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New Apple 'Real People' Ads

Finally

Apple has decided to bring what has been on the sidelines into the light.
The OS battle, is one that apple CAN win.
People talking about what a hassle Wintel is!
Everyone knows this in the Mac world and everyone that is really into computers knows about BSOD etc.

But for the average person that still thinks that he cant type on word on a mac.
These ads are directed at him. The whole campaign is to raise the bar in understanding and information to enable people to switch.

Bringing the focus to how to get your files to your new mac.
How to get the apps you want and working ETC....

These arent actors, these are obviously real people.
If you dont realize this then you need to get out more!

As for how these people look, its a sad commentary on our society when that is the focus, whatever the age of the viewer.
This isnt a silly jeans ad or a phone ad or any ad where models and hired guns display themselves to create the illusion of sexuality to transfer upon a product brand.

Mac's make the users sexy! L:)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I think everyone looked healthy and good!
Although I have my personal favorites..:)
This is directed at real people, I dont use the words regular joes cause that means nothing to me. I am saying that they are REAL people not Models or Actors.


What I am amazed and still pleased about is that APPLE has the balls to be so outright about what mac users say constantly.
Now after the switch these are mac users, so its still Mac users talking about macs! But they have defected from the PC camp so their former PC friends may be more likely to believe them.

Still it takes guts, I think. I hope that it pays off, it will be fun to see.

This is the kind of stuff that makes it so much fun to be a MAC user!

And for that guy that said that he was emabaressed for APPLE>

OH PLEASE, thats rather freakin idiotic to take something so funny and irrevant and allow yourself to be embaressed about it for someone else.
You are very insecure, if you think that APPLE hasnt thought this through!

This is a little risky but still a smart move.
Would you prefer another slow airplane middle seat ad with an iBook.
I like this better.
GO GET EM APPLE!
 
I must admit that at first I wasn't too impressed with the new apple ads, but after reading the previous post I've warmed up to 'em. I mean, apple doesn't have to sell me a computer. I already have a machine. My family's total is up to 7 Macs (in 4 different towns, but unfortunately only one ipod).

But what Mada... made me realize is that apple is trying to appeal to people who don't have Macs, and I feel like an idiot for not taking this angle more seriously.

As for as the 420 cat you have to admit that whether it's on purpose or not the ads fall in line with the TV norm, which is a white majority. This argument goes a little deeper than a few Mac ads. I also agree that with 420 that some of the people come across as confused.

At first I thought, this makes Mac users look silly, because the people we see in the commercials are now Mac users who come across as being too dumb to run windows. But, then I thought of my Mother, who uses windows, and doesnt know 'ish about computers. She had to pay someone to get her internet to work again (I refuse to touch her peice of crap computer and live out of town). I have never heard of anyone with a Mac paying someone to fix their internet unless it was the phone or cable company. Oh, and guess where my Mother got the name of someone who would fix her computer? ...From several other PC users at work who've had the same problem.

Apologies for the ramble, and please don't knock periodic indulgers who work their asses off all week for unrecognized rights on their weekends.
 
I like them a lot. I mean, how often have we heard the claim that Apple's ads are too esoteric and artsy to appeal to average consumers? These aren't. They're very direct in addressing exactly the issues facing real users.

I particularly like the BSOD spot. Most of us at MacRumors are computer literate geeks, and as such we usually can't understand how it is for non-geeks to use computers. In my experience when computer-illiterates see something like a BSOD, they automatically think, "Oh, crap. I broke it." The way the guy clearly describes it may be the first time many of the audience realize that the bluescreens they've encountered were not their fault -- they happen to everybody. Everybody using Windows, that is.

The biggest problem with this (and it's going to be a problem no matter what Apple does) is that most people are really so abysmally illiterate that the distinction is lost on them completely. To a surprisingly large number of users, "Windows" is anything that appears on a computer screen. Just ask any tech support guy: Q: "What email program do you use?" A: "Windows." Trying to sell Macs as distinct from Windows to these people is like trying to sell somebody an electric car after he tells you that he can't get one because his local gas station doesn't sell "electric gasoline."
 
