Filed under: Hardware, Retail, Odds and ends, Interviews
Justin Long on 'Get a Mac' ads, being harassed
In an interview more about his career (rather than Apple nerdery), Justin ("hi I'm a Mac") Long managed to wax ecstatic with Mary McNamara of the LA Times about 'the ads' and what they've done for (or rather: to) his career. He had stories to tell of being harassed on the street by people who might have taken the ads just a little too seriously, and he also admitted that, before the ads, he didn't even own a computer (just guess what he owns now). Also of note in the interview is a tidbit Martha wrote about a whopping 20 more ads in the "hottest campaign on TV" on their way (are these spots really resonating that well with their target demographic?). We've seen a few more ads trickle out since they were first introduced, and I would wager more will hit a Daily Show near you once the semester kicks back in.There aren't many more Apple-related details in the interview other than what I've summarized, but check it out if you're interested in learning a little more about the actor who might (or might not) be helping the Apple cause with the powers of comedy.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HS said 8:55AM on 8-14-2006
You go Mr Negative. Apple broke yet...?
I love the ads, and I know all those I know (Non-apple users btw) do to, they're funny. People taking offense to this are too retarded to watch ads at all, I can't even begin to imagine how offended they must feel every time a commercial comes on and tells them that some product that they don't own is good. Apples ads are good, and fun, good fun, leave it at that?
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BookoutE46 said 9:16AM on 8-14-2006
Glad to hear that he's doing well by them. Word of advice: Don't get caught smokin' any dope like the "Dude, You're gettin' a Dell!" guy. It's a real career-stopper.
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Aaron Adams said 9:54AM on 8-14-2006
I've told the story many times of the pure hate and disgust I received from many people when I did my Switcher ad. I know what this guy is going through. It must be ever harder for him, considering he understands nothing about computers.
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south said 10:05AM on 8-14-2006
people who harass actors are sad, sad little people.
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unimental said 10:27AM on 8-14-2006
I love this kid. He was the perfect face for the new ads since most college agers recognize him from a movie of two, but not in an overbearing manner. It's more of a feeling that, "Hey I know that guy." Apple is doing a great job convincing the younger crowd that not only is using a Mac easier, but it's way cooler than your parent's PC. Mr. Long pulls this attitude off flawlessly in the commercial spots.
One concern... I agree that overexposure through more ads could turn him into the "Apple guy" and detract from his movie career. We'll have to see how "Accepted" does in theaters later this month. Interestingly enough, both times I've seen the trailer for "Accepted" in theaters I've heard at least one other movie-goer say, "Hey, it's the Mac guy." A bad sign?
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drivebybiped said 10:53AM on 8-14-2006
these ads are just like the "Vista 2.0" stuff Apple was putting out. Just sort of fanning the fires. I find them funny but when is someone gonna release an ad.
M: "Hi I'm a Mac"
P: "Hi I'm a PC"
M: "Oh, what are you doing there PC"
P: "I'm playing the latest video games"
M: "Cool"
P: "yeah, even more so since I got a better video card in here even though I was bought a year ago"
M: "Oh...you can be upgraded easily?"
M: "Well I can play games too"
M: "Just let me reboot into your OS....one sec....there I go...oh I need a better video card :-("
From an artistic point this campaign is well done. But I hate their message, and these are of the same ilk that people complain about ads attacking iPod users *coug* idont.com *cough* rather than the system itself in a reasonable way.
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Matt said 11:02AM on 8-14-2006
"(are these spots really resonating that well with their target demographic?)"
NO. We think they're effing hilarious. Apple really dropped the ball on this one. It makes me embarrased to own a Mac, not proud. People will ask what kind of computer I have, and THEN they'll ask if I've see those stupid commercials.
*sigh*
Why Apple? Why?
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ryan said 11:44AM on 8-14-2006
i like macs, but i hate those commercials. we're not all smug bastards!
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S said 12:37PM on 8-14-2006
Believe me, these commercials have been a HUGE boon for Apple. Company wide, we're seeing 50% of computer purchasers in the retail stores are new switchers... even more at my store. That's doubled from before the ads. I've never gotten anything but a good reaction from people. Many of them cite it as the very reason they went in to an Apple Store to look at a Mac in the first place.
Just goes to show that a couple of bitchy nerds on the internet have no bearing on reality, no matter how hard they whine about a commercial.
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narco said 12:59PM on 8-14-2006
What a boring interview. I read about two sentences and they already lost me. People don't want to know the whole long process of actually getting to the interview. I'll just take your word for it.
Fishes,
narco.
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Liquidmark said 1:26PM on 8-14-2006
@drivebybiped
Hmm, I have yet to find a PC game that won't run on my machine. I can even run Oblivion pretty well. O_o
Another myth bites the dust. -_-
Besides, Last I checked, Apple has been making EASILY expandable machines for quite some time. Off the top of my head, there's the Powermac G3, G4, G5 and Mac Pro lines. Mac Pro is a nice, new step in the area of expandability and versatility.
Of course, i don't like the commercials myself. They don't do enough to show how great the Mac truly is. They only talk about how lame a windows box is.
The commercials should focus on how Apple is the TRUE option in todays market. Users have a real choice on the Mac. Windows has gone too long without a real competitor. Because Mac OS was only on Macs and windows was only on clones, there was no way to compare them side by side.
I had Boot Camp on my machine, but was ultimately disappointed with what the PC platform offered. The games LOOKED beautiful. But they didn't bring anything new to the table as far as emerson or gripping game-play and story.
Last time I saw anything fresh, it was Halo: CE on the Xbox. Everything else is just more of the same.
I'm just sayin'.
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Robbie said 1:40PM on 8-14-2006
Last time I checked the actor wasn't the director. People who have watched TV in the past 5 years should have seen this kid in either Ed or even Jeepers Creepers! lol. And with his new movie coming out about the college... how can anyone not tell that he is a somewhat comedic actor. So, who knows how many renditions he did as being "the mac". The director and/or Apple chose to go with how they are shown today and they are fine. It's always something.
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ginzuknives said 6:16PM on 8-14-2006
eh. if the worst thing to come out of this is that people now recognize him on the street, then i dont feel too bad. dont think he got the same exposure from being in "dodgeball". besides, the residual pay that he gets everytime the ad runs should make the whole experience more bearable.
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Alice said 11:51PM on 8-14-2006
It has people talking so it has its job down.
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