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rickey939 · May 1, 2006, 08:55 PM

Anybody seen the new Apple "Mac" TV ads that are airing starting today? I am not sure how many new ones are out, but I saw one just a few minutes ago on WGN.

It was pretty boring actually, but the premise was (2) guys speaking to each other...one was a Mac, the other was a PC. The PC guy was sneezing into a Kleenex and getting a "virus" while the Mac dude was just fine with no issues at all.

No links to the new ads on Apple.com from what I can see or find.

cybergoober · May 1, 2006, 09:02 PM

Saw that one on CBS earlier. No link yet. It was kinda funny when PC says, "Uh-oh I think I'm going to crash," and falls over.

Dunno how I feel about this campaign...

Edit: Just saw another one. PC has an iPod and likes how it works seamlessly with iTunes. Mac says, "You should check out iMovie, iPhoto and iDVD. They all work just as seamlessly and come bundled with every Mac. iLife." PC says, "Yeah, well I have some cool apps bundled, too." Mac says "Yeah, like what?" PC says, "... Calculator?" Mac says, "Sounds like hours of fun."
Or something like that. Glad they're not all targeted at the no viruses thing.

CobraNT · May 1, 2006, 09:46 PM

I thought they were hilarious. It is about time a company stated the truth about PC's and MS. The "Uh-oh I think I'm going to crash" was like icing on the cake.

Salty · May 1, 2006, 09:57 PM

Wish they had these up online!

rickey939 · May 1, 2006, 10:01 PM

It sounds like at least (3) new ads are out in this new series according to MacRumors...

1.) The older man says he's a "PC" while the younger (Justin Long) is a "Mac". One version goes

Mac: "Hello, I'm a Mac"
PC: "And I'm a PC"
Mac: "Oh, hey... iPod, nice."
PC: "Yeah, just a little something to hold my slowjam"
Mac: "Oh ya?"
PC: "And it works so seemlessly with iTunes"
Mac: "You should check out iMovie, iPhoto, iWeb cause they all work like iTunes. You know, iLife. It comes on every Mac"
PC: "i-L-i-f-e. Well, I - I have some very cool apps that are bundled with me"
Mac: "Well, like what?"
PC: "Calculator"
Mac: "That's Cool, anything else?"
PC: "Clock"
Mac: "Sounds like hours of fun... (or at least minutes)"

2.) Another security focused version:

Mac: "Hello, I'm a Mac"
PC: "And I'm a PC (sneezes)"
Mac: "Gesundheit, you ok?"
PC: "No, I'm not ok. I have that virus that's going around. "
Mac: "Oh Ya"
PC: "You better stay back, this one's a doosy"
Mac: "That's ok, I'll be fine"
PC: "No, no, do not be hero, last year there were 114,000 known viruses for PCs"
Mac: "PCs... not Macs"
PC: "I think I gotta crash (falls over)"
Mac: "If you think that'll help...

3.) A third version focuses on reviews, but only limited details so far:
The PC guy is reading a review to the Mac guy about the iMac and the PC guy pretends that there's a good one about him and makes up a fake magazine name.

k2director · May 1, 2006, 10:02 PM

I think Apple made a BIG mistake in portraying the Mac guy as a young man in his 20s, looking like he's got a job as a bike messenger, or a stock room clerk, or that he doesn't even have a job, and still lives at home with his parents. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

This just fuels the PC-using public's perception of Apple as being creative, but not serious. Different, but the wrong kind of different. Really, the dialogue is kind of clever, but who really wants to identify with the Mac guy? I can't believe an ad agency thought that kid would make a good model for Apple, and I can't believe Apple okayed it. What a wasted opportunity...

Salty · May 1, 2006, 10:07 PM

I'll reserve my judgement till I see the kid. But I could see Apple easily trying to cater to the young, hip, bike messenger wannabe crowd. If he looks trendy then that's just the image Apple is going for.

mduell · May 1, 2006, 10:15 PM

I'm watching the virus one on Fox right now during Prison Break.

jhonizzle · May 1, 2006, 10:57 PM

i wish it was on the net, maybe that would help me convert my office to mac!! when will they give in?

KeyLimePi · May 1, 2006, 11:03 PM

They're on the Apple site. I kinda like them.

JoshuaZ · May 1, 2006, 11:05 PM

So Macs now speak Japanese? Hmmm...

そですか！

SpaceMonkey · May 1, 2006, 11:20 PM

The "old guy" is John Hodgman. Woot.

