Apples New Ad Campaign? Bad Move?
Monday, June 24, 2002 by mormegil | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
As someone who makes a living doing Graphic Design, on PC’s. I have always had a bit of angst toward the *Mac People* out there who think Macs are the only way to do anything creative.
However, I am a big fan of the tenacity of Steve Jobs. I Admire the fact that he is hell bent on making what he sees as the best computer he can make. And of late, at least since OS-X, or should I say NeXTstep reborn, I think that they have been making great systems. I would not go so far as to say the best, but very impressive. I have to give great praise to the creativity of design, and say it takes balls to just change standards whenever they get out dated.
That said, I have to gripes.
I am buying a new MAC G4 next month, not to replace my PC, just to go along with it. I like the BSD base of OSX and figure I can kill two birds with one stone and improve my knowledge base while I am at it. I think Mac and PC, can get along just fine, and that each has its strengths. This is costing me way more then A equivalent PC but I have been saving for a year, and I am going to do it anyway.
Now comes Apples New Ad campaign, which is amid at PC users. It almost lost the sale to This PC User when I first saw it. The Why I see it is This campaign will not attract any more PC users then before and will alienate the More Tech Savvy PC Users. (That they have been attracting for the last year with OS-X) The New adds seem to me to say, replace that crappy PC with a cool MAC. This insults anyone who likes there PC, I being one, and then try to sell the Mac on the on its Aesthetic appeal. No Facts are given. Tech Savvy PC Users what to know what makes the system better, not that it is “Not Windows”.
And my biggest gripe is that in all of that adds I have seen so far they make it a Black and White issue, They say quite using your PC throw it away and use a MAC. In my experience your average person doesn’t want to through away all they have learned and start over. That approach doesn’t seem to be a selling point. I use both, and soon will own both.
My question is:
As a largely PC community of Designers, Users, and Artist, do the new Apple ads piss you off or make you think of buying a Mac?
And Secondly, how may of you use both PC’s and Macs? And what do you think of the new Ads?
However, I am a big fan of the tenacity of Steve Jobs. I Admire the fact that he is hell bent on making what he sees as the best computer he can make. And of late, at least since OS-X, or should I say NeXTstep reborn, I think that they have been making great systems. I would not go so far as to say the best, but very impressive. I have to give great praise to the creativity of design, and say it takes balls to just change standards whenever they get out dated.
That said, I have to gripes.
I am buying a new MAC G4 next month, not to replace my PC, just to go along with it. I like the BSD base of OSX and figure I can kill two birds with one stone and improve my knowledge base while I am at it. I think Mac and PC, can get along just fine, and that each has its strengths. This is costing me way more then A equivalent PC but I have been saving for a year, and I am going to do it anyway.
Now comes Apples New Ad campaign, which is amid at PC users. It almost lost the sale to This PC User when I first saw it. The Why I see it is This campaign will not attract any more PC users then before and will alienate the More Tech Savvy PC Users. (That they have been attracting for the last year with OS-X) The New adds seem to me to say, replace that crappy PC with a cool MAC. This insults anyone who likes there PC, I being one, and then try to sell the Mac on the on its Aesthetic appeal. No Facts are given. Tech Savvy PC Users what to know what makes the system better, not that it is “Not Windows”.
And my biggest gripe is that in all of that adds I have seen so far they make it a Black and White issue, They say quite using your PC throw it away and use a MAC. In my experience your average person doesn’t want to through away all they have learned and start over. That approach doesn’t seem to be a selling point. I use both, and soon will own both.
My question is:
As a largely PC community of Designers, Users, and Artist, do the new Apple ads piss you off or make you think of buying a Mac?
And Secondly, how may of you use both PC’s and Macs? And what do you think of the new Ads?