Originally posted by Gelfin
like trying to sell somebody an electric car after he tells you that he can't get one because his local gas station doesn't sell "electric gasoline."
Click to expand...

:) ok i just love that. you are my new hero gel.

you are right on though.
 
At least the machines are beautiful

While they didn't haul in the "beautiful people" from the boutiques of LA or the latte shops of Seattle for these commercials, I wish each concluded with a shot of a Mac or the person sitting in front of their Mac. That would show a beautiful industrial design being used by average people who, for a second or two in front of the world's eyes, are computing without FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt).
 
Re: At least the machines are beautiful

Originally posted by carta
While they didn't haul in the "beautiful people" from the boutiques of LA or the latte shops of Seattle for these commercials, I wish each concluded with a shot of a Mac or the person sitting in front of their Mac. That would show a beautiful industrial design being used by average people who, for a second or two in front of the world's eyes, are computing without FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt).
Click to expand...

Nah, it'd just make the people look even uglier :D
 
<----- PC user's take

Hi, many of you know me as the annoying PC using attorney who loves a good fight.

Those who don't know me, I'm a PC user (two Compaq's, an old IBM, and before that a 486). I'm also a former Mac basher. Couldn't think of one good reason to buy a mac. They looked silly (sorry, but the original iMac and ibooks did look silly) and performance wise, I could see no reason or find no reason why anyone bought them.

NOW, things have changed. Why? First, the computers look nice. They really look and feel nice. But, they were still macs. So what, they look nice. Then, I got to use a TiBook, and later a new iBook. Wow, that OS is nice. Stable, reliable, and very, very nice. But, still, my old 400 Mhz PC runs its basic stuff fairly well.

Reliability again. After using the macs for a while, I came back here, and boom, blue screen of death, scan disk, restart, etc. etc. ad nauseum.

I then remember how nice the macs were to use, and I experienced and saw no problems with running them. Wow, if they really (read sceptism) are that stable and reliable, I should get one.

Now, Apple starts this ad campaign where I get to hear other people who were in my shoes wondering about the macs, and how they have reliable computers now and no more of the pc crashes, etc... and I think, wow, maybe my friends were right, and my week or so of use wasn't just a fluke.

I should buy a mac.

I have been waiting for MWNY (I'm betting on something) to buy, but am having a far harder time now (after seeing 3 of the ads) than I was yesterday.

So, maybe the people aren't hot. Maybe they aren't actors. Maybe they are confused looking, but damnit, that's how most of us PC users feel when we're considering a new computer. Confused. Apple feels my pain, and they have the answer. It's a mac, so go to the store and buy one.

Yes, buy, buy, buy... Apple good!
 
Re: <----- PC user's take

Originally posted by mcrain

I should buy a mac.

I have been waiting for MWNY (I'm betting on something) to buy, but am having a far harder time now (after seeing 3 of the ads) than I was yesterday.
Click to expand...

:) mcrain, I guess I missed the fact that you don't actually have a Mac yet... (which I just assumed since you've got 700+ posts here :) )

anyhow... if you want a Tower... wait. If you want an iBook or PowerBook, they just got updated, so get one now... It's very unlikely they'll be updated at MWNY :)

arn
 
mcrain! What up dawg! Good to see you back. Man, I thought you had a Mac! Man, now you are truely a fan of the Mac. 700+ posts, and you don't even get to come he in the beauty of aqua. Man, I have to whipe the tears from my face. :D
 
I think MacRain has really hit on why the ads work....especially the "confusion" part....I showed them to my dad, an architect who uses a PC for AutoCad but lusts after my dual gig (we share an office) and he said he feels their pain-- sometimes when I come back from lunch, dear ol' dad will be sitting there surfing on netscape on my tower.... it's so darned funny. Heh.

Maybe for father's day he'll get my old Dual 450 and a nice copy of Vectorworks.....


But yea. This is the sort-of image we want to air... you can see the calmness or excitement when they do the "I now have a mac" and you can see how unsettling their PC experience was. And the opening shots are garish for a reason-- they convey that "I'm frustrated" air.
 