Dark Helmet · May 1, 2006, 11:32 PM

http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/

The load when you hit Apples home page.

I find them cutesy and annoying, like some comedy troop performance at the computer campus bar.

Railroader · May 1, 2006, 11:35 PM

"better" is stupid.

The others a pretty funny.

That guy was good on "Ed".

Lateralus · May 1, 2006, 11:49 PM

I'm pleasantly surprised. They're still more dumbed down than I'd like but they're much better than the Switch ads.

Dark Helmet · May 1, 2006, 11:54 PM

I haven't liked an ad out of Apple for years. The last one I liked was the G4 with the Tanks I think.

Eug Wanker · May 2, 2006, 12:07 AM

I thought the ad about the Walt Mossberg review (the only new Apple ad I've seen so far) was really stupid. It was on during 24 on CBS.

The Ancient One · May 2, 2006, 12:32 AM

Can't say I'm thrilled with the new Mac ads, but I'm old. I have a hunch I'm not exactly their target market (although I will be buying two new Macs before the end of the year).

mindwaves · May 2, 2006, 12:39 AM

I thought they were stupid.

gperks · May 2, 2006, 12:44 AM

I think four of them are great. The networking and reviews pair are weaker. The others, along with their new getamac pages, are wonderful and made me laugh out loud. Apple is really gunning for marketshare. Both actors' deliveries are excellent.

slugslugslug · May 2, 2006, 12:54 AM

Sounds like I'll think they're stupid, but I haven't actually seen them yet, and I almost always think ads are stupid. Maybe one will come on during House this week and I'll hop off the fence.

At any rate, it seems like they'll be memorable and shown on multiple networks, and I think that's good.

Gator Lager · May 2, 2006, 01:02 AM

http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/

when I select a third video (doesn't matter which order selected) a little quicktime logo appears on the upper left corner of the page ?
never noticed that before ?

Salty · May 2, 2006, 01:03 AM

I liked em! Didn't much care for WSJ, I think they could have made the digital camera look cuter... but other than that... I thought the actor who played the Mac was PERFECT. All in all I think this was a great add, far better than most of the ones out there. And FAR FAR better than the Switch adds. I don't know if I'd compare it to the current iPod adds but...

Salty · May 2, 2006, 01:37 AM

What else is that in the PC's belt? By the way did I mention how much I like these actors?

Jasoco · May 2, 2006, 01:40 AM

I love them.

Better than the Switch commercials IMHO.

Beep beep beep beep.

Salty · May 2, 2006, 01:42 AM

It ate my paper...

Ozmodiar · May 2, 2006, 02:31 AM

I like them. I thought Networking was especially funny.

Also, I love Justin Long.

Apfhex · May 2, 2006, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

It was on during 24 on CBS.

You mean FOX?

I saw the "Viruses" and "WSJ" ones on TV tonight (I think they were both on NBC during Medium, but I also watched 24 so maybe that's where I saw them). I was unsure about how I felt until I saw the rest on Apple's site. I like the other ones better, especially the "Network" one, hehe. I like them. I think they may be a little too dumbed down... but I'm not exactly who the ads are targeted at.

©öñFü$íóÑ · May 2, 2006, 03:42 AM

i'd love to be the mac guy, connecting with the digital camera girl...........

brapper · May 2, 2006, 03:43 AM

I enjoyed them for the most part. I like the virus one.

OwlBoy · May 2, 2006, 03:43 AM

I like them, they actually talk about why you might want a mac. Instead of just showing how the Mac looks.

Most people I talk to say "I don't care what my computer looks like, so I don't need a mac".

Many don't know its more than that.

-Owl

Hal06 · May 2, 2006, 03:52 AM

Oh well… they are much like tele-shop for me, albeit with better lines… can't wait until the spoofs…

Big Mac · May 2, 2006, 04:18 AM

Odd. I don't know how popular these spots will be.

Spliff · 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I haven't liked an ad out of Apple for years. The last one I liked was the G4 with the Tanks I think.

I'm "meh" about the new ads, but here are some old ones I enjoyed.

Optical Mouse

iMac Merry-go-round

Feiss Stoner Switch Ad

Anti-Spam · May 2, 2006, 05:09 AM

I saw them today, and we all sat in the loung and was like

WOW, that was one hella boring add. Kinda lame, somethings that we would actually expect from MS more than Apple.

We all thought Apple is a pretty "HIP" Company, but this add is just lame.

