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Apple U.K. Ads Backfiring?

I saw them - along with a trailer for the new film they're in, "Magicians" - when I went to see Hot Fuzz, which was, in turn, the best film I have ever seen.

That was a cracking day, that was.
 
I don't understand the complaint about the casting. In the UK ads, just like in the US ads, the funny guy has to be the PC. It just won't work the other way.
The funny guy of the pair has to pretend to be serious in what is obviously an absurd situation. The humor is subtle, that's why it works.
(I didn't think there was such a thing as humor too subtle for the British.)
 
All of the Mac VS PC ads are smug and lacking massively imo.

Rubbishing somebody else adds nothing and only detracts. Like Apple has to put pc's/Windows down to be seen as better than them. Anybody can tell jokes either way. It's product quality (and the potential customer knowing about it) that sells, not lame jokes.

As somebody else said, Apple gets a lot right.....these ads aren't one of them.

Anybody remember when Steve came back into power and said "We need to loose the idea that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to loose" at his comeback speech?

Hmmmm, wonder where that went.
 
Counter said:
All of the Mac VS PC ads are smug and lacking massively imo.

Rubbishing somebody else adds nothing and only detracts. Like Apple has to put pc's/Windows down to be seen as better than them. Anybody can tell jokes either way. It's product quality (and the potential customer knowing about it) that sells, not lame jokes.

As somebody else said, Apple gets a lot right.....these ads aren't one of them.

Anybody remember when Steve came back into power and said "We need to loose the idea that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to loose" at his comeback speech?

Hmmmm, wonder where that went.
Click to expand...


Well, the fact that Macs can now run Windows makes that statement true, but at the time, it wasn't(assuming he made that when he came back in 1998) Back then Apple selling a Mac, meant one more computer that couldn't run Windows.

Now its different, those even mention how Macs can runing Windows. Other attack the hardware of PC(the iSight one)...and yes some of the point out flaws in Windows...why? because its the truth, people need to know.
 
Most people I know who have seen them think they're funny. And that's usually where the analysing of them starts and ends.
 
ascender said:
Most people I know who have seen them think they're funny. And that's usually where the analysing of them starts and ends.
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I agree. It seems that some people have too much time on their hands and are reading too much into the advert.
What I think the ads do is allow people to know that there is an alternative to the PC. Something that is user-friendly, fun AND can also do the work thing.

Isn't that the reason we all bought one?
 
All of the Mac VS PC ads are smug and lacking massively imo.

Rubbishing somebody else adds nothing and only detracts. Like Apple has to put pc's/Windows down to be seen as better than them. Anybody can tell jokes either way. It's product quality (and the potential customer knowing about it) that sells, not lame jokes.

As somebody else said, Apple gets a lot right.....these ads aren't one of them.
Click to expand...

Ok, so your opinion of smugness seems to be down to the characters. If you don't like them, you don't like them, although I personally think they're hilarious (new series of Peep Show Fri 13th April btw!)

There's a difference between rubbishing another's product in a crude way and pointing out its flaws in an amusing, witty way.

I assume you don't like standup, since most of that is along a similar vein!

Like Apple has to put pc's/Windows down to be seen as better than them.
Click to expand...
Well, they do actually. When consumers are so used to Windows, you can't tell them "Mac's are better for X, Y and Z" because they'll just say "so what, I can do that on my PC anyway".
Point out the flaws of what they're using at the moment, and push them away from the competing product. And with there being so much spyware, malware and virus stuff in the media nowadays, it's a perfect time to capitalise.

Look at how MS are promoting Vista - "the wow starts now" and the "most secure Windows yet". We've heard it all before, which is why most people are sticking with XP until they buy a new computer.
 
AlexisV said:
Ok, so your opinion of smugness seems to be down to the characters. If you don't like them, you don't like them, although I personally think they're hilarious (new series of Peep Show Fri 13th April btw!)

There's a difference between rubbishing another's product in a crude way and pointing out its flaws in an amusing, witty way.

I assume you don't like standup, since most of that is along a similar vein!