Re: Re: <----- PC user's take

Originally posted by arn


:) mcrain, I guess I missed the fact that you don't actually have a Mac yet... (which I just assumed since you've got 700+ posts here :) )

anyhow... if you want a Tower... wait. If you want an iBook or PowerBook, they just got updated, so get one now... It's very unlikely they'll be updated at MWNY :)

arn
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha ha!!! Truth... my first post came the day I got back from my buddies house and had my first use of a TiBook. I thought the design was amazing, absolutly amazing, but I refused to buy until I had something or someone who could explain to me that the macs weren't behind the PC's in performance.

I got on here, and started asking questions (mostly dumb questions) and getting answers for the most part (Alphatech laid into me once - yes, I deserved it).

Over time, I discovered that the computer that I lusted after was getting long in the tooth and maybe updated. It was. So, I'm ready to buy.

But, there is always a but. I just moved my wife to Houston, and now am paying the rent on a house and a big city apartment, she hasn't started her residency (i.e. paycheck) yet, my bike hasn't sold yet, and, oh, I haven't got a job down there yet! Arg!

Anyway, the point of this is that I came here as a PC user desperate for someone to tell me it was OK to get a mac and that I wouldn't regret it later, and what I found was so much information and differing opinions that I became certain of a few things... macs were better, but I should be patient and get what I want.

These ads are fantastic because even though I know they are from Apple, I feel more comfortable with my purchase decision.

M

(I'd buy a TiBook today if there was a store near here where I could get one)
(edit... one, it's mcrain, not MacRain, and two, my wife would shoot me if I bought a computer without having a job first)
 
Re: Re: Re: <----- PC user's take

Originally posted by mcrain


Ha ha ha ha!!! Truth... my first post came the day I got back from my buddies house and had my first use of a TiBook. I thought the design was amazing, absolutly amazing, but I refused to buy until I had something or someone who could explain to me that the macs weren't behind the PC's in performance.

I got on here, and started asking questions (mostly dumb questions) and getting answers for the most part (Alphatech laid into me once - yes, I deserved it).

Over time, I discovered that the computer that I lusted after was getting long in the tooth and maybe updated. It was. So, I'm ready to buy.

But, there is always a but. I just moved my wife to Houston, and now am paying the rent on a house and a big city apartment, she hasn't started her residency (i.e. paycheck) yet, my bike hasn't sold yet, and, oh, I haven't got a job down there yet! Arg!

Anyway, the point of this is that I came here as a PC user desperate for someone to tell me it was OK to get a mac and that I wouldn't regret it later, and what I found was so much information and differing opinions that I became certain of a few things... macs were better, but I should be patient and get what I want.

These ads are fantastic because even though I know they are from Apple, I feel more comfortable with my purchase decision.

M

(I'd buy a TiBook today if there was a store near here where I could get one)
Click to expand...


McRain, I am sure you've heard it already-- It's SO ok to get a Mac. :) SOOOOOO ok. :)

I'd say that if you are gonna buy, there are some really online resellers.... i dunno what this forum thinks of plugs, so I won't plug my fave, but if you want any help buying online, I'd be glad to assist ya.

m
 
Re: Re: Re: <----- PC user's take

Originally posted by mcrain
But, there is always a but. I just moved my wife to Houston, and now am paying the rent on a house and a big city apartment, she hasn't started her residency (i.e. paycheck) yet, my bike hasn't sold yet, and, oh, I haven't got a job down there yet! Arg!

/B]
Click to expand...


Word! Isn't it amazing the fear that the ole lady can put in us. I know that my wife has absolute power over me. Oh, well, it could be worse. As for the Mac, dude, go fore one of the new iBooks for your first Mac. You will be able to sell when you need to, and you won't loose much in the process. Think about it. 40 bucks per month on the Apple loan at most.

Hey can't you call it a tax write off.
 
What the ???

