Maybe they aren't hip enough:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/12

Seriously though, I don't care for these commercials.

I don't see anything wrong with them, they speak the truth. PC Marketshare is mostly business and industrial anyway, why not personify their marketshare using a suited grown man? You never see Bill Gates out of a suit either.

I think they need more commercials like this, and more showing how you can run Windows on the new Macs and how you really can have your cake and eat it too.

Maybe even show it running Linux to get those good folk drooling :o

Also had a problem with the Restarting ad, because I've got two installations of XP (one in Virtual PC) and, well, they don't freeze. They're no fun to use, but if anyone asked me if Windows ever made me restart I would have to say no, not in a long time. The last time I had to restart any of my computers was a rare OS X kernel panic. That's right, it was my Mac that last did the total system freeze-up shown in the ad.

Keep in mind that the Windows experience to be compared with is the one that is commonly seen by a non-technical person. Such people often have much more trouble than is seen by a properly maintained Windows system.
And note that, almost by definition, anyone who even reads these forums (let alone participates) is likely to be far, far more technically competent than the average consumer.

Via DaringFireball I found a blog that supplies a translation of the Japanese: http://takaakikato.jp/

The last part of the exchange that prompts the laughter is the following:
Otaku poku nai? (He looks like an Otaku, doesn't he?)

I think everyone I know has sent me links to these ads today. Apparently they all think I'm a fervent Mac evangelist. So far everyone likes them (most) or is just neutral on them. No negative reactions, even from the guys in suits who own businesses.

I love the "Restarting" ad. Best ad ever. hehehehe :)

Where would they get that idea?

CAlvarez
Hall of Famer

Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 3,529

Gotta good point there, actually. I suppose if I did my main web surfing on a PC that wasn't behind a NAT router, it would explode more often.

Oh...and another thing. So Apple wants us to think squares in suits and ties are a negative image. And then what do they cite as a good Mac review? That bastion of youthful hipness.......the Wall Street Journal! Ah yes, all my unshaven skateboarding iPodding hoodie-wearing friends read the WSJ, they pick it up off the front porch every morning to read during their daily wake-and-bake. :)

Heh. Well, I think it's from my complete disgust with the state of viruses and spyware, and my usual answer is "just get a Mac" for the people with recurrent virus/spyware issues.

I have to say, we all know that NO OPERATING SYSTEM CAN BE VIRUS FREE, but people, MACS DO HAVE LESS VIRUSES, AND THOSE VIRUSES CAN'T JUST BE GOTTEN BY DOING NOTHING! IT REQUIRES USER-INTERACTION! (ie. Enter your administrative password: ••••••••••••)

My prayers will be answered when Virtualization is perfected. When I can seamlessly use Windows programs without having to boot into Windows XP AND without a substantial decrease in performace, my prayers will be answered.

BTW, doesn't the guy who's supposed to be a PC look like Bill Gates?

Compare:
http://i2.tinypic.com/x3tift.jpghttp://i1.tinypic.com/x3tjyw.jpg

did the us get the ad with Kiether Sutherland's voice over for the intel mac's? I liked that, its a shame this new ad probably won't make it to the uk

I'm doing that right now. parallels.com

I could have sworn that wasn't virtualization, but just another emulator thing.

Isn't DarWINE supposed to do that?

Why can't OSX be virtualized (guest OS) on parallels? Practically everything else can.

note: I'm talking about the versions that run on Unix, Linux or Windows.

Parallels is true virtualization, and full speed (well, about 95%, close enough). It's fantastic, reliable, easy and fast.

OS X isn't virtualized because then you'd be supporting piracy.

I'd also like to throw in my 2 cents regarding the "tone" of the ads. When I look at the ads, I see apple trying to portray PCs as boring, plain, and common whereas the Macs are flashy, out of the ordinary, and different. I'm a 25 year old graduate student and I find them satiable. A fine mix of light-hearted jeering at PCs, yet defining the shining points of owning a Mac.

I think its more of a difference in interpretation based on generation that seems to be causing all of the hullabaloo. Overall, I think they are perfectly flavorful and respectable. Cheers!

On the other hand I'd love to see an ad with one of those retarded PCs with neon and other garbage in it, versus the simple elegant design. Maybe show the PC catching fire...