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Microsoft's "I'm a PC" Ad Airs
- Thread starter davepelz
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Personally? Visceral response? Fanboyism?
All I did was point out the Apple characters represent computers, not people/computer users. This is an easy concept to understand for most people.
I also pointed out that some people viewing them misunderstand, which is unfortunate, and I went further saying,"I agree Apple should begin a different ad campaign stressing the positives of Apple products".
Yes, using John Hodgeman in a business suit with glasses was pruposeful in representing computer. It was and still is to many users the "public image of Microsoft and OEMs even before the Apple ads and Apple only capitalized on this perception.
Sorry if you completely misread my statements, yes I like Apple computers and OS X for the most part, but just look at my signature. What do you think that means? No, Apple isn't perfect, but these Microsoft commercials have missed a golden opportunity with poor execution.
henrymonroe
I can only say that you have completely misrepresented the Apple ads and for some reason can't accept the fact that Hodgeman represents a computer, nothing more. Why you and others insist Hodgeman represents the user in unfortunate.
One final comment and I'm through. If the Hodgeman/Long ads represent "elitism and discriminative behavior", why would they produce an ad back in 2006 that, yes, indeed Apple computers are PCs too?
Ditto. Some people seem to want to go out of their way to criticise Microsoft. The fact is the ads, seen in their intended context, worked. They were good. They were well made and do a good job at showing that PC users are not all the same (i.e. geeky dull office workers who only crunch numbers.) I was impressed with the atmosphere/image these ads create. They certainly help Microsoft's image.henrymonroe said:
Microsoft are doing the right thing by not directly promoting Windows from the start. Vista is bad enough as it is; any promotion based on Vista is a mistake from a commercial/business perspective. Microsoft are surely well aware of this hence these ads. Before they attempt to show off Windows they have to portray themselves in a new light, specifically to try and break the image/stereotype that Macs are cool and PCs are not; that Mac are creative machine while PCs are just expensive calculators. This is probably half the problem they face. The iPod revolution has made Apple and Macs the cool company/product to be associated with. Of course, Vista hasn't helped Microsoft's image, but I would not say that Vista is the main reason for the problem is Microsoft is in. The problem is the Microsoft brand. I suspect people are turning to Apple not so much because of the products in of themselves, but rather because it is a brand they want to be associated with. (After all, the Zune for instance is technically better than the [clickwheel] iPod, but the Zune lacks one important thing: an
on the back.)Microsoft are in a similar situation to Apple circa 1997, when they need to change the image of the company, hence they didn't focus on products which would have done nothing for the company, instead they focused on the identity of Apple, which they did with the Think Difference ads (which is probably one of the best and most effective campaigns ever.). Only then did they focus on products with the iMac, which was a demonstration of that 'Think Different" brand. Windows are trying to present themselves as "without walls," both in its broad user base and the freedom to choose hardware. With Windows 7 and other future products Microsoft are going to have to put that in to practice (I'm not holding by breath!) much in the same way Apple put their Think Different brand into practice.
So lets not lambast Microsoft for not doing something they are not aiming to do. Would/did people here criticise Apple for their Think Different ads for not including their products? Hypocrites anyone?
Microsoft and Apple are not mutually exclusive; praising Microsoft about something does not mean you are criticising Apple or vice versa. Nor does being an Apple evangelist necessitate that we must be hostile to Microsoft just for the sake of it. Steve Jobs said it best when he said that we have to get rid of this notion that for Apple to win, Microsoft have to lose.
And before anyone calls me a 'Apple hater' let it be known that I am certainly no fan of Microsoft. I think Windows sucks. All I am saying is you put these ads in their intended context and not rush to use your desire to chastise Microsoft as a justification to totally misread these ads.
Yes, in the sketches John Hodgeman represented a PC while Justin Long represented a Mac, however part of Apple's marketing strategy was to equate the user base of each platform with these characters and what they represented..
While the overt suggestion was PCs are grey ugly boxes (hence the use of a fat middle aged man), and Macs are shiny pretty gadgets (hence the cool young guy) the tacit implication was that these characters are representative of the general user base.
They may not have been saying PC users are fat middle aged men in suites, however they were equating Macs with film, music and photos, which Apple deemed to be fun and cool, whilst equating PCs with spreadsheets and word processing, which Apple regarded as boring and uncool, thus the conclusion to be drawn was Mac=cool, PC=uncool and the user base of each is cool/uncool through association.
Microsoft's response to this was to highlight just how varied the PC user base actually is, which it did effectively. By showing this, Apple's implication that PCs and their user base are uncool falls apart. The PC user base is far to varied to be categorised. This is why Microsoft's ads worked. If they intended to show why we should buy Windows then they failed miserably, but that was not the goal.
In my view, having shown the diversity of PC users, Microsoft should next target the notion that Macs are creative machines whilst PCs are number crunching machines. Obviously Windows is no where near as easy as the OS X/iLife way for creativity, but this is ultimately irrelevant to dichotomy that Apple presented in their ads. Microsoft can do creativity, and in certain arenas, they do it better due to software availability.