I don't like the ads because, Apple makes all the people using Macs look like some *****ing psychos or dipsomaniacs!!!! :mad:


And also notice their occupations?? They all have high paying jobs, Apple makes it seems you have to have money to by a Mac, I work for AAA and I have a Tibook and a iPod!!! :cool:
 
Re: What the ???

Originally posted by xrhajj
I don't like the ads because, Apple makes all the people using Macs look like some ****ing psychos or dipsomaniacs!!!! :mad:


And also notice their occupations?? They all have high paying jobs, Apple makes it seems you have to have money to by a Mac, I work for AAA and I have a Tibook and a iPod!!! :cool:
Click to expand...

No, those are the real people. They are not actors, so Apple doesn't make them look like anything. Now the occupations. Most of them have jobs that are normally dominated by Windows systems. Areas that Apple needs to take some market share in. I love the LAN administrator.
 
psychos?

How in the world did you get that? They look like psychos?

I geuss you have never seen a real psycho.

These people were communicating their difficulties with Wintel and how they were able to free themselves with the MAC from what seemed like a situation that had NO way out!

I think that at times they displayed that emotions and frustration in an obvious way. I would have been screaming, " Is there no other choice than this crap box on the planet!" So, I found them rather reserved.

I dont think that they all had high paying jobs.

Writers dont always make money!
I have a writer friend that is flat broke and he is a great writer and has had many film and tv credits. Hell he still has my washing machine! <vent>
But he wouldnt write on any thign other than a mac, he doesnt have the time to work out computer problems when he has a deadline. So they had creative people and people with actual jobs.

~Mcrain... I cannot believe that you still havnet bought a MAC. You must be in a lot of pain! Like a pregnant women that cant give birth.

Well, let me add this to you fence sitting!
NOW, is the perfect time to buy a Ti!!
Its the sweet spot of all the laptops. I bought one after waiting a while for that sweetness to occur. I dont even boot my P4 anymore , thank god!
I get twice the amount of work done and I am MUCH happier!
I should have been in those ads.

Also, buy from APPLE's web site, I did and got some free stuff with it.

You will get a job! be positive and put out the energy by getting your new Ti today.
This isnt a request, its a demand! :p
 
mcrain, use a new mac to find a job! i moved cross-country and could only go a week macless before getting an ibook (gave to sister, recently purchased my own new ibook and use a pismo at work). consider it an investment. after your mac helps you find a job, you will have an instant bond.

the commercials will work great. you can't please all the people all the time, but if you do good, those whom you cannot please are usually not people you should care if pleased or not. heck, nearly 10% of americans didn't think we should retaliate after 9/11. screw 'em.
 
Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I'm off the fencepost, and am going to buy. I'll probaby go visit a buddy of mine (originally got me hooked on macs a few months ago) and buy from a store up there.

As for the job, I've got a job here, but not there. License issues between states. Ug.

I'm sure things will be fine.

Maybe I'll wait till after MWNY just to be sure.

(edit) btw, no ibook. No G3 for me. If I'm buying a computer, I'm buying the best. TiBook 800 at a minimum.
 
Originally posted by mcrain
Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I'm off the fencepost, and am going to buy. I'll probaby go visit a buddy of mine (originally got me hooked on macs a few months ago) and buy from a store up there.

As for the job, I've got a job here, but not there. License issues between states. Ug.

I'm sure things will be fine.

Maybe I'll wait till after MWNY just to be sure.

(edit) btw, no ibook. No G3 for me. If I'm buying a computer, I'm buying the best. TiBook 800 at a minimum.
Click to expand...

You dis my iBook!@##@* :mad: Just kidding. yea, that would be a better investment for you to make in the long haul. I am just glad to see you back on here after a brief hiatus. How is the family?
 
Re: Re: What the ???

Originally posted by Backtothemac


No, those are the real people. They are not actors, so Apple doesn't make them look like anything. Now the occupations. Most of them have jobs that are normally dominated by Windows systems. Areas that Apple needs to take some market share in. I love the LAN administrator.
Click to expand...

I know those are "real" people, I was in their shoes six months ago!!!
Look at Mark Frauenfelder, he looks like he has been drinking all night!!!
I think they should have put a housewife or someone similar, to get into the "heart of the P.C. users!!!
:cool:
 
Re: Re: Re: What the ???

