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Apr 9, 2001
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CNet reports that Gateway is taking on the iMac head on with a series of new TV ads:

Gateway's TV ad parodies earlier iMac ads and two short Pixar trailers. The Pixar trailers have featured an iMac jumping around the screen, something the Profile 4 does in the new Gateway ads. As a narrator touts Profile 4's advantage over Apple's computer, Gateway's all-in-one PC does flips and backflips over three iMacs.
 
The Poway, Calif.-based PC maker also plans a series of magazine ads that pit the two computers against one other, capped with the headline: "It's a close contest. Until you turn them on."

All their comparisons are based on an iMac using OSX.1.4 - which isn't good for Apple. If it had been jaguar, things might be a bit different.

D
 
I find it a bit ironic that Gateway thinks their machine does anything better than any other typical PC. They should be pitting their machine against other PC manufacturers, not the iMac. It really is an Apple to Oranges comparison in my opinion.

And using the 'sticking out the tongue' thing in their ad, what is with that? Can't they come up with their on innovative ads? Jeez...

link to article on Cnet: http://news.com.com/2100-1040-955300.html?tag=fd_top
 
not the wisest of marketing choices. if i was any size company i would not want to piss off apple legal.

gateways computers are total pieces of crap anyways, and if they go as far as to parody Apple's ads, then hey guess someone has been losing sales. I love talking to people who work for these companies that crap on Apple and their products.

The main reason Gateway will not stay afloat. Its run by idiots down to the floor salespeople.
 
And the USA report has a mis-print. "$1299 as the starting price for the new 17" iMac." Yeah, RIGHT...if you think there's a shortage now, imagine the shortage if it started at $1299!
 
I agree this marketing campaing will fail for sure. It's like comparing a mercedez benz (imac) with a cluncky ford espire.
It's seems to be a desperate attemp to get some attention to the company and get some sales. I really doubt people would go out there and get these pcs as they did with the 17" imacs. there is a big waiting list on these. I have one and love it.
 
Originally posted by aromac
damn its ugly. it has the cheap pc look.
I agree.. It is rather ugly. I didn't read too much detail, but it doesn't look like the display moves like the iMac. That's a major bonus of the iMac imo.
 
The gateway is UGLY!

Man that gateway is a dog. But did anybody else look at the .pdf file of the side-by-side comparison? (Available on Gateway's website). The Gateway uses a Geforce 2mx with 32mb and the FPS are almost 3 times what the iMac's are. Honestly that is pretty scarry. I know most hardcore gamers wouldn't look twice at either system, but still.... I didn't realize there was THAT much of a disparity. Apple MUST fix that.

dh
 
oooops!

I didn't realize they were using 10.1.4 in the comparison. I bet times would have been better with 10.2.

dh
 
Looks like it's time for Apple to retaliate and launch it's own ad campaign comparing the iMac and the Profile.

Take that Gateway! And that! A left and a right! POW!!! :p
 
Flattery, in my opinion

By targeting an ad campaign against a particular competitor, it's simply admitting that they are a threat/true competition. And we all know parody is the highest form of flattery.
 
Originally posted by Captnroger
And the USA report has a mis-print. "$1299 as the starting price for the new 17" iMac." Yeah, RIGHT...if you think there's a shortage now, imagine the shortage if it started at $1299!

Uh, dude the new iMac is $1299. Where have you been? Click here. :p

edit: Oh nevermind, you're talking about the 17". My bad. :p
 
Backfire...

Oh man... watch iMac sales go through the roof when Gateway starts showing these ads.

Seriously, if you were unbiased and saw the Gateway sitting next to the iMac, which one would you buy?

This is a huge win for Apple. Gateway is now admitting that they're a threat.
 
Re: Flattery, in my opinion

Originally posted by bobindashadows
By targeting an ad campaign against a particular competitor, it's simply admitting that they are a threat/true competition. And we all know parody is the highest form of parody.

sure, but gateway will air their ads more. possibly making it
look like their campaign idea in the first place.....honestly ive
only seen that cute imac ad twice AT MOST on tv. I dont
think this is good for apple, but im not saying it's horrible.
 
Nothing to fear

Apple will just start airing more switcher commercials, possibly the celebrity ones which will be more rememberable than any of gateway's lame attempts. I'm surprised by this, actually, it's almost as if they're taking one last gasp of air before going under or getting bought out by a bigger PC maker.
 
With their "switch" ads, Apple is admitting that Microsoft is the team to beat. With their new ads, Gateway is admitting Apple is the team to beat. Interesting.

IJR
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestley I think Gateway is out of thier minds! The iMac kicks the "Profile 4's" @$$!!!!! I mean what the hell kind of a name is "Profile 4" thats like some experiment gone horribly wrong!!!! That thing is butt-ugly! Plus the screen can't move! HA-HA! I haven't seen the ad yet, is there one, and where can I see it, I want to know how stupid Gatway thinks Apple is. The iMac can BURN DVD's the Gateway cxan't, the iMac is cool looking the Gateway isn't, what the heck do theck think they are doing, it's like comparing Apple's and Oranges! Go find some loser PC company and go fight them Gateway, cuz you gonna be killed by the iMac! Get your lawyers ready Apple here comes the BIG ONE! AAAAHHHHH!
 
Confession;
I know that Gateway is a less than stellar PC group but I was waiting to see their new Profile line before buying an iMac. After seeing the specs though, the Gateway is underpowered (GF2 MX is "very poor" compared to the GF4 MX series) no DVD burner, and ugly to boot. I will be buying a 17" iMac for sure.
 
the tests are a sham...

Start up time... we know that 10.2 fixed that.

The quake test resolution is set low so that the iMacs superior graphics processor is taken out of the equation. If they had run the test at a higher resolution the Geforce would have smoked the Profile.

a PDF test? that's just weird... and ummm... who cares?

and an Explorer Javascript test? Explorer is a Microsoft product... nuff said.

I wonder if the ad shows any range of movement in the profile... because I'm pretty sure the viewing angle is fixed... it must look really goofy trying to jump over iMacs.
 
Did i read that pdf correctly? If i did it shows that they tested the profile 4 versus a 700mhz imac not the 800mhz one.

The profile 4 is fugly. Looks like an lcd with an consumer dvd player screwed to its chin. What a mess.

I think its pretty sad that gateway lacks the innovation to think of a new product to boost sales rather than copying the all in one design of the imac then trying to pass it off as superior.
 
I hate Gateway with a passion!

Look what I did :D :
gatewayvsmac.jpg
 
The ad sure implies that the screen moves, I saw it this morning on CNBC. This ad tipifies some of the differences between Apple and PC's, the ainimation is third rate at best, as is the design. What a joke.

My overall impression of motive is not to take marketshare from Apple but to try to lure switchers over to Gateway. "Same lame operating system, new lame design". Nice Gateway, bye, bye...

Peter Lehrack
 
slogan

Profool shmells! how dare they include the word "style" in their slogan... but then again it might just be a mater of taste.
 
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