Apple Mocks Windows PCs in Humorous New 'Blue Screen of Death' Ad

[tonywalker23]

Stephen Hackett found an old goodie. You have to be a certain age to relate but when he posted this I watched it during my lunch break last year. Am glad I did. Instant childhood. This is great long form advertisements.

Performa Month: The Martinettis Bring Home a Computer - 512 Pixels

This 28-minute video about a family buying a Performa is amazing in every single way. Cancel your plans this evening and enjoy. For bonus points, check out the Australian version.

512pixels.net

 

[ThomasJL]

Microsoft makes tasteless software. Tim Cook allowed Apple to copy Microsoft’s tasteless flat design, while simultaneously completely discarding Apple’s extremely tasteful skeuomorphic design. Apple would’ve continued its Steve Jobs-style skeuomorphic user interfaces had Scott Forstall been made CEO instead of Tasteless Tim.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Microsoft makes tasteless software. Tim Cook allowed Apple to copy Microsoft’s tasteless flat design, while simultaneously completely discarding Apple’s extremely tasteful skeuomorphic design. Apple would’ve continued its Steve Jobs-style skeuomorphic user interfaces had Scott Forstall been made CEO instead of Tasteless Tim.

As tasteless as it is (no argument there!), I'm just happy I'm able to still run a version of Excel on my Mac that isn't "translucent".

"Can't quite read the formula.. does that say 24.6 or is that something from the dynamic wallpaper underneath?"

 

[qwertme]

Yeah.. people in Liquid Glass houses shouldn't throw stones... Tahoe and iOS26 are the worst Apple OS I have ever installed in the past 25 years.

 

[Powerbooky]

Yeah... well... the ad sure has a theatrical length. Apart from the typical Hollywood style analogue flash over to the BOD that in the real world would never happen, it is very unlikely that on a convention all screens would go dead at the same time. Although... enough stupid people that keep on using public wifi - there are hackers that could easily cause a lot of trouble on conventions like these.
On any convention we can always expect some of the usual Microsoft quirks like Powerpoint randomly and inexplicably failing during presentations. The usual pop-ups with reminders for backing up or the other crap because its the default the-user-is-dumb mode. Other screens are more likely TV's playing some video of a SD card and crashes after a 100 times looping. Or the classic: the files are gone. All considered "normal" by IT departments for decades now.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Although... enough stupid people that keep on using public wifi - there are hackers that could easily cause a lot of trouble on conventions like these.

Apple users are every bit as vulnerable, and some would argue more conditioned to be gullible.

The usual pop-ups with reminders for backing up or the other crap because its the default the-user-is-dumb mode.

Macs are well known for ridiculous uninformative notifications that are often not fully dismiss-able other than "remind me later"

Almost on command, someone just posted this on here:

 

[chmania]

When you point a finger at anyone, there are at least three fingers pointing back at you!

 

[Tig_one]

When your big new software redesign looks this confused and hard to read, let's maybe tap the brakes on pointing fingers at others.

View attachment 2564863View attachment 2564865View attachment 2564866

 

[turbineseaplane]

View attachment 2564896

Fantastic! Ship it!
Apple on the cutting edge, once again!

 

[businessnumbersmoneypeopl]

I must admit, it's a bold move to put out such an ad right after releasing the buggiest Mac OS in a long time, with various unwanted "features". Hats off.

 

[groove-agent]

Who actually watches these ads?

I did while eating breakfast and having my morning coffee.

 

[groove-agent]

Cringe at its finest.

I thought it was well produced, but probably longer than most people's attention span can handle these days.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Maybe making fun of glassy looking pointless GUI should be the next ad. Oh...I mean... ummm...

 

[groove-agent]

I must admit, it's a bold move to put out such an ad right after releasing the buggiest Mac OS in a long time, with various unwanted "features". Hats off.

Well you do have a point there, but I always have confidence that Apple will fix it.

 

[groove-agent]

I feel like there is a cameo at the end with the guy who was exclaiming: "get your Macs here". He looks familiar, but I just can't place him. I could be wrong though.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Yeah.. people in Liquid Glass houses shouldn't throw stones... Tahoe and iOS26 are the worst Apple OS I have ever installed in the past 25 years.

I'm not upgrading until I have to for some app.

 

[CasinoOwl]

As tasteless as it is (no argument there!), I'm just happy I'm able to still run a version of Excel on my Mac that isn't "translucent".

"Can't quite read the formula.. does that say 24.6 or is that something from the dynamic wallpaper underneath?"

I've been using Tahoe on my Mac since release, and there is nothing even remotely close to the scenario you described. As a matter of fact, I wish the glass elements were more prominent. I'd be curious to see a screen shot of what you are talking about.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I've been using Tahoe on my Mac since release, and there is nothing even remotely close to the scenario you described. As a matter of fact, I wish the glass elements were more prominent. I'd be curious to see a screen shot of what you are talking about.

The scenario is well documented in various Apple apps.

(go through my post history and you'll find them as well as various links to external articles/discussions from socials and blogs)

The Excel example was a joke
Sorry, I thought that was obvious

 

[baryon]

The whole point of ads is that you assume people don't want to see them so you make them quick and eye-catching to grab people's attention within seconds. Why would I watch what is essentially a boring 8 minute ad?

 

[Tig_one]

I thought it was well produced, but probably longer than most people's attention span can handle these days.

"Well produced" cringe then? 🙃

 

[fmillion]

 

[Deadeyeshark]

Apple didn’t just lose a visionary with Steve Jobs, the company lost its sense of humour too, miss Steve mocking Vista and clunky old pc software… this is almost like a return to the old days.

 

[GeoWebNerd]

Sooo.... the message is kindness through mocking?

As a recent defector to Apple products from the Windows ecosystem, I wholeheartedly agree that my experience on Apple products is far superior to Microsoft. However, I'm not sure this is the right way to gain new followers.

 

[JosephAW]

Something like this happen in the 90s when working at an insurance company, recently completed rolling out Mac computers (Quadra) for desktop publishing instead of the former DOS Ventura publisher, one PC infected one computer and spread to hundreds of network computers in a matter of a few minutes.
The IT department was forced to shut down every single computer and disinfect each computer one by one.
With one exception, the Mac users were still busy using their computers and creating documents and printing.
People started to ask how come they’re allowed to use their computers when we are not and the IT department had to repeatedly say the Mac computer computers were not affected by the virus.

 

[delsoul]

Eh, with how awful the release of
iOS, oS, 26 is I’m not sure Apple
Should be poking fun at anybody.

I will say as much as I harp on Tim Cook, I’d turn my back to him ANY day before Bill gates or using his products. Poke fun away, Apple!