PC commercials - maybe we are seeing the first half decent one?

[JoeM]

I've always been amazed at how bad PC commercials are compared to what Apple does. After all, they have market share, gobs more $, and yet their commercials have been terrible compared to whatever Apple has produced.

You might say the last couple with the kids using the image app were an improvement, considering some parents might buy into their spin (I'm a PC). I still thought they were pretty lame but maybe they just didn't even want to try to compete with the usual Apple "coolness".

Now I've seen the new one with the 'picky" young guy shopping for a laptop a few times and I think they might have finally come up with a marketing spin that couldt be a bit effective. The guy says something like he loves the aesthetics of the Mac laptops but they are too expensive and doesn't want to pay all the extra $ simply for the brand. Very clever spin and I'll bet there will be some who buy it.

But on another note, I walked past the Apple store in Menlo Park, NJ today at lunchtime and the place was absolutely mobbed. It was a stark contrast to the number of stores that were shuttered or going out of business in the mall.

I still think these PC ad dweebs have some catching up to do.

[mikebw]

It seems pointless to market to people who don't have the resources to buy a Mac (the competition). I mean are they going to not buy a PC just because there is no good advertising for them? That doesn't change how much they have to spend on a computer.

[DaviDC.]

I like the ones with the kids but the things they accomplish reminds me a whole lot of CSI & that magic software they use.

[jimbrady]

They might as well say, "hey! see that company over there with the small market share but superior products? PAY ATTENTION TO THEM, 'cuz we are." Thank you Steve Ballmer.

[Doc]

'Could be effective... Just pissed me off.

I was actually provoked to yell at the tv when I saw that commercial the first time.

Forget the rest of the overpriced, slow and outdated hardware for a moment: He makes a big deal out of that PC having 4GB of RAM, but it can only use 3GB of it 'cause the schmuck chose a PC running 32-bit Vista.

[mikebw]

Doc wrote:
'Could be effective... Just pissed me off.

I was actually provoked to yell at the tv when I saw that commercial the first time.

Forget the rest of the overpriced, slow and outdated hardware for a moment: He makes a big deal out of that PC having 4GB of RAM, but it can only use 3GB of it 'cause the schmuck chose a PC running 32-bit Vista.

Yes, there is a lot of misrepresentation out there. The cheap stuff is cheap because it's made from OLD CHEAP PARTS. If Apple were to sell a laptop using 3 year old specs then you could bet the farm it would be inexpensive too.

[Octave Doctor]

It's like I told the chumps at Best Buy about my MDD G4,
"I've got a seven year old computer and it STILL runs the current OS, let's see your HP do that."

Plus, a lot of people just AREN'T cool enough to be mac people.

[Silencio]

JoeM wrote:
Now I've seen the new one with the 'picky" young guy shopping for a laptop a few times and I think they might have finally come up with a marketing spin that couldt be a bit effective. The guy says something like he loves the aesthetics of the Mac laptops but they are too expensive and doesn't want to pay all the extra $ simply for the brand. Very clever spin and I'll bet there will be some who buy it.

The doofus in the latest Microsoft ad claims he's looking for "portability" and "battery life", but he ends up picking a 16" HP laptop that weighs well over 7 pounds and barely gets two hours of battery life?

I also love how they take great pains to never say or show the "V" word in the ads.

I don't think these ads are promoting PCs so much as they are attacking people who choose to buy Macs.

[Will Collier]

As noted previously, I do think these ads are hitting Apple in a vulnerable spot (price), but I have to roll my eyes a bit at all the focus on ginormous 17"-screen laptops. I personally don't see the point; unless you fly first class, those suckers are useless for travel. They're the modern equivalent of an old Kaypro box--yeah, it's technically "portable" if you don't mind the thing being too huge to set up on anything other than a full desk.

Why own a "portable" that's such a PITA to carry around? For an architect or designer, maybe, but why not just use a desktop with a really big screen? Unless you need one of these to give one-on-one presentations or something (for any larger audience, you'd have to use a projector or flat screen), I don't get it.

Maybe that's just me. After 15 years of laptop ownership, I'm firmly in the camp of "smaller is better."

[BernDog]

Silencio wrote:

I also love how they take great pains to never say or show the "V" word in the ads.

Vagina?