computer. They aren't advertising to the geeks

[xxdesmus]

Says the man with a windows logo as his avatar and in his sig shaped in the form of an aero style window.

:rolleyes:

No, says the man who has stated far more times than necessary: I don't like Windows, I don't like OSX, and I vaguely like Linux. I don't use Windows because I am in love with it, because I believe they do everything perfectly, I use it because it's the best available option. To put it bluntly: it sucks the least considering my options. It's sad, but true.

Here you go, another advertisement that is plainly incorrect and smug.

:sleep:

I am sure you had a point, I guess I just seemed to have missed it.

You're entitled to your opinion, I really could not care any less what it might be.

The ads are pathetic because they are misleading, inaccurate, and only playing off the current trendiness that is everything Apple. Why not have the "cool trendy" teenager listening to his iPod, while he is downloading music from the iTs, all while making a god awful website using iWeb...and then we'll have the nerdy middle aged man looking confused. Quite original guys.

The difference between a Microsoft commercial and a commercial by Apple is pretty simple. Microsoft could not care less about Apple, they aren't even worth mentioning or even implying.

You know what I'd love to see? A Windows user portrayed like the average Windows user, we'll say roughly 30 something, doing normal things on his computer with no problems like the vast majority of us...then we'll have a 12 year old kid with acne all over his oily face, he'll be wearing a shiny iPod-white suit, he'll be trying to look cool while still failing at life because no one really cares about him.

I am sorry, but Apple is as smug and arrogant as it comes. Google is a distant second, though Google is showing less and less smug-ness with every half-assed "beta" release they put out.

Edited June 14, 2006 by xxdesmus

[aristotle-dude]

Too bad they still are misleading. There are plenty of blatant lies right on that getamac page.

It's funny that one point is that there's nothing like trial software installed (because Apple controls the entire OS/hardware combo), but mention that MS would control the whole package and the lawsuits would fly.

They are no more misleading than the average commercial. What lies? Do you use both? I use both OS and XP more than OS X because that is what I use at work.

To aristotle-dude: I bet MS could actually prove that Windows 2003 Server saved x amount of dollars or time over a *nix or Apple offering, but in their own setup. Sure, that's marketing. But Apple is claiming sheer falsehoods regarding provable, non-changing points (like the fun factor, as if games never existed on a PC).

Whatever dude. They were suggesting that upgrading from Windows 2000 Server would somehow affect the "developers" who would be working on their local machines anyway. I speak from experience as a linux and windows software developer. Those MSFT ads are pure fluff.

You keep on saying the Apple ads had falsehoods but you have not backed it up.

[linked]

I'm a PC repair guy. I fix Windows and Linux machines.

I have a reason to dislike Mac ads, because they cost me customers.

However, what *REALLY* frustrates me is when a customer calls me to ask what kind of computer to buy, and starts asking about Macs, because I have to *explain to them* why the Mac commercials lie. That's happened twice today alone. "No, sir, you can edit videos just fine on your PC."

Or when they call to tell me they've switched, but they're having problems with their new computer. I hate to tell them, "I'm sorry, but I can't fix that. You'll have to pay extra for a Mac repairman."

Also, I hate when users call me frustrated, because they have a "Virus" or because their PC is crashing. They blame me, the operating system, the browser, Bill Gates and Ghandi, but fail to aknowledge that it's all user error, and they still have problems after they switch to Mac.

To that extent, I can't stand when users call and insist that they have a "Virus". Blaster aside, I've only seen one real virus in the last 12 months. Spyware, popups and toolbars don't count; Everything I've seen could have been avoided by users clicking "no." Viruses exist for Windows, sure, but they're not prevalent, IMO.

That's what frustrates me most about Mac commercials that lie; I have to explain to my clients that the TV isn't always honest.

[L3thal Veteran]

How else is Apple going to lure in customers if they don't lie?

[Liquid]

I don't see any lies. Alot is true. Especially out of the box. Remember we are talking about the average joe here. Not someone willing to pay extra money for anything. They buy computer, go home. A mac, you can take it out of the box, plug it in and you're done. On a PC, you have to install a proper AV, delete all that crap they load on the desktop, download updates, blah blah blah. Video editing, making a dvd, etc, it IS easy on a mac. I have proved this to many people over the past while. How? I recorded some video on a DV camera. I give it to the customer and tell them to edit this video on the PC, an OUT OF THE BOX PC. They can't figure it out (I help turn the camera on). Now I tell them to do it on the Mac. They plug it in, iMovie launches and asks to capture video. They capture and they are on there merry way. They also throw it over to iDVD and make a dvd. Try doing that on Windows OUT OF THE BOX. Nope, can't be done. Not easily or without downloading a burning app of some sort. I don't care how much you argue, life is easier on a mac, end of story.