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migellito
Reply #22 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 12:11 PM
Reply #22 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 12:11 PM
crae, you've had that thing how long now? like at least 4 yrs that i know of, iirc.
i'm sure you could find even a super cheap used machine that's way faster. you should shop around
i'm sure you could find even a super cheap used machine that's way faster. you should shop around
adni18
Reply #23 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 1:10 PM
Reply #23 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 1:10 PM
I have the information that Apple is preparing the Mac Os X to run with any machine, so the PC users can have an option to choose between Windows or Mac OS X. Those are very good news!
I am using Mac machines 15 years now and I am very glad about it. I learn a lot from their friendly user interface, that I wouldn't know if I was only a Windows user.
With Windows XP I am happy now, but still not user friendly. Mac Os X is not user friendly too, as the previous systems were and I am sorry about it. Windows XP are very good, but Mac Os X is great! I am using both of them and I find no difference, only some details are different which are less important.
I am using Mac machines 15 years now and I am very glad about it. I learn a lot from their friendly user interface, that I wouldn't know if I was only a Windows user.
With Windows XP I am happy now, but still not user friendly. Mac Os X is not user friendly too, as the previous systems were and I am sorry about it. Windows XP are very good, but Mac Os X is great! I am using both of them and I find no difference, only some details are different which are less important.
werewolf
Reply #24 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 1:19 PM
Reply #24 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 1:19 PM
OS X to run on a PC????? So that's what all the earth moving, ground shaking stuff was all about. I thought it was that asteroid that apparently missed us by just a little bit.
mormegil
Reply #25 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 1:57 PM
Reply #25 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 1:57 PM
This has been rumored fo a while, last I heird Apple was saying it just is never going to happen, not that it would be that hard, OS-X being BSD based. NeXT ran on X86 systems after all.
jtfolden
Reply #26 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 3:42 PM
Reply #26 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 3:42 PM
Indeed, IIRC, Steve Jobs just recently stated once again that there was absolutely NO CHANCE of an x86 version of OS X. ...and let's face it, it makes no sense for them to ever do so. Apple is primarily a hardware company and to release an x86 version of their OS would be suicide.
As far as ease of use goes, at least for the way I work, OS X is quite a bit more user friendly than OS 9 and earlier. The only reason OS 9 seems more user friendly is because the UI hasn't changed all that much in ages, imo.
I'd also rate the OS X UI as being far above XP where productivity is involved, once again at least for the way I work. OS X seems to 'get out of the way' and let me do my thing where XP feels like it's always trying to get up in my face.
As far as ease of use goes, at least for the way I work, OS X is quite a bit more user friendly than OS 9 and earlier. The only reason OS 9 seems more user friendly is because the UI hasn't changed all that much in ages, imo.
I'd also rate the OS X UI as being far above XP where productivity is involved, once again at least for the way I work. OS X seems to 'get out of the way' and let me do my thing where XP feels like it's always trying to get up in my face.
paxx
Reply #27 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 4:48 PM
Reply #27 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 4:48 PM
What I find funny about the ads is that they're all "creative" people: an artist, a writter, etc.
How can that ad actually work? Most people don't relate to the creative thinkers, they just think they're weird. And the creative workers mostly already have a Mac.
So, to me, this ad campain isn't about getting new customers, but trying not to lose the existing ones.
How can that ad actually work? Most people don't relate to the creative thinkers, they just think they're weird. And the creative workers mostly already have a Mac.
So, to me, this ad campain isn't about getting new customers, but trying not to lose the existing ones.
jtfolden
Reply #28 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 5:13 PM
Reply #28 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 5:13 PM
Actually, they're not all creative people: a Windows LAN Admin, one claims to be a programmer, I think another is an IT manager or business consultant.
Of course, I don't see any 16 yo's talking about how they IM their friends from an iBook while handling the Drive-Thru window at Wendy's.
Maybe that will be in the next wave of ads.
Of course, I don't see any 16 yo's talking about how they IM their friends from an iBook while handling the Drive-Thru window at Wendy's.
