Best Buy pulls ad that makes fun of iPad
Best Buy has quickly pulled an ad that mocked the iPad, according to SlashGear. The ad, which debuted on April 4, showed the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer tablet plus optional keyboard next to what appears to be an iPad duct taped to a keyboard.
Considering the iPad 2 is in all likelihood going to be the hottest tablet of the year by a long shot, one would think it obvious that it's probably not a good idea to make fun of it -- especially when you sell it. Then again, Best Buy is the same company that tries to sell PC "optimization" packages to gullible consumers. It's not clear whether Apple intervened in the pulling of the ad, but it was removed only a day later, and now even the cached version is gone.
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Best Buy has quickly pulled an ad that mocked the iPad, according to SlashGear. The ad, which debuted on April 4, showed the ASUS Eee...
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I think the ad is pretty funny - someone who would even think to do that to an iPad would have never bought one in the 1st place...to add a physical keyboard for iPad (without getting duct tape goo all over it) try something like this
http://www.zagg.com/accessories/zaggmate-ipad-case
Seriously think the ad just helps point out that the thing is a tablet w/clip-on keys...but I can see why apple dislikes the image of their device in such a state
As sandy81676 mentioned in comment above, they even sell apple kb made just for iPad, no duct tape necessary. I forgot about that...just happened to see the zagg one the other day...nice design, various viewing angles, also a hard case...if only I had an iPad. ;)
April 08 2011 at 2:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThis is an awesome ad.
How else would you advertise your product if you were competing against the consensus number 1?
Fanboys will be fanboys though.
Someone mentioned this to be misleading...how is it misleading? Did I miss the press release announcing the iPad having a physical keyboard? Didn't think so.
guess you missed that the other one is an 'optional' keyboard also. So they are showing that tablet with it's add on keyboard and playing games with the ipad which also has an optional one (that doesn't require the tape because it is bluetooth).
April 09 2011 at 11:48 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's a really stupid ad, and a stupid move by Best Buy. Never mind that it's Apple, trashing one product you sell (that sells very well) to promote another product you sell (that probably sells poorly) makes no sense.
April 08 2011 at 11:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyEh, Best Buy is dying anyway. It's very hard to stay in business when you are providing free showroom services to Amazon. Plus Walmart is making a play for a significant chunk of their business. At least in Walmart, the worst is the sales clerk doesn't know anything about the product, at Best Buy they will compound their ignorance with lies and deception.
April 08 2011 at 9:54 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySad but true...i do love Best Buy for browsing and last minute/impulse buys...the other day I went into best buy for a 16 gb nano which they only had in silver but i got it anyway and another item. End up returning both cuz when I got home amazon's price on each was ~10% less, no sales tax, all colors available, free shipping...so i also picked up an invisible shield and a ps3 game for $1!!!
Walmart on the other hand...i hate going there so much that if I do go in there I buy several of everything (consumable but not perishable) so I can avoid going back for as long as possible...then i wait in line forever and my total has never been under $90 (even w/handbasket lol).
I can get in and out of Target with exactly what I came in for, sometimes more, sometimes empty handed, but always within a reasonable amount of time (and money).
Best Buy remodeling their stores...over and over...maybe if they saved the expense of reconstructing the interior of their showrooms every once a year or two they could keep prices a bit lower.
Do you guys really think any big vendor would not have done the same thing? HP or Sony or Samsung - who are all also big vendors to BB. They would have raised hell too.
April 08 2011 at 8:19 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replygod forbid someone criticize Apple...I know, what a strange idea.
April 08 2011 at 8:04 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's one thing to criticize, it is something else to be stupid or misleading.
April 08 2011 at 9:00 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe link in [PC "optimization" packages] is wrong, it should go to:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Apple/Mac/pcmcat128500050006.c?id=pcmcat128500050006
;-)
Not to mention that an iPad ALSO has an optional keyboard available that does not need duct tape for attachment. :o)
http://tinyurl.com/3j3ttjs
This is probably just some clever marketing. Let's not get fooled here. Apple most likely agreed to this.
1) Make some stupid ad
2) Spread the rumor
3) Everyone talks about it
= Free advertising :)
Apple doesn't need to manufacture negative press. It's sales numbers are already doing well enough and people are talking about them enough that they can stick with positive information. Also, if you look at Apple's MO, they NEVER go with negative. Look at all the fuss around the iPhone 4 leak last year. Most other companies leak their prototypes on purpose. Apple was never really one to do that, preferring to control the narrative as closely as possible.
April 08 2011 at 9:06 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAnd then what? 4) Pull iPads from Best Buy???
http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/04/07/rumor-ipad-2-mishandling-gets-best-buy-blacklisted-by-apple/
I would NOT be surprised if Apple very gently reminded Best Buy that if they'd like to continue selling Apples at all, that the ad AND it's cached copy needed to disappear, like, two days before it aired.
At the same time, it was a bone-headed move on Best Buy's part to even think they could get away with that ad. I suspect there's an ad agent from Best Buy who is now filing for unemployment.
I think it's a good ad.
I'm a huge Apple fan (You'll pry the Macbook from my cold dead hands) but iOS is starting to show it's age. I gave up my iPhone 3G for a Droid X and it's a much more productive OS. I played with an iPad and it's just an iPhone that's bigger.
I played with a Xoom and the UI is much better than iOS. You get access to your information much quicker and it looks cooler. However it is WAY OVERPRICED.
I listen to the TUAW podcast and it's evident that the hosts would rather slam anything that's not an Apple product rather than use it and give a fair opinion. Apple Gets the computer OS (OS X is the best) and got the mobile space but iOS needs a real overhaul to make it competitive again.
Or maybe not so gently reminded Best Buy...
http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/04/07/rumor-ipad-2-mishandling-gets-best-buy-blacklisted-by-apple/
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