Big Mac · May 2, 2006, 05:21 AM

General FYI: the abbreviation of advertisement is "ad" not "add." Add is a numerical operation.

Andy8 · May 2, 2006, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

So Macs now speak Japanese? Hmmm...

そですか！

いい　ですね！

moonmonkey · May 2, 2006, 06:52 AM

I like the ads, just what we need. Not so keen on the WSJ ad, seems a bit week.

KeyLimePi · May 2, 2006, 07:21 AM

That ticking sound you hear is the countdown to the first parody ad done in this style.

turtle777 · May 2, 2006, 07:33 AM

They are so so, I'm not especially excited about them. I don't know, but it seems to me like Apple is in need of a switch in marketing firms again...

-t

Apple Pro Underwear · May 2, 2006, 08:50 AM

here they are posted at Ars's Infinite loop...

scroll down for youtube links

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2006/5/1/3805

Dark Helmet · May 2, 2006, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Spliff

I'm "meh" about the new ads, but here are some old ones I enjoyed.

Optical Mouse

iMac Merry-go-round

Feiss Stoner Switch Ad

I agree I like all of those also. I am not so sure that mouse one aired though.

The coolest one is with HAL but it was just for a keynote.

quilmes · May 2, 2006, 09:54 AM

Can someone bring back "Think Different" i loved those. The serious tone is much better.

DeeKat · May 2, 2006, 10:22 AM

Theses ads are very well executed, shot and directed. The casting is good, those are very good actors! The communication axis is simple, effective and funny (for most of them). Good show Apple

I think Apple made a BIG mistake in portraying the Mac guy as a young man in his 20s, looking like he's got a job as a bike messenger, or a stock room clerk, or that he doesn't even have a job, and still lives at home with his parents. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Well I have to disagree on this as I look very much like the Mac guy and i'm a film and commercial director. Maybe it never crossed your mind but you dont have to look corporate to have a good carreer.

I'm convinced that a good ad campaign as to stand out which is what this one does. In a broadcasting context with a lot of «noise» you have to be incisive and yet simple and entertaining.

PS: I apologized for some spelling error, i'm french-canadian.

Dark Helmet · May 2, 2006, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by DeeKat

Well I have to disagree on this as I look very much like the Mac guy and i'm a film and commercial director. Maybe it never crossed your mind but you dont have to look corporate to have a good carreer.

I agree, the Mac dude looks exactly like the typical Mac user. Art geek.

That's not an insult.

mindwaves · May 2, 2006, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I agree I like all of those also. I am not so sure that mouse one aired though.

The coolest one is with HAL but it was just for a keynote.

I like them also besides the Ellen Feiss ad. I don't like the current ads, but I don't care as long as they are successful. The optical mouse ad ran for sure on tv. I'v seen it.

giggs11 · May 2, 2006, 11:18 AM

Meh... these ads don't really do it for me. PCs get viruses and Macs don't... oooh, how cutting edge! Well except anyone following the news lately knows that isn't quite true either.

To the average person, they'll come off as retreads of the old "Switcher" ads, especially with the white backdrop.

Jawbone54 · May 2, 2006, 11:48 AM

I loved the commercials, at least until I showed them to my dad, who I've been trying to convince to switch for a year now (he is so close...). He laughed out loud at the two that I showed him so far: the VIrus and Restart ones. Then he said, "Ryan, do you know what they're doing? They're making the PC look like the older dorky guy, like me, and the Mac is the younger guy, like you." My biggest issue in converting him has been that he isn't sure if he is the "Mac type."

Sure, Macs are mostly used by hipper, younger people, as well as graphics artists, music industry types, and videographers...but it seems to me that the average consumer would have the most to gain by switching to a Mac. Even the businessman who requires Windows for 2 or 3 programs every once in a while has no reason to switch now with Boot Camp being released soon (Beta versions scare people off).

I'm just worried that Apple might do more to turn off the 40+ crowd, even though they're the ones who are likely most susceptible to viruses and spyware, seeing that they're usually less educated about anti-virus software and such.

B Gallagher · May 2, 2006, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

So Macs now speak Japanese? Hmmm...

そですか！

i'd love to be the mac guy, connecting with the digital camera girl...........

Hehe.. I love it when the digital camera girl says "オタクっぽくない？" - "Doesn't he look like a nerd?" Good stuff. Funny ads.

Jawbone54 · May 2, 2006, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

I agree, the Mac dude looks exactly like the typical Mac user. Art geek.

That's not an insult.

*looks down at his clothes*

...I think he has a point.