Originally posted by xrhajj


I know those are "real" people, I was in their shoes six months ago!!!
Look at Mark Frauenfelder, he looks like he has been drinking all night!!!
I think they should have put a housewife or someone similar, to get into the "heart of the P.C. users!!!
:cool:
Click to expand...

I can see that. Remember the everything is easier on a Mac campaign is very young. It will get better.
 
Originally posted by mcrain
Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I'm off the fencepost, and am going to buy. I'll probaby go visit a buddy of mine (originally got me hooked on macs a few months ago) and buy from a store up there.

As for the job, I've got a job here, but not there. License issues between states. Ug.

I'm sure things will be fine.

Maybe I'll wait till after MWNY just to be sure.

(edit) btw, no ibook. No G3 for me. If I'm buying a computer, I'm buying the best. TiBook 800 at a minimum.
Click to expand...


Macworld is a month away, I would wait before buying anything!!!
There could be price drops on the TiBook or iBook,
There could be speed bumps, who knows!! :confused:
I do know one thing, you are making the right choice by switching to Apple and OSX is the BoMb!!! BOOOOOOOOOMMMMM:cool:
 
I've been a PC only user for about 10 years until this year when I happened to win an iBook and iPod in a local television contest. I have to admit, OS X (OS 9 is poo when compared to OS X in my opinion) is a solid operating system and the Apple platform is moving in the right direction. Macs are great computers and you definitely can do things on macs that you can't do on a pc (like have your 80 year old grandma learn how to edit digital video. iMovie is so easy, there is no comparable product on the PC.)

But I still have a major beef with Macs. Their price per performance ratio. Mac's are still much more expensive than comparable PC's.

Oh, and about the BSOD and crashes with windows, that pretty much ended (at least for me) with Windows 2000 Professional. All other windows, 9x, ME, and even Windows XP are CRAP compared to Win2k.

I suppose the "user friendly" factor of Macs warrents the extra cost, but I'm a techie and I can manage pretty well without user friendliness. Then again, Mac *is* targeting the masses and not the minority of techies.

So until Macs can offer the same value as a PC's, I would not buy a mac.
 
teh high cost of macs is largely a thing of the distant past.

pc laptops are many times more expensive than mac laptops, while offering significantly less.

the desktops are different. mac desktops are pretty much the same cost of pc desktops when equally configured. in fact usually the macs are less. however the mac desktops are more expensive when comparing them to peecees that have less features (which is most pc desktops). also when building your own pc it will often (not always) be cheaper than a mac.

but for the general public there is no cost difference since most people cant build their own pc.
 
Originally posted by HybridTheory

But I still have a major beef with Macs. Their price per performance ratio. Mac's are still much more expensive than comparable PC's. So until Macs can offer the same value as a PC's, I would not buy a mac.
Click to expand...

I would personally disagree with HybridTheory on this statement. With a little research at the Dell web site I find very little problems with the value of a Mac.

Dell 4500S "slim tower"
1.8 GHz P4
256MB RAM
40 GB HD
CD-RW
17 in. std CRT
(this price also includes a video editing program by Dell that costs $70 (I don't know if it works like iMovie, but it costs you money, a few programs are included, the only one worth mentioning is MS Office)
$1,209

eMac
700MHz PowerPC G4
128MB RAM
40GB HD
CD-RW
17 in. flat CRT
includes many software titles including Quicken, Appleworks and all iApps (except iDVD) for free.
$1,099

You could probably double the RAM in the eMac and still come out at around the same price as the Dell. You could also get a 1.7 Celeron in the Dell to save a few dollars, but I don't think the Celeron even at 1.7GHz will run with the 700MHz G4. In fact despite the major difference being MHz...really how is the Dell a better "value" then the eMac????

Sure the main page on the Dell site makes the computers look ultra cheap to buy, but when you start to add optional monitors, equipment and programs that come standard on the eMac you soon start to realize the Mac is a better value for your money.
 
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