[xxdesmus]

I don't see any lies. Alot is true. Especially out of the box. Remember we are talking about the average joe here. Not someone willing to pay extra money for anything. They buy computer, go home. A mac, you can take it out of the box, plug it in and you're done. On a PC, you have to install a proper AV, delete all that crap they load on the desktop, download updates, blah blah blah.

That has absolutely nothing to do with the Windows OS, have a talk with Google/AOL/and every other crappy vendor putting crap on new computers...It's not like non-Mac users like/use 95% of that utter crap anyways. Also, there is likely going to be several updates for your Mac out of the box as well. Just fyi...

Video editing, making a dvd, etc, it IS easy on a mac. I have proved this to many people over the past while. How? I recorded some video on a DV camera. I give it to the customer and tell them to edit this video on the PC, an OUT OF THE BOX PC. They can't figure it out (I help turn the camera on). Now I tell them to do it on the Mac. They plug it in, iMovie launches and asks to capture video. They capture and they are on there merry way. They also throw it over to iDVD and make a dvd. Try doing that on Windows OUT OF THE BOX. Nope, can't be done. Not easily or without downloading a burning app of some sort. I don't care how much you argue, life is easier on a mac, end of story.

^^ Maybe 1 out of 20 computer users will ever need to record some video off of a DV camera. So that is hardly a good example. Sure, a Mac does that well, but that is definitely not a compelling feature. The "average user" is going to sit down at his new computer and try to get online. This can be easy or this can be a hassle regardless of if you're using Windows or a Mac. Assuming the computer is now online then they will check email, browse ebay, search on google, and then maybe play solitaire or online poker. That's really just about it. There is no way the average user is going to be recording video (iMovie and iDVD), making music (Garage Band), or even creating a website (iWeb). At best they will use iTunes and iPhoto. Yes, a certain Mac might be easier to set up, but setting up a Mac Mini or a G5 is the exact same as setting up any Windows desktop. Sure, you get a iMac then it's a different story (just like any other all-in-one Windows desktop system, well duh.

Edited June 14, 2006 by xxdesmus

[wctaiwan]

I think it's fair to say that a Mac is better out of the box, but you can do more with a PC. But in my opinion this is mainly because Macs don't have a great market share and most developers only develop applications for Windows. So if we take third party things out of the game, I think Macs are better. But to be fair, while Apple laughs at PCs having to remove trial software, don't they bundle iWork '06 trial and Microsoft Office Test Drive with new macs? :/

wctaiwan

[FlibbyFlobby]

Meh, what a pile of crap. I hate it when companies misinform people.

Both OS's have update applications which get all the latest patches, and the last time I setup a Mac (yesterday) there was plenty to download. Also PC's are so boring that you can run all your games on them (Can you on a mac without buying Windows XP)? :no: If Windows XP sucks so much why are they advertising the fact it runs it anyway!? I might add that in my experience OS X Tiger seems to crash more than Windows XP especially when I'm using Apples bundled media applications (and trial software!) The Mac setup process also takes a while longer than XP's too, having to give an address, phone number, email etc, really shouldn't be required, its tedious.

Seriously, they need to give up this PC slander campaign, its petty. They should focus on pumping out some good value machines, instead of over priced ones, perhaps then they might make more sales.

Edited June 14, 2006 by ziadoz

[balupton]

wctaiwan, thats because microsoft supports it's developers, apple doesn't.

Liquid ever heard of XP and MovieMaker?

[linked]

Here's food for thought-

Sure, Macs are great, they now run Windows, too. But in that case, why won't my x86 machine run OSX? Shouldn't it go both ways?

Whoops, no. Because OSX isn't compatible with my hardware.

It's a cruel hypocrasy that one of the Mac ads features something about "just working" with other hardware such as cameras and printers, and neglects support for my whole computer (full of standard parts).

[topher1078]

Ugh please MovieMaker is a joke. It's slow, hard to connect a camera to, and just a lousy piece of software. Say what you will about iMovie, but when directly compared to MovieMaker there's really no comparison for ease of use and features - iMovie wins by a landslide.

[linked]

Ugh please MovieMaker is a joke. It's slow, hard to connect a camera to, and just a lousy piece of software. Say what you will about iMovie, but when directly compared to MovieMaker there's really no comparison for ease of use and features - iMovie wins by a landslide.

Hmm, that's fair, but I'd say Adobe Premier wins by a landslide against iMovie.

So, although Premier is far from free, and far from bundled, the "PCs can't edit videos" argument put forth in the commercial is still rubbish.

[balupton]

Sure, Macs are great, they now run Windows, too. But in that case, why won't my x86 machine run OSX? Shouldn't it go both ways?

Whoops, no. Because OSX isn't compatible with my hardware.

Actually your hardware supports it, apple just has a few checks in it to prevent it running on non apple hardware.

And most of these comparisons so far have been about macs software, not the operating system.

Seems kinda dumb spending a exorbant amount of money just to run some software.