Original "think different" ad- MUST SEE!!

[thejazzman10]

this (http://lib1.store.vip.sc5.yahoo.com/lib/redlightrunner/thinkdifferent.mov) is the original Think different ad!!! isn't that cool!! you have to see this!!



P.S. Could any of the moderators move this to "other mac topics" ? i couldn't find where to put it...Thanks in advance!!

[Thanatoast]

when did the think different campaign start? i noticed the old rainbow logo at the end. they don't still use that logo, do they?

[theipodgod16]

when did the think different campaign start? i noticed the old rainbow logo at the end. they don't still use that logo, do they?

nope, this was from sometime around '97-98. They re did the logo i think with the launch of the B&W G3 Powermac in '99, no?

[krisjon]

I work in advertising and write/design ads for a living...Apple aside, that is still one of the best commercials of the last 20 years. Thanks to Lee Clow and the boys at Chiat/Day...great work.

[Savage Henry]

I feel a nostalgic tear beginning well in my eye socket.

I somehow can't see the switcher campaign lasting so long in the memory.

[crenz]

Thanks for posting this gem. Hopefully, Apple will manage to create another landmark ad like this one and '1984'.

[miloblithe]

Compare that to the ad for the powermac G5. Their advertizing seems to have lost a little in the creativity department. Let's hope a new campaign, and new computers grace the summer.

[slowtreme]

this (http://lib1.store.vip.sc5.yahoo.com/lib/redlightrunner/thinkdifferent.mov) is the original Think different ad!!! isn't that cool!! you have to see this!!Was there previously some lack of places to view this ad? Here are a couple hundred (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22Think+Different%22+mov) :D

[wordmunger]

Good ad. But what the hell are Richard Branson and Ted Turner doing in it?

[flashfil]

anybody know?

[FriarTuck]

As cinema, it's great.

But was it effective in moving product?

Doubtful.

[flashfil]

I don't think thats a point of an advert like this. I can see why it wasn't shown though.

[latergator116]

I love this ad. This is one of my favorite apple ads, if not my favorite. Shhh... dont tell anyone, but I like this one better than 1984!

[phrancpharmD]

Good ad. But what the hell are Richard Branson and Ted Turner doing in it?

I don't know who Richard Branson is, but Ted Turner, like him and his social / political views or not, was arguably one of the more innovative and even "daring" broadcasters - until he sold out to Time Warner, that is. Despite that, he still is a very vocal opponent of, among other things, centralization of the media (i.e. Clear Channel - I know it seems counterintuitive, but it's true), and at least is an outspoken proponent of conservation. 'Course, he IS the only dude in Atlanta selling Buffalo burgers (which are DEEELICIOUS, just in case you're wondering) at his several "Ted's Montana Grill" locations. . .

[blue&whiteman]

nope, this was from sometime around '97-98. They re did the logo i think with the launch of the B&W G3 Powermac in '99, no?

it was a few months before the B&W came out. pretty sure it was when the first imac came out.

[flyfish29]

Great ad! However, I think apple needs to worry less right now about their image and more about the software they create and advertise that. They have a great image...in fact their image is so good that they are seen as very very different. That is somewhat the problem...they need to show people that their different is good...not just for creative folks, but everyone. Most people still are under the impression that Apple:

is for creative people and students

is so different I couldn't learn to use it cause I am not an art type person

can't play ANY games on the mac

doesn't have software for the mac like Quicken, Office, etc.

Some people still believe apple computers can't access the internet!

They need to have an ad that really shows the integration of the isoftware and how you can use itunes to add music to a slide show or movie, etc.

[wordmunger]

I don't know who Richard Branson is, but Ted Turner, like him and his social / political views or not, was arguably one of the more innovative and even "daring" broadcasters - until he sold out to Time Warner, that is. Despite that, he still is a very vocal opponent of, among other things, centralization of the media (i.e. Clear Channel - I know it seems counterintuitive, but it's true), and at least is an outspoken proponent of conservation. 'Course, he IS the only dude in Atlanta selling Buffalo burgers (which are DEEELICIOUS, just in case you're wondering) at his several "Ted's Montana Grill" locations. . .
Yeah, I guess so. But I'm still not sure he belongs in the same category as Einstein and Gandhi. Richard Branson is the CEO of Virgin Airlines/Records/Cell Phones. I'm *really* not sure he belongs in the same category as Einstein and Gandhi.