Maybe that will be in the next wave of ads.
paxx
Reply #29 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 8:26 PM
Reply #29 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 8:26 PM
Didn't see those. Only saw the artist and the writter (I think I saw 3, 2 of them were writers of some sort).
A Windows LAN Admin buing a Mac? Yeah, right.
But yes, I did know a Mac programer once. Of course, he had to use a PC at work, and he always complained about it.
A Windows LAN Admin buing a Mac? Yeah, right.
But yes, I did know a Mac programer once. Of course, he had to use a PC at work, and he always complained about it.
migellito
Reply #30 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 10:14 PM
Reply #30 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 10:14 PM
actually paxx, i've met windows admins who've opted for macs at home one for example was an nt network admin in a state gov't division. he always talked about how he loved to go home and work -with- the computer instead of working -on- the computer.
as i said though, i use and like both. i tend to feel about this alot like jtfolden does, though. i guess my whole thing in all this is just trying to be inclusive rather than devisive. computer gui modification is a small enough niche as it is
one for example was an nt network admin in a state gov't division. he always talked about how he loved to go home and work -with- the computer instead of working -on- the computer.as i said though, i use and like both. i tend to feel about this alot like jtfolden does, though. i guess my whole thing in all this is just trying to be inclusive rather than devisive. computer gui modification is a small enough niche as it is
WOM
Reply #31 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 10:27 PM
Reply #31 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 10:27 PM
I remember the first computer I used at home. I checked it out for 30 days at a time. It was a portable. Weighed about 30 pounds. Had a 4in screen, 2 floppy drives, no hard drive and I think 256 ram. I thought it was great. It was an IBM.
paxx
Reply #32 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 12:11 AM
Reply #32 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 12:11 AM
For the record, my first experience with computers was on a Mac. For 7 years. Until 1995.
migellito
Reply #34 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 2:48 AM
Reply #34 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 2:48 AM
i remember when the 8th grade math teacher got the first computer at the school. i was in 6th grade, and i asked what kind it was - an ibm? a dec? maybe a burroughs? "no, an apple." i said what's that? i never heard of it. too bad they didn't get a real computer..
of course, at the time the -only- personal computer that you didn't get in a kit was the apple ][
hehe
of course, at the time the -only- personal computer that you didn't get in a kit was the apple ][
hehe
Peff
Reply #35 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 3:30 AM
Reply #35 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 3:30 AM
I still have every computer I have ever owned....they are:
VIC-20 - Great first computer
C-64 - Unending hours typing in code listings from Compute magazine...anyone remember that one?
Tandy Color Computer(coco) - 16K RAM, single (external - metal case) 160K 5.25 floppy
Tandy 1000 - 64K RAM, dual internal 320K floppies and a 300baud modem....impressive, huh?
Tandy Laptop - 640K RAM, dual internal 3.5 floppies...never thought thosse would last....go figure
Tandy 3000 - 640K, 10MB hard drive - how could I ever fill that up?....wooohoooo
Clone 386-16Mhz - (Actually the first one was stolen from me and eventually replaced with a 33Mhz version)
Zenon 486-50Mhz - True 50Mhz motherboard
Clone Pentium 90Mhz - now were talking!!!
Clone P3-400
Clone P3-450
Dell Inspiron 7500 laptop (P3 - 600Mhz)
There's also an early MAC that someone gave me....but I never even plugged it in.
They all still work....I break out the C64 to play games from time to time...for nostalgic reasons mainly.
VIC-20 - Great first computer
C-64 - Unending hours typing in code listings from Compute magazine...anyone remember that one?
Tandy Color Computer(coco) - 16K RAM, single (external - metal case) 160K 5.25 floppy
Tandy 1000 - 64K RAM, dual internal 320K floppies and a 300baud modem....impressive, huh?