Nope, I have not, and for proof you only need to go read comments on the blogosphere or even this forum. Apple chose to characterize a PC as a person. An uncool person at that. That's a jab at all PC users, and discriminative against overweight middle aged people with glasses. Apple wants you to relate Mac to cool, and PC to uncool, hence alienating PC users and calling them all "users of uncool stuff." That's what their marketing set out to do, and if you can't see it, you're just blind.
Even if you were right, let's assume for a moment that John Hodgeman represents a PC and only a PC, not it's coolness or uncoolness and how that relates to PC users. Microsoft's commercials are still genious, because they're saying "look at all these OTHER PC's, and all the things they achieve, the different they are, the variety and versatility they represent. Apple tries to paint a single picture, a black or white, while MS embraces and celebrates the diversity of PC's, as well as it's users. Again, if you can't see how good this concept is, you[re just blind. Good thing most users here have "gotten it."
As for your final comment, who cares? They're still elitist and discirminative. It's like saying "Look! Athletic good looking people are not only cooler and better at everything, they can use a calculator too!" How is that NOT elitist and discriminative all of a sudden? You sir make no sense.
Maybe you should study the history of OS.....then you can make judgments on who copied who....P.S and it did not start with Apple/microsoft.
Frankly i use both a PC and a MAC.
The new Mikisoft ad is good. Simple as that.
What is like about it is that it communicates that PCs are used in a wide spectrum of society. Nothing about one platform being better then the other.
My issues with MAC ads is that they imply that without a mac your cannot complete simple tasks and that you need a mac! That is total elitest BS......2
I use both and will continue to. Neither one is better then the other, it depends on the task.
The new Mikisoft ad is good. Simple as that.
What is like about it is that it communicates that PCs are used in a wide spectrum of society. Nothing about one platform being better then the other.
My issues with MAC ads is that they imply that without a mac your cannot complete simple tasks and that you need a mac! That is total elitest BS......2
I use both and will continue to. Neither one is better then the other, it depends on the task.
I disagree. I think Apple's ad focus is:
"Complex" tasks are better left to the PC. After all, that is where most of the "Complex" software lives.
"Digital Life" and "Simple" tasks are easier to accomplish on a Mac, with a more shallow learning curve. And, that there is an alternative to a Dell, which likely runs Windows.
Of course, the whole security/virus thing.. well, that's just shameless chest thumping.
Don't forget the target audience here, for both ads. The average computer user... doesn't know **** about computers!
"Complex" tasks are better left to the PC. After all, that is where most of the "Complex" software lives.
"Digital Life" and "Simple" tasks are easier to accomplish on a Mac, with a more shallow learning curve. And, that there is an alternative to a Dell, which likely runs Windows.
Of course, the whole security/virus thing.. well, that's just shameless chest thumping.
Don't forget the target audience here, for both ads. The average computer user... doesn't know **** about computers!
Actually my zune works very well....as does my ipod...
though not sure what phase the iphone is is....
Is "User Beta Testing 2.1" a phase?
Lets be honest, each release is a bug fix with some new functionality that usually results in new bugs...Apple is better then this and I am frankly disapointed with it...
I agree that a mac is better for someone that needs a good solid computer solution, i just recommended one to my uncle who is over 50 casue as a package i was better for him and "it just works", and there was less chance he would corrupt his OS installing software /virues etc.
Though i still have an issue with the I am a Mac ads, with the two guys one a PC and one a Mac, frankly that is apple putting down pcs, very arrogant.
Though that is markerting i guess.
Awful
Very bad. Microsoft is confusing attempts at good commercials (this ain't it) and product improvement (Vista fails). THIS is the real "putting lipstick on a pig". They are not changing anything, yet trying to Madison Avenue us into thinking they are now hip. Are you really buying this crapola?
Very bad. Microsoft is confusing attempts at good commercials (this ain't it) and product improvement (Vista fails). THIS is the real "putting lipstick on a pig". They are not changing anything, yet trying to Madison Avenue us into thinking they are now hip. Are you really buying this crapola?
I lied, my last post wasn't my last concerning this. 
Yes you have misrepresented the Apple ads, plain and simple.
No it's not.
I'm an overweight middle aged man with glasses and I take no offense.
Yes they do, this may be the first thing you've said that makes sense.
Maybe it did alienate a few who just don't get it, but yes the Apple marketing point is exactly that, PCs are uncool, which only reinforces the public perception of PCs for quite some time.
But it does, that is the point.
It doesn't relate to the coolness or uncoolness of PC users.
Yes, the concept about the variety of uses of PCs is good, I've admitted that. I only have stated that the execution of the concept is poor. It led to the spoof I've mentioned, as have other posters here, and now even iTwire has ridiculed the ad and if I'm not wrong I'd guess iTwire is predominantly a PC centric website.