[ifjake]

i think it's pretty neat. it sounds like richard dreyfus did the voice, but i'm not sure. thing about the "think different" ad campaign, it has something of being unique, apart from the crowd, and really apple wants to push their product to be the crowd. it seems like it perpetuates their niche status. but hey they're really good machines. that's what matters.

[wordmunger]

anybody know?
Sure. If you host it on your Web site, you are violating copyright. But I doubt Apple's going to sue anyone for running their ad for free.

[rainman::|:|]

ummm... the ad was shown quite a bit when it was new, and it was a very well-known ad... the number of parodies alone that it spawned... and it was at a very bad time for apple, jobs had just come back and there was some signifigant doubt about apple's ability to recover. they had sold out and were losing even their core users... had to do something to really give apple some flair as more than just a computer company.

the think different ad campaign that followed was a great blend of image and product... richard dreyfus did do the voice for this one, but the rest of the ads were jeff goldblum.

paul

[Doraemon]

Geez guys. You really didn't know this ad?

This is THE most important ad by Apple since 1985's Lemmings Apple Office ad.

And like slowtreme already said, it's not like this ad wasn't available on the net before...

------

@ FriarTuck
It's not about selling a product, but about a creating an image of an intellectual, superior (, somehat arrogant?) company.


------

@ phrancpharmD
Richard Branson is the guy who founded Virgin.
But why he's on this ad remains a mystery to me, too. :confused:

[slowtreme]

Richard Branson is the guy who founded Virgin.
But why he's on this ad remains a mystery to me, too. :confused:You want to know why Branson was remarked as "one of the crazy people". Because he tends to THINK DIFFERENT. Look no further (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=6&u=/nm/20040322/od_nm/odd_urinal_dc)
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/fwd/20040319/thumb.fwd117b20040319jpg.jpg

[michaelrjohnson]

You want to know why Branson was remarked as "one of the crazy people". Because he tends to THINK DIFFERENT. Look no further (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=6&u=/nm/20040322/od_nm/odd_urinal_dc)
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/fwd/20040319/thumb.fwd117b20040319jpg.jpg



i believe they discontinued these plans.


anyhow, this ad IS one of the best ads in history. okay, the ad isnt' anything special. its the paragraph. its one of the most motivational, moving passages I have ever read/heard. apple gets an a+ for that. i agree with above posters, though, saying that apple needs more targeted message advertisment. this is too indirect.

[Doraemon]

You want to know why Branson was remarked as "one of the crazy people". Because he tends to THINK DIFFERENT. Look no further (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=6&u=/nm/20040322/od_nm/odd_urinal_dc)
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/fwd/20040319/thumb.fwd117b20040319jpg.jpg

I know of him and what the does.
But I just don't think he fits into an ad with Gandhi, Lennon, Picasso, etc. That's too much credit for Branson. He does what he does to get attention/publicity. Hence, I don't think he is really Think[ing] Different[ly].

But that's just my personal opinion of Branson. :)

[JamesDPS]

I'm just glad to have a copy of this one on my 'puter now -- GREAT ad. btw anyone know a good site with high-res versions of all the Apple ads? I liked the one with Hal that they showed before Y2K but haven't seen it anywhere ("You like your Mac better than me, don't you Dave?") but I haven't really looked. As for "switch" ads, the most memorable for me was Yo Yo Ma's... very effective, and it's just so classy the way he finishes with "My name is Yo Yo Ma, and I play the cello"...

[danbalsh]

I'm just glad to have a copy of this one on my 'puter now -- GREAT ad. btw anyone know a good site with high-res versions of all the Apple ads? I liked the one with Hal that they showed before Y2K but haven't seen it anywhere ("You like your Mac better than me, don't you Dave?") but I haven't really looked. As for "switch" ads, the most memorable for me was Yo Yo Ma's... very effective, and it's just so classy the way he finishes with "My name is Yo Yo Ma, and I play the cello"...

I've got most of Apples 'new era' adverts most of them high quality too, they come in at nearly 1.4GB if anyones got the space to upload them too. :D

[krisjon]

i believe they discontinued these plans.


i agree with above posters, though, saying that apple needs more targeted message advertisment. this is too indirect.