Tandy Laptop - 640K RAM, dual internal 3.5 floppies...never thought thosse would last....go figure
Tandy 3000 - 640K, 10MB hard drive - how could I ever fill that up?....wooohoooo
Clone 386-16Mhz - (Actually the first one was stolen from me and eventually replaced with a 33Mhz version)
Zenon 486-50Mhz - True 50Mhz motherboard
Clone Pentium 90Mhz - now were talking!!!
Clone P3-400
Clone P3-450
Dell Inspiron 7500 laptop (P3 - 600Mhz)
There's also an early MAC that someone gave me....but I never even plugged it in.
They all still work....I break out the C64 to play games from time to time...for nostalgic reasons mainly.
plainsong
Reply #36 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 8:50 AM
Reply #36 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 8:50 AM
I too am lusting after one of the new Imacs. I have to confess... yes, they look sexy. But I'm also one of those people who sees beauty in PCs and Macs. Heh, until a couple of years ago we used an Amiga.
But now in our new apartment with so much more room and with all my stuff finally set up on the main PC in the house, I finally feel it's safe to take the plunge with a Mac.
I guess it's the PC user in me that I don't feel safe unless there's a pc nearby. But I believe that the two ways of computing compliment each other nicely.
I guess it's just nice to have that change of scenery.
But now in our new apartment with so much more room and with all my stuff finally set up on the main PC in the house, I finally feel it's safe to take the plunge with a Mac.
I guess it's the PC user in me that I don't feel safe unless there's a pc nearby. But I believe that the two ways of computing compliment each other nicely.
I guess it's just nice to have that change of scenery.
Jafo
Reply #37 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:07 AM
Reply #37 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:07 AM
Peff...re the endless hours typing on a C64....yep, sure do...[shudder]...
KarmaGirl
Reply #38 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:50 AM
Reply #38 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:50 AM
Hehe...i am actually looking at one of those ads right now, and was just wondering when MS is going to take action towards some of the claims. The ad that I am looking at is in Time Magazine. It shows a picture of a guy, then on the other page is a screenshot of an email to switchers at apple.com titled "It just works". It is supposedly from a LAN admin who switched to a MAC because it "just works" unlike the PCs that are a "constant struggle" to keep running. Underneath the email, it says "Aaron Adams wanted a computer that "just works", unlike the PCs he's paid to fix all day." Hmmmm...I find that slamming your competition in an ad doesn't sell your product. Maybe he's just a bad admin and set the PCs up poorly? Hard to say. But, as a PC owner, that didn't make me want to buy an Apple.
TasT
Reply #39 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:51 AM
Reply #39 Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:51 AM
TI 1000 2k + 16k ram cartrige
Vic 20
C64 and 128
IBM PC JR
8088 clone
386
486 66 with 16MB RAM
P100 with 32MB
P200 with 128MB
Celeron 433 with 256MB
current Dual PIII 500 256MB Ram
WE have come a long way in a very short time and yes I remember the many limes of code typed into some of the early ones....
As far as os's go I've used every MS os since Windows 2 through XP pro with the exception of Melinium, Linux under KDE, and about 5 minutes worth of MacOS ( everything felt wrong handed at the time) Oh and of course GEOS on the C64/128 and powerdesk on the early PCs
Would I buy a MAC? No the current Price tags are too high for my liking.
Vic 20
C64 and 128
IBM PC JR
8088 clone
386
486 66 with 16MB RAM
P100 with 32MB
P200 with 128MB
Celeron 433 with 256MB
current Dual PIII 500 256MB Ram
WE have come a long way in a very short time and yes I remember the many limes of code typed into some of the early ones....
As far as os's go I've used every MS os since Windows 2 through XP pro with the exception of Melinium, Linux under KDE, and about 5 minutes worth of MacOS ( everything felt wrong handed at the time) Oh and of course GEOS on the C64/128 and powerdesk on the early PCs
Would I buy a MAC? No the current Price tags are too high for my liking.
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Reply #21 Tuesday, June 25, 2002 9:53 AM