How many times must I tell you that I agree the concept is good, just the execution is bad and left Microsoft up for ridicule.
Wrong, the Apple ads do in fact point out the diversity of uses of Apple computers. Heck, they even pointed out in 2006, 2 years ago, that indeed Apple computers are PCs. They point out they can run Microsoft Office, handle music, video, etc. etc. etc. Go look for yourself at the ads , they are all still on Apple's website.
You consider Long athletic and good looking?
That basically sums up Micro$oft.
Bill Gates is L. Ron Hubbard! Think about it, you buy a PC with XP on it a few years ago then wanna upgrade to Vista, but you want all the features, so you buy Ultimate for $400 but then find out you need a new high spec PC for it to actually run... Just wait until Windows 7 comes out, IE8 already uses 1GB of RAM to run, just think of the hardware costs!
See the pattern? More money every year to keep your M$ crap running! To add insult to injury, Vista STILL wont work properly!!!
Touchy Touchy
I just read HenryMonroes comments. Is he kidding? Why are you taking this so personally? Get a life. Apples are cool. The people who use them are cool because they have sense enough to use them. Why put up with Windows, for home use.
You know, I think I have an example to demonstrate my point. The other day I had a client call me. Her machine went down. Hardware problem, and it would take 3 days to fix. She needed to work.
I went to the office, took out an old computer from the back room, connected their backup (firewire), booted from the backup, and things ran exactly as if she was still on her iMac. I mean EXACTLY. Entourage, Safari, Photoshop. The process took me 6 minutes to get her running.
Want to know that amazing thing about this? That computer was a 400mhz Sawtooth from 1999. I defy anyone to take out a 1999 PC and do what I just did.
So, I think that says it all. Apple people ARE cool. Apples ARE cool. That's what THIS reader "understands".
I just read HenryMonroes comments. Is he kidding? Why are you taking this so personally? Get a life. Apples are cool. The people who use them are cool because they have sense enough to use them. Why put up with Windows, for home use.
You know, I think I have an example to demonstrate my point. The other day I had a client call me. Her machine went down. Hardware problem, and it would take 3 days to fix. She needed to work.
I went to the office, took out an old computer from the back room, connected their backup (firewire), booted from the backup, and things ran exactly as if she was still on her iMac. I mean EXACTLY. Entourage, Safari, Photoshop. The process took me 6 minutes to get her running.
Want to know that amazing thing about this? That computer was a 400mhz Sawtooth from 1999. I defy anyone to take out a 1999 PC and do what I just did.
So, I think that says it all. Apple people ARE cool. Apples ARE cool. That's what THIS reader "understands".
Haha, apparently unbeknownst (yes, I do like that word) to you, you just proved Monroe right and all the apologists wrong.
Hmm, that doesn't say anything about contemporary build quality.
Again, thanks for proving that the Apple ads are indeed using caricatures of PC USERS and Mac USERS and not the differences between the os.
Now, if only people would stop using brands in attempt to appear "cool"
All I can say, Any zune will run firmware 3.0......thats impressive when a company looks after its 1st generation adopters. Apple forces you to upgrade at each generation if you want the new features and evem pay for firmware....and Apple sells a hell of a lot more ipods then mikisoft sells vista. Jobs is making way more more money on ipods from average users.
Do you actually use vista??? Its not that bad, OS X is more userfriendly but vista is solid. If there is one ***** OS right now it is the Iphone, that crashes on me 10x more then my vista PC, and it has been "patched" by apple a number of times.
Yes but thats because the Zune sucks and thats the only way they can sell any.
Yes, I use Vista Home Basic through Boot Camp on my MacBook and on the iMac its running through Parallels... I have gotten the BSOD three times and nothing works properly... Just yesterday it randomly shut off and came up with the black boot select screen... Among many other problems I have been subjected to in the past.
You make some good points but didn't Microsoft actually dilute their ad by drawing reference to the Apple ads not vice-versa,effectively relying on their customers to shoulder the blame for their failures?I don't think that's how anyone wants to be perceived.
Not forcing their previous users to buy new hardware is why they can't sell any?
I'd get a Zune but the software was a nightmare with my ID3 tags and demanded an Album Artist.
Did you even attempt to diagnose these problems?
Not forcing their previous users to buy new hardware is why they can't sell any?
No, what I am saying is if they didnt do that they wouldnt sell any at all, thats how bad it is, I remember reading a article about how a major US gadget store stopped selling the Zune and couldnt even get rid of the last stock at a discounted price with free accessories!
I'd get a Zune but the software was a nightmare with my ID3 tags and demanded an Album Artist.
Vista just sucks. Simple. The problem is Bill Gates is a greedy bastard who dosent care about the quality of his products, only that he makes a stupidly high amount of profit... Same can be said for Ballmer, who is just mad.
I'm still finding Zunes at Best Buy, Target, and even Wal-Mart.
I'm sure blaming Bill Gates is the proper solution to your software problems.