What you and the other posters fail to understand was that this commercial was intended as a branding effort for the overall company. It was tremendously successful and remains the cornerstone of what Apple still is today. Was 'just do it' by Nike about their latest air shoe? No. Was 'on the road of life, there are passengers and there are drivers' by Volkswagen about a new model Jetta? No. People first follow brands and what they perceive a brand to stand for. The products they make reinforce this idea. The best and most successful companies understand this. That's why out of the thousands of advertising messages you see everyday, people are still talking about Nike's, Volswagen's and Apple's old ads. They're not easily forgotten or dismissable. They struck a cord with consumers, gave them a way of thinking or a club to be a part of, and their products delivered on that promise. Ads like these are the building blocks of a brand. Targeted/more product specific? Maybe not. But just so you know, Apple followed up this particular ad with the release of the colored iMac. Not exactly a failure. These companies and the ad agencies they work with know what they're doing. You saw it in the people waiting in line for the Apple store to open in SF. There are lots of Gateway stores in this country. Ever heard of a similar occurence with the opening of one of their stores? Enough said.

And yes, I work in the ad biz :D

[wdlove]

Thank you for posting the link thejazzman10. I plan save "Think Different" Quicktime ad with my other great Apple ads. Nostalgia is great.

[latergator116]

I'm just glad to have a copy of this one on my 'puter now -- GREAT ad. btw anyone know a good site with high-res versions of all the Apple ads? I liked the one with Hal that they showed before Y2K but haven't seen it anywhere ("You like your Mac better than me, don't you Dave?") but I haven't really looked. As for "switch" ads, the most memorable for me was Yo Yo Ma's... very effective, and it's just so classy the way he finishes with "My name is Yo Yo Ma, and I play the cello"...

I have a small collection of websites where you can find old and new apple ads:
http://asp.cis.pitt.edu/thinkmov.html
http://www.mirrors.ausmac.net/AusMac/auslist.cgi?location=Quicktime-Movies
http://www.theapplecollection.com/Collection/AppleMovies/

Enjoy!

[iRobert]

ummm... the ad was shown quite a bit when it was new, and it was a very well-known ad... the number of parodies alone that it spawned... and it was at a very bad time for apple, jobs had just come back and there was some signifigant doubt about apple's ability to recover. they had sold out and were losing even their core users... had to do something to really give apple some flair as more than just a computer company.

the think different ad campaign that followed was a great blend of image and product... richard dreyfus did do the voice for this one, but the rest of the ads were jeff goldblum.

paul

I can recall this period very clear. It sounds weird, but thinking of it again scares me. I must have been 13-14 or so at the time. My dad and i were talking about the fact that Apple was balancing on the tip of the cliff and his company needed new machines. Whether we should go for Dell, or give Apple some more faith (which we did). I seriously consider my self an all-time hardcore apple freak, and got myself scared thinking about Dell back then.
I seriously love this company. One of the worst things that could happen in my life is Apple going down.

Maybe i should send steve some flowers for his b-day :D

[SpaceMagic]

Hahaha... what a cool advert, never seen that one before. The first Apple Ad I saw was in the cinema - Think Different iTunes. It was so cool and totally unexpected. i think I might make a collection and if its legal supply it to the internet for fun!

Think Different was a great campaign, much better than those switcher adds :p and the G5 add was very Computer - Companyish if you get what I mean? Not very "Different"

[michaelrjohnson]

What you and the other posters fail to understand was that this commercial was intended as a branding effort for the overall company. It was tremendously successful and remains the cornerstone of what Apple still is today. Was 'just do it' by Nike about their latest air shoe? No. Was 'on the road of life, there are passengers and there are drivers' by Volkswagen about a new model Jetta? No. People first follow brands and what they perceive a brand to stand for. The products they make reinforce this idea. The best and most successful companies understand this. That's why out of the thousands of advertising messages you see everyday, people are still talking about Nike's, Volswagen's and Apple's old ads. They're not easily forgotten or dismissable. They struck a cord with consumers, gave them a way of thinking or a club to be a part of, and their products delivered on that promise. Ads like these are the building blocks of a brand. Targeted/more product specific? Maybe not. But just so you know, Apple followed up this particular ad with the release of the colored iMac. Not exactly a failure. These companies and the ad agencies they work with know what they're doing. You saw it in the people waiting in line for the Apple store to open in SF. There are lots of Gateway stores in this country. Ever heard of a similar occurence with the opening of one of their stores? Enough said.

And yes, I work in the ad biz :D


no, that makes perfect sense (I was aware of that at least). However, I was just commenting on how Apple really doesn't have many promotional ads, they're just hip or lust-worthy. ah well.

[mrgreen4242]

Unrelated question abour Apple ads... in the 'Elope' commercial, who is the acctress who plays 'Julie'?? She looks SO familiar!

Take a look at her here: http://asp.cis.pitt.edu/mov/elope.mov .

Rob