Well, they do actually. When consumers are so used to Windows, you can't tell them "Mac's are better for X, Y and Z" because they'll just say "so what, I can do that on my PC anyway".
Point out the flaws of what they're using at the moment, and push them away from the competing product. And with there being so much spyware, malware and virus stuff in the media nowadays, it's a perfect time to capitalise.

Look at how MS are promoting Vista - "the wow starts now" and the "most secure Windows yet". We've heard it all before, which is why most people are sticking with XP until they buy a new computer.
Click to expand...

Just cos I don't like crap ads doesn't mean I don't like standup comedy. :)

I don't think Mac VS PC is where Apples marketing push should be. It's a pretty lame situation if it is the best thing they can get to work for them.

"I'm a Mac...........and I'm a PC!"

Snoooooreeeeee.

It's just not funny or clever enough to pull anything off.

I should probably point out that I hate all marketing aimed at the masses. So probably kinda biased. :D

"Ohhhh, he tripped over his power cable and has a pot on his leg but the Mac mans pulled right out when he tripped over his. Oh HAHAHA. Dumb PC's with power cables that aren't magnetic!"

:rolleyes:

C'mon.
 
"Ohhhh, he tripped over his power cable and has a pot on his leg but the Mac mans pulled right out when he tripped over his. Oh HAHAHA. Dumb PC's with power cables that aren't magnetic!"
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"Ohhhh, man walks into shop with a dead parrot and the owner doesn't believe him. Pining for the Fjords and all that. Oh HAHAHAHA."

See, any comedy sounds lame when you type sarcastically :D
 
pimentoLoaf said:
Smug or not smug, that isn't the question.

The question is, "What is the 'Naughty Step' ad about?" :eek:
Click to expand...

I believe it references a show called Super Nanny or something similar where one punishment she recommends is putting them on the naughty step.

PC is suggesting that playing around with fun things on a computer is wrong and punishable for children.
 
First Post

As someone who is tired of PC's and in the process of researching just which Mac notebook he is going to buy, I can say I love the ads (of course I've not seen the ones in the UK). Personally, I find them funny and gutsy. They poke fun at the weaknesses of the PC, which are many. The fact they hit close to home was confirmed when Bill Gates himself responded angrily to a question about them right around the time Vista was released. The funny thing is, these ads actually helped to convince me to re-evaluate and, ultimately, purchase a Mac.
 
saw one of the ads in the cinema the other day, it got some laughs, so i think it portrayed a positive image of apple, getting the name out there as an alternative to windows...the majority of people are stuck with windows and never think that computing could be better, these ads show them that there is another option
 
I think most of you are missing some important points here:

1) You are Mac users - The ads aren't aimed at you. They're aimed at non-Mac users.
2) Peep Show is not THAT popular - Most people are unaware of Mitchell and Webb's characters on the show.

As a 'switcher-to-be' I recognise the ads for what they are - Pointing out Macs' advantages and PCs'/Windows' disadvantages in an amusing way. Much better than the iPod's ads with silhouettes dancing to U2:rolleyes: .
 
A Yank in the UK

In short, are they backfiring...no. My British friends like them and have begun to take notice of Apple computers.

Personally, I recently said enough with Windows -- even though every day at work it's Windows. I've switched to a MacBook Pro. Am I smug? Hell yeah, because I have a cool machine. I am a yank living in London, and I am a PeepShow fan. Therefore, I got a laugh from the Apple UK adverts. I've seen the US ones, and they don't do much for me (even though I've seen the Mac guy in a couple of movies).

However, as someone said in an earlier post, these things aren't aimed at me--an already Mac convert. I don't think the US adverts would hit a chord with UK buyers.

I think someone on here said Brits don't know much about Apple and Macs. Well, I guess they never been to either of the London Apple stores (always packed) or rode the Underground (with all the iPods). There is an advert right there for UK.
 
1) You are Mac users - The ads aren't aimed at you. They're aimed at non-Mac users.
2) Peep Show is not THAT popular - Most people are unaware of Mitchell and Webb's characters on the show.
Click to expand...

1) I use a PC at home
2) Well, they've been on Have I got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats, QI, The Best of the Worst, The Mitchell and Webb Look, various ad voiceovers as well as Peep Show! And Channel 4 is pushing Peep Show pretty hard this time